Structural sandwich plate members
First Claim
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1. A structural sandwich plate member comprising:
- first and second outer plates formed of metal;
a core of substantially compact plastics or polymer material bonded to said outer plates with sufficient strength to transfer shear forces therebetween; and
a plurality of relatively lightweight forms disposed within said core;
wherein said lightweight forms are disposed so that there are ribs of said plastics or polymer material extending in two substantially orthogonal directions in the plane of said plate member, said ribs also extending between said first and second outer plates.
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Abstract
A structural sandwich plate member comprises first and second outer plates and a core material of plastics or polymer material. A plurality of lightweight forms are disposed between the outer plates so that the core material forms ribs extending in two substantially orthogonal directions. The lightweight forms may be hollow or solid and manufactured out of foam, plastics or expanded polystyrene. The structural sandwich plate member is preferably formed by injecting the plastics or polymer core material into a closed cavity formed between the outer plates and in which the lightweight forms have been preplaced.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A structural sandwich plate member comprising:
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first and second outer plates formed of metal;
a core of substantially compact plastics or polymer material bonded to said outer plates with sufficient strength to transfer shear forces therebetween; and
a plurality of relatively lightweight forms disposed within said core;
wherein said lightweight forms are disposed so that there are ribs of said plastics or polymer material extending in two substantially orthogonal directions in the plane of said plate member, said ribs also extending between said first and second outer plates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of manufacturing a structural sandwich plate member comprising the steps of:
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providing first and second outer plates formed of metal in a spaced-apart relationship with a plurality of lightweight forms located therebetween;
injecting uncured plastics or polymer material to fill the space defined between said outer plates and said lightweight forms; and
allowing said plastics or polymer material to cure to form a substantially compact material that bonds said outer plates together with sufficient strength to transfer shear forces therebetween;
wherein said lightweight forms are disposed so that said plastics or polymer material forms ribs extending in two substantially orthogonal directions in the plane of said plate member.
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11. (canceled)
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12. (canceled)
Specification