US3779656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tubular joint
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1971-06-30
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1991-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A tubular joint for framing structures, such as offshore platforms of the type used by the oil industry, in which tubular X joints are used within the structural and geometric bracing of the structures. Tubular (or cylindrical) framing members are joined together in an intersecting X shape. Wedge shaped segments of a tubular member are connected to each other and each segment is also connected to a tubular framing member and arranged so that the segments carry the axial loads of said tubular framing members in a straight line direct stress pattern across the open circular sections of said tubular framing members. The segments may be connected to two flat intersecting plates instead of to each other.
Inventors
- 👤 A Guy
- 👤 W Ruez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:54
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/0004; E02B17/02; E02B17/027; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/34; Y10T403/341; Y10T403/345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members, each being substantially the same crosssectional size, arranged and interconnected in an intersecting X-form and having open and spaced apart ends; means connected to said open ends of said tubular members closing off said open ends thereof and forming an enclosure in the space between said tubular members and extending each two aligned tubular members coaxially across the open ends of said other two aligned tubular members to form effectually a continuous tubular member of said two aligned tubular members to aid in transferring axial loads across said open ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members, each being substantially the same crosssectional size, arranged and interconnected in an intersecting X-form and having open and spaced apart ends; means connected to said open ends of said tubular members closing off said open ends thereof and forming an enclosure in the space between said tubular members and extending each two aligned tubular members coaxially across the open ends of said other two aligned tubular members to form effectually a continuous tubular member of said two aligned tubular members to aid in transferring axial loads across said open ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means connected to said open ends of said tubular members comprise four wedge-shaped segments connected together to form said enclosure, each segment being connected to and closing off the end of a different one of said tubular members; and each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two tubular members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said tubular members are circular in cross section, substantially the same diameter in cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein each segment includes a flat tapered edge portion, said edge portions being connected together to form said enclosure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
196 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members, each being substantially the same cross-sectional size, arranged in an intersecting X-form and having open and spaced apart ends; means connected to said open ends of said tubular members closing off said open ends thereof and forming an enclosure in the space between said tubular members and extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two aligned tubular members to aid in transferring axial loads thereacross; said means connected to said open ends of said tubular member comprising: two flat intersecting plate members arranged in an X-form, said intersecting plate members being at least equal in size to the diameter of said largest tubular member at the intersection of said tubular members; and four wedge-shaped segments, each segment having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said aligned tubular members and being arranged in a quadrant of said intersecting plate members and being connected thereto and being connected to and closing off the end of a different one of said tubulaR members; each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two tubular members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
196 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members, each being substantially the same cross-sectional size, arranged in an intersecting X-form and having open and spaced apart ends; means connected to said open ends of said tubular members closing off said open ends thereof and forming an enclosure in the space between said tubular members and extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two aligned tubular members to aid in transferring axial loads thereacross; said means connected to said open ends of said tubular member comprising: two flat intersecting plate members arranged in an X-form, said intersecting plate members being at least equal in size to the diameter of said largest tubular member at the intersection of said tubular members; and four wedge-shaped segments, each segment having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said aligned tubular members and being arranged in a quadrant of said intersecting plate members and being connected thereto and being connected to and closing off the end of a different one of said tubulaR members; each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two tubular members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members arranged in an intersecting X-form and having open ends and being spaced apart at said open ends; four wedge-shaped segments, each segment having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said aligned tubular members and being connected to a different one of said tubular members at said open end of said tubular member closing the end thereof, each of said wedge-shaped segments being connected along its edges to adjacent wedge-shaped segments, thereby enclosing the space between said open ends of said tubular members; and each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two tubular members to aid in transferring axial loads thereacross.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members arranged in an intersecting X-form and having open ends and being spaced apart at said open ends; four wedge-shaped segments, each segment having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said aligned tubular members and being connected to a different one of said tubular members at said open end of said tubular member closing the end thereof, each of said wedge-shaped segments being connected along its edges to adjacent wedge-shaped segments, thereby enclosing the space between said open ends of said tubular members; and each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned tubular members across the open ends of said other two tubular members to aid in transferring axial loads thereacross.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
172 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: a first tubular framing member; a first wedge segment joined to the end of said first tubular framing member; a second tubular framing member; a second wedge segment joined to the end of said second tubular framing member; a third tubular framing member; a third wedge segment joined to the end of said third tubular framing member; a fourthe tubular framing member; a fourth wedge segment joined to the end of said fourth tubular framing member; said wedge segments having radii substantially equal to the radii of said aligned tubular framing members and being connected together edgewise and said first and second wedge segments being opposed and said third and fourth wedge segments being opposed; said first and second wedge segments extending said first and second tubular framing members across the open ends of said third and fourth tubular framing members; and said third and fourth wedge segments extending said third and fourth tubular framing members across the open ends of said first and second tubular framing members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
172 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: a first tubular framing member; a first wedge segment joined to the end of said first tubular framing member; a second tubular framing member; a second wedge segment joined to the end of said second tubular framing member; a third tubular framing member; a third wedge segment joined to the end of said third tubular framing member; a fourthe tubular framing member; a fourth wedge segment joined to the end of said fourth tubular framing member; said wedge segments having radii substantially equal to the radii of said aligned tubular framing members and being connected together edgewise and said first and second wedge segments being opposed and said third and fourth wedge segments being opposed; said first and second wedge segments extending said first and second tubular framing members across the open ends of said third and fourth tubular framing members; and said third and fourth wedge segments extending said third and fourth tubular framing members across the open ends of said first and second tubular framing members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 7 in which said tubular members are circular and substantially the same diameter in cross section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 8 in which each of said segments has flat tapered edges, said edges of said segments being connected together to form said enclosure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
169 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members arranged in an intersecting X-form and having open ends and being spaced apart at said open ends; two flat intersecting plate members arranged in an X-form and extending across the space between said tubular members, said intersecting plate members being at least equal in size to the diameter of said largest tubular member at the intersection of said tubular members; four wedge-shaped segments, each segment having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said aligned tubular members and being arranged in a different quadrant formed by said intersecting plate members and connected to said plate members and to the open end of a different one of said tubular members closing said open ends thereof, each of said wedge-shaped segments being connected along its edges to said plate members, thereby enclosing the space between said open ends of said tubular members; and each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned members across the open ends of said other two tubular members.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
169 words
Structural framing apparatus comprising: four tubular members arranged in an intersecting X-form and having open ends and being spaced apart at said open ends; two flat intersecting plate members arranged in an X-form and extending across the space between said tubular members, said intersecting plate members being at least equal in size to the diameter of said largest tubular member at the intersection of said tubular members; four wedge-shaped segments, each segment having a radius substantially equal to the radius of said aligned tubular members and being arranged in a different quadrant formed by said intersecting plate members and connected to said plate members and to the open end of a different one of said tubular members closing said open ends thereof, each of said wedge-shaped segments being connected along its edges to said plate members, thereby enclosing the space between said open ends of said tubular members; and each two opposing wedge-shaped segments extending each two aligned members across the open ends of said other two tubular members.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 10 in which said tubular members are circular and substantially the same diameter in cross-section.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Structural framing apparatus as recited in claim 11 in which each of said segments has flat tapered edges, said edges engaging said plate members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |