| 摘要 |
The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for joining a plurality of struts at a vertex, such as the vertex of a geodesic or a space frame structure. A plurality of strut supports are provided, each strut support including a pair of substantially parallel spaced side plates for receiving and securing one of the struts, with a longitudinal face of the strut aligned with a pair of the longitudinal edges of the side plates. Each strut support also includes a clamp between the side plates, the clamp having a generally rectangular base plate mounted across the side plates in substantially perpendicular relationship to said longitudinal edges of the side plates, such that an end face of the strut can abut against the base plate of the clamp. The clamp also has a pair of generally parallel flanges extending away from the strut at an oblique angle with respect to the flange base plate. The clamps of each of a plurality of strut supports are joined at a tubular hub member that is typically cylindrical or polygonal. This is done by engaging the hub within the flanges of the clamps. Each of the clamps includes a bolt for securing of the clamp to the hub. Due to the oblique angular relationship of the clamp flanges with respect to the clamp base, the same oblique angle is attained between the strut and the plane of the hub (i.e., the plane perpendicular to the axis of the hub). In this manner, it is not necessary to cut the end of each strut at a precise oblique angle for a particular construction, as this angle is provided in the strut joining apparatus, having been predetermined when the apparatus was constructed. When the struts are cut to a particular predetermined length and joined to their hubs in a specific fashion, an entire structure can be built.
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