Collapsible truss unit for use in combination with other like units for the construction of frameworks

Claim 1

A collapsible truss unit for use in combination with other like units for the construction of, for example, a permanent or semipermanent framework in outer space or a temporary framework on the earth, the collapsible truss unit comprising: (a) a first end truss assembly comprising four end truss members joined to one another in quadrilateral arrangement to provide first, second, third and fourth joints, and a diagonal end truss member joined at both ends to two diagonally opposite ones of the first, second, third and fourth joints; (b) a second end truss assembly comprising four end truss members joined to one another in quadrilateral arrangement to provide fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth joints, and a diagonal end truss member joined at both ends to two diagonally opposite ones of the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth joints; (c) the first and second end truss assemblies being disposed in parallel spaced relation to each other and with the first, second, third and fourth joints of the first end truss assembly opposed to the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth joints, respectively, of the second end truss assembly; (d) an intermediate truss assembly comprising four intermediate truss members pivotally joined to one another in quadrilateral arrangement to provide nineth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth joints, the nineth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth joints of the intermediate truss assembly being disposed intermediate the first and fifth joints, second and sixth joints, third and seventh joints, and fourth and eighth joints, respectively, of the first and second end truss assemblies; (e) a first connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the first joint of the first end truss assembly and to the nineth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (f) a second connective truss member pivotally jointed at both ends to the second joint of the first end truss assembly and to the tenth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (g) a third connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the third joint of the first end truss assembly and to the eleventh joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (h) a fourth connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the fourth joint of the first end truss assembly and to the twelfth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (i) a fifth connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the fifth joint of the second end truss assembly and to the nineth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (j) a sixth connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the sixth joint of the second end truss assembly and to the tenth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (k) a seventh connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the seventh joint of the second end truss assembly and to the eleventh joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (l) an eighth connective truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the eighth joint of the second end truss assembly and to the twelfth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (m) a first connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the third joint of the first end truss assembly and to the tenth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (n) a second connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the fourth joint of the first end truss assembly and to the nineth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (o) a third connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the seventh joint of the second end truss assembly and to the tenth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (p) a fourth connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the eighth joint of the second end truss assembly and to the nineth joint of the intermediate truss assembly; (q) a first movable hinge assembly mounted on that one of the intermediate truss members which extends between the nineth and tenth joints, for movement in the longitudinal direction thereof, the first movable hinge assembly being held adjacent the nineth joint when the truss unit is deployed, and being displaced toward the tenth joint when the truss unit is collapsed; (r) a fifth connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the first movable hinge assembly and to the second joint of the first end truss assembly; (s) a sixth connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the first movable hinge assembly and to the sixth joint of the second end truss assembly; (t) a second movable hinge assembly mounted on that one of the intermediate truss members which extends between the eleventh and twelfth joints, for movement in the longitudinal direction thereof, the second movable hinge assembly being held adjacent the eleventh joint when the truss unit is deployed, and being displaced toward, and then away from, the twelfth joint when the truss unit is being collapsed; (u) a seventh connective diagonal truss member pivotally joined at both ends to the second movable hinge assembly and to the fourth joint of the first end truss assembly; (v) an eighth connective diagonal truss member pivotally joied at both ends to the second movable hinge assembly and to the eighth joint of the second end truss assembly; and (w) brace means mounted to the intermediate truss assembly for maintaining the same in the required quadrilateral shape when the truss unit is deployed.