Patent ID: 8863448
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: F24S,H02S,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A support frame comprising: hollow struts; a first hollow segmented chord having a central axis; a second hollow segmented chord having a central axis separate and distinct from the first segmented chord; and a plurality of nodes, at least one of the nodes having a central axis and attaching at least a first and a second of the hollow struts and the first segmented chord and the second segmented chord together so the central axis of the first and second segmented chords and the one node align, the one node is one piece and has an elongate portion having a first end configured to attach to the first segmented chord, a second end configured to attach to the second segmented chord and a solid middle portion disposed between the first segmented chord, the second segmented chord, the first end and second end, the first end extending from the middle portion, the first end formed from portions of the node fins that have been cut away, the first end and middle portion and the second end together being a single solid block shape, the first end having a fastener hole through which a fastener extends to fasten the first end to the first segmented chord, the middle portion having a plurality of node fins positioned asymmetrically about the middle portion and between the first end and the second end and extending outward and configured to attach to the first and second hollow struts, at least one of the node fins forms a corner with the first end, the first and second struts each have a strut end piece and a primary strut portion separate and distinct from the strut end piece, the strut end piece attached to the primary strut portion and the node fin with fasteners, the strut end piece having strut end fins having a tongue ratio, the strut end piece with fins being a one piece extrusion, the middle portion and the first and second ends and the node fins of the one node being a separate one piece extrusion, the strut end fins attached to the node fin with a fastener, the node fins form planes that intersect essentially at or about the central axis of the one node, the struts, nodes and first and second segmented chords form a space truss frame, at least one of the plurality of nodes has a circle size that allows the node to be extruded on a 10 inch diameter extrusion press one node of the plurality of nodes supporting a load of at least 1,000 lbs.