Foldable Structural Truss with Telescopic Braces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foldable structural trusses face challenges in minimizing size without compromising load support, weight, manufacturing costs, assembly time, and labor costs, especially when adapted for diverse environments and frequent assembly/disassembly requirements.
Innovation Solution
An elongated double-fold foldable structural truss with a quadrilateral framework, featuring parallel chord beam units, pivot joints, and telescopic brace members that allow for compact folding and easy unfolding, reducing the overall cross-sectional area by up to 20 times while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If structural trusses are made of permanently attached parts, then structural integrity is maintained, but transportation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The structural truss is divided into multiple modular units with standardized connection interfaces. Each unit can be independently manufactured and transported, then assembled on-site through simple connections. This segmentation allows the truss to be broken down into compact transportable modules while maintaining overall structural integrity through the modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The truss components are designed to nest within each other during transportation, with smaller members fitting into spaces between larger members. This nested arrangement significantly reduces the volume required for storage and transport while allowing rapid deployment when needed.
2Volume of moving object
If structural trusses are made of detachable parts, then transportation space is reduced, but assembly time and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detachable connections are pre-configured with alignment features and quick-connect mechanisms that guide proper assembly sequence. Connection points are pre-marked and standardized, allowing workers to rapidly assemble the truss without complex alignment procedures or specialized tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The truss design incorporates self-aligning connection features where components automatically position themselves during assembly. The geometry of the detachable connections ensures proper orientation and fit without requiring precise manual alignment, significantly reducing assembly time and labor requirements.
3Volume of moving object
If foldable mechanisms are added to reduce size, then transportation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The truss incorporates hinge joints and telescopic members that allow the structure to dynamically change between extended and folded configurations. These dynamic elements enable compact folding for transport while maintaining full structural capability during use, with the complexity concentrated in standardized joint components rather than the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The foldable mechanisms utilize standardized hinge angles and telescopic ratios that optimize the folded volume while maintaining structural integrity. By carefully selecting these geometric parameters, the design achieves maximum compactness without requiring overly complex mechanisms or sacrificing load-bearing capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact, efficient, and cost-effective structural truss system that can be easily assembled and disassembled, reducing transportation costs and labor, while maintaining load support and simplicity in manufacturing.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of first pivot joints extending transversally in-between the two spaced-apart beams and across the first open channel, the first pivot joints having first pivot axes that are parallel to one another and that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a plurality of second pivot joints extending perpendicularly across the second open channel, the second pivot joints having second pivot axes that are parallel to one another, that are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and that are perpendicular to the first pivot axes of the chord beam unit
Implementation Method 2
the brace members of at least two of the web units being telescopic, each telescopic brace member including two sections in telescopic engagement with one another and being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, the telescopic brace members being all in their extended position when the structural truss is in its unfolded position and being all in their retracted position when the structural truss is in its folded position
Data Source
AI summary
The elongated double-fold foldable structural truss has a quadrilateral framework extending along a longitudinal direction. It includes four chord beam units disposed parallel to one another. Each chord beam unit includes two spaced-apart and juxtaposed beams running parallel to one another. The beams define between them a first open channel that is opened on one of the inner sides of the chord beam unit. The structural truss further includes four web units having brace members. The brace members of at least two of the web units are telescopic. The telescopic brace members are all in their extended position when the structural truss is in its unfolded position and being all in their retracted position when the structural truss is in its folded position. The foldable structural truss is very compact in its folded position.