Modular structural truss and method of assembly

Abstract

A modular structural truss has an open-web configuration formed from a substantially parallel arrangement of a top hollow chord and a bottom hollow chord. The hollow chords have slotted channels formed vertically therethrough. Vertical flanges on T-shaped brackets are positioned within the slotted channels, while orthogonal cap plates on the brackets abut an upper surface of the top hollow chord and a lower surface of the bottom hollow chord. Web members extending between the two chords are affixed to respective ends of the vertical flanges that pass through the chords, and the cap plates may be welded to the chords. The modular truss enables flexibility in design and on-site assembly using common components to achieve high load tolerance, particularly for uplift.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An open-web steel truss, comprising:
 a first hollow structural steel (HSS) member having a first top surface and a first bottom surface with first passageways vertically through the first HSS member;   a first group of angled brackets comprising first cap plates substantially perpendicular to first vertical flanges, the first vertical flanges configured to be disposed within respective ones of the first passageways and to have first outer edges extending through the first bottom surface of the first HSS member;   a second HSS member substantially parallel to the first HSS member, the second HSS member having a second top surface and a second bottom surface with second passageways vertically through the second HSS member;   a second group of the angled brackets comprising second cap plates substantially perpendicular to second vertical flanges, the second vertical flanges configured to be disposed within respective ones of the second passageways and to have second outer edges extending through the second top surface of the second HSS member; and   web members configured to extend between the first HSS member and the second HSS member, the web members having first ends and second ends, individual ones of the first ends being configured to connect to individual ones of the first outer edges, individual ones of the second ends being configured to connect to individual ones of the second outer edges.   
     
     
         2 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 1 , wherein the angled brackets are T-shaped, the first cap plates contact the first top surface of the first HSS member, and the second cap plates contact the second bottom surface of the second HSS member. 
     
     
         3 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 2 , wherein the first cap plates are welded to the first top surface and the second cap plates are welded to the second bottom surface. 
     
     
         4 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 1 , wherein the first vertical flanges have first inner edges welded along a seam to a first inner side of the first cap plates. 
     
     
         5 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the angled brackets are fractional portions of a structural I-beam. 
     
     
         6 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first outer edges is configured to connect to more than one of the first ends of the web members. 
     
     
         7 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second outer edges is configured to connect to three of the second ends of the web members. 
     
     
         8 . The open-web steel truss of  claim 1 , further comprising a T-shaped hanging bracket having a top plate substantially perpendicular to an attachment flange, the attachment flange being configured to be positioned within a channel through the second top surface and the second bottom surface of the second HSS member for attachment of a hanging load, the top plate being configured to press against the second top surface of the second HSS member. 
     
     
         9 . A modular structural truss, comprising:
 a bottom chord arranged horizontally along a longitudinal axis;   a hollow top chord arranged in a plane with the bottom chord, the hollow top chord having a top surface separated from a bottom surface by a gap, the top surface including a top slot aligned with a bottom slot in the bottom surface;   an angled bracket having a vertical flange and a cap plate connected at substantially a right angle, the vertical flange extending through the top slot and the bottom slot, the cap plate contacting the top surface; and   at least one web member positioned in the plane between the hollow top chord and the bottom chord and having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being affixed to the vertical flange vertically below the bottom surface of the hollow top chord.   
     
     
         10 . The modular structural truss of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom chord has an upper surface separated from a lower surface by a cavity, the upper surface including a top opening aligned with a bottom opening in the lower surface. 
     
     
         11 . The modular structural truss of  claim 10 , further comprising an angled connecting member having a vertical plate and a horizontal plate, the vertical plate extending through the bottom opening and the top opening, the horizontal plate contacting the lower surface. 
     
     
         12 . The modular structural truss of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom end of the at least one web member is affixed to the vertical plate vertically above the upper surface of the bottom chord. 
     
     
         13 . The modular structural truss of  claim 9 , wherein the vertical flange of the angled bracket is connected to the top end of the at least one web member and to two other web members. 
     
     
         14 . The modular structural truss of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom chord comprises at least a first longitudinal member abutting a second longitudinal member at an interface and an upper splice for securing the interface. 
     
     
         15 . The modular structural truss of  claim 9 , wherein the hollow top chord is pitched relative to the bottom chord. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a modular truss, comprising:
 arranging a top hollow structural member along a first longitudinal axis, the top hollow structural member having at least one top channel formed transversely to the first longitudinal axis and through the top hollow structural member;   inserting a first flange of a top angled connection member into the at least one top channel, the top angled connection member including a top cap plate positioned substantially perpendicular to the first flange;   arranging a bottom hollow structural member along a second longitudinal axis, the bottom hollow structural member having at least one bottom channel formed transversely to the second longitudinal axis and through the bottom hollow structural member;   inserting a second flange of a bottom angled connection member into the at least one bottom channel, the bottom angled connection member including a bottom cap plate positioned substantially perpendicular to the second flange; and   affixing at least one web member to the first flange and to the second flange.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the affixing the at least one web member to the first flange comprises:
 securing the at least one web member to the first flange with connection hardware; and   welding the at least one web member to the first flange.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising welding the top cap plate to the top hollow structural member and welding the bottom cap plate to the bottom hollow structural member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 affixing additional web members between additional top angled connection members and additional bottom angled connection members; and   installing the modular truss in a structure to support a load.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 attaching multiple top hollow sections end-to-end to form the top hollow structural member; and   attaching multiple bottom hollow sections end-to-end to form the bottom hollow structural member.