Patent US4237662A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4237662A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Structural members, method and apparatus
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1978-04-04
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Granted: 1980-12-09
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Expires: 1998-04-04
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are a structural member, such as a truss, and a method and apparatus for fabricating the same from flexible sheet material in compacted form. A plurality of generally tubular columns are progressively formed from the sheet material and deployed generally parallel to one another. Adjacent pairs of the columns are interconnected by respective side members, each of which is comprised of a strip of the sheet material. The sheet material is fastened together by self-attaching fasteners integrally formed from the sheet material of the columns and side members themselves.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack A. Kinzler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:47
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G99/00; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/30; B29C70/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of manufacturing in situ a structural member from compactly stored flexible single sheet material comprising: (a) progressively forming a plurality of generally tubular column members, each by advancing sheet material from an independent source into a column forming assembly, and deploying the column members generally parallel to one another; (b) interconnecting adjacent column members simultaneously with the forming thereof by progressively securing a respective side member between each such pair of adjacent column members each side member being comprised of a strip of the sheet material advanced from an independent source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of manufacturing in situ a structural member from compactly stored flexible single sheet material comprising: (a) progressively forming a plurality of generally tubular column members, each by advancing sheet material from an independent source into a column forming assembly, and deploying the column members generally parallel to one another; (b) interconnecting adjacent column members simultaneously with the forming thereof by progressively securing a respective side member between each such pair of adjacent column members each side member being comprised of a strip of the sheet material advanced from an independent source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said side members includes a pair of opposite side edges and is oriented with each such side edge disposed adjacent a respective one of the column members interconnected by said side member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the securing of said side members to said column members includes forming selfattaching fasteners of the sheet material of said column members and side members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the sheet material of the side member adjacent each of said side edges is positioned adjacent the respective column member to form overlapping layers of the sheet material of said side member and said column member, said securing including punching through said overlapping layers to form overlapping tabs of said sheet material depending from the main bodies of said sheet material, and bending said tabs back upon the main bodies of said sheet material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the sheet material of each of said side members is compacted in the form of a roll prior to formation of said structural member and deployed from such roll during formation of the structural member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the sheet material of each of said side members is pre-cut to form, a pair of attachment elements extending longitudinally along said side edges for securing to said column members, a plurality of strut elements extending transversely between said attachment elements, and a plurality of open spaces between said attachment elements and strut elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6 wherein at least some of said strut elements are formed generally perpendicular to said attachment elements to serve as compression struts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 7 including sequentially forming elongate beads on each of said side members, each of said beads being formed to extend between the side edges of said side member along a respective one of said compression struts and being formed prior to securing the adjacent portions of said attachment elements to said column members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein others of said strut elements are formed diagonally with respect to said attachment elements and compression struts to serve as tension struts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said column members is formed from a respective strip of said sheet material closed upon itself.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 10 wherein three of said column members are formed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the sheet material of each of said column members is compacted in the form of a roll prior to formation of said column member and is deployed from such roll during formation of the column member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 10 including fastening the sheet material of each of said column members upon itself to form said column member by forming self-attaching fasteners of the sheet material of said column member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said fastening includes disposing portions of the sheet material of each of said column members in overlapping layers, punching through said overlapping layers to form overlapping tabs of said sheet material depending from the main body of said sheet material, and bending said tabs back upon the main body of said sheet material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein each of said columns is formed by helically winding the respective strip of sheet material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the strip of sheet material of each of said column members includes a pair of opposite side edges, and wherein each of said columns is formed by rolling said strip of sheet material to bring said side edges into juxtaposition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 1 being performed in space.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 including providing a reference target and forming and deploying said structural member in the direction of said target.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 18 including selectively varying the speeds of formation of said column members to maintain said structural member in alignment with said target.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 19 including sensing a movable target mounted on and movable with said structural member and varying said speeds to maintain said targets in alignment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 including forming and deploying said structural member toward the earth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 using aluminum as said sheet material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for manufacturing in situ a structural member from compactly stored flexible single sheet material comprising: a plurality of storage means adapted to receive the flexible single sheet material in compacted form; column-forming means for progressively forming a plurality of tubular column members each by advancing sheet material from one of said plurality of storage means and deploying said column members generally parallel to one another; means for progressively positioning a respective side member between adjacent column members simultaneously with the forming thereof, each side member being comprised of a strip of the sheet material advanced from one of said plurality of storage means; and connecting means for progressively securing each side member to the adjacent column members.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
118 words
Apparatus for manufacturing in situ a structural member from compactly stored flexible single sheet material comprising: a plurality of storage means adapted to receive the flexible single sheet material in compacted form; column-forming means for progressively forming a plurality of tubular column members each by advancing sheet material from one of said plurality of storage means and deploying said column members generally parallel to one another; means for progressively positioning a respective side member between adjacent column members simultaneously with the forming thereof, each side member being comprised of a strip of the sheet material advanced from one of said plurality of storage means; and connecting means for progressively securing each side member to the adjacent column members.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said storage means comprise storage reels for receiving said sheet material in roll form.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 24 including a separate one of said storage reels for each of said column members and side members.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said column-forming means includes a respective column-forming assembly for each of said column members, each of said column-forming assemblies comprising means for closing a respective strip of said sheet material upon itself to form the respective column member.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of said column-forming assemblies is operative to helically wind the respective strip of said sheet material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said storage means comprise a separate storage member for the strip of sheet material of each of said column members, and wherein each of said column-forming assemblies comprises a stationary mandrel, guide means for directing the respective strip of sheet material from the respective one of said storage members onto said mandrel, and means mounting said storage member and said guide means for rotation about said mandrel to helically wrap said strip of sheet material on said mandrel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the strip of said sheet material of each of said column members includes a pair of opposite side edges, and wherein each of said column-forming assemblies is operative to roll said strip of said sheet material to bring said side edges into juxtaposition.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of said column-forming assemblies includes a fastening assembly for fastening the sheet material of the respective column member upon itself by forming self-attaching fasteners of the sheet material of said column member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein each of said column-forming assemblies is operative to dispose portions of the respective strip of sheet material in overlapping layers, and wherein said fastening assembly includes punch means for punching through said overlapping layers to form overlapping tabs of said sheet material depending from the the main body of said sheet material, and bending means for bending said tabs back upon the main body of said sheet material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said punch means is carried by a rotary carrier disposed generally tangentially to said overlapping layers of said sheet material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein said punch means is mounted for reciprocation generally into and out of said overlapping layers of said sheet material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said punch means is further mounted for movement in a path generally transverse to the direction of said reciprocation while engaged in said overlapping layers to advance said sheet material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein each of said column-forming assemblies includes a column drive assembly, the speeds of said column drive assemblies being individually selectively variable to vary the speeds of formation of said column members.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein each of said side members includes a pair of opposite side edges, and wherein said positioning means is operative to orient each of said side members with each of its side edges adjacent a respective one of the column members to be interconnected by said side member.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 36 wherein said connecting means comprises a plurality of fastening assemblies, each for securing a respective side of a respective one of said side members to the adjacent one of said column members by forming self-attaching fasteners of the sheet material of said column member and said side member.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
90 words
The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said positioning means is operative to position the sheet material adjacent each of said side edges adjacent the respective column member to form overlapping layers of the sheet material of said side member and said column member, and wherein said fastening assembly includes punch means for punching through said overlapping layers to form overlapping tabs of said sheet material depending from the main bodies of said sheet material, and bending means for bending said tabs back upon the main bodies of said sheet material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said punch means is carried by a rotary carrier disposed generally tangentially to said overlapping layers of said sheet material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 38 wherein said punch means is mounted for reciprocation generally into and out of said overlapping layers of said sheet material.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 40 wherein said punch means is further mounted for movement in a path generally transverse to the direction of said reciprocation while engaged in said overlapping layers to advance said sheet material.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 31 further comprising bead-forming means operative to sequentially form a series of elongate beads on each of said side members, each of said beads being formed to extend between the side edges of the respective side member and prior to securing of the adjacent portions of said side member to said column members by said connecting means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said bead-forming means includes a plurality of bead-forming assemblies each associated with a respective one of said side members, each of said bead-forming assemblies including opposed first and second die members having said side member interposed therebetween, first drive means for simultaneously reciprocating said die members toward and away from said side member, and second drive means for advancing said die members in a first direction generally parallel to said side member when said die members are engaged with said side member and for retracting said die members in a second direction generally opposite said first direction when said die members are disengaged from said side member.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein said die members have mating arcuate cross-sectional configurations for forming arcuate beads.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
144 words
A structural member comprising: a plurality of tubular, generally parallel column members formed of flexible sheet material, a plurality of respective side members, each comprised of a strip of sheet material interconnecting adjacent pairs of the column members, each of said side members including a pair of longitudinally extending attachment elements secured to respective ones of the connected pair of column members, and strut elements extending transversely between said attachment elements, with open spaces between said attachment elements and strut elements, and wherein at least some of said strut elements are disposed generally perpendicular to said attachment elements to serve as compression struts, and wherein each of said compression struts has an elongate bead extending therealong and through the adjacent portions of said attachment elements, and first self-attaching means connecting each side member to the adjacent column members and formed by the members connected.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
144 words
A structural member comprising: a plurality of tubular, generally parallel column members formed of flexible sheet material, a plurality of respective side members, each comprised of a strip of sheet material interconnecting adjacent pairs of the column members, each of said side members including a pair of longitudinally extending attachment elements secured to respective ones of the connected pair of column members, and strut elements extending transversely between said attachment elements, with open spaces between said attachment elements and strut elements, and wherein at least some of said strut elements are disposed generally perpendicular to said attachment elements to serve as compression struts, and wherein each of said compression struts has an elongate bead extending therealong and through the adjacent portions of said attachment elements, and first self-attaching means connecting each side member to the adjacent column members and formed by the members connected.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
A structural member according to claim 45 wherein said beads are of arcuate cross-section configuration.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
A structural member according to claim 45 wherein others of said strut elements are disposed diagonally with respect to said attachment elements and compression struts to serve as tension struts.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
56 words
A structural member according to claim 48 wherein the sheet material of each of said side members overlaps the sheet material of the connected column members, and wherein said first self-attaching means include overlapping tabs of said sheet material cut from the main bodies of said overlapping sheet material and folded back upon the main bodies.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structural member according to claim 51 wherein each of said first self-attaching means includes a plurality of pairs of said overlapping tabs radiating from a common pair of aligned apertures in the main bodies of said overlapping sheet material.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
25 words
A structural member according to claim 48 wherein each of said column members is comprised of a respective strip of sheet material closed upon itself.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
30 words
A structural member according to claim 50 wherein the sheet material of each of said column members is fastened upon itself by second self-attaching means formed by said column member.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
50 words
A structural member according to claim 51 wherein the sheet material of each of said column members forms overlapping layers, and wherein said second self-attaching means include overlapping tabs of said sheet material cut from the main body of said overlapping sheet material and folded back upon said main body.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
36 words
A structural member according to claim 52 wherein each of said second self-attaching means includes a plurality of pairs of said overlapping tabs radiating from a common pair of aligned apertures in said overlapping sheet material.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structural member according to claim 50 wherein the sheet material of each of said column members is helically wound.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structural member according to claim 50 wherein the strip of sheet material of each of said column members includes a pair of opposite side edges, said strip of sheet material being rolled so that said side edges are juxtaposed.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structural member according to claim 55 wherein each of said column members is generally teardrop-shaped in transverse cross section.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structural member according to claim 56 wherein said column members are oriented such that the apexes of said teardrop shapes face laterally outwardly, and wherein each of said side members is disposed generally tangentially to the connected column members.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
40 words
A structural member according to claim 57 wherein the strip of sheet material of each of said column members has flange portions adjacent to and including said side edges and extending laterally outwardly from the apex of said teardrop shape.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
13 words
A structural member according to claim 48 wherein said sheet material is aluminum.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
15 words
A structural number according to claim 45 wherein there are three of said column members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-09 | 1984-06-09 | 1984-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-09 | 1988-06-09 | 1988-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-09 | 1992-06-09 | 1992-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |