CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS OF UNDERWATER TRUSSES

• US 3,864,049 A
• Filed: 06/11/1973
• Issued: 02/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Taisaburo Ono
• Original Assignee: Taisaburo Ono
• Inventors: Ono, Taisaburo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kannan, Philip C.
• Application Number:
  US05/368,537
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 61/3 403/171,176,172,170,217,218 52/608,81,726,227 46/26,29
• US Class Current: 403/171
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 3/06 Moles; Piers; Quays; Quay walls; Groynes; Breakwaters ; Wave dissipating walls; Quay equipment
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/1906 with central spherical, semispherical or polyhedral connecting element
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1927 of essentially circular cross section
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1966 Formlocking connections other than screw connections
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1984 rectangular, e.g. square, grid
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1993 Details of framework supporting structure, e.g. posts or walls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 10/11 Hard structures, e.g. dams, dykes or breakwaters
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/342 Polyhedral
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/44 Three or more members connected at single locus

Abstract

Hollow web members having a tension member extending therethrough are engaged at the ends thereof with joint members. The joint members are provided with holes for holding the end of said web members. The specific gravity of the web members and the joint members are substantially equal to that of sea water so that they may be easily assembled in sea water. The truss structure constructed by use of the elements serves as a fishing ground, an auxiliary construction for protecting an underwater construction from impact of waves and so forth.

Claims

1. Construction elements of underwater trusses comprising a web member having elastic head members secured to each of the opposite ends thereof, spherical hollow opposing joint members having a plurality of holes formed therein, a cup-shaped member covering a portion of each elastic head member and received in one of said holes in each joint member, a tension member extending through said web member and having ends extending through said holes into the hollow portions of said joint members, and stopper means for locking each end of the tension member to said hollow portion of each joint member to interconnect said web member and said joint member in fixed position.

2. Construction elements as defined in claim 1, wherein said web member includes a hollow pipe member made of steel, a rigid cylindrical end member secured to each of the ends of said hollow pipe member, and a plastic coating covering the outer surface of said pipe member and said end membeR, said elastic head member being retained on said end member secured to said pipe member.

3. Construction elements as defined in claim 2, wherein said end member is made of a light aluminum alloy.

4. Construction elements as defined in claim 2, wherein said elastic head member is provided with a ring about its outer periphery for preventing excessive deformation thereof.

5. Construction elements as defined in claim 1, wherein said tension member is a wire rope, a socket being secured to each of the ends of the wire rope for holding it, and said stopper means comprises a plurality of split stoppers disposed adjacent to the inside end of said socket, said stoppers being movable to a conically outwardly enlarged position where they are engaged with the inner end face of said hole to lock said socket onto the end of the wire rope and within said hollow portion of the joint member, and means operatable in response to rotation of said cup member for moving said stoppers to said outwardly enlarged position.

6. Construction elements as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for moving said stoppers include guide members provided on said stoppers and fixably held at their one ends on said wire end by the socket, and said cup member is provided with guide grooves for receiving and guiding outwardly the other ends of said guide members so as to move said stoppers to the outwardly enlarged position during rotation of said cup member.