What is the Turb-O-Truss System? The Inventor of the Turb-O-Truss™ system Publications by Dr. Ralph Sörensen

Contact Details: Intl:27 82 573 0710 Nat.:082 573 0710 Fax: + +27 12 809 3240 Email: Click Here Skype: sorensen06060

Background:

Turb-O-Truss™ system was invented with the aim to assist in improving the livelihood of thousands of previously disadvantaged South Africans by way of acquiring a skill whereby they can financially fend for themselves and their families, whilst at the same time become valuable contributors to the building industry by assembling engineer-designed timber roof trusses on building sites for mass housing in the community in which they live. “by the people – for the people”

(Dr. Ralph Sörensen is the original inventor and patent holder of the
rounded web solution for multiple pitch timber roof trusses)

What is the Turb-O-Truss™ System?

Turb-O-Truss™ is an easy-to-assemble roof truss system supplied in component form, both timber components and metal connectors, for easy on-site assembly by low skilled labour with the use of only hand tools, requiring no electricity.

Turb-O-Truss™ system is aimed primarily at creating job opportunities for previously disadvantaged people in the communities in which they live. Thus the motto:
“by the people – for the people”.

Turb-O-Truss™ roof truss system targets the low to medium cost, gable-to-gable mass housing market and accommodates all types of commercially available roof covering whilst meeting the requirements of the National Building Regulations. (back)

The Inventor of the Turb-O-Truss™ system
Dr. Ralph Sörensen. DBA. MBA (Henley, UK)
It may be surprising to the reader to learn that the rounded web as used for varying truss pitches, internationally referred to as the Turb-O-Web™, is a novelty invented by Dr. Ralph Sörensen, which fact can be verified by the Registrar of Patents in the Patent Office in Pretoria, South Africa. The original patent letters are on file by the inventor.

The invention covers three main issues:

The rounded web, now internationally referred to as the Turb-O-Web™,
The metal connector plate for on-site assembly, called the Turb-O-Connector,
The above components forming a Turb-O-Truss™ roof truss in kit form

As the original patent was only intended by the inventor to be used in South Africa as a vehicle for creating job opportunities for previously disadvantaged people, Ralph Sörensen only registered the patented in South Africa. This, however, does not negate its legality or novelty as prior art internationally. Part of Ralph's invention, that of the rounded web configuration for multiple pitch roof trusses, internationally referrred to as theTurb-O-Web™ has since been patented, and successfully used in Australia, USA and Canada

Ralph’s invention, however, was focussed on what could be done to create jobs for thousands of unemployed; unskilled previously disadvantaged black people in South Africa in a Post Apartheid era. As such, the original patent by Ralph includes the novelty of the rounded web as well as the metal connector plate for on-site assembly by unskilled labour.

A Further Invention-The Turb-O-Chord

A further invention and patent awarded to Ralph Sörensen covers the curved Top and Bottom Chords, which enables these to be pre-shaped as stock items for use in trusses with roof pitches in any angle between 17 and 30 degrees without further cutting at the heel and apex joint.

The “new” South Africa needs to create job opportunities on the building sites and rural and urban areas in order to uplift the living standards of the masses. The government, through its housing and other programmes is creating a huge potential market, which is focussed on simple, low cost houses. These houses need roof trusses, which do not require high-tech computer software, in order to supply a guaranteed engineer-designed roof truss.

Ralph is well known in the prefabricated timber roof truss industry through over 30 years of continuous involvement either by way of one of South Africa’s largest timber roof truss fabricators from 1969 to 1990, and thereafter as a supplier of structural timber to roof truss fabricators. His wide experience in the truss and truss related field is unique in that he has both the insights into what the architect should design, how this should be specified by the quantity surveyor, what the builder/customer needs, the implications of a truss fabricator as well as the intricate production challenges experienced by the sawmill. (back)

Publications by Dr. Ralph Sörensen



Besides having published technical articles on how to optimise the uses of the countries timber resources through optimised design of timber roof trusses, Ralph has published two technical books on how to specify, design and erect timber roof trusses. One of these publications is a standard reference work with architects, engineers and quantity surveyors, and is registered with the Central Library in Pretoria. (ISBN 0620104147)

Ralph serves on the specifications committee of the South African Bureau of Standards on the Code of Practice for The Design, Manufacture and Erection of Timber Trusses (SABS 0243), as well as several other SABS Technical committees for South African Pine, both structural as well as industrial grade, and the manufacture of laminated timber beams in South Africa.

He is a registered category “B” roof inspector for the Institute for Timber Construction (I.T.C.) in South Africa, as well as heading up the Roof Inspection Service’s regional office in the Tshwane Metropolitan Area (Pretoria and surrounding area)

Ralph has been awarded a Masters degree in Business Administration from Henley Management College in the United Kingdom and also holds a PhD in Business Management. (back)


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