High strength lightweight material

• US 7,574,830 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher Baker
• Original Assignee: Christopher Baker
• Inventors: Baker, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Triggs; Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US11/833,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 745 Days
• Field of Search: 526/481, 52/811, 52/812, 52/813, 52/1, 52/21.5, 52/21.8, 526/491, 526/521, 526/531, 526/532, 52D/IG.10
• US Class Current: 52/2.18
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/19 Three-dimensional framework structures
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1933 of polygonal, e.g. square, cross section
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1975 Frameworks where the struts are directly connected to each other, i.e. without interposed connecting nodes or plates
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 2001/1987 triangular grid
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/06 of high bending resistance, i.e. of essentially three-dimensional extent, e.g. lattice girders anchorage devices specially adapted for balconies E04B1/0038; supporting devices for connector reinforcing rods for concrete walls E04G21/125
• CPC Class Codes: E04C 5/07 Reinforcing elements of material other than metal, e.g. of glass, of plastics, or not exclusively made of metal metal elements with non-structural coatings E04C5/01

Abstract

The disclosure depicts a high-strength yet lightweight material composed of interconnected struts that typically form a tetrahedral lattice structure.

Claims

1. A material composed of a lattice structure of interconnected struts, each strut comprising

first and second ends spaced from one another along a generally triangular cross-section at planes perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, the first and second ends being equivalent to one another, each having

a vertex point positioned at an outermost point with respect to the longitudinal axis and on a line that symmetrically passes through the triangular cross-section, the vertex point providing an intersection point of a plurality of planar polygonal faces that are symmetric about the line of symmetry;

the material comprising a manifold within each strut that passes a fluid through the manifold.

2. The material of claim 1, wherein the triangular cross section comprises an isosceles triangle.

3. The material of claim 1, the first end comprising:

first and second faces sharing a common edge and angled outwardly toward the vertex, the first and second faces being generally symmetric about the common edge.

4. The material of claim 3, wherein the first and second faces are triangles.

5. The material of claim 1, the first end comprising:

third and fourth faces angled outwardly from a base of the triangular cross section and upwardly, toward the vertex point.

6. The material of claim 5, wherein the third and fourth faces share a single edge that has a first end at the vertex point and a second end on the base of the triangular cross-section.

7. The material of claim 6, wherein the common edge and single edge are coplanar with an altitude of the triangular cross section.

8. The material of claim 1, wherein the manifold includes a duct passing from the first face of the first end to the second face of the second end.

9. The material of claim 1, wherein the manifold includes a duct passing from the second face of the first end to the first face of the second end.

10. The material of claim 1, wherein the manifold includes a duct passing from the third face of the first end to the fourth face of the second end.

11. The material of claim 1, wherein the manifold includes a duct passing from the fourth face of the first end to the third face of the second end.

12. The material of claim 1, further comprising a material poured into the lattice, thereby filling spaces within the lattice structure.

13. A material of interconnected tetrahedrons comprising interconnected struts, each strut comprising

first and second ends spaced from one another along an isosceles triangular cross-section at planes perpendicular to a longitudinal axis, the first and second ends being equivalent mirror-images of one another, each having

a vertex point positioned at an outermost point with respect to the longitudinal axis and on a line that symmetrically passes through the triangular cross-section, the vertex point providing an intersection point of a plurality of planar polygonal faces that are symmetric about the line of symmetry;

first and second triangular faces with a common edge that is angled outwardly toward the vertex, the first and second faces being generally symmetric about the common edge;

third and fourth faces angled outwardly from a base of the triangular cross section and upwardly toward the vertex point, the third and fourth faces sharing a single edge having a first end at the vertex point and a second end on the base of the triangular cross-section, whereby the common edge and single edge are coplanar with an altitude of the triangular cross section;

a manifold within each strut including

a first duct passing from the first face of the first end to the second face of the second end

a second duct passing from the second face of the first end to the first face of the second end

a third duct passing from the third face of the first end to the fourth face of the second end;

a fourth duct passing from the fourth face of the first end to the third face of the second end;

wherein, fluid passes through the manifold.