Structural shape for wind tower members

Abstract

One of the major structural components in a space frame tower is the tower leg. A novel and nonobvious tower leg structure is provided which provides significant advantages and benefits over previously available structures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind tower comprising:
 a plurality of legs, each of said plurality of legs comprising a structural member, said structural member having an open cross section defining a substantially unobstructed inner surface facing toward a midpoint of the tower, said structural member comprising:   two flange portions for attaching said structural member into said wind tower,   a framed portion connecting said flange portions so as to define an outermost cavity of said structural member, wherein said cavity extends radially outward from the midpoint of the tower, and   a brace spanning at least a portion of said framed portion.   
     
     
         2 . The wind tower of  claim 1 , further comprising at least four legs comprising said structural members. 
     
     
         3 . The wind tower of  claim 1 , having five legs comprising said structural members. 
     
     
         4 . The wind tower of  claim 1 , wherein said structural members further comprises a joining structure disposed thereon for joining. 
     
     
         5 . The wind tower of  claim 1 , wherein said brace comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is affixed to a flange and said second end is attached to another flange. 
     
     
         6 . The wind tower of  claim 5 , wherein said brace is affixed to said framed portion. 
     
     
         7 . The wind tower of  claim 1 , wherein said brace comprises a C-shape that spans at least a portion of the framed portion. 
     
     
         8 . The wind tower of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of braces configured to brace the flange portions and the framed portion. 
     
     
         9 . The wind tower  claim 8 , wherein at least one brace is within the open cross section of said structural member and at least one brace is outside of the open cross section. 
     
     
         10 . A space frame wind tower comprising:
 a structural member for use in a leg of the wind tower having a cross section, said structural member having an open cross section defining a substantially unobstructed inner surface facing toward a midpoint of the tower, said structural member comprising:   two flange portions for attaching said structural member into said wind tower,   a framed portion having a plurality of concave portions and a convex portion, said concave portions and said convex portion being disposed between said flange portions, said flange portions and said framed portion extending substantially normal to the cross section thereby forming said structural member, and   a brace spanning at least a portion of said framed portion.   
     
     
         11 . The space frame wind tower of  claim 10 , wherein said structural members further comprises a joining structure disposed thereon for joining. 
     
     
         12 . The space frame wind tower of  claim 10 , wherein said brace comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is affixed to a flange and said second end is attached to another flange. 
     
     
         13 . The space frame wind tower of  claim 12 , wherein said brace is affixed to said framed portion. 
     
     
         14 . The space frame wind tower of  claim 1 , wherein said brace comprises a C-shape that spans at least a portion of the framed portion. 
     
     
         15 . The space frame wind tower of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of braces configured to brace the flange portions and the framed portion. 
     
     
         16 . The space frame wind tower  claim 15 , wherein at least one brace is within an open cross section of said structural member and at least one brace is outside of the open cross section.