초록 ▼

Apparatus and method for constructing and disassembling a triangular prism-form truss structure in spaced are disclosed. The apparatus includes a triangular prism-form construction fixture and three feed units disposed about the fixture for feeding the triangular frame elements that form the basic u

Apparatus and method for constructing and disassembling a triangular prism-form truss structure in spaced are disclosed. The apparatus includes a triangular prism-form construction fixture and three feed units disposed about the fixture for feeding the triangular frame elements that form the basic unit of the structure, or for removing the elements from the structure. The construction method, essentially automatic, comprises feeding frame elements to the fixture from the feed units in sequence. Fixture forward and backward movement along the fixture longitudinal axis, before and after element feeding, effects fastening of the frame elements to one another. Shifting of completed truss structure sections relative to the fixture is accomplished by periodic axial movement of the fixture. The disassembly method essentially comprises the reverse sequence of the steps of the construction method.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for assembling an elongate prism-form truss structure from a plurality of planar, congruent, triangular frame elements, and for disassembling said structure, said apparatus comprising: an elongate prism-form construction fixture defined by first, second and third longitudinal edges paralle

Apparatus for assembling an elongate prism-form truss structure from a plurality of planar, congruent, triangular frame elements, and for disassembling said structure, said apparatus comprising: an elongate prism-form construction fixture defined by first, second and third longitudinal edges parallel to a central longitudinal axis and having a right cross section in the form of an equilateral triangle, said longitudinal fixture edges defining planes therebetween; means on said fixture for holding a plurality of frame elements deposited thereon; said structure to be assembled or disassembled conforming substantially to the external configuration of said fixture and including three longitudinal edges parallel to said longitudinal axis, said structure and said fixture being coaxially disposed and being capable of relative axial movement; each of said frame elements having A-, B- and C-sides located opposite A-, B- and C-vertices, respectively, wherein each of said sides comprises a substantially linear strut, said A- and B-sides of each of said elements being substantially equal in length and said C-side being substantially 2/√3 times the length of one of the shorter sides; said apparatus further comprising: first, second and third frame feed units equidistantly spaced radially from said axis at locations 120°apart around said axis, said frame feed units being axially spaced from one another by a distance substantially equal to one third of said A-side; and said frame feed units including means for feeding said frame elements to predetermined locations in said fixture planes. A method for constructing an elongate prism-form truss structure from a plurality of planar, congruent, triangular frame elements, said structure being defined by first, second and third longitudinal edges parallel to a central longitudinal axis and having a right cross section in the form of an equilateral triangle, each of said frame elements having A-, B- and C-sides located opposite A-, B- and C-vertices, respectively, said A- and B-sides of each of said elements being substantially equal in length and said C-side being substantially 2/√3 times the length of one of the shorter sides, at least some of said elements being fed from first, second and third feed points radially spaced from said axis substantially 120°apart and axially spaced from one another by substantially one third the length of said A-side; said method comprising the steps of: (1) assembling first, second and third frame elements around said axis by attaching the C-vertex of said second element to the A-vertex of said first element and the C-vertex of said third element to the A-vertex of said second element; (2) feeding a fourth frame element from said first feed point toward said axis; (3) fastening the C-vertex of said fourth element to the A-vertex of said third element and to the B-vertex of said first element; (4) feeding subsequent frame elements toward said axis in sequence from successive feed points; and (5) repeating step (3) for each of said subsequent elements by fastening the C-vertex of the Nth element being fed to the A-vertex of the N-1 element and to the B-vertex of the N-3 element until the desired number of said frame elements have been joined.