A novel system and related methods for sequentially deploying, in automated or semi-automated fashion, a strip of a plurality of truss bays with integral solar panels from a moving carrier onto a surface being traversed, resulting in a long, contiguous truss structure laid upon on the surface. The solar panels are angled at a predetermined orientation for solar operation at the deployment location. The carrier is easily and quickly reloaded with another set of truss bays for repeated deployment of a series of strips of solar truss structures in a solar array. The solar array thus is constructed in substantially less time and with substantially less labor that conventional support racking in the filed using prior art piece-wise assembly operations.

A shape-morphing space frame (SMSF) utilizing the linear bistable compliant crank-slider mechanism (LBCCSM). The frame's initial shape is constructed from a single-layer grid of flexures, rigid links and LBCCSMs. The grid is bent into the space frame's initial cylindrical shape, which can morph because of the inclusion of LBCCSMs in its structure. The design parameters include the frame's initial height, its tessellation pattern (including the unit cell bistable elements' placement), its initial diameter, and the resulting desired shape. The method used in placing the unit cell bistable elements considers the principle stress trajectories. Two different examples of shape-morphing space frames are presented herein, each starting from a cylindrical-shell space frame and morphing, one to a hyperbolic-shell space frame and the other to a spherical-shell space frame, both morphing by applying moments, which shear the cylindrical shell, and forces, which change the cylinder's radius using Poisson's effect.

A fitting for channel framing includes a first clip arm configured to extend into a first external fitting groove of the channel framing and clip onto the channel framing, and a second clip arm configured to extend into a second external fitting groove of the channel framing and clip onto the channel framing. An outer portion connected to and extending between the first and second clip arms is configured to span across the continuous slot when the first and second clip arms extend into the respective first and second external fitting grooves and are clipped onto the channel framing.

A rotary joint includes a socket rod having a socket rod flange with a basically spheroid con-cave bearing surface at a first end, a housing nut encircling the socket rod and having a threaded wrenching head, a ball rod having a basically spheroid convex bearing surface and threaded side walls around the convex bearing surface, and a joint actuator configured to actuate relative movement of the socket rod flange and the ball rod. A diameter of the threaded side walls of the ball rod corresponds to a diameter of the threaded wrenching head of the housing nut.

A connector assembly, having an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors. Also, disclosed is a hoistable connector assembly, a lifting frame assembly, a coupling system for modular frame units, a method for assembling a module unit using the connector assembly, and a modular frame unit and building having the connector assembly.

A cabin monument for an aircraft is described. The cabin monument has a framework with a base frame and a frame structure connected to the base frame, and side walls fastened to the frame structure. Furthermore, an aircraft with such a cabin monument and a use of such a cabin monument are specified.

A system and method for a modular structure system is illustrated. The system includes a plurality of posts and beams. The posts are vertically oriented to define a space. The plurality of posts includes a mating aperture. A beam is included to span the distance between the posts. The beam includes a mating stud protruding out from the beam and configured to pass through the mating apertures of the plurality of posts. An anchor is in communication with the plurality of posts to secure each into a desired position. Siding is coupled to the plurality of posts and the beams to restrict access between the plurality of posts. The location of the beams is interchangeable between the plurality of posts so as to adjust the layout of the space without moving the posts.

A method for erecting or assembling a frame includes the steps of: forming a joint with at least two frame members placed at an angle to one another, each frame members is a metal tube, no coping nor fittings are used to form the joint; wrapping the joint with a saddle, the saddle is a bent flat metal member with at least one hole overlaying each frame member; and plug welding the saddle to each frame member by filling each hole with weld metal. A frame includes: a joint formed by at least two frame members set at an angle to one another, each frame member is a metal tube; a saddle is wrapped over the joint, the saddle is a flat metal member with at least one hole overlaying each frame member; and a plug weld joining the saddle to each frame member, via weld metal filling the hole.

A deck board support bracket includes a drainage channel in a top surface of the bracket and deck boards are secured in an end to end manner with a space between two deck board ends centered over the drainage channel. Water presented on the deck surface at two deck board ends passes therebetween and to one side of a supporting joist. The deck board support bracket can be used with various deck board fastening arrangements and preferably is made of an injection molded plastic material.

A lower connector includes a lower connector hollow body, a pair of lower connector bosses coupled to the lower connector hollow body, and a pair of lower connector arms coupled to the lower connector bosses. A connector assembly includes an upper connector coupled to a lower connector and a gusset plate sandwiched between the upper and lower connectors.