385results about "Load-supporting pillars" patented technology

A process for designing and manufacturing precision-folded, high strength, fatigue-resistant structures and a sheet therefore. The techniques include methods for precision bending of a sheet of material (41, 241, 341, 441, 541) along a bend line (45, 245, 345, 445,543) and a sheet of material formed with bending strap-defining structures, such as slits or grooves (43, 243, 343, 443, 542), are disclosed. Methods include steps of designing and then separately forming longitudinally extending slits or grooves (43, 243, 343, 443, 542) through the sheet of material in axially spaced relation to produce precise bending of the sheet (41, 241, 341, 441,541) when bent along the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445, 543). The bending straps have a configuration and orientation which increases their strength and fatigue resistance, and most preferably slits or arcs are used which causes edges (257, 457) to be engaged and supported on faces (255, 455) of the sheet material on opposite sides of the slits or arcs. The edge-to-face contact produces bending along a virtual fulcrum position in superimposed relation to the bend line (45, 245, 345, 445, 543). Several slit embodiments (43, 243, 343, 443, 542) suitable for producing edge-to-face engagement support and precise bending are disclosed, as is the use of the slit sheets to produce various three-dimensional structures and to enhance various design and fabrication techniques.

Lightweight structural component including at least one panel and at least one stiffening element oriented one of lengthwise and crosswise. The at least one stiffening element includes two side pieces. Each of the two side pieces is at least partially connected to the panel in a material-locking manner. The two side pieces are connected to the panel at two separate joint zones. A method of producing the lightweight structural component includes milling the at least one panel to form at least one thickened region and joining the two side pieces to the at least one panel at the two separate joint zones. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

A joist comprised of at least one cold-formed steel elongated chord member; a cold-formed steel web having a plurality of web members and means for securing said web to said chord member. A plurality of joists are generally for use in a support system for a platform or a deck in the construction of floors and roofs. The support system is of particular use in a composite floor and roof systems.

A preform with edges overlapped and jointed each other and first and second outer members for forming outer surfaces of a hydroformed product, and reinforcement members that are jointed to the first and second outer members to form reinforcement ribs that divide a hollow cross section of the outer surfaces, the reinforcement members having dimensions capable of suppressing elongation in a tensile direction due to a tensile force that develops during hydroforming.

Methods and systems to manufacture lattice-based sandwich structures from monolithic material. Such methods and systems eliminate the bonding process which is conventionally used to join lattice based truss cores to facesheets to form sandwich structures. This bonded interface is a key mode of failure for sandwich structures which are subjected to shear or bending loads because the nodes transfer forces from the face sheets to the core members while the topology for a given core relative density dictates the load carrying capacity (assuming adequate node-bond strength exists). An aspect comprises a core and related structures that provide very low density, good crush resistance and high in-plane shear resistance. An aspect of the truss structures may include sandwich panel cores and lattice truss topology that may be designed to efficiently support panel bending loads while maintaining an open topology that facilitates multifunctional applications.

A wind turbine is formed of a concrete tower which is erected by slip forming. A primary lifting device is erected onto the tower by being lifted together with the slip form and being subsequently transferred onto the tower from the slip form after the tower has been formed. The nacelle, generator, and rotor of the turbine are then lifted onto the tower using the primary lifting device. A secondary lifting device supported on the tower is used to lower the primary lifting device to the ground after the nacelle, generator and rotor are assembled. The height of the tower is therefore not limited by the availability of suitable cranes so that a greater height of tower can be erected to take advantage of winds at greater elevation.

Methods and systems to manufacture bonded corrugation truss-based structures. This allows the ability to change the dimensions of the individual structural features of the corrugations, i.e. thickness of the core, face sheet thickness, relative density of the core, and the alloys. The nodal design which provides ideal stress / strain distribution for in-plane and out-off plane loading. The node has a curved / smooth triple point intersection which in turn can provide best load transfer interface with high integrity / toughness. The bonded corrugation truss based structure can be continuous to any length only limited by the volume of the extrusion billet and the press capacity. An aspect of the bonded corrugation structures may include friction stir welding of the face sheets or any fusion welding of panels with edge members for strengthening allows fabrication of panels of any width and length. Bonding panels enables the fabrication of structures of any width.

A load-bearing three-dimensional structure including a skeletal structure formed by a sheet of material having a plurality of bend lines, each bend line including a plurality of folding displacements, wherein the sheet of material is bent along the bend lines into a box-section; and a reinforcing member configured for substantially surrounding a portion of the skeletal structure when bent into a box-section to reinforce the structural integrity of the skeletal structure. A method of manufacturing the three-dimensional structure is also disclosed.