Patent ID: 6516583
Filing Date: 2003-02-11
Classification: E04B,E04C

Abstract:
A structural joint comprisinga column disposed as permanent, columnar support of a structure, such as a building, tower and similarly heavy structure, said column having at least two flanges, a beam having two ends, one end disposed near said column and the other end disposed away from said column, a diagonal brace having two ends, one end disposed near said column and the other end disposed away from said column, wherein said structural joint is comprised of two gusset plates disposed in parallel relationship on opposite sides of at least one of said flanges of said column, wherein said gusset plates are in face-to-face relationship with respect to each other, wherein one of said gusset plates extends along one side of said beam and along one side of said diagonal brace; wherein the other of said gusset plates extends along the other side of said beam and along the other side of said diagonal brace, wherein each of said gusset plates is connected to said column by being welded to at least one of said flanges of said column, wherein each said welded connection extends along said at least one flange of said column and each said gusset plate, a distance sufficient to resist severe loads on said welded connection, such as those severe loads, beyond normal gravity loading, caused by one or more disastrous events, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, high winds, blasts, explosions and the like, wherein each of said gusset plates extends substantially beyond said column flange to which it is welded, in the general direction of another flange of said column, wherein each of said gusset plates is fixedly attached with respect to said beam by a connection sufficiently strong to resist severe loads, on said connection between said gusset plates and said beam, such as those severe loads beyond normal gravity loading, such as severe loads caused by one or more of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, high winds, blasts, explosions and the like, wherein each of said gusset plates is fixedly attached with respect to said diagonal brace by a severe moment-resisting connection, wherein said latter moment-resisting connection resists severe moment loads, on said latter moment-resisting connection, such as those severe moment loads beyond normal gravity loading and caused by one or more of earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes high winds, blasts, explosions and the like.