Orbital Truss Joint Assembly With Separated Tensile and Compressive Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Constructing orbital and extra-terrestrial structures with truss systems poses challenges in creating lightweight, robust, and durable strut elements that can support both tensile and compressive loads while meeting weight requirements.
Innovation Solution
A joint system comprising a node receptacle and a strut element with a dual load path mechanism, where the strut element includes a support member, a finger element, a shell system, and an actuator that cooperates with the node receptacle to form isolated tensile and compressive load paths, allowing for adjustable alignment and connection using electrical and mechanical connectors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional truss structures are used for orbital construction, then structural strength and durability are improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint system is divided into separate modular components including a node receptacle, strut elements, finger elements, and shell systems that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation allows for optimized weight-to-strength ratios in each component while maintaining overall structural integrity through precise mechanical interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction in the strut elements combining rigid support members with flexible shell systems and spring elements. This composite approach creates a structure that achieves high strength-to-weight ratio by distributing loads across different material properties and structural configurations.
2Weight of stationary object
If strut elements are made lightweight to meet weight requirements, then weight is reduced, but load-bearing capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint system incorporates dynamic elements including springs that can compress and extend, and finger elements that can flex and engage with the node receptacle. These dynamic components allow the lightweight strut structure to adapt to load variations, absorbing impact forces and maintaining load-bearing capacity without requiring excessive structural mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The load-bearing mechanism transitions from purely axial compression/tension in traditional struts to a multi-dimensional system where the shell system provides radial support, the finger elements provide tangential engagement, and the spring elements provide axial compliance. This dimensional expansion of the load path allows lightweight construction while maintaining strength.
3Reliability
If robust strut elements are designed to support both tension and compression loads, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joint system components are designed with multi-functionality: the shell system serves as both a protective enclosure and a load-bearing structure, the finger elements provide both alignment guidance and mechanical engagement, and the spring elements offer both shock absorption and force transmission. This universal design reduces the need for separate specialized components, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple functions are merged into integrated components: the support member combines structural loading with actuator mounting, the shell system combines protection with load distribution, and the finger elements combine alignment with connection. This merging reduces the total number of parts and simplifies the assembly process while ensuring reliable load support in both tension and compression.
Data Source
AI summary
A joint system for constructing orbital and extra-terrestrial structures includes a node receptacle having a node surface and a finger receiver projecting outwardly of the node surface, and a strut element including a support member, a finger element shiftably supported on the support member, a shell system shiftably supported on the support member and connected to the finger element, and an actuator mounted to the support member and operatively connected with the shell system. The actuator is operable to shift the finger element and the shell system into contact with the node receptacle. The finger element cooperates with the finger receiver to form a first load path and the shell system cooperating with the node surface to form a second load path.