US4021589A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buoyancy materials
Assignee: WR Grace and Co Conn
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Filing: 1976-04-28
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1996-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A layered skin useful for protecting buoyancy materials of the type comprising a plurality of generally spherical buoyant bodies encased in a matrix of syntactic foam. The skin comprises an inner layer made from syntactic foam having a thickness capable of preventing implosion of buoyant bodies located in outer portions of the matrix at a desired hydrostatic pressure, and an outer layer for resisting damage to the structure and providing strength, composed of reinforcing materials such as fiberglass permeated by syntactic foam. The matrix and both layers comprise one integral structure.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Copley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:07
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B5/00; B32B5/22; B32B5/24; B32B5/26; B32B3/00; B32B3/26; F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/20; F16L1/24; B32B2315/00; B32B2315/08; B32B2315/085; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/06; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249971; Y10T428/249974; Y10T428/249986; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/249988; Y10T428/249989; Y10T428/25
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
A protective skin for a buoyancy material of the type which comprises a plurality of discreet, implodable buoyant bodies in a matrix of syntactic foam having a specific gravity less than 1.0, said skin comprising an outer layer of permeable reinforcing material, a permeable spacer means interposed between said permeable material and said buoyancy material, and a syntactic foam integral with said matrix, dispersed within said permeable reinforcing material and said spacer means for defining a pressure resistant layer about said buoyancy material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
A protective skin for a buoyancy material of the type which comprises a plurality of discreet, implodable buoyant bodies in a matrix of syntactic foam having a specific gravity less than 1.0, said skin comprising an outer layer of permeable reinforcing material, a permeable spacer means interposed between said permeable material and said buoyancy material, and a syntactic foam integral with said matrix, dispersed within said permeable reinforcing material and said spacer means for defining a pressure resistant layer about said buoyancy material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said syntactic foam comprises a hardenable epoxy resin containing hollow glass microspheres.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said syntactic foam comprises a hardenable resin selected from the group consisting of polyester, urethane, phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said spacer means comprises an open structured filamentary material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said permeable reinforcing material comprises fiberglass.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said permeable outer layer of reinforcing material comprises a layer less than 0.25 inch thick and said pressure resistant layer is less than 1 inch thick.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein the syntactic foam dispersed within said permeable reinforcing material contains a reduced concentration of microspheres relative to interior portions of said skin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said buoyant bodies comprise foam-filled, generally spherical structures having walls made from a substance selected from the group consisting of epoxy, phenolic, polyester, urethane, thermoplastic materials, and compatible mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The protective skin of claim 1 wherein said buoyant bodies are hollow.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
130 words
A buoyant structure comprising a plurality of implodable buoyant bodies encased in a matrix of syntactic foam having a specific gravity less than 1.0, said foam comprising a hardenable resin and a multiplicity of hollow microspheres, wherein the improvement comprises a layered skin comprising, in combination an inner layer of said syntactic foam having a thickness capable of preventing implosion of buoyant bodies in the outer portions of said matrix at a desired hydrostatic pressure, and an outer layer of permeable reinforcing material permeated with a member selected from the group consisting of said syntactic foam, the hardenable resin component of said syntactic foam, and mixtures thereof for protecting said inner layer and said buoyant bodies from impact damage, the hardenable resin in said layers being integral with said matrix.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
130 words
A buoyant structure comprising a plurality of implodable buoyant bodies encased in a matrix of syntactic foam having a specific gravity less than 1.0, said foam comprising a hardenable resin and a multiplicity of hollow microspheres, wherein the improvement comprises a layered skin comprising, in combination an inner layer of said syntactic foam having a thickness capable of preventing implosion of buoyant bodies in the outer portions of said matrix at a desired hydrostatic pressure, and an outer layer of permeable reinforcing material permeated with a member selected from the group consisting of said syntactic foam, the hardenable resin component of said syntactic foam, and mixtures thereof for protecting said inner layer and said buoyant bodies from impact damage, the hardenable resin in said layers being integral with said matrix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improved buoyant structure of claim 10 wherein said syntactic foam comprises a hardenable epoxy resin containing hollow glass microspheres.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved buoyant structure of claim 10 wherein said syntactic foam comprises a hardenable resin selected from the group consisting of polyester, urethane, phenolic resins, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The improved buoyant structure of claim 10 wherein an open structured filamentary material is embedded in said inner layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improved buoyant structure of claim 10 wherein said permeable reinforcing material comprises fiberglass.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved buoyant structure of claim 10 wherein said buoyant bodies comprise foam filled, generally spherical structures having walls made from a member selected from the group consisting of epoxy, phenolic, polyester, urethane resins, thermoplastic materials, and compatible mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improved buoyant structure of claim 10 wherein said buoyant bodies are hollow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
144 words
A buoyant structure comprising a plurality of implodable buoyant bodies encased in a matrix of syntactic foam having a specific gravity less than 1.0, said foam comprising a hardenable resin and a multiplicity of hollow microspheres, wherein the improvement comprises a layered protective skin comprising, in combination, an inner layer of said syntactic foam of a thickness capable of preventing implosion of buoyant bodies in the outer portions of said matrix at a desired hydrostatic pressure, and an outer layer of fiberglass, permeated, for protecting said inner layer and said buoyant bodies from impact damage, with a member selected from the group consisting of syntactic foam, the hardenable resin of said syntactic foam, and syntactic foam containing a reduced concentration of hollow microspheres relative to the concentration of said microspheres in said matrix, the hardenable resin in said layers being integral with said matrix.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
A buoyant structure comprising a plurality of implodable buoyant bodies encased in a matrix of syntactic foam having a specific gravity less than 1.0, said foam comprising a hardenable resin and a multiplicity of hollow microspheres, wherein the improvement comprises a layered protective skin comprising, in combination, an inner layer of said syntactic foam of a thickness capable of preventing implosion of buoyant bodies in the outer portions of said matrix at a desired hydrostatic pressure, and an outer layer of fiberglass, permeated, for protecting said inner layer and said buoyant bodies from impact damage, with a member selected from the group consisting of syntactic foam, the hardenable resin of said syntactic foam, and syntactic foam containing a reduced concentration of hollow microspheres relative to the concentration of said microspheres in said matrix, the hardenable resin in said layers being integral with said matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |