Funicular arched steel truss falsework

Abstract

A scaffold having an opposing pair of half funicular trusses that are detachably or pivotably connected in the middle to establish a funicular arched truss is provided, where when in a detached or pivoted state, storage and transporting a plurality of the half funicular trusses is simplified.

Claims

1. A method of making a support structure, comprising detachably or pivotably connecting in opposition, at least one pair of half funicular arched trusses, wherein each said half funicular arched truss comprises: a) an exterior vertical member comprising a footing at a bottom end and a structure mount at a top end; b) a bottom chord member comprising a bottom end of said bottom chord member connected proximal to said exterior vertical member bottom end and a top end of said bottom chord member connected to a bottom port of a four-point intermediate connector, wherein said intermediate connector comprises said bottom port connected to a bottom portion of a connector housing and an outer port, a center port, and an inner port connected to a top portion of said connector housing; c) a diagonal member comprising a diagonal member bottom end connected to said inner port and a diagonal member top end connected proximal to said exterior vertical member top end; d) an interior vertical member comprising an interior vertical bottom end connected to said center port and an interior vertical member top end connected to a second said structure mount; e) a second bottom chord comprising a second bottom chord bottom end connected to said outer port and a second bottom chord top end connected to a bottom port of a second said four-point intermediate connector; f) a second diagonal member comprising a second diagonal member bottom end connected to an outer port of said second four-point intermediate connector and a second diagonal member top end connect proximal to said interior vertical member top end; g) a second said interior vertical member comprising a second interior vertical bottom end connected to a center port of said second four-point intermediate connector and a second interior vertical top end connected to a third said structure mount; h) a third bottom chord comprising a third bottom chord bottom end connected to an outer port of said second four-point intermediate connector and a third bottom chord top end connected to a bottom port of a third said four-point intermediated connector; i) a third diagonal member comprising a third diagonal member bottom end connected to an inner port of a third four-point intermediate connector and a third diagonal member top end connected proximal to said second interior vertical top end; j) a third said interior vertical member comprising a third interior vertical member bottom end connected to a center port of said third four-point intermediated connector and an interior vertical member top end connected to a fourth said structure mount; k) a fourth said bottom chord comprising a fourth bottom chord bottom end connected to an inner port of said third four-point intermediate connector and a fourth bottom chord top end connected to a truss joiner; and l) a horizontal member connected to said truss joiner and connected proximal to said third interior vertical member top end and connected proximal to said second interior vertical member top end and connected proximal to first interior top end and connected proximal to said exterior vertical top end; wherein one said half funicular arched truss detachably or pivotably connects to another said half funicular arched truss by detachably or fixedly connecting each said truss half funicular arched truss to a truss joiner in opposition to form a funicular truss scaffold, wherein said truss joiner is a solid plate or a hinged plate, wherein when in a detached or pivoted state storage and transporting a plurality of said half funicular arched trusses is simplified.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising a horizontal tie rod comprising a first end connected proximal to said bottom end of a first said exterior vertical member of a first said half funicular arched truss and a second end connected proximal to said bottom end of at least one other said exterior vertical member of at least one other said half funicular arched truss.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein each said vertical member, diagonal member, bottom chord, and horizontal member comprise a hollow tube.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said ports and said housing four-point intermediated connector comprise hollow tubes.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said bottom chords, said diagonal members, said interior vertical members and said four-point intermediate connectors comprise a truss member set, where the truss member set are assembled in a number that is scalable according to an intended height and span in an application.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said funicular truss scaffolds are connected in parallel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a scaffold having an opposing pair of half funicular arched trusses that are detachably or pivotably connected in the middle to establish a funicular arched truss is provided, according to one embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2A shows a funicular arched truss half, according to one embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2B shows an intermediate connector having a bottom port connected to a bottom portion of a connector housing, and an outer port, a center port, and an inner port connected to a top portion of the connector housing, according to one embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 2C shows a half funicular arched truss detachably connected using bolts, or fixedly connected by welding to another half funicular arched truss to a truss joiner that is a solid plate for the fixed connection, or a hinged plate for the fixed connection, according to embodiments of the current invention.

(5) FIG. 3 shows multiple half funicular arched trusses arranged in a compact bundle for storage in relatively confined spaces, or simplified transportation, according to embodiments of the current invention.

(6) FIG. 4 shows multiple funicular arched truss scaffolds 100 in an assembled state, and arranged in series and parallel patterns, according to embodiments of the current invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) Commercially available systems currently used in construction require high initial cost, take time to be erected and reduce the space in the construction site for the movement of material, equipment and labor as they prevent movement underneath them. The current invention provides a new false-work system derived from the funicular arch; funicular arched steel truss (FAST) system. In one embodiment, the invention decreases the cost of the false-work, where less material is required for the structure and therefore needs lower initial cost than systems currently known in the art. Further, the new system is environmentally friendly as it achieves a range between 45% and 50% savings in the amount of CO.sub.2 emitted to air due to the use of less material. The savings in the material used in the FAST system ranges between 45% to 51% depending on the covered area and it also provides more space in the construction site for the materials, equipment and workers to move underneath the system. The system also decreases the time needed for erection by range between 67% and 80% depending on the area and consequently helps in saving time and cost.

(8) A closed form solution is provided with members designed mainly to withstand buckling as they are all under compression. As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the invention includes eight vertical members; the two outer vertical members are designed as steel tubes of 25.4 mm diameter, the four inner verticals are designed as steel tubes with a diameter of 25.4 mm, the most two inner vertical members are steel tubes of 16 mm diameter. The case is different for the bottom chords because the forces decrease as you go towards the inner bottom chords. The two outer bottom chords are designed as steel tubes of 31.75 mm diameter, the diameter decreases in the following two members to be 25.4 mm, and the diameter is decreasing in the following two members to be 19 mm and the two most inner bottom chord members are 16 mm diameter as they carry the least compression.

(9) Furthermore, the current embodiment includes the upper horizontal chords, the diagonals and the bracing members having an outer diameter of 16 mm, which is the minimum limit for these zero members. In this example embodiment, all of these steel tubes have 1.25 mm thickness. Table 1 summarizes the diameters of all the members in half of the symmetric truss. Its numbering system is as follows: the connection between the upper chord members are given the odd number from (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) and the connections of the bottom chord members are given the even numbers (2, 4, 6, and 8), however, they meet with the upper chord members in the intermediate hinged which has the number 9.

(10) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Designed member dimensions per half truss. Member Member Length Diameter Name Number (mm) (mm) Exterior Vertical (EV) EV (1-2) 3000 25.4 mm Stringer (Upper chord) S 272.5 16 mm Interior Vertical (IV) IV (3-4) 1700 25.4 mm IV (5-6) 700 25.4 mm IV (7-8) 200 16 mm Bottom Chord (BC) BC (2-4) 1225 31.75 mm BC (4-6) 975 25.4 mm BC (6-8) 575 19 mm BC (8-9) 325 16 mm Diagonals (D) D (1-4) 1650 16 mm D (3-6) 750 16 mm D (5-8) 275 16 mm Scissors (SC) SC (34-34) 1220 16 mm SC (56-56) 900 16 mm

(11) In order to add structural redundancy to the system, a tie rod with an outer diameter of 19 mm is added to the system in order to withstand the thrusting force that tries to open the arch once it is subjected to high loads instead of depending on the friction with the ground to take the horizontal reactions. Further, it allows the setup of the truss to be easily assembled on site since it holds the two halves together, fixes the span at the desired length since it reduces the risk of the arch to open; and reduces the sway of the truss.

(12) In FIG. 1, a funicular arched truss scaffold 100 is shown that includes at least one pair of half funicular arched trusses 102 detachably or pivotable connected in opposition, where each funicular arched truss half 102 is shown opposite a dashed line. FIG. 2A shows a funicular arched truss half 102 that includes an exterior vertical member 104 having a footing 106 at a bottom end 108 and a structure mount 110 at a top end 112. Further shown is a bottom chord member 114 having a bottom end 116 of the bottom chord member connected proximal to the exterior vertical member bottom end 108 and a top end 118 of the bottom chord member 114 connected to a bottom port 120 of a four-point intermediate connector 122.

(13) As shown in FIG. 2B, the intermediate connector 122 includes the bottom port 120 connected to a bottom portion of a connector housing 124 and an outer port 126, a center port 128, and an inner port 130 connected to a top portion of the connector housing 124. The angles of the respective ports of the intermediate connector 122 are set according to their position in the structure.

(14) Turning again to FIG. 2A, a diagonal member 132 includes a diagonal member bottom end 134 connected to outside port 126 and a diagonal member top end 136 connected proximal to the exterior vertical member top end 112. Further shown is an interior vertical member 138 having an interior vertical bottom end 140 connected to the center port 128 and an interior vertical member top end 142 connected to a second structure mount 110. A second bottom chord 114a is shown having a second bottom chord bottom end 116a connected to the inside port 130 and a second bottom chord top end 118a connected to a bottom port 120a of a second the four-point intermediate connector 122. A second diagonal member 132a is shown having a second diagonal member bottom end 134a connected to an outer port 126a of the second four-point intermediate connector 122a and a second diagonal member top end 136a connect proximal to the interior vertical member top end 142. FIG. 2A further shows a second the interior vertical member 132a having a second interior vertical bottom end 140a connected to a center top port 122a of the second four-point intermediate connector 122a and a second interior vertical top end 142a connected to a third the structure mount 110b. A third bottom chord 114b is shown having a third bottom chord bottom end 116b connected to an inner top port 130a of the second four-point intermediate connector 122b and a third bottom chord top end 118b connected to a bottom port 120b of a third the four-point intermediated connector 122b. Further shown is a third diagonal member 132b having a third diagonal member bottom end 134b connected to an outer port 126b of a third four-point intermediate connector 122b and a third diagonal member top end 136b connected proximal to the second interior vertical top end 142a. A third the interior vertical member 138b having a third interior vertical member bottom end 140b is shown connected to a center port 120b of the third four-point intermediated connector 122b and an interior vertical member top end 142b is connected to a fourth the structure mount 110c. Also shown is a fourth bottom chord 114c having a fourth bottom chord bottom end 116c connected to an outside port 126c of the third four-point intermediate connector 122c and a fourth bottom chord top end 118c connected to a truss joiner 144 (see FIG. 2C). A horizontal member 146 connected to the truss joiner 142 and connected proximal to the third interior vertical member top end 142b and connected proximal to the second interior vertical member top end 142a and connected proximal to first second interior top end 142 and connected proximal to the exterior vertical top end 112, where a half funicular arched truss 102 detachably connects using bolts 148 or pivotably connects by a hinge 150 (see FIG. 2C) to another half funicular arched truss 102 by detachably or pivotably connecting each to a truss joiner 144, that can be a solid or hinged element, in opposition to each other to form a funicular arched truss scaffold 100, where when in a detached state, storage (see FIG. 3) and transporting a plurality of the half funicular arched trusses is simplified. According to one embodiment, the truss joiner 144 is a hinge that enables the two half funicular arched trusses 102 to be folded together when in a storage or transportation state.

(15) It is understood that the number of intermediate connectors 122 and that associated connecting members used in a funicular arched truss structure 100 can vary according to the height and span of the overall system.

(16) FIG. 3 shows multiple half funicular arched trusses 102 arranged in a compact bundle for storage in relatively confined spaces, or simplified transportation.

(17) FIG. 4 shows multiple funicular arched truss scaffolds 100 in an assembled state, and arranged in series and parallel patterns. The funicular arched truss scaffolds 100 are connected to other adjacent funicular arched truss scaffolds 100 using cross-bracing 400. Further shown is a horizontal tie rod 402 having a first end 404 connected proximal to the bottom end 108 of a first exterior vertical member 104 of a first half funicular arched truss 102 and a second end 406 connected proximal to bottom end 108 of at least one other exterior vertical member 104 of at least one other half funicular arched truss 102.

(18) The present invention has now been described in accordance with several exemplary embodiments, which are intended to be illustrative in all aspects, rather than restrictive. Thus, the present invention is capable of many variations in detailed implementation, which may be derived from the description contained herein by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

(19) The variations of the spans of the designed system have been studied in order to compare the savings in weight that it entails when compared to its commercially available counterparts. Table 2 shows the weights of the commercially available steel formwork systems and compares them to the weight of the designed system. It is clear that the weight of the commercially available system increases significantly in wide spans, however, the weight of the system is increases slightly for the spans from 2.4 meters up to 7.2 meters. This is because the lengths of the bottom chord members and the length of the diagonals increase with the increase in the span. Further, the increase in the diameter of the exterior vertical and bottom chord member (4-6) causes increase in the weight in spans of 6 and 7.2 meters. It was found that, originally, the FAST system has a 33% saving in the weight when the span is 2.4 meters. This means that, according to the previous assumption of the number of frames is used to compare the weight and the number of units in the two systems, that there is a saving of 4.89 kg/m2. This is calculated by dividing the weight of the eight units of the commercially available systems (63.65 kg) used to cover the area of 2.4×1.8 m (4.32 m2) to get the value of the weight of this system needed for each m2 from the floor area which yields a value of 14.73 kg/m.sup.2. While the weight needed from the proposed system to cover the same area is calculated by dividing the weight of one unit of the system (42.5 kg) by the area (4.32 m.sup.2) which yields a value of 9.84 kg/m.sup.2. The difference between these numbers gives the savings in the weight of the systems per unit area.

(20) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Effect of changing the arched truss span on the cost savings Weight of Weight Percentage Commercially of of available Proposed reduction Steel System in Span System (kg) (kg) weight 2.4 63.65 42.5 33% 3.6 95.46 46.6 51% 4.8 127.28 49.1 61% 6 159.1 54.25 66% 7.2 190.92 57.5 70%

(21) All such variations are considered to be within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.