FLAT SOLID TRUSS USING SQUARE STEEL PIPES

Abstract: A flat solid truss consists of an upper frame body (2) and a lower frame body (4) both constructed with square steel pipes, and diag­ onal members (5) joining the upper frame body to the lower frame body. Each pair of perpendicular two sides (3a,3b) of each of the square steel pipes, forming the lower frame body, are arranged to make an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane of the lower frame body. The diagonal members are arranged to cross at an angle of about 45 degrees to bar members both of the upper and lower frame bodies. The flat solid truss provides increased buckling strength because the bar members and the diagonal members may be entirely joined by welding.

Description: The present invention relates to a flat solid truss in which an upper frame body and a lower body each constructed by joining bar members perpendicularly with each other to form a crossed mesh pattern are arranged in a configuration such that the bar members of the upper frame body make an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the bar members of the lower frame body within the planes of the frame bodies; and the upper and lower bodies are united by joining diagonal members forming a shape of an upended pyramid between respective cross points of the bar members thereof. Particularly, the present invention relates to a flat solid truss which is used for a long-span roof of a building or a long-span framing structure used for an artificial foothold to construct a building over a road, rails, a river or others. Especially, the present invention relates to a flat solid truss in which square steel pipes are used for bar members and joined at each cross point thereof by welding. A flat solid truss is a well-known technique. Especially as shown in figures 1 through 3, a flat solid truss wherein an upper frame body 2 is constructed with upper bar members 1 and 1' joined perpendicularly to form a crossed mesh pattern having square grids ; a lower frame body is constructed with lower bar members 3 and 3' also joined perpendicularly to form a crossed mesh pattern having square grids; the upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4 are arranged in configuration that respective bar members of the upper and lower frame bodies make an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to the planes of frame bodies ; and the upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4 are united by joining a number of sets of four diagonal members 5 forming a shape of an upended pyramid between cross points of bar members 1 and 1' and cross points of the lower bar members 3 and 3' , is known long since (refer to, for example , Japanese Published Examined Patent serial No.38 - 21585 = Japanese Patent Serial No.443434). Also it is well-known to use square pipes for bar members of a truss in a way that perpendicular two sides of each square steel pipe make an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane of the truss frame body, and the bar members are joined by fillet-welding at each cross point for constructing a truss structure (refer to, for example , Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application No.62 - 96403 ). The problems of the conventional flat solid truss will be discussed as follows. (a)Generally , round steel pipes are used for bar members of a conventional flat solid truss . In this case , the bar members are joined by welding along a curved surface at the joint section, so that this work is very difficult and takes long time. Square steel pipes are used to settle this problem. The square pipes are generally used in configuration that perpendicular two sides of each of the square steel pipes are respectively aligned in parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the frame bodies. In this case , cross points of bar members are joined by butt-welding along a short weld line. This prevents the lower frame body from having enough reliability in weld strength although the lower body is suffered to tension load . Further, it is required to inspect welded sections by ultra-sonic flaw detection which takes long time. Consequently, molded steel pole-joint is required to be used at each cross point of the conventional flat solid truss. The bar members are joined with each other through the pole-joint. However,the pole-joint is very expensive ,so that it increases a cost of the truss due to its usage. Also it increases the weight of the truss by its weight. Moreover, since a joint by the pole-joint is a so-called pin joint, the bar member and the diagonal member can not have enough buckling strength. That is , buckling load of the whole truss is caused to be low. This requires the bar member to have larger cross section. As the result of that the truss should be expensive and heavy . (b)The truss structure, described in the Japanese Published Unexamined Utility Model Application No.62-96403, has a feature that the bar member and the diagonal member are tightly joined at the cross points by fillet-welding. However, this application does not disclose and suggest a technical concept relating to the flat solid truss. To comply with the objects of the invention, a flat solid truss as mentioned above is characterized in that (a) the upper frame body is constructed by welding in a configuration such that square steel pipes used for the bar members have two perpendicular sides aligned respectively parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the upper frame body; (b) the lower frame is constructed by welding in a configuration such that square steel pipes used for the bar members have two perpendicular sides making an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the lower frame body; and (c) the diagonal members are joined between respective cross points of the upper and lower frame bodies by fillet-welding. DRAWINGS Figures 1 and 2 are respectively simplified plan view and side view of a flat solid truss according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a simplified perspective view showing a main section of the flat solid truss structure; Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view showing the truss structure using square steel pipes; Figure 5 is a front view of the truss structure shown in the figure 4; Figures 6 and 7 are plan views when seeing respectively in directions of arrows 6 and 7 in the figures 5; Figures 8 is a perspective view showing a joint section of a lower frame body using square steel pipes; and Figures 9A and 9B are simplified plan views respectively showing joined structures of the upper and lower frame bodies. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the figure 4, square steel pipes 1 and 1′ crossing perpendicularly each other are joined by butt-welding only along the circumference of the square steel pipes 1 and 1′ to construct an upper frame body 2. This welded joint section has enough reliable strength because the upper frame body 2 is on the compression load side in a flat solid truss structure. The top side of the upper frame body 2 is formed with horizontal planes of the square steel pipes, being convenient for working men to walk on the frame body and to lay roof material or the like. Square steel pipes 3 and 3′ of the lower square body 4 are joined perpendicularly with each other in arrangement that perpendicular two sides 3a and 3b make an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane of the lower frame body 4. When cutting weld joint portion 6 of the square steel pipe on the contacting side into V-shape having an angle of 90 degrees, the weld joint portion 6 can be joined by fillet-welding. The length of the weld line is calculated by multiplying a square root of 2. Therefore, even if the lower frame body 4 is on the load side, the welded joint section of the bar member 3 and 3′ has enough strength because of fillet-welding. Further, the welded section can be inspected only by viewing a padding. Also, it is not necessary to use conventional pole-joints. In addition, since each diagonal members 5 are inevitably arranged to cross at an angle of an about 45 degrees in three-dimensional space to the bar members 1 and 1' of the upper frame body 2 and the bar members 3 and 3′ of the lower frame body 4, weld joint portions 7 and 8 on both ends of the diagonal member 5 can be joined by fillet-welding along a long enough weld line. This provides reliable strength at the welded section and an easiness of inspection for the welded section. After all, with this flat solid truss, joining at all cross points can be performed by welding to provide a rigid joint between bar members. This allows the entire structure of the truss to have increased buckling strength. Therefore, an inexpensive and light weight truss is provided by using bar members each having relatively small cross section. Further, all of the bar members 1 and 3, and diagonal 5 can be manufactured as standard modules in a factory and constructed in high quality on the spot. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail hereinafter. Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the fundamental constructive principle of the flat solid truss according to the present invention. In the figure 2, the upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4 are respectively indicated by solid and doted lines for convenience of identification. The frame body 2 is constructed with the bar members 1 and 1′ joined perpendicularly to form a cross stripes pattern having regular square grids. Also, the frame body 4 is constructed with bar members 2 and 2′ joined in same manner. The upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4 are arranged in configuration that the bar members 1 and 1′ and the bar members 3 and 3′ make an angle of about 45 degrees with each other when seeing vertically , i.e, on the planes of the frame bodies, as shown in the figure 1. Thus, the bar members 1 and 1′ make an angle of 45 degrees to both of the longitudinal and lateral directions in the figure 1. Each regular square grid of the cross stripes pattern formed with the bar members 1 and 1′ has each side of 1.84m. On the other hand, the bar members 3 and 3′ make a right angle to the the longitudinal and lateral directions in the figure 1. Further the bar members 3 and 3′ pass through the four corners of the individual regular square grids formed with the bar members 1 and 1′ of the upper frame body 2. Each regular square grid of the cross stripes pattern formed with the bar members 3 and 3′ has each side of 2.5m. This means that the grids of the lower frame body 4 are larger than the ones of the upper frame body 2. By this arrangement of the two frame bodies 2 and 4 and the lengths of the respective side thereof, each of the cross points, or each of the joined section of the lower frame body 4 is located at the center of each grid of the upper frame body 2. The upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4 constructed as described above are arranged in parallel with a space of about 1m, as shown in the figure 2. To construct a flat solid truss, four diagonal members 5 are joined between four corners of each grid of the upper frame body 2 and each cross point of the lower frame body 4 located at the center of the upper frame body 2 as shown in the figure 1. As the result of that, the four diagonal members 5 form an upended pyramid shape as shown in the figure 3. Thus, referring the figure 1, the diagonal members 5 extend along the lines of the bar members 3 and 3′. Further, the diagonal members 5 joined between the upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4 form a checked pattern. The reference number 8 indicates each of pole-joints supporting the flat solid truss above the ground. The figures 4 through 9 show a concrete construction of the foregoing flat solid truss, specially regarding individual connecting section when using square steel pipes for the bar members 1, 1′, 3 and 3′, and diagonal members 5. Each of the square steel pipes used for the bar member 1, 1′, 3 and 3 has a cross section of a regular square with each side of about 750mm and a thickness of about 19mm to 28mm. Also, each of the square steel pipes used for the diagonal member 5 has a cross section of a regular square with each side of about 550mm and a thickness of about 19mm to 32mm. Referring to the figures 4, 5 and 7, the upper frame body 2 is constructed by butt-welding the square steel pipes of the bar members 1 and 1′ to each other. When joining the bar members 1 and 1′, the perpendicular two sides 1a and 1b of the square steel pipe are aligned to be respectively parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the upper frame body 2. On the other hand, the lower frame body 4 is constructed by fillet-welding the square pipes of the bar members 3 and 3′ to each other. When joining the bar members 3 and 3′, the perpendicular two sides 3a and 3b of each of the square steel pipes are aligned to make an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the lower frame body 4. As shown in the figure 8, the square steel pipes 3 and 3′ make a right angle each other. Joint portion 6 of the square steel pipe 3′ is cut into V-shape having an angle of 90 degrees to contact closely with the corner the square steel pipe 3. The joining between the joint portion 6 and the square steel pipe 3 is done by fillet-welding. Because of this usage of fillet-weld, the welded section can be easily inspected only by viewing a padding thereof. Further, the weld line in this case is a square root of 2 times as long as the one by butt-welding in the upper frame body 2, providing reliable joint strength. The diagonal member 5 is joined to a cross point of the upper frame body 2 at the top end thereof to make an angle of about 45 degrees in three-dimensional space as shown in the figure 4. To do this, joint portion 7 to be welded is cut into V-shape having an angle of 90 degrees to contact closely with the corner of the cross point of the upper frame body 2. This allows the joint portion 7 to be fillet-welded to the upper frame body 2 along a long enough weld line, providing reliable joint strength. Because of this usage of fillet-weld, the welded section can be easily inspected only by viewing the padding thereof. The diagonal member 5 is also joined to a cross point of the lower frame body 4 at the bottom end thereof to make an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane of the lower frame body 4 in three-dimensional space as shown in the future 4. When seeing vertically to the plane of the frame bodies 2 and 4, the diagonal members 5 extend the perpendicular four directions along the square steel pipes 3 and 3′. Referring to the figure 4, joint portion 9 to be welded is cut into V-shape having an angle of 90 degrees to contact closely with the corner edge of the square steel pipe 3 or 3′ right under thereof at the cross point. Namely, the joint portion 9 sits astride on the corner edge of the square steel pipe 3 or 3′. This allows the joint portion 9 to be fillet-welded to the lower frame body 4 along a long enough weld line, providing reliable joint strength. Because of this usage of fillet-weld, the welded section can be inspected easily. All the diagonal members 5 can have the same length and the same weld joint portions in shape at the top and bottom ends thereof. Therefore, identical products are used for the diagonal members 5 so that they are manufactured as a standard module in a factory. Also, for the upper frame body 2, when square steel pipes 1 and 1′ are welded at every two spans of a certain length marked by little circles as shown in the figure 9A, they can be manufactured as a standard module in a factory. Similarly, for the lower frame body 4, when square steel pipes 3 and 3′ are welded at every two spans of a certain length marked by little circles as shown in the figure 9B, and have the weld joint portions 6 cut into V-shape as shown in the figure 8, they also can be manufactured as a standard module in a factory. Consequently, the flat solid truss can be efficiently constructed in high quality on the spot, not to mention in a factory, by using three types of members (the square steel pipes 1, 1′, 3 and 3′, and the diagonal members 5) manufactured as standard modules in a factory. Further, it is possible to use round steel pipes for the diagonal members. As described above by referring to the embodiments, the flat solid truss using the square steel pipes in accordance with the present invention provides increased buckling strength over the structure . This is because the bar members and the diagonal members are entirely joined by welding to offer a rigid joint. Moreover, the increased buckling strength allows the bar members and diagonal members to have smaller cross sections, providing a light and inexpensive flat solid truss. Since the conventional pole-joints are not required , it is possible to reduce cost and weight of the flat solid truss corresponding to the pole-joints to be used. Further, since fillet welding is used between the bar members of the lower frame body 4 and between the diagonal members 5 and the upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4, it is easy to inspect the welded joint sections. This will reduce the total cost of constructing the flat solid truss. In addition, the bar members 1, 1′, 3 and 3′ of the upper and lower frame bodies 2 and 4, and diagonal member 5 can be mass-produced in a factory, because they can be manufactured as standard modules. Thus, the flat solid truss of the present invention has an advantage in productivity and a convenience in constructing efficiently and in high quality on the spot. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in this broader aspects. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be determined only by the following claim.

Claims: Flat solid truss in which an upper frame body (2) and a lower body (4) each constructed by joining bar members (1,1',3,3') perpendlcularly with each other to form a crossed mesh pattern are arranged in a configuration such that the bar members of the upper frame body make an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the bar members of the lower frame body within the planes of the frame bodies; and the upper and lower bodies are united by joining diagonal members (5) forming a shape of an upended pyramid between respective cross points of the bar members thereof, characterized in that (a) the upper frame body (2) is constructed by welding in a configuration such that square steel pipes used for the bar members (1,1') have two perpendicular sides (1b) aligned respectively parallel and perpendicular to the plane of the upper frame body; (b) the lower frame (4) is constructed by welding in a configuration such that square steel pipes used for the bar members (3,3') have two perpendicular sides (3a,3b) making an angle of 45 degrees to the plane of the lower frame body; and (c) the diagonal members (5) are joined between respective cross points of the upper and lower frame bodies by fillet-welding.

Inventors: HATANAKA, KOUKI, KIMURA, MAMORU, MOGAMI, KIMIHIKO, NUMAKURA, NORIAKI, OHTA, MICHIHIKO, OKADA, AKIRA, OKUNO, NORIHISA
Applicants: TAKENAKA CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1