Adjustable Hub Connectors for Elongated Geodesic Dome Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional geodesic dome systems lack flexibility and efficiency in design, particularly in creating elongated structures with arched-tunnel sections, which limits their adaptability and operational costs for applications like greenhouses, where energy, maintenance, and water efficiency are concerns.
Innovation Solution
The use of adjustable angle hub connectors made from tubular struts and hubs, allowing for the formation of geodesic triangles and arched-tunnel sections that can be easily modified and assembled, providing a lightweight, rigid, and adaptable structure covered with a reinforced polyethylene cover for controlled environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional geodesic dome systems are used, then structural stability is achieved, but flexibility and adaptability in design are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adjustable angle hub connectors that allow struts to be positioned at different angles (e.g., 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees) relative to each other. This dynamic adjustability enables the same basic components to form various geometric configurations including arched-tunnel sections, ellipsoidal sections, and traditional dome sections, thereby achieving design flexibility without requiring completely different structural systems for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub connector is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple strut configurations and angle adjustments. This single multi-functional hub can create different structural forms (arched-tunnel, ellipsoidal, dome sections) by simply changing the angle of inserted struts, eliminating the need for multiple specialized connector types and reducing overall system complexity while increasing adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional geodesic dome systems are used, then structural rigidity is achieved, but ease of modification and assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The geodesic dome is divided into modular sections including arched-tunnel sections, ellipsoidal sections, and traditional dome sections, each composed of standardized struts and hub connectors. This segmentation allows individual sections to be independently modified, assembled, or reconfigured without affecting the entire structure, enabling easy modification while maintaining overall structural integrity through the repeated use of standardized rigid components.
3Use of energy by stationary object
If conventional dome designs are used, then structural stability is maintained, but energy and maintenance efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable angle hub connectors enable optimization of the structural geometry for specific applications such as greenhouses. By adjusting strut angles to create arched-tunnel or ellipsoidal sections, the structure can be optimized for light distribution, air flow, and thermal efficiency, thereby improving energy performance while using the same basic component system.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to an elongated geodesic dome with an arched-tunnel section. In some embodiments including: a first adjustable angle hub connector, the first adjustable angle hub connector being a connector of a first plurality of tubular struts, the first plurality of tubular struts being inserted into the first adjustable angle hub connector; a second adjustable angle hub connector, the second adjustable angle hub connector being a connector of a second plurality of tubular struts, the second plurality of tubular struts being inserted into the second adjustable angle hub connector; a third adjustable angle hub connector, the third adjustable angle hub connector being a connector of a third plurality of tubular struts, the third plurality of tubular struts being inserted into the third adjustable angle hub connector. The adjustable angle hub connectors may be removable for adjusting a length of the arched-tunnel section of the elongated geodesic dome.