GEODESIC DOME AND METHOD OF MAKING

摘要

A geodesic dome includes a strut assembly including groups of primary struts having end connectors, each of which has a first hinge loop pinned to a second hinge loop of a successive primary strut end connector so that the end connectors formed closed rigid hubs from which the primary struts outwardly extend. Interconnection of the primary struts by means of the end connectors forms a plurality of primary triangles. Each primary triangle is divided into four secondary triangles by means of three secondary struts having their ends connected to the midportions of the three primary struts forming the primary triangle. Each primary strut and each secondary strut is composed of a pair of glued-together pre-finished wooden beams, the hinge loops of the primary strut end connectors being attached to opposite sides of a plate attached between the wooden beams at each end thereof. A plurality of straps are also attached between the wooden beams and extend from the outer surfaces of the primary and secondary struts. Prefabricated triangular panels each composed of an outer plate, a prefinished inner plate and insulation material disposed therebetween are coextensive with the secondary triangles. The prefabricated panels are positioned against the outer surfaces of the secondary triangles, and the straps are bent around the outer edges of the triangular panels and attached to the outer surface thereof to form a prefinished insulating cover of the geodesic dome. In one embodiment of the invention, the strut end connectors are used on the ends of upper and lower grid struts of a space frame structure; similar strut end connectors are provided on inter-grid struts and are interconnected with the upper and lower grid strut end connectors to form rigid hubs at which the grid struts and inter-grid struts are interconnected.