US5135783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molecularly oriented tubular components having a controlled coefficient of thermal expansion
Assignee: Vencore Services and Solutions Inc
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Filing: 1989-12-29
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Granted: 1992-08-04
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Expires: 2009-12-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is based upon the discovery that ordered polymers, such as PBzT, can be readily formed into tubular structures which retain a biaxial orientation imparted thereto during processing, and that these rigid, high-stiffness tubular components can exhibit near zero coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Zero CTE materials are not adversely affected by vast swings in temperature, e.g., from very hot to very cold in short periods of time, nor are they adversely affected by long term exposure to either temperature extreme. The tubular components of the present invention thus represent a revolutionary advance in space based hardware, as the extreme temperatures experienced there will not affect rigidity of structures built using these components.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew C. Harvey
- 👤 Richard W. Lusignea
- 👤 James L. Racich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:41
CPC Classifications
B; B32; B32B; B32B1/00; B32B1/08; B29; B29C; B29C67/00; B29C67/24; B32B27/00; B32B27/06; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/0079; B29L; B29L2023/00; B32B2307/00; B32B2307/30; B32B2307/302; B32B2307/50; B32B2307/514; B32B2307/536; B32B2307/558; B32B2307/70; B32B2307/732; B32B2307/734; C; C09; C09K; C09K2323/00; C09K2323/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/91; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1393
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
An article of manufacture comprising a thin, dimensionally stable, high stiffness tubular component, comprising a molecularly oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
An article of manufacture comprising a thin, dimensionally stable, high stiffness tubular component, comprising a molecularly oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The article of claim 1, which further comprises a composite of one or more lyotropic liquid crystalline tubes and a secondary reinforcing material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular component has a thickness of from about 0.001 to 0.050 in.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular component has a specific stiffness of over about 1×10 8 in.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular component has tailorable properties including strength, stiffness, toughness, and thermal conductivity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular component has a near zero coefficient of thermal expansion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 6, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion is about ±2×10 -6 °C. 1 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 6, wherein the coefficient of thermal expansion is about ±1×10 -6 °C. -1 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular component has high impact resistance and fracture toughness at low temperatures.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 9, wherein the low temperature fracture toughness and impact resistance includes temperatures below about -170° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 9, wherein the tubular component will survive contact with liquid hydrogen fuels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 11, wherein the low temperature strength includes temperatures below about 20° K.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An article of manufacture comprising a thin, dimensionally stable, high stiffness, tubular component comprising a multiaxially oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer tube, said article having a CTE of from about -3 to -5 ppm/°C.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
An article of manufacture comprising a thin, dimensionally stable, high stiffness, tubular component comprising a multiaxially oriented lyotropic liquid crystalline polymer tube, said article having a CTE of from about -3 to -5 ppm/°C.
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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) | 1995-08-04 | 1996-02-03 | 1996-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-08-04 | 2000-02-03 | 2000-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-08-04 | 2004-02-03 | 2004-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |