Expandable truss structure

Claim 2

An open truss structural module capable of being expanded and retracted, wherein an individual structural bay comprises: a first tripod comprising three legs, one end of each of said legs pivotally attached together to form a first tripod apex and the opposite end of each leg being a foot of said first tripod; a second tripod comprising one leg of said first tripod and two additional legs pivotally attached together at the foot end of said first tripod leg, the opposite end of each leg being a foot of said second tripod; a first set of three base struts, hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, and each pivotally attached at opposite ends to adjacent feet of said first tripod; a second set of three base struts, hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, and each pivotally attached at opposite ends to adjacent feet of said second tripod; and means for locking said base struts hinge joints.

Claim 3

The structural module of claim 1, wherein adjacent structural bays are joined together by a pair of interconnecting links, each link hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, one of said links pivotally attached at opposite ends to said apex of adjacent first tripods, and the other interconnecting link pivotally attached at opposite ends to said apex Of adjacent second tripods.

Claim 4

The structural module of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of first spider fittings, each shaped and adapted for pivotally attaching to one end each of two of said tripod legs and four of said base struts; and a plurality of second spider fittings, each shaped and adapted for pivotally attaching to one end each of three of said tripod legs at said apex, two of said base struts, and two of said interconnecting links.

Claim 5

The structural module of claim 3, wherein each of said first and second spider fittings is provided with orthogonal mounting surfaces, at least one of said mounting surface being parallel to one side of said structural bay.

Claim 6

The module of claim 3, wherein said base strut hinge joint comprises a pair of hinge links located on opposite sides of and parallel to said base strut, said hinge links adapted for pivotal attachment at opposite ends to respective halves of said base strut.

Claim 7

The module of claim 5, wherein said means for locking said base strut hinge joint comprises a pair of locking plates located on opposite sides of said base strut in close proximity to and substantially 90* from said hinge links, and attached to both halves of said base strut to prevent pivoting of said strut on said hinge links.

Claim 8

A truss structure module capable of being expanded and retracted comprising: a plurality of first tripods each comprising three legs, each leg having a foot end and apex end, said three legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends to form a first tripod apex; a plurality of second tripods each comprising one leg of one of said first tripods, and two additional legs each having a foot end and apex end, said two additional legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends and to the foot end of said first tripod leg to form a second tripod apex; a plurality of first and second base struts each hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, each of said first struts being pivotally attached at opposite ends to respective adjacent foot ends of said first tripod legs, and each of said second struts being pivotally attached at opposite ends to respective adjacent foot ends of said second tripod legs; and a plurality of first and second interconnecting links each hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, each of said first links being pivotally attached at opposite ends to adjacent first tripod apexes, and each of said second links being pivotally attached at opposite ends to adjacent second tripod apexes.

Claim 9

A truss structure module capable of being expanded and retracted comprising: a plurality of first tripods each comprising three legs, each leg having a foot end and apex end, said three legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends to form a first tripod apex; a plurality of second tripods each comprising one leg of one of said first tripods, and two additional legs each having a foot end and apex end, said two additional legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends and to the foot end of said first tripod leg to form a second tripod apex; a plurality of first and second base struts each hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, each of said first struts being pivotally attached at opposite ends to respective adjacent foot ends of said first tripod legs, and each of said second struts being pivotally attached at opposite ends to respective adjacent foot ends of said second tripod legs; and a plurality of first and second interconnecting links each hinge-jointed substantially at mid-length, each of said first links being pivotally attached at opposite ends to adjacent first tripod apexes, and each of said second links being pivotally attached at opposite ends to adjacent second tripod apexes.

Claim 10

The truss structure module of claim 7, further comprising locking means for said mid-length hinge joints of said first and second base struts and said first and second interconnecting links.

Claim 11

The truss structure module of claim 8, further comprising secondary locking means at said pivotal attachments of said first and second base struts and said first and second interconnecting links.

Claim 12

The truss structure module of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of spider fittings, one spider fitting located at each pivotal attachment comprising any of said first and second tripod legs, said first and second base struts, and said first and second interconnecting links.

Claim 13

A truss structure capable of being expanded and retracted comprising a plurality of structural modules, wherein each module comprises: a plurality of spider fittings, each fitting adapted to provide a plurality of pivotal attachments and shaped to provide at least two orthogonal mounting surfaces, at least one of said mounting surfaces located parallel to one side of said module; a plurality of first tripods each comprising three legs, each leg having a foot end and apex end, said three legs pivotally attached together at said apex ends by means of one of said spider fittings to form a first tripod apex; a plurality of second tripods each comprising one leg of one of said first tripods, and two additional legs each having a foot end and apex end, said two adDitional legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends and to the foot end of said first tripod leg by means of one of said spider fittings to form a second tripod apex; a plurality of first and second base struts each having a hinge joint located substantially at mid-length and capable of being locked in the expanded position, each of said first struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said first tripod legs, and each of said said second struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said second tripod legs; and a plurality of first and second interconnecting links each having a hinge joint located substantially at mid-length and capable of being locked in the expanded position, each of said first links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent first tripod apexes, and each of said second links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent second tripod apexes.

Claim 14

A truss structure capable of being expanded and retracted comprising a plurality of structural modules, wherein each module comprises: a plurality of spider fittings, each fitting adapted to provide a plurality of pivotal attachments and shaped to provide at least two orthogonal mounting surfaces, at least one of said mounting surfaces located parallel to one side of said module; a plurality of first tripods each comprising three legs, each leg having a foot end and apex end, said three legs pivotally attached together at said apex ends by means of one of said spider fittings to form a first tripod apex; a plurality of second tripods each comprising one leg of one of said first tripods, and two additional legs each having a foot end and apex end, said two adDitional legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends and to the foot end of said first tripod leg by means of one of said spider fittings to form a second tripod apex; a plurality of first and second base struts each having a hinge joint located substantially at mid-length and capable of being locked in the expanded position, each of said first struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said first tripod legs, and each of said said second struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said second tripod legs; and a plurality of first and second interconnecting links each having a hinge joint located substantially at mid-length and capable of being locked in the expanded position, each of said first links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent first tripod apexes, and each of said second links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent second tripod apexes.

Claim 15

The truss structure of claim 11, wherein at least some of said structural modules are joined together side-by-side by means of said spider fittings.

Claim 16

The truss structure of claim 11, wherein at least some of said structural modules are joined together above and below by means of said spider fittings.

Claim 17

The truss structure of claim 11, wherein adjacent structural modules are joined by attachment means through abutting mounting surfaces of said spider fittings.

Claim 18

The truss structure of claim 11, wherein: a first plurality of structural modules are joined end-to-end by means of said spider fitting pivotal attachments; a second plurality of structural modules are located adjacent to said first structural modules by means of mounting surfaces of at least some of said first module spider fittings bearing on mounting surfaces of at least some of said second module spider fittings; and a plurality of attachment means are located through said bearing mounting surfaces to join said second modules to said first modules.

Claim 19

A truss structure capable of being expanded and retracted comprising a plurality of structural modules, wherein each module comprises: a plurality of spider fittings, each fitting adapted to provide a plurality of pivotal attachments and shaped to provide at least two orthogonal mounting surfaces, at least one of said mounting surfaces located parallel to one side of said module; a plurality of first tripods each comprising three legs, each leg having a foot end and apex end, said three legs pivotally attached togehter at said apex ends by means of one of said spider fittings to form a first tripod apex; a plurality of second tripods each comprising one leg of one of said first tripods, and two additional legs each having a foot end and apex end, said two additional legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends and to the foot end of said first tripod leg by means of one of said spider fittings to form a second tripod apex; a plurality of first and second base struts at least some being flexible and the remainder being rigid, each of said rigid struts having a hinge joint located substantially at mid-length and capable of being locked in the expanded position, each of said first struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said first tripod legs, and each of said second struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said second tripod legs; and a plurality of first and second flexible interconnecting links, each of said first links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent first tripod apexes, and each of said second links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent second tripod apexes.

Claim 20

A truss structure capable of being expanded and retracted comprising a plurality of structural modules, wherein each module comprises: a plurality of spider fittings, each fitting adapted to provide a plurality of pivotal attachments and shaped to provide at least two orthogonal mounting surfaces, at least one of said mounting surfaces located parallel to one side of said module; a plurality of first tripods each comprising three legs, each leg having a foot end and apex end, said three legs pivotally attached togehter at said apex ends by means of one of said spider fittings to form a first tripod apex; a plurality of second tripods each comprising one leg of one of said first tripods, and two additional legs each having a foot end and apex end, said two additional legs pivotally attached together at their apex ends and to the foot end of said first tripod leg by means of one of said spider fittings to form a second tripod apex; a plurality of first and second base struts at least some being flexible and the remainder being rigid, each of said rigid struts having a hinge joint located substantially at mid-length and capable of being locked in the expanded position, each of said first struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said first tripod legs, and each of said second struts pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to respective adjacent foot ends of said second tripod legs; and a plurality of first and second flexible interconnecting links, each of said first links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent first tripod apexes, and each of said second links being pivotally attached at opposite ends by means of said spider fittings to adjacent second tripod apexes.