Universal Hub and Strut System for Geodesic Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geodesic enclosure designs face challenges with complex assembly, reduced structural strength due to crimped strut ends, and high manufacturing costs due to the need for specific hubs and strut lengths for varying sizes and frequencies, lacking a universal hub and strut system that is adaptable and cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A universal hub and strut system that uses interchangeable pentagonal, hexagonal, and irregular pentagonal hubs with strut-tabs, eliminating the need for crimping and allowing easy adaptation to any geodesic enclosure size and frequency, featuring hub-tabs that can be formed to specific angles and materials like steel, aluminum, or polymers, and strut-tabs that secure to shafts without crimping, reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If crimped strut ends are used to attach to bolts or rivets, then assembly is enabled, but structural strength is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is divided into two separate components: a solid shaft and a tab. The tab is attached to the shaft end, and the bolt connects through both the tab and the hub. This segmentation allows the shaft to remain intact and strong while providing a separate attachment mechanism through the tab, eliminating the need to compromise the shaft's structural integrity through crimping.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab acts as an intermediary element between the shaft and the bolt connection. Instead of directly attaching the bolt to the shaft (which would require crimping and weaken the shaft), the tab serves as a mediator that provides the necessary attachment surface while leaving the shaft's structural strength intact.
2Manufacturing precision
If specific hubs and strut lengths are manufactured for different frequencies and sizes, then structural precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub design incorporates multiple attachment points and configurable tab arrangements that can accommodate different strut lengths, angles, and frequencies using the same basic hub component. This universal design allows a single hub type to serve multiple functions across different geodesic enclosure specifications, eliminating the need to manufacture specialized hubs for each frequency or size.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating different hub designs for different frequencies, the invention allows parameter changes (such as tab positions, angles, and configurations) to be made within the same hub design framework. This enables adaptation to various structural requirements through configurable parameters rather than through completely different component designs.
3Manufacturing precision
If different angles and multiple configurations are required for dome components, then structural accuracy is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hub design incorporates dynamic configurability through tabs that can be positioned and oriented to match the specific angular requirements of different geodesic frequencies. Rather than requiring multiple static hub designs, the system dynamically adapts to different angular configurations using the same fundamental hub structure with adjustable tab arrangements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions or positions on the hub have specialized features (such as tabs at specific angles or positions) that provide the necessary local structural accuracy for different frequencies, while the overall hub design remains consistent. This allows angular precision to be achieved through localized features rather than through completely different hub designs.
4Productivity
If a universal hub and strut system is implemented, then manufacturing cost and assembly time are reduced, but adaptability to different frequencies must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The hub and strut system is designed as a universal platform that can be used across all geodesic enclosure frequencies and sizes. The standardized components with configurable features (such as adjustable tabs and multiple attachment points) provide the versatility needed to adapt to different frequencies while maintaining the simplicity and speed of standardized assembly procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved universal hub and strut system for a geodesic enclosure framework is disclosed. The universal hub and strut system disclosed herein allows a geodesic structure to be more quickly assembled and with increased integrity. The geodesic structure is assembled by interconnecting a plurality of universal hubs and struts at each vertex of a geodesic spatial framework. To connect a strut to a universal hub of the present system, a strut-tab on a strut end overlaps a hub-tab of the universal hub, which is secured together via a fastening means through the respective ports. Based on the flexibility of the hub-tabs, the geodesic structure design disclosed herein may depart from the geometric designs associated with traditional geodesic structures. The invention may be applied in any geodesic type dome, structure, or enclosure.