TRIANGULAR PYRAMIDAL STRUCTURE, A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FABRICATING SAME

Abstract

A triangular pyramidal supporting structure, which has the shape of a tetrahedron made up of elements to form a primary plane, and sloping elements (projecting slopingly upwards from the primary plane and meeting in a junction point. The joining of the elements of the tetrahedron is governed by imaginary lines that are determined by the primary plane. Further, a system has at least four tetrahedrons, and a method for providing the tetrahedron and the system are described.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A system comprising at least four triangular pyramidal supporting structures, each of the at least four triangular pyramidal supporting structures comprising: a triangular pyramidal supporting structure comprising: three primary elements which are connected at three primary joints into an equilateral triangle to form a primary plane; three sloping elements, equal in length, each of the three sloping elements having, in a position of use, a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portions being attached each to a respective one of the primary joints, and the second end portions being joined together in a junction portion so that the primary elements and the sloping elements form a pyramidal shape, wherein the sloping elements are arranged, in pairs, with an external portion which is parallel to and on an inside of a respective one of three imaginary planes defined by imaginary sloping lines which each extend from an intersection between two and two imaginary lines which are coaxial with a respective one of outer, upper edge lines of a respective primary element, and beyond an end portion of the junction portion, the imaginary lines being longer than the primary elements so that said intersection is on an outside of the first end portions of the sloping elements, the three imaginary planes each touching a portion of a respective primary element so that the sloping elements are arranged within the imaginary planes, wherein: the intersections of imaginary lines of the primary planes of at least three of the at least four triangular supporting structures are placed adjacent to each other in a first plane, so that two of the intersections of the imaginary lines of each of the primary planes are adjacent to two of the intersections of the imaginary lines of the two other triangular supporting structures in order thereby to form an open, equilateral triangle defined between the intersections of the imaginary lines of the three triangular supporting structures; and the intersections between two and two of the imaginary lines of the primary plane of the at least fourth triangular supporting structure each coincide with a respective one of the intersections of the sloping elements so that the primary plane of the at least fourth triangular supporting structure is carried in a second plane above said first plane, and the system defines a tetrahedron determined by the imaginary lines of the system.

17. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the triangular supporting structures are regular tetrahedrons.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the primary joints in the primary plane of the triangular structure or structures that are placed against underlying triangular supporting structures are formed with cut-outs that are complementarily adapted for the junction point of each of the three triangular pyramidal supporting structures carrying the one or more triangular structures, so that the primary joints of the one or more triangular supporting structures that are being carried, enclose a portion of said junction point.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein the supporting structure further comprises three secondary elements that are attached to portions of the sloping elements between the primary joints and the junction portion to form a secondary plane, and wherein each of the secondary elements has at least three sides, at least one side of which is parallel to the primary plane and faces away from the primary plane, the at least one side being defined by an outer edge line and an inner edge line, and wherein at least the outer edge line of each of the secondary elements is coaxial with a respective imaginary line lying in a respective one of the three imaginary planes.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein the supporting structure further comprises three secondary elements that are attached to portions of the sloping elements between the primary joints and the junction portion to form a secondary plane which is parallel to the primary plane, imaginary lines touching top portions of the secondary elements and extending beyond end portions of the secondary elements.

21. The system according to claim 16, wherein at least some of the elements of the supporting structure are joined together by means of mountings.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the mountings comprise sleeve-shaped portions configured for, at least partly, enclosing an end portion of the element or each of the elements of the supporting structure.

23. The system according to claim 19, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section shaped like a parallelogram, one side face of each of the secondary elements being placed in the same plane as the imaginary lines.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section with an endless surface.

25. The system according to claim 16, wherein a cross-sectional area of the sloping elements is larger at the first end portion than at the second end portion.

26. A method for providing the system according to claim 16, the method comprising: planning the triangular pyramidal supporting structures forming the structure by means of imaginary lines defining a tetrahedron, the imaginary lines being defined by: three imaginary lines being coaxial with a respective one of outer, upper edge lines of primary elements, the imaginary lines being longer than the primary elements so that two and two of the imaginary lines form intersections defining a primary plane; three sloping imaginary lines extending from a respective one of the intersections of the imaginary lines forming the imaginary plane, the sloping imaginary lines intersect in a point; wherein the imaginary lines and the sloping imaginary lines defining a first imaginary plane, a second imaginary plane, and a third imaginary plane; connecting the primary elements at the primary joints to form an equilateral triangle in the primary plane, so that the upper edge lines of primary elements coincides with the imaginary lines; connecting the first end portions of the sloping elements to a primary joint each, and connecting the second end portions of the sloping elements in a junction portion; and arranging the external portions of the sloping elements in pairs in parallel with and on an inside of a respective one of the first, second and third imaginary planes, so that an end portion of the junction portion is on an inside of said first, second and third imaginary planes, the method further comprising: placing at least three of the intersections of the imaginary lines of the primary planes of said at least three of the at least four triangular supporting structures adjacent to each other in a first plane, so that two of the intersections of the imaginary lines of each of the primary planes are adjacent to two of the intersections of the imaginary lines of the two other triangular supporting structures in order thereby to form an open, equilateral triangle defined between the intersections of the imaginary lines of the three triangular supporting structures; and placing the intersections between two and two of the imaginary lines of the primary plane of the at least fourth triangular supporting structure in positions coinciding each with a respective one of the intersections of the sloping elements so that the primary plane of the at least fourth triangular supporting structure is supported in a second plane above said first plane, and the system defines a tetrahedron determined by the imaginary lines of the system.

27. The system according to claim 17, wherein the primary joints in the primary plane of the triangular structure or structures that are placed against underlying triangular supporting structures are formed with cut-outs that are complementarily adapted for the junction point of each of the three triangular pyramidal supporting structures carrying the one or more triangular structures, so that the primary joints of the one or more triangular supporting structures that are being carried, enclose a portion of said junction point.

28. The system according to claim 17, wherein the supporting structure further comprises three secondary elements that are attached to portions of the sloping elements between the primary joints and the junction portion to form a secondary plane which is parallel to the primary plane, imaginary lines touching top portions of the secondary elements and extending beyond end portions of the secondary elements.

29. The system according to claim 18, wherein the supporting structure further comprises three secondary elements that are attached to portions of the sloping elements between the primary joints and the junction portion to form a secondary plane which is parallel to the primary plane, imaginary lines touching top portions of the secondary elements and extending beyond end portions of the secondary elements.

30. The system according to claim 20, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section shaped like a parallelogram, one side face of each of the secondary elements being placed in the same plane as the imaginary lines.

31. The system according to claim 21, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section shaped like a parallelogram, one side face of each of the secondary elements being placed in the same plane as the imaginary lines.

32. The system according to claim 22, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section shaped like a parallelogram, one side face of each of the secondary elements being placed in the same plane as the imaginary lines.

33. The system according to claim 20, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section with an endless surface.

34. The system according to claim 21, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section with an endless surface.

35. The system according to claim 22, wherein the secondary elements have a cross section with an endless surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] In what follows, examples of preferred embodiments are described, which are visualized in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a triangular supporting structure according to the invention, in which imaginary lines are shown on an outside of the supporting structure;

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the imaginary lines of the supporting structure shown in FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a system made up of four triangular supporting structures according to FIG. 1, but in which only the imaginary lines of FIG. 2 are shown;

[0051] FIG. 4 shows, on a larger scale, a detail A of FIG. 3, but in which the elements of the supporting structure are shown as well.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] In the description, positional indications refer to the positions that are shown in the figures.

[0053] A reference numeral for an element that is generally indicated may also be used for a specific embodiment of the element generally indicated.

[0054] For illustrative reasons, the ratio between individual elements may be somewhat distorted.

[0055] In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a triangular supporting structure in accordance with the invention.

[0056] In what follows, the triangular supporting structure 1 will also be referred to as a tetrahedron 1.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 1, the tetrahedron 1 comprises three primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c which are joined together at three primary joints 7. The joined primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c, shown here as elements with a quadrangular cross section, all equal in length, thus forming an equilateral triangle. The joined primary elements 4a, 4b, 4c form a primary plane.

[0058] Three sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c are supported by the primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c, and first end portions of the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c having been joined with the primary joints 7, and a second end portion of each of the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c having been joined together into a junction portion 9. The sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c are all equal in length. The primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c and the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c thus form the tetrahedron 1.

[0059] Each of the primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c has an outer edge line shown as, respectively, 14a, 14b and 14c as an upper, outer boundary of the primary elements.

[0060] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the tetrahedron 1 is further provided with three secondary elements 6a, 6b and 6c which are attached to side portions of the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c between the primary joints 7 and the junction portion 9 of the second end portions of the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c. The secondary elements 6a, 6b and 6c form a secondary plane which is parallel to the primary plane defined by the primary elements 4a, 4b, 4c. When the invention is used as, for example, a supporting structure in a building structure, the secondary plane may, but does not have to, form a supporting structure for a floor. Even though one secondary plane is shown in FIG. 1, it will be understood that more than one secondary plane may be placed between the primary joints 7 and the junction portion 9 of the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c. It will further be understood that the tetrahedron 1 may be made without the secondary elements 6a, 6b and 6c so that the tetrahedron 1 does not include the secondary plane.

[0061] In the embodiment shown, the primary joints 7 and the junction portion 9 include sleeve-shaped mountings. The mountings are shown coloured in grey in FIG. 1. The sleeve-shaped mountings form part of the primary joints 7 and the junction portion 9 and are therefore indicated by the same reference numeral as the primary joint and the junction portion, that is to say 7 and 9. The sleeve-shaped portions 7, 9 are typically made of metal and are prefabricated. The centre axes of the sleeves of the mounting 7, which are to receive the primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c, have an angle of 60° between them. The angle of the centre axis of the part of the mounting 7 that is to receive the first end portion of the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c has an angle adapted to the length of the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c. Correspondingly, the angles between the centre axes of the sleeves of the mounting 9, which are to receive the second end portions of the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c, are adapted to the length of the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0062] In the embodiment shown, the secondary elements 6a, 6b and 6c are also attached by means of sleeve-shaped mountings 8 which each comprise fixing portions that are adapted for resting against one of the side faces of the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c.

[0063] In FIG. 1 there are several imaginary lines. The imaginary lines are shown in a thick stroke. In the primary plane, three imaginary lines 1a, 1b and 1c are shown, which are coaxial with the outer edge lines 14a, 14b and 14c, respectively, but which extend beyond each of the joints 7. The imaginary lines 1a, 1b, 1c are thus longer than the primary elements 4a, 4b, 4c. Two and two of the imaginary lines 1a, 1b and 1c thus form meeting points or intersections. From each intersection, imaginary lines 2a, 2b and 2c extend parallel with and along the sloping elements 5a, 5b and 5c, respectively. In the embodiment shown, the imaginary lines meet above the centre of the junction portion and thereby the sleeve-shaped mounting 9.

[0064] In the secondary plane, three imaginary lines 3a, 3b and 3c are shown, which are coaxial with upper, outer edge lines 36a, 36b and 36c of the secondary elements 6a, 6b and 6c, respectively, but which extend beyond the mountings 8 at each end portion of each of the secondary elements 6a, 6b and 6c until they meet or cross the imaginary lines 2a, 2b and 2c.

[0065] In the embodiment shown, having primary elements 4a, 4b and 4c of a quadrangular cross section, the imaginary lines 1a, 2a and 2b form a first imaginary plane. The imaginary lines 1b, 2b and 2c form a second imaginary plane, and the imaginary lines 1c, 2a and 2c form a third imaginary plane. The imaginary planes thus touch the upper, outer portions of the primary elements 4a, 4b, 4c.

[0066] In an embodiment (not shown) with primary elements having a cross section with an endless peripheral surface, such as a circular or oval one, imaginary lines corresponding to 1a, 1b and 1c as shown in FIG. 1 will be parallel to axes extending along the uppermost portions of the primary elements, that is to say along the tops of the primary elements, whereas the imaginary planes touch the primary elements along lines that are below the imaginary lines.

[0067] In an embodiment (not shown) with secondary elements having a cross section with an endless surface, such as a circular or oval one, imaginary lines corresponding to 3a, 3b and 3c as shown in FIG. 1 will be parallel to axes extending along the uppermost portions of the secondary elements, whereas the imaginary planes touch the secondary elements along lines that are below the imaginary lines.

[0068] The purpose of the imaginary lines will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, and in particular to FIG. 4.

[0069] Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 and 3 in which only the imaginary lines are shown. FIG. 2 shows the imaginary lines shown in FIG. 1. It will thus be understood that FIG. 2 deals with the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0070] FIG. 3 shows the system S which is made up of four identical tetrahedrons which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. For the sake of clarity, the four tetrahedrons are indicated by the reference numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4. Besides, the four tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3 and 4 are shown in different stroke thicknesses, this for the sake of clarity, too. However, it should be repeated that the tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3 and 4 are identical.

[0071] To facilitate the understanding, the reference numerals in FIG. 3 are indicated in such a way that the tetrahedron 1 as indicated by the reference numeral 1, has a first digit “1” in addition to the reference numerals in FIG. 1. The tetrahedron indicated by the reference numeral 2, has a first digit “2” in addition to the reference numerals in FIG. 1. Correspondingly for the tetrahedrons 3 and 4 which have first digits “3” and “4”, respectively, in addition to the reference numerals in FIG. 1.

[0072] In FIG. 3, three tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3 are placed against each other in a first plane so that two of the intersections of the imaginary lines in the primary plane (see FIG. 1) of each of the primary planes coincide with two intersections of the imaginary lines of the two other tetrahedrons so as to form an open, equilateral triangle (shown hatched) defined between the imaginary lines 21c, 22c, 11a.

[0073] The intersection of the imaginary lines 11a, 11b of the first tetrahedron 1 is placed in a position coinciding with the intersection of the imaginary lines 21b, 21c of the second tetrahedron 2 and the intersection of the imaginary lines 11a, 11c of the first tetrahedron is placed in a position coinciding with the intersection of the imaginary lines 31b, 31c of the third tetrahedron 3. Correspondingly, the intersection of the imaginary lines 21a, 21c of the second tetrahedron 2 is placed in a position coinciding with the intersection of the imaginary lines 31a, 31b of the third tetrahedron 3.

[0074] Thus, it is the imaginary lines that decide the relative positioning of the tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3 and not the primary joints 7 formed by the end portions of the primary elements 4a, 4b, 4c as shown in FIG. 1.

[0075] In FIG. 3, a fourth tetrahedron 4 is placed against the meeting points or intersections of the sloping imaginary lines of the tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3 so that the intersection or meeting point of the imaginary lines 41b, 41c of the fourth tetrahedron 4 coincides with the intersection of the sloping imaginary lines 12a, 12b, 12c of the first tetrahedron. The intersection or meeting point of the imaginary lines 41a, 41b of the fourth tetrahedron 4 coincides with the intersection of the sloping imaginary lines 22a, 22b, 22c of the second tetrahedron 2, and the intersection or meeting point of the imaginary lines 41a, 41c of the fourth tetrahedron 4 coincides with the intersection of the sloping imaginary lines 32a, 32b, 32c of the third tetrahedron.

[0076] In the embodiment in FIG. 3, imaginary lines 13a, 13b, 13c; 23a, 23b, 23c; 33a, 33b, 33c; 43a, 43b, 43c of the secondary plane are also shown for each of the tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3, 4.

[0077] In FIG. 3, a fifth tetrahedron arranged laterally inversed to the primary plane 41a, 41b, 41c of the fourth tetrahedron 4 is also conceivable. A fifth tetrahedron like that will be defined by the imaginary line 12a of the first tetrahedron 1, the imaginary line 32c of the third tetrahedron 3, and the imaginary plane defined by the imaginary lines 22a and 22c of the second tetrahedron 2. Even though it does not appear clearly from FIG. 3, a lowermost portion of the imagined fifth tetrahedron will be at a centre of the open area that is shown hatched in FIG. 3.

[0078] In such an imagined embodiment with a fifth tetrahedron, the sloping imaginary lines extend downwards from the intersections of the imaginary lines 41c, 41b; 41c, 41a; and 41a, 41b. This means, with respect to the elements of the triangular supporting structure, that sloping elements corresponding to the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c (see FIG. 1) are connected to elements corresponding to the elements 4a, 4b, 4c (see FIG. 1 again) in the primary plane of the fourth tetrahedron 4, against which the imagined fifth tetrahedron abuts. Thus, the imagined fifth tetrahedron shares a primary plane with the fourth tetrahedron 4. In, for example, a building structure made up of several “storeys” of tetrahedrons, it will always be the case that the primary plane of an underlying tetrahedron is governed by an overlying tetrahedron.

[0079] The effect of the imaginary lines will be explained with reference to FIG. 4 which shows the detail A of FIG. 3 on a larger scale, but FIG. 4 additionally shows portions of the elements 5a, 5b, 5c of the supporting structure and also the junction point 9 of the first, lower tetrahedron 1, and the joint 7 of the primary elements 4a, 4b and sloping element 5a of the upper tetrahedron 4. The reference numerals of said elements are the same as in FIG. 1 for each of the tetrahedrons 1, 4 in detail A.

[0080] The imaginary lines 12a, 12b and 12c which are parallel to the elements 5a, 5b and 5c, respectively, intersect in a point 14P above the top portion of the tetrahedron 1. A vertical imaginary line 1V which extends through the point 14P hits a centre point of the junction point 9 which, in the embodiment shown, comprises a mounting.

[0081] The fourth tetrahedron 4 is placed in such a manner that the intersection of the imaginary lines 41b and 41c of, respectively, the elements 4b and 4c forming part of the primary plane of the fourth tetrahedron 4, and the imaginary line 42c of the sloping element 5c coincide with the point 14P as well. The imaginary lines 12c and 42c thereby form a straight line. By the very fact of the imaginary lines 12c, 42c being parallel to the sloping elements 5c of each of the tetrahedrons 1, 4, at least the outsides of the sloping elements 5c are arranged in line as well. In the embodiment shown, the outsides and the insides of the sloping elements 5 are parallel. Thereby, the insides of the sloping elements 5c are arranged in line as well.

[0082] From explanations above, it will be understood that it is the imaginary lines that determine the relative positioning of the tetrahedrons, and not the dimensions and cross-sectional shapes of the elements of the tetrahedrons 1, 2, 3 4 forming part of the system S shown in FIG. 3. It is the top portions of the elements in the primary plane of the tetrahedrons, which, in the embodiments as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, coincide with the imaginary lines, that must have a particular elevation, while, at the same time, the outsides of the sloping elements are placed in such a way that the imaginary lines of the sloping elements form a straight line. Thereby the system S may be built practically infinitely large, the external sloping elements of the system forming straight lines from the uppermost one to the lowermost one of the tetrahedrons in the system.

[0083] Even though it is not shown in FIG. 4, the sloping element 5c (and, correspondingly, the two other sloping elements of each tetrahedron) may have an extent that protrudes below the lower portion of the elements 4b, 4c, that is to say the primary plane has a somewhat higher elevation than the bottom sides of the sloping elements.

[0084] For a building structure that comprises one triangular pyramidal supporting structure as shown in FIG. 1, or several triangular supporting structures 1, 2, 3, 4 as shown in FIG. 3, the single supporting structure or those of the supporting structures in the system of supporting structures 1, 1, 3, 4 that abut against or are the nearest to a ground may be provided with sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c that extend into the ground and/or carry the primary plane at a distance from the ground. Loads that are transmitted to the ground via the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c may thereby be transmitted to the ground only as compressive forces. For a building structure that is placed against a sloping ground, the extents of the sloping elements 5a, 5b, 5c below the primary plane may be different in length.

[0085] From the description above, it will be understood that the triangular pyramidal supporting structure according to the first aspect of the invention may be u singly, but also in a system which is well suited for use in a building structure as a substitute for or an addition to conventional structural principles using pillars and rafters as load-carrying elements. The system according to the invention is well suited for absorbing vertical forces as well as horizontal forces caused by, for example, wind. Because of the tetrahedrons that form part of the system, the system may be produced with the tetrahedrons at any desired angle as long as the system is sufficiently supported.

[0086] According to the present invention, the imaginary lines form an imaginary tetrahedron. Several imaginary tetrahedrons may be assembled into a system and form a three-dimensional, imaginary “diamond-like” structure which may be built infinitely. An inside of each imaginary tetrahedron houses the pyramidal supporting structure. The system will therefore function like a “building-block system”.

[0087] In one embodiment, the pyramidal supporting structures may be placed alternately with the junction point of the sloping elements pointing upwards, downwards and in each of the different directions that are possible inside each of the respective imaginary tetrahedrons of the imaginary diamond-like structure. In another embodiment, the imaginary tetrahedrons are placed with the junction points of the sloping elements pointing upwards in order to form open spaces in the remaining spaces that emerge in the imaginary diamond-like structure.

[0088] It should be noted that all the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate the invention, but do not limit it, and persons skilled in the art may construct many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the attached claims. In the claims, reference numbers in brackets are not to be regarded as restrictive.

[0089] The use of the verb “to comprise” and its different forms does not exclude the presence of elements or steps that are not mentioned in the claims. The indefinite article “a” or “an” before an element does not exclude the presence of several such elements.

[0090] The fact that some features are indicated in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be used with advantage.