US4361190A — Method and apparatus for providing a traversable …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 133 words

Apparatus for forming a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid, comprising a plurality of platform elements each comprising a blanket of porous, non-capillary, heat-resistant material of thickness sufficient to prevent penetration of flame from the upper surface of the blanket to the flammable fluid when in contact with the lower surface of the blanket, the blanket material providing a myriad of small internal interstices and being relatively readily compressible or deformable, and each element having on its upper surface a relatively rigid load-distributing porous deck connected to downwardly depending members which support the deck whereby the elements are adapted to support the weight of one or more persons thereon without substantial deformation and said elements being adapted to be deployed in contiguous end-to-end relationship to form a substantially continuous elongated pathway.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 133 words

Apparatus for forming a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid, comprising a plurality of platform elements each comprising a blanket of porous, non-capillary, heat-resistant material of thickness sufficient to prevent penetration of flame from the upper surface of the blanket to the flammable fluid when in contact with the lower surface of the blanket, the blanket material providing a myriad of small internal interstices and being relatively readily compressible or deformable, and each element having on its upper surface a relatively rigid load-distributing porous deck connected to downwardly depending members which support the deck whereby the elements are adapted to support the weight of one or more persons thereon without substantial deformation and said elements being adapted to be deployed in contiguous end-to-end relationship to form a substantially continuous elongated pathway.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the porous blanket comprises a good heat conductor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 12 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the porous blanket is metallic.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the porous material comprises superimposed layers of expanded metal foil.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the porous material is selected from the group consisting of metal honeycomb material, knitted wire mesh, inorganic filamentary material, open cell plastics foam, metal-plated open cell plastics foam, and ceramic foam.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deck comprises heavy gauge expanded metal.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 including a foot member on the lower surface of each element, said rigid support means connecting the foot and the deck.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a friction-reducing ground-engaging member on the lower surface of each element.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the ground-engaging member is a roller or a skid.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each platform element is provided on opposite ends with interlinking means for attaching it in contiguous relationship with an adjacent platform element.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each platform element has on each opposite side an imperforate heat-resistant covering for protecting the sides of the platform element from heat damage.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the covering comprises an intumescent heat-insulating coating.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 49 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each element has hinged on each side an imperforate shield which is pivotable from a lower folded position on the upper surface of the element to an erected position in which the shield extends upwardly from the side of the element.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of platform elements connected together end-to-end to form an elongated mat, the elements having sufficient flexibility to permit the mat to be reeled up to form a coil.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 60 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a self-propelled vehicle, said platform elements being carried on the vehicle, and means on said vehicle for successively discharging the elements onto the ground as the vehicle is propelled along the ground, whereby the elements can be deployed to form a continuous pathway defined by the line of travel of the vehicle.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 20 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the blanket is about 10 cm to about 50 cm.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 129 words

A method for providing a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid comprising: deploying in contact with the pool in contiguous end-to-end relationship a plurality of platform elements each comprising a blanket of porous, non-capillary, heat-resistant material with a thickness exposed above the surface of the pool sufficient to prevent penetration of flame from the upper surface of the blanket to the flammable fluid, the blanket material providing a myriad of small internal interstices and being relatively readily compressible or deformable, and each element having on its upper surface a relatively rigid load-distributing deck connected to downwardly depending members which support the deck so that the elements can support the weight of one or more persons thereon without substantial deformation, and thereby forming a substantially continuous elongated pathway.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 129 words

A method for providing a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid comprising: deploying in contact with the pool in contiguous end-to-end relationship a plurality of platform elements each comprising a blanket of porous, non-capillary, heat-resistant material with a thickness exposed above the surface of the pool sufficient to prevent penetration of flame from the upper surface of the blanket to the flammable fluid, the blanket material providing a myriad of small internal interstices and being relatively readily compressible or deformable, and each element having on its upper surface a relatively rigid load-distributing deck connected to downwardly depending members which support the deck so that the elements can support the weight of one or more persons thereon without substantial deformation, and thereby forming a substantially continuous elongated pathway.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the fluid is a liquid fuel.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 18 words

A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the blanket comprises superimposed layers of expanded metal foil.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method as claimed in claim 17 in which the blanket comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metal honeycomb material, knitted wire mesh, inorganic filamentary material, open cell plastics foam, metal-plated open cell plastics foam, and ceramic foam.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the liquid has its flash point above about 30° C. and the thickness of the blanket material exposed above the surface of the liquid is about 10 to 25 cm.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the liquid has its flash point below about 30° C. and the thickness of the blanket material exposed above the surface of the liquid is about 25 to 50 cm.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 130 words

Apparatus for forming a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid, comprising a plurality of platform elements each comprising a blanket of porous, non-capillary, heat-resistant material of thickness sufficient to prevent penetration of flame from the upper surface of the blanket to the flammable fluid when in contact with the lower surface of the blanket, each element having a relatively rigid load-distributing porous deck of heavy gauge expanded metal on its upper surface so that the elements can support the weight of one or more persons thereon without substantial deformation, a foot member on the lower surface of each element, and rigid support means connecting the foot and the deck, and the elements being adapted to be deployed in contiguous end-to-end relationship to form a substantially continuous elongated pathway.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 130 words

Apparatus for forming a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid, comprising a plurality of platform elements each comprising a blanket of porous, non-capillary, heat-resistant material of thickness sufficient to prevent penetration of flame from the upper surface of the blanket to the flammable fluid when in contact with the lower surface of the blanket, each element having a relatively rigid load-distributing porous deck of heavy gauge expanded metal on its upper surface so that the elements can support the weight of one or more persons thereon without substantial deformation, a foot member on the lower surface of each element, and rigid support means connecting the foot and the deck, and the elements being adapted to be deployed in contiguous end-to-end relationship to form a substantially continuous elongated pathway.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-11-29	1986-05-31	1986-11-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-11-29	1990-05-31	1990-11-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-11-29	1994-05-31	1994-11-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for providing a traversable pathway through a pool of flammable fluid

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