Patent ID: 8375675
Filing Date: 2013-02-19
Classification: B64B,B64C,E04C

Abstract:
1. A truss beam comprising: at least three convex-curved fiber composite rods disposed adjacent to each other and centered around a common longitudinal axis, the rods' convex curvature being selected to increase buckling resistance of the truss beam, said rods being oriented so that adjacent rod ends on each side of said truss beam converge to virtual convergence points on said common longitudinal axis; a shear web panel bonded to each adjacent pair of said rods, each said panel acting to stabilize said rods and carry side loads, each said panel comprising: two face sheets of high strength to weight ratio material with a layer of spacer material disposed between and bonded to said face sheets to resist local buckling of said panel; one or more self-aligning adapters disposed at each end of the truss beam, with each rod end being adhesively bonded to a self-aligning adapter, said self-aligning adapters each having: