Improvements in the design and construction of solar collector modules. Aspects of the invention include improvements in the layout of a frame for a solar collector module, and in the joining of structural members of the frame at nodes. In one example, a module of a solar collector includes a reflec
Improvements in the design and construction of solar collector modules. Aspects of the invention include improvements in the layout of a frame for a solar collector module, and in the joining of structural members of the frame at nodes. In one example, a module of a solar collector includes a reflector and a three-dimensional structural frame that supports the reflector. The frame is made up of substantially rigid elongate frame members interconnected at nodes. Improved node connection components include hubs or frame members having tabs for receiving frame member connections. A tab may have a width that is substantial in relation to its height. The frame may incorporate asymmetry in its layout, in the size or presence of frame members, or in the positioning of the nodes.
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1. A hub configured to join frame members in a space frame truss, the hub comprising: a main portion having a rectangular cross section and a longitudinal axis; andtwo tabs protruding from one side of the rectangular main portion, each of the two tabs having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanni
1. A hub configured to join frame members in a space frame truss, the hub comprising: a main portion having a rectangular cross section and a longitudinal axis; andtwo tabs protruding from one side of the rectangular main portion, each of the two tabs having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining distal ends of the outer sides, wherein for each of the two tabs a tab width extends across the outer sides at that main portion and a tab height extends from the spanning surface to the main portion, and wherein each of the two tabs has an aspect ratio that is the ratio of the width of the tab to the height of the tab, and wherein the aspect ratio is between 0.25 and 4.0;wherein each of the two tabs has a respective plane of symmetry between the outer sides of the respective tab, and wherein each of the planes of symmetry includes the longitudinal axis of the main portion. 2. A connection at a node of a space frame truss, the connection comprising: a hub having a rectangular main portion and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of protruding tabs, each tab having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the distal ends of the outer sides, wherein at least two tabs protrude from one side of the rectangular main portion, and wherein each of the tabs has a respective plane of symmetry between the outer sides of the respective tab, and each of the planes of symmetry includes the longitudinal axis of the main portion;a first generally tubular elongate frame member having a constant cross sectional shape along its length, the first frame member comprising two generally flat sides defining a portion of the cross sectional shape of the first frame member and at least one joining side that extends between the two generally flat sides for closing the first tubular frame member cross sectional shape, wherein a portion of the first frame member joining side at an end of the frame member is removed such that the two generally flat sides protrude beyond the remainder of the first frame member, wherein the two flat sides of the first frame member and the two outer sides of a first one of the plurality of tabs are cooperatively sized such that the two protruding flat sides of the first frame member fit over the first tab;a second generally tubular frame member; andat least two connectors fixed to the second frame member via fasteners to form a frame member assembly, the connector protruding from an end of the second frame member and including at least one feature for assembling the connector to a second one of the plurality of tabs. 3. A connection at a node of a space frame truss, the connection comprising: a hub having a main portion and a longitudinal axis and a plurality of protruding tabs for joining a plurality of frame members at the node, each of the protruding tabs having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the distal ends of the outer sides, the hub having a substantially constant cross section along its length, wherein at least two tabs protrude from one side of the rectangular main portion, and wherein each of the tabs has a respective plane of symmetry between the outer sides of the respective tab, and each of the planes of symmetry includes the longitudinal axis of the main portion;a tubular frame member; andat least one connector fixed to the frame member via fasteners to form a frame member assembly, the connector protruding from an end of the frame member and including at least one feature for assembling the connector to one of the plurality of tabs. 4. The connection of claim 3, wherein the at least one feature for assembling the connector to the tab comprises at least two holes through the connector cooperatively positioned with at least two corresponding holes in the one of the plurality of tabs to receive the fasteners through the holes, such that the completed connection can resist both moments and loads axial to the tubular frame member. 5. The connection of claim 3, comprising two connectors fixed to the frame member, the two connectors spaced apart to fit over the one of the plurality of tabs, and wherein the at least one feature for assembling the connector to the one of the plurality of tabs includes axially aligned holes through the two connectors, the axially aligned holes cooperatively positioned with at least one corresponding hole in the one of the plurality of tabs to receive a fastener through the holes. 6. The connection of claim 3, wherein the connector comprises: a stamped metal shape including alternating straps formed by distending alternating portions of a flat blank toward opposite sides of the blank, the resulting straps forming a receptacle that receives an end of the frame member; anda flat end portion comprising the at least one feature for assembling the connector to the tab. 7. The connection of claim 6, wherein the straps are oriented at an angle other than a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the connector. 8. A three-dimensional structural frame, comprising: a set of upper nodes defining an upper surface, the upper nodes arranged in generally longitudinal rows;a set of lower nodes defining a lower surface, the lower nodes arranged in generally longitudinal rows;a plurality of substantially rigid elongate struts, wherein each node in the upper surface is connected to at least one node in the lower surface by at least one of the plurality of struts;at least one substantially rigid elongate chord member extending to at least two nodes in a particular row of nodes, the chord member having a substantially constant cross sectional shape throughout its length, the chord member further comprising at least one strut connection feature such that any strut connecting to any node reached by the chord member connects directly to the chord member without the use of a hub; andwherein the strut connection feature comprises at least one tab protruding from the chord member, the tab extending along the chord member in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the chord member, the tab having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the outer sides. 9. The three-dimensional structural frame of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid elongate ribs, each rib connecting a node in one row in one surface to another node in a different row in the same surface;wherein the at least one substantially rigid elongate chord member further comprises at least one rib connection feature such that any rib connecting to any node in the particular row of nodes connects to the chord member. 10. The three-dimensional structural frame of claim 8, further comprising: a plurality of substantially rigid elongate diagonal members, each diagonal member connecting a node in one row in one surface to another node in a different row in the same surface;wherein the at least one substantially rigid elongate chord member further comprises at least one diagonal connection feature such that any diagonal member connecting to any node in the particular row of nodes connects to the chord member. 11. The three-dimensional structural frame of claim 8, wherein the tab has an aspect ratio that is the ratio of the width of the tab to the height of the tab, and wherein the aspect ratio is between 0.25 and 4.0. 12. The three-dimensional structural frame of claim 8, wherein the at least one substantially rigid elongate chord member is an extrusion. 13. The three-dimensional structural frame of claim 8, wherein the at least one substantially rigid elongate chord member further comprises a main body portion from which the at least one strut connection feature protrudes. 14. The hub of claim 1, wherein at least one of the tabs defines at least four through holes for receiving fasteners to attach at least two frame members to the tab using at least two fasteners for each frame member. 15. The hub of claim 1, wherein the two tabs are first and second tabs, the hub further comprising a third tab protruding from the main portion, the third tab having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the outer sides, and wherein the third tab has a plane of symmetry between the outer sides of the third tab, the plane of symmetry including the longitudinal axis of the main portion. 16. A connection at a node of a space frame truss, the connection comprising: a hub having a main portion and two tabs protruding from the main portion, each of the two tabs having two spaced apart outer sides and a spanning surface joining the distal ends of the outer sides, wherein for each of the two tabs a tab width extends across the outer sides at the main portion and a tab height extends from the spanning surface to the main portion, and wherein each of the two tabs has an aspect ratio that is the ratio of the width of the tab to the height of the tab, and wherein the aspect ratio is between 0.25 and 4.0, and wherein the two tabs protrude from one side of the main portion; andat least two frame members attached to one of the tabs using at least two fasteners passing through the tab for each of the frame members.
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