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US3663347A
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Honeycomb panels formed of minimal surface periodic tubule layers
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1970-07-16
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-07-16
Abstract
Abstract Panels including honeycomb cores formed of minimal surface periodic tubule layers are described. Each tubule layer is defined as being formed of minimal surface elements that orthogonally intersect all of the faces of a kaleidoscopic cell at least once. In other words, for purposes of definition, the tubule layers are broken into elemental sections. The elemental sections are defined as minimal surface elements, i.e., elements having a mean curvature at all points on the surface that is equal to zero. These elements are further defined inside of kaleidoscopic cells wherein they orthogonally intersect all faces of the kaleidoscopic cell with which they are associated at least once. The minimal surface elements are smoothly interconnected to form tubule layers which are stacked in a reflection image-like manner to form a honeycomb core having no internal discontinuities.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan H Schoen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:17
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04C; E04C2/00; E04C2/30; E04C2/34; E04C2/3405; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S52/00; Y10S52/10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24149; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24661
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A honeycomb core panel comprising: first and second parallel boundary surfaces; and, a honeycomb core located between said first and second parallel boundary surfaces, said honeycomb core comprising at least one minimal surface periodic tubule layer, said minimal surface tubule layer being defined by a plurality of approximately minimal surface elements formed in a smooth continuous manner, each of said minimal surface elements being definable within a kaleidoscopic cell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
69 words
A honeycomb core panel comprising: first and second parallel boundary surfaces; and, a honeycomb core located between said first and second parallel boundary surfaces, said honeycomb core comprising at least one minimal surface periodic tubule layer, said minimal surface tubule layer being defined by a plurality of approximately minimal surface elements formed in a smooth continuous manner, each of said minimal surface elements being definable within a kaleidoscopic cell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer boundary of said honeycomb core intersects said first and second parallel boundary surfaces in simple closed curves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 2 wherein said simple closed curved intersections between said honeycomb core and said first and second parallel boundary surfaces are substantially orthogonal at all points.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said honeycomb core comprises a plurality of tubule layers, said layers being stacked in an image-like manner whereby no internal discontinuities are formed in said honeycomb core at the junctions between said layers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plurality of minimal surface periodic tubule layers is two in number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 4 wherein said plurality of minimal surface periodic tubule layers is three in number.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said simple closed curved intersections between said honeycomb core and said first and second parallel boundary surfaces are approximately circular.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said honeycomb core comprises a plurality of tubule layers, said layers being stacked in an image-like manner whereby no internal discontinuities are formed in said honeycomb core at the junctions between said layers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 8 wherein said plurality of minimal surface periodic tubule layers is two in number.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 8 wherein said plurality of minimal surface periodic tubule layers is three in number.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer surface of said honeycomb core terminally intersects said first and second parallel boundary surfaces substantially orthogonally at all points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said minimal surface elements intersects each surface of said kaleidoscopic cell at least once and each intersection is orthogonal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said kaleidoscopic cell is a rectangular parallelopiped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said kaleidoscopic cell is an equilateral triangular prism.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
A honeycomb core panel comprising: first and second parallel boundary surfaces; and a honeycomb core located between said first and second parallel surfaces, said honeycomb core comprising at least one constant mean curvature periodic tubule layer, said constant mean curvature periodic tubule layer being defined by a plurality of approximately constant mean curvature elements formed in a smooth continuous manner, each of said constant means curvature elements being definable within a kaleidoscopic cell.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A honeycomb core panel comprising: first and second parallel boundary surfaces; and a honeycomb core located between said first and second parallel surfaces, said honeycomb core comprising at least one constant mean curvature periodic tubule layer, said constant mean curvature periodic tubule layer being defined by a plurality of approximately constant mean curvature elements formed in a smooth continuous manner, each of said constant means curvature elements being definable within a kaleidoscopic cell.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 15 wherein said constant is zero.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
A honeycomb core panel as claimed in claim 15 wherein said honeycomb core comprises a plurality of tubule layers, said layers being stacked in an image-like manner, whereby no internal discontinuities are formed in said honeycomb core at the junctions between said layers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |