US5673532A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coating of surfaces
Assignee: Sellafield Ltd
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Filing: 1995-02-09
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Granted: 1997-10-07
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Expires: 2015-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A wall or other surface is coated by applying a multiplicity of tiles to adhere to the surface, the edges between adjacent tiles being separtated by grouting materila comprising a vitrifiable particulate material incorporated in a binder, and applying local heat from a source of heat to the grouting material to cause vitrification of the particulate material thereby to weld the tiles together.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard Timothy Jennings
- 👤 Nicola McKeown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:10
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21F; G21F3/00; G21F3/04; G21F1/00; G21F1/02; G21F1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming a coating on a surface of an object which comprises the steps of applying a multiplicity of tiles having edges to adhere to the surface, the edges between adjacent tiles being separated by a vitrifiable grouting material incorporated in a binder, and applying local heat from a source of heat to the vitrifiable grouting material to cause vitrification of the vitrifiable grouting material thereby to weld the tiles together.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of forming a coating on a surface of an object which comprises the steps of applying a multiplicity of tiles having edges to adhere to the surface, the edges between adjacent tiles being separated by a vitrifiable grouting material incorporated in a binder, and applying local heat from a source of heat to the vitrifiable grouting material to cause vitrification of the vitrifiable grouting material thereby to weld the tiles together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the surface is a wall, ceiling or floor of a containment vessel, container, cabin or room.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as in claim 1 where in the tiles are plates having main faces which are bounded by shapes which fit closely together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
method as in claim 1 wherein the files are made of glass-ceramic material which includes at least regions of a vitrifiable material which assists welding together of adjacent tiles by vitrification of the vitrifiable grouting material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the files are adhered to the surface by a weld formed by heat treatment of the vitrifiable grouting material between tiles at convenient points through the tiles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the tiles are adhered to the surface by a resinous material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the tiles are adhered to the surface by a resinous material and by a weld formed by heat treatment of the vitrifiable grouting material between tiles at convenient points through the tiles.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the vitrifiable grouting material is a glass powder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as in claim 8 wherein the glass powder also contains another particulate material selected from metal, ceramic, stone, pozzolana, pozzolan and chamotte.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the vitrifiable grouting material is applied by spraying.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the vitrifiable grouting material is applied by pasting.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as in claim 1 wherein the applied local heat provides an energy level of at least 50 watts per cm 2 at the surface being treated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as in claim 12 wherein the source of heat is provided by laser radiation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as in claim 13 wherein the radiation is formed in a spot having a diameter of from 4 mm to 8 mm at the surface being treated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein an intermediate material is applied between the tiles and the vitrifiable grouting material, the intermediate material having thermal expansion properties which are intermediate those of a material of the tiles and a material formed by heat treatment of the vitrifiable grouting material.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of forming an impervious glazed coating on a surface of an object, which method comprises the steps of (1) applying a multiplicity of glazed tiles to adhere to the surface, the glazed tiles having edges and spaced apart from each other defining spaces therebetween, each tile edge provided with a vitrifiable grouting material, the edges between adjacent tiles being separated by a vitrifiable grouting material incorporated in a binder, and (2) applying local heat from a source of heat to the vitrifiable grouting material to cause vitrification of the vitrifiable grouting material thereby to weld the tiles together.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of forming an impervious glazed coating on a surface of an object, which method comprises the steps of (1) applying a multiplicity of glazed tiles to adhere to the surface, the glazed tiles having edges and spaced apart from each other defining spaces therebetween, each tile edge provided with a vitrifiable grouting material, the edges between adjacent tiles being separated by a vitrifiable grouting material incorporated in a binder, and (2) applying local heat from a source of heat to the vitrifiable grouting material to cause vitrification of the vitrifiable grouting material thereby to weld the tiles together.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as in claim 16 wherein the tiles are made of glass-ceramic material which includes at least regions of a vitrifiable material which assists welding together of adjacent tiles by vitrification of the grouting material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1330298A
Cited
FR2482761A1
Cited
US4817963A
Cited
US4990398A
Cited
US5186217A
Cited
WO1993013531A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-06 | 2001-04-07 | 2001-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-06 | 2005-04-07 | 2005-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-06 | 2009-04-07 | 2009-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |