Canted Corner Elements for Horizontal Frame Tensile Structures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tensile frame structures, such as tents and awnings, suffer from beam sagging and uneven stress distribution due to standard corner and leg angles, leading to issues like water ponding, decreased aesthetic appeal, and reduced stability.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of canted corner and leg angles in corner elements, which induce pre-load stress and bowing in beams, counteracted by membrane tension, resulting in straighter beams and improved structural integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If standard corner and leg angles are used in corner elements, then the structure is easy to manufacture and assemble, but beam sagging and uneven stress distribution occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidbeam straightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The corner elements are pre-formed with canted angles (non-standard angles) during manufacturing. This preliminary angular configuration is designed to counteract the sagging that will occur when the structure is assembled and loaded, thereby maintaining beam straightness without requiring complex assembly procedures or additional manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If standard corner and leg angles are used, then manufacturing costs are low, but structural stability and wind resistance are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The angles of the corner elements are changed from standard values (e.g., 90 degrees) to canted angles (e.g., 95-105 degrees). This parameter change in the corner element geometry creates pre-load stresses that counteract beam sagging and improve structural stability under wind and membrane loads, while the corner elements remain relatively simple manufactured components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If standard corner angles are used, then assembly is simple, but aesthetic appeal is decreased due to beam sagging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidaesthetic appeal

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The canted angles are pre-formed in the corner elements during manufacturing, creating the aesthetic beam straightness effect before assembly. This allows the structure to be assembled simply using standard corner elements with pre-configured angles, while the final assembled structure exhibits improved aesthetic appeal due to straight beams and proper membrane tension distribution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8701690B2Horizontal frame tensile structure and canted corner elements therefor

Publication Date: 2014.04.22 0798555 B C

AI summary

The present invention relates to horizontal frame tensile structures (“HFTS”) of the kind employing corner elements to interconnect beams and posts. The corner elements of the invention comprise 1) two arms that engage the ends of adjacent beams, and 2) a leg that engages the top of a post. The arms are splayed so as to produce canted corner angles. Optionally, or additionally, the leg angle of the corner element is canted. Canting the corner angle and/or the leg angle causes the beams to bow upwards and/or outwards, thereby effectively increasing the angle in the horizontal plane between adjacent beams. This bow in the beams is reduced or eliminated when the membrane is attached to the frame, thereby providing straight beams and an aesthetically pleasing profile and introducing beneficial increased tension into the frame.