Self-repairing inflatable articles

• US 10,011,149 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carolyn M. Dry
• Original Assignee: Carolyn M. Dry
• Inventors: Dry, Carolyn M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yager, James C
• Application Number:
  US14/531,763
• Publication Number:
  US 20150056391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,338 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/163 Sealing compositions or agents, e.g. combined with propellant agents
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 73/22 the article containing elements including a sealing composition, e.g. powder being liberated when the article is damaged
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 1/00 Layered products having a non-planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/085 comprising polyolefins
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/09 comprising polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2250/03 3 layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/762 Self-repairing, self-healing
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/12 Puncture preventing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/122 disposed inside of the inner liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/125 disposed removably on the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/127 for inner tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 2200/12 for bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/912 Puncture healing layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10675 Using flowable coating or composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10684 On inner surface of tubeless tire
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10693 Sealant in plural layers or plural pockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10702 within or part of construction of inflating inner tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10711 Sealant in plural layers or plural pockets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1355 Elemental metal containing [e.g., substrate, foil, film, coating, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1359 Three or more layers [continuous layer]

Abstract

A self-repairing inflatable article including an inflatable component that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface, a sealed flexible package adjacent to the inflatable component, and a sealant composition disposed in the sealed flexible package. The sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture, tearing or other breach of the inflatable component.

Claims

1. A self-repairing structure comprising

a pressurized component;

and

a sealed flexible package, comprising one or more sealed cells, wherein

the package or each cell comprises

a first sheet with one or more edges;

a second sheet with one or more edges;

a sealant composition disposed between the first and second sheets; and

the first and second sheets sealed to each other at the one or more edges, where each sheet is a laminate having a top layer of polyester, an adhering layer of polyethylene, a metal foil and a second layer of polyethylene which forms the internal surface of the package; and

wherein the sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture of the pressurized component.

2. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the structure is a tent or building.

3. The self-repairing structure of claim 1, wherein the structure is supported by a dome, air-frame, inflatable arch or an air beam.

4. The self-repairing structure of claim 1, wherein the structure comprises a woven web or cloth or weave comprising at least one of fiberglass, nylon fibers, polypropylene fibers, metal fibers, carbon fibers, inerga fibers, tegris fibers, para-amide fibers meta-amide fibers, or polyparaphenylene terephthalamide fibers.

5. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the metal foil comprises aluminum, tin, steel or an alloy of any one of the foregoing.

6. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the metal foil comprises aluminum.

7. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein an interior surface of the sealed flexible package is an acid-treated surface.

8. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of cyanoacrylate, one-part epoxy, polymerizable monomers, polymerizable oligomers, polyurethane, latex, rubber cement, and cold vulcanizing fluid with rubber or asphalt particles or whiskers.

9. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises pieces or particles of rubber, other elastomers, carbon black, asphalt or bitumen.

10. The self-repairing structure of claim 9 wherein the sealant composition comprises an organic solvent.

11. The self-repairing structure of claim 10 wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of ethyl ether, acetone, n-heptane, n-hexane, toluene, acetone, glycerol, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, methylene chloride, ethylene dichloride, pyridine, isooctane, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, o-xylene, trichloroethylene, dimethyl sulfoxide and combinations of any two or more thereof.

12. The self-repairing structure of claim 10 wherein the organic solvent comprises n-hexane and/or n-heptane.

13. The self-repairing structure of claim 10, wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, amines, silicone-carbon resins, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and epoxy.

14. The self-repairing structure of claim 9 wherein the sealant composition comprises vulcanizing fluid, one or two organic solvents with a boiling point of at least about 75°

C. and whiskers of uncured rubber or particles of asphalt or bitumen.

15. The self-repairing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, methylmethacrylate, cyanoacrylate, acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, olefin, lactone, lactam, styrene, isoprene, butadiene, urethane, siloxane, amine, silicone-carbon resin, dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) and epoxy.

16. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises one or more of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate, methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylate, rubber latex, rubber cement, and cold vulcanizing fluid.

17. The self-repairing structure of claim 16 wherein the sealant composition comprises cold vulcanizing fluid and the cold vulcanizing fluid comprises trichloroethylene.

18. The self-repairing structure of claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises a chemical capable of chemically bonding to an elastomeric polymer.

19. The self-repairing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition remains active even when heated to at least 125°

C.

20. The self-repairing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises heat-resistant additives and shelf life increasing additives.

21. The self-repairing structure of claim 1, wherein the sealant composition comprises rubber latex.

22. The self-repairing structure of claim 21, wherein the amount of rubber, other elastomers, carbon black, bitumen, or asphalt range up to about 75% by weight of the sealant composition.

24. The self-repairing pressurized structure of claim 1, wherein the self-repairing structure is a tire, dome, air-frame, inflatable arch or an air beam.

23. A self-repairing pressurized structure comprising

a sealed flexible package, comprising one or more sealed cells, wherein

the package or each cell comprises

a first sheet with one or more edges;

a second sheet with one or more edges;

a sealant composition disposed between the first and second sheets; and

the first and second sheets sealed to each other at the one or more edges, where each sheet is a laminate having a top layer of polyester, an adhering layer of polyethylene, a metal foil and a second layer of polyethylene which forms the internal surface of the package; and

wherein the sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture of the pressurized structure.

25. A self-repairing pressurized structure comprising:

a sealed flexible package, and

a sealant composition disposed in the sealed flexible package,

wherein the sealed flexible package comprises one or more sealed cells, and the package or each cell comprises;

a single sheet having one or more edges, wherein the sheet is folded over on itself and sealed where the edges meet;

the sealant composition disposed within the folded sheet; and

the sheet is a laminate having a top layer of polyester, an adhering layer of polyethylene, a metal foil and a second layer of polyethylene which forms the internal surface of the package; and

the sealed flexible package is configured to release the sealant composition upon puncture of the pressurized structure.