Lattice structure

Abstract

A lattice structure comprising a series of connecting rings or half-rings on which a series of orienting elements are secured. The orienting elements being equipped with holes and a slot in which the connecting rings or half-rings are disposed, as well as comprising profiles that are solidly connected using joining elements that extend through holes in the profiles.

Claims

1. A lattice structure comprising: connecting rings or half rings, each having a structural element wherein orienting elements and primary profiles and secondary profiles are configured to form a node of said lattice structure to become connected, being supported on, embracing or being embraced by said connecting rings or half rings, wherein said primary profiles including at least one flat primary profile, said secondary profiles including at least one folded secondary profile, said orienting elements, each having an element that positions the connecting rings or half rings in a three-dimensional space, embracing or being supported on the three-dimensional space of said connecting rings or half rings by means of a slot, said orienting elements have a series of holes whereby said orienting elements are connected to said primary profiles and secondary profiles such that a distance between said series of holes defines an angle of the primary profiles and the secondary profiles, and one of said at least one flat primary profile and one of said at least one folded secondary profile being folded with a V-shaped section and with a first face of the V-shaped section being longer than a second face of the V-shaped section, and in which ends of both the longer face of the at least one folded secondary profile and the at least one flat primary profile have holes at a center of a profile width of said primary profiles and secondary profiles and have slots towards a lateral edge of said primary profiles and secondary profiles, which are perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said primary profiles and secondary profiles in a case where said primary profiles and secondary profiles are configured to work under tensile or compressive forces, interchangeably, or with an angle other than 90 configured to work only under tensile force or only under compressive force.

2. The lattice structure according to claim 1, wherein the primary profiles or the secondary profiles are joined in pairs in a case that the at least one flat primary profile overlaps with the at least one folded secondary profile.

3. The lattice structure according to claim 2, wherein the at least one folded secondary profile form an angle of less than 90 between two faces of the V-shaped section, such that the at least one folded secondary profile joins a second folded secondary profile which has been previously rotated 180 along a longitudinal axis of the at least one folded secondary profile and overlaps a longer flat face, both overlapping profiles form a profile with a Z-shaped section between said both overlapping profiles, a longitudinal edge of the longer flat face of a profile being supported on an inner area of a fold of the second folded secondary profile.

4. The lattice structure according to claim 2, wherein in a case of the at least one flat primary profile and in a case of the at least one folded secondary profile, overlap, the at least one flat primary profile has been previously rotated 180 along a longitudinal axis with respect to the at least one folded secondary profile, and the slots provide a hole for the rings or half rings.

5. The lattice structure according to claim 1, wherein the at least one folded secondary profile form an angle of less than 90 between two faces of the V-shaped section, such that the at least one folded secondary profile joins a second folded secondary profile which has been previously rotated 180 along a longitudinal axis of the at least one folded secondary profile and overlaps a longer flat face, both overlapping profiles form a profile with a Z-shaped section between said both overlapping profiles, a longitudinal edge of the longer flat face of a profile being supported on an inner area of a fold of the second folded secondary profile.

6. The lattice structure according to claim 1, wherein a central slot of an orienting element of said orienting elements has a groove.

7. The lattice structure according to claim 6, further comprising: V-shaped plates that fit into the groove of a middle of the central slot of the orienting element; wherein said V-shaped plates having openings at ends of said V-shaped plates where rods or profiles are affixed and which are embraced by said connecting rings or half rings in a groove.

8. The lattice structure according to claim 1, further comprising: V-shaped plates that fit into a groove of a middle of a slot of an orienting element of said orienting elements; wherein said V-shaped plates having openings at ends of said V-shaped plates where rods or profiles are affixed and which are embraced by said connecting rings or half rings in a groove.

9. The lattice structure according to claim 1, wherein the slot of the orienting elements is open on a first side such that the rings or half rings are supported only on the first side.

10. The lattice structure according to claim 1, wherein the primary profiles or the secondary profiles are joined in pairs in a case that the primary profiles, in a case that the secondary profiles, in the case that the at least one flat primary profile, or in the case that the at least one folded secondary profile, overlap, a first profile has been rotated 180 along a longitudinal axis with respect to a second profile, and the slots provide a hole for the rings or half rings.

11. The lattice structure according to claim 1, wherein the primary profiles or the secondary profiles are joined in pairs in a case that the primary profiles, in a case that the secondary profiles, overlap, and in a case that the at least one flat primary profile and in a case of the at least one folded secondary profile, overlap, a first profile has been rotated 180 along a longitudinal axis with respect to a second profile, and the slots provide a hole for the rings or half rings.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In order to complement the description being made and with the object of helping to better understand the features of the invention, a set of figures has been attached to this specification as an integral part thereof, which represents the following in an illustrative and non-limiting manner:

(2) FIG. 1: Views of the lattice structure profiles showing the profile (A) under tensile force and two images of the profile (B) under compressive force, one without the fold and the other with the fold.

(3) FIG. 2a: View of the ring of the lattice structure.

(4) FIG. 2b: View of the half ring of the lattice structure.

(5) FIG. 3: Views of the orienting element of the lattice structure.

(6) FIG. 4a: View of another preferred embodiment with the plate and the secondary orienting element of the lattice structure.

(7) FIG. 4b: View of another preferred embodiment with the plate and the secondary orienting element of the lattice structure.

(8) FIG. 4c: View of another preferred embodiment with the plate and the secondary orienting element of the lattice structure.

(9) FIG. 4d: View of another preferred embodiment with the plate and the secondary orienting element of the lattice structure.

(10) FIG. 5: View of a detail of the node of the lattice structure.

(11) FIG. 6: View of a part/module of the lattice structure.

(12) FIG. 7: View of another detail of the node of the lattice structure.

(13) FIG. 8: Plan view of a variation of the orienting element with the slot open on one side.

(14) FIG. 9: View of a section of the two secondary profiles paired and affixed by means of the joining element.

(15) FIG. 10: View of a plan detail of the end of two primary profiles under tensile force and paired with their slots.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(16) As shown in the figures attached hereto, the lattice structure is composed of a series of connecting rings (1) or half rings (2), a series of orienting elements (3) and a series of primary profiles (A) and secondary profiles (B).

(17) Each of the connecting rings (1) or half rings (2) consists of a structural element allowing the orienting elements (3) and the primary profiles (A) and secondary profiles (B) forming the node of said lattice structure to become solidly connected by being supported on, embracing or being embraced by said connecting rings (1) or half rings (2).

(18) The nodes of the lattice structure which require the structure to be as flat as possible is where the half rings (2) oriented towards the interior of the structure are used, to prevent half of the ring from protruding from the structure assembly if a full ring (1) were to be used.

(19) Each of the orienting elements (3) consists of an element that positions the connecting rings (1) or half rings (2) in the chosen three-dimensional plane or space, embracing or being supported on the plane of said connecting rings (1) or half rings (2) by means of a slot (10); said orienting elements (3) have a series of holes (4) whereby they are solidly connected by means of joining elements (8) to said primary profiles (A) and secondary profiles (B) such that the distance between said holes (4) defines the angle of the primary profiles (A) and the secondary profiles (B) joined in a node and modifies the overall shape of the lattice structure.

(20) The orienting elements (3) have a variation in which the slot (10) is open on one of its sides, as shown in FIG. 8, such that the ring instead of being inserted inside the slot is only supported on the side thereof.

(21) The primary profiles (A) and the secondary profiles (B) have flat ends, with holes (9) at the centre of their width and diameter greater than the section of the connecting ring (1) or half ring (2), and slots (5) towards the lateral edge perpendicular to the length of said primary profiles (A) and secondary profiles (B) (if they are required to work under tensile or compressive forces, interchangeably) or with an angle in a direction opposite to their working shape (inwards for tensile force, outwards for compressive force).

(22) The primary profiles (A) or the secondary profiles (B) are joined in pairs by means of the 180 rotation along the longitudinal axis of one of them with respect to the other profile such that the holes (9) for the joining elements (8) and the slots (5) towards the sides match when they face each other as a consequence of the rotation of one profile with respect to another, providing a hole for the rings (1) or half rings (2).

(23) The separation between the holes (4) of the orienting elements (3) can vary to modify the shape of the lattice structure, such that the angle between the primary profiles (A) or secondary profiles (B) and their length is modified. This way, a flat lattice structure could have undulations when the length of the profiles and the angle between them resulting from the separation between the holes (4) of the orienting elements (3) varies.

(24) The secondary profiles (B) can be folded longitudinally at an angle greater than 90 such that when a secondary profile (B) is solidly connected to another secondary profile (B) by means of a 180 rotation along its longitudinal axis and with the joining elements (8) through the holes (9), the entire edge of said secondary profile (B) is supported on the fold of the other secondary profile (B). Thus, if the joining between two profiles is under compressive force, the rigidity is much greater because these folds of the secondary profiles (B) form a Z-shaped element between two of them.

(25) In another preferred embodiment to form formwork structures, V-shaped plates (6) with openings (4) at the ends thereof are included in which corrugated steel rods are affixed; said plates (6) are embraced by the connecting rings (1) or half rings (2) by means of a groove (11) and fit into the orienting element (3) by means of a protrusion (13).

(26) The orienting element (3) of this preferred embodiment has a series of openings (4) and a slot (10) in its central part with a groove (16) in the middle to which the protrusion (13) of the V-shaped plates (6) is anchored.

(27) Having thus adequately described the nature of the present invention, as well as how to put it into practice, it must be added that the shape and materials of said invention may be modified, provided that it does not imply altering the characteristics claimed below.