Membrane Body and Relative Production Method

• US 20080302290A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veleria Marco Holm S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Veleria Marco Holm S.r.l.
• Inventors: Grassi, Enrico, Molta, PierCarlo
• Granted Patent: US 8,168,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/102.31
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 70/82 Forcing wires, nets or the like partially or completely into the surface of an article, e.g. by cutting and pressing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/08 Reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2305/34 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/14 Corona, ionisation, electrical discharge, plasma treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/08 characterised by added members at particular parts layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/226 Laminating sheets, panels or inserts between two continuous plastic layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0008 Electrical discharge treatment, e.g. corona, plasma treatment; wave energy or particle radiation heat treatment B32B38/0036
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/04 Interconnection of layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 7/12 using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/067 Sails characterised by their construction or manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/0671 Moulded sails
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/0673 Flying sails, e.g. spinnakers or gennakers
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/0678 Laminated sails
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24058 including grain, strips, or filamentary elements in respective layers or components in angular relation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24074 Strand or strand-portions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24099 On each side of strands or strand-portions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24124 Fibers

Abstract

Membrane body (1) comprising at least one pair of panels (10, 11) connected together in an adhesive manner and for each pair of said panels (10, 11), at least one flexible sheath (15) arranged stably according to a set pattern to resist membrane stress acting on the panels (10, 11); each sheath (15) housing a respective tie rod (16), connected to the panels (10, 11) in an end position in a set manner in such a way as to be suitable for resisting normal stress to free the panels (10, 11) from the respective membrane stress, thereby maintaining the group of the panels (10, 11) flexible and maintaining the corresponding production method.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. Membrane body (1), comprising at least a first panel (10) and a second panel (11) connected together in an adhesive manner by respective facing faces (12, 13) and a plurality of tie rods (16) arranged stably between the panels (10, 11) according to a set pattern;

each said tie rod (16) having respective end portions (17, 18);

said body further comprising insulation means (15) arranged between the panels and associated with each said tie rod (16) to leave said tie rod (16) longitudinally free between said panels (10, 11);

said tie rod (16) being suitable for resisting a dual tensile membrane stress acting on each of said pair of panels (10, 11), and keeping said panels (10, 11) substantially free of tension during use;

said second panel (11) covering said face (12) of said first panel (10) in such a way that said second panel (11) adheres integrally to said first panel (10).

42. Membrane body (1) as claimed in claim 41,

characterized in that

said insulation means (15) comprise a plurality of flexible sheaths (15) arranged between said respective panels (10, 11) along force lines (F), each sheath housing a corresponding tie rod (16) in a longitudinally free manner.

43. Body according to claim 42,

characterized in that

said tie rod (16) comprises a plurality of fibres (24) free of at least a set material, that are arranged inside one said sheath (15) in such a way as to be longitudinally freely slideable.

44. Body according to claim 43,

characterized in that

said sheath (15) has an annular section.

45. Body according to claim 43,

characterized in that

said sheath (15) has an annular section interrupted at a first panel (10) (11) of the two said panels (10, 11).

46. Body according to claim 45,

characterized in that

said sheath (15) is longitudinally delimited by two respective strips (23) that are distinct from one another;

said first panel (10) (11) being suitable, between the two said strips (23), for completing said annular section of said sheath (15), to limit the masses in play and increase their flexibility.

47. Body according to claim 45,

characterized in that

said sheath (15) and the respective said tie rod (16) comprise fibres (24) with a homogenous composition.

48. Body according to claim 45,

characterized in that

said sheath (15) and the respective said tie rod (16) comprise fibres (24) with a heterogeneous composition.

49. Body according to claim 45,

characterized in that

said tie rod (16) has fibres (24) with a homogenous composition.

50. Body according to claim 45,

characterized in that

said tie rod (16) has fibres (24) with a heterogeneous composition.

51. Body according to claim 47,

characterized in that

the fibres (24) of said sheath (15) and the fibres of the respective said tie rod (16) have sections with a substantially identical value.

52. Body according to claim 47,

characterized in that

the sections of the fibres (24) of said sheath (15) and those of the respective said tie rod (16) differ from one another by a set coefficient.

53. Body according to claim 52,

characterized in that

said coefficient falls within the range 0.20-5.

54. Body according to claim 52,

characterized in that

said coefficient falls within the range 0.5-2.

55. Body according to claim 52,

characterized in that

said coefficient falls within the range 0.75-1.5.

56. Body according to claim 41,

characterized in that

said first panel (10) (11) has a set shape, said two panels (10, 11) being connected together through adhesive covering material.

57. Body according to claim 43,

characterized in that

said free fibres (24) of each said tie rod (16) are organized in the form of roving.

58. Body according to claim 41,

characterized in that

said first panel (10) (11) of said pair of panels (10, 11) has a set shape, said two panels (10, 11) being connected together by covering adhesive material (2) suitable to react in a thermoplastic manner.

59. Body according to claim 58,

characterized in that

said sheath (15) has an annular section interrupted at a second (11) (10) panel of said pair of panels (10, 11);

said second panel (11) (10) being a covering panel of said first panel (10) (11).

60. Body according to claim 41,

characterized in that

it comprises a plurality of pairs of panels (10, 11), each said pair of panels (10, 11) being delimited at the top and bottom by a first and by a second edge (6, 7).

61. Body according to claim 43,

characterized in that

said free fibres (24) are made from a material chosen from the following products Kevlar, Twaron, Dyneema, carbon, glass.

62. Body according to claim 41,

characterized in that

each said face (12), 13) has increased wettability through the application of a Corona treatment, or the like.

63. Sail (1)

characterized in that

it comprises at least one membrane body (1) including at least a fist panel (10) and a second panel (11) connected together in an adhesive manner by respective facing faces (12, 13) and a plurality of tie rods (16) arranged stably between the panels (10, 11) according to a set pattern;

each said tie rod (16) having respective end portions (17, 18);

said body further, comprising insulation means (15) arranged between the panels and associated with each said tie rod (16) to leave said tie rod (16) longitudinally free between said panels (10, 11);

said tie rod (16) being suitable for resisting a dual tensile membrane stress acting on each of said pair of panels (10, 11), and keeping said panels (10, 11) substantially free of tension during use;

said second panel (11) covering said face (12) of said first panel (10) in such a way that said second panel (11) adheres integrally to said first panel (10);

at least one sailcloth (14), delimited by respective side edges (4, 5) converging in a peak (3), and by a base edge (7).

64. Awning for civil engineering purposes,

characterized in that

it comprises at least one membrane body (1) including at least a fist panel (10) and a second panel (11) connected together in an adhesive manner by respective facing faces (12, 13) and a plurality of tie rods (16) arranged stably between the panels (10, 11) according to a set pattern;

each said tie rod (16) having respective end portions (17, 18);

said body further comprising insulation means (15) arranged between the panels and associated with each said tie rod (16) to leave said tie rod (16) longitudinally free between said panels (10, 11);

said tie rod (16) being suitable for resisting a dual tensile membrane stress acting on each of said pair of panels (10, 11), and keeping said panels (10, 11) substantially free of tension during use;

said second panel (11) covering said face (12) of said first panel (10) in such a way that said second panel (11) adheres integrally to said first panel (10).

65. Method for construction of a membrane body (1) including at least a fist panel (10) and a second panel (11) connected together in an adhesive manner by respective facing faces (12, 13) and a plurality of tie rods (16) arranged stably between the panels (10, 11) according to a set pattern;

each said tie rod (16) having respective end portions (17, 18);

said body further comprising insulation means (15) arranged between the panels and associated with each said tie rod (16) to leave said tie rod (16) longitudinally free between said panels (10, 11);

said tie rod (16) being suitable for resisting a dual tensile membrane stress acting on each of said pair of panels (10, 11), and keeping said panels (10, 11) substantially free of tension during use;

said second panel (11) covering said face (12) of said first panel (10) in such a way that said second panel (11) adheres integrally to said first panel (10), said method comprising a phase of assigning a shape to at least a first adhesive panel (10) (11) of laminated material provided with at least an adhesive face (12) (13);

a phase of applying a plurality of flexible longitudinal bodies (15) onto said first adhesive face (12) (13) according to a set pattern;

a phase of protecting said flexible longitudinal bodies (15) with a second panel (11) (10);

a phase of increasing the adhesive property of said first face (12) (13) of said first panel (10) (11) to fix in position said flexible longitudinal bodies (15) and said first and second panels (10) (11);

wherein each said flexible longitudinal body (15) is provided with insulation means (15) and inside said insulation means (15), with a tie rod (16) comprising a plurality of fibres (24) of a set composition to leave said tie rod (16) free to slide longitudinally in relation to its relative insulation means (15) and to said first panel and second panel (10, 11), and able to resist normal stress to free said two panels (10, 11) from membrane stress;

said phase of protecting said flexible longitudinal bodies (15) comprising covering said first face (12) (13) of said first panel (10) with said second panel (11) (10) in such a way that said second panel adheres integrally to said first panel.

66. Method as claimed in claim 65,

characterized in that

said phase of applying a plurality of flexible longitudinal bodies (15) onto said first adhesive face (12) (13) comprises applying a plurality of rovings (25) of free fibres (24) to said first face (12) (13) according to a set pattern and a phase of subdividing the free fibres (24) of said roving (25) into two distinct portions substantially coaxial to each other, to make a sheath (15) with a first portion of said free fibres (24) and a tie rod (16) with a second portion of said free fibres (24);

said sheath (15) being suitable for isolating said tie rod (16) from said first and second panels (10, 11), in such a way as to leave said tie rod (16) free to slide longitudinally in relation to said first panels and second panels (10, 11) and to resist normal stress to free said two panels (10, 11) from membrane stress.

67. Method according to claim 66,

characterized in that

the phase of protecting said roving (25), is followed by a phase of stably connecting together said first and second panels (10, 11) and of making stable the positioning of said rovings of free fibres (24) between said two panels (10, 11) in an adhesive manner through the application of pressure.

68. Method according to claim 67,

characterized in that

said phase of stably connecting said first and second panel (10) (11) is performed inside a vacuum bag through the delivery of heat.

72. Method according to claim 65,

characterized in that

said phase of increasing an adhesive property of said first face (12) (13) is preceded by the phase of distributing an adhesive material (2) on said first face (12) (13).

73. Method according to claim 66,

characterized in that

said phase of subdividing the free fibres (24) of said roving (25) into two parts to make a sheath (15) with a first portion of said free fibres (24) and a tie rod (16) with a second portion of said free fibres (24) is implementable through the delivery of heat to the adhesive material (2).

74. Method according to claim 66,

characterized in that

said free fibres (24) are made from a material chosen from the following products Kevlar, Twaron, Dyneema, carbon, glass.

75. Method according to claim 72,

characterized in that

said adhesive material (2) selectively comprises an acrylic or rubber resin compound or a copolymer similar to PET.

76. Method according to claim 75,

characterized in that

said acrylic compound is in the form of a gel.

69. Method for construction of sails including at least one membrane body (1) including at least a fist panel (10) and a second panel (11) connected together in an adhesive manner by respective facing faces (12, 13) and a plurality of tie rods (16) arranged stably between the panels (10, 11) according to a set pattern;

each said tie rod (16) having respective end portions (17, 18);

said body further comprising insulation means (15) arranged between the panels and associated with each said tie rod (16) to leave said tie rod (16) longitudinally free between said panels (10, 11);

said tie rod (16) being suitable for resisting a dual tensile membrane stress acting on each of said pair of panels (10, 11), and keeping said panels (10, 11) substantially free of tension during use;

said second panel (11) covering said face (12) of said first panel (10) in such a way that said second panel (11) adheres integrally to said first panel (10);

at least one sailcloth (14), delimited by respective side edges (4, 5) converging in a peak (3), and by a base edge (7);

the method comprising a phase of assigning a set shape to at least one first adhesive panel (10) (11) of laminated material and provided with a first adhesive face (12) (13);

a phase of applying a plurality of rovings (25) of free fibres (24) to said first face (12) (13) according to a set pattern;

a phase of protecting each said roving (25), by covering said first face (12) (13) of said first panel with a second panel in such a way that said second panel adheres integrally to said first panel and a phase of subdividing the free fibres (24) of said roving (25) into two distinct portions substantially coaxial to each other, to make a sheath (15) with a first portion of said free fibres (24) and a tie rod (16) with a second portion of said free fibres (24);

said sheath (15) being suitable for isolating said tie rod (16) from said first and second panels (10, 11), in such a way as to leave said tie rod (16) free to slide longitudinally in relation to said first panels and second panels (10, 11) and to resist normal stress to free said two panels (10, 11) from membrane stress.

70. Method according to claim 69,

characterized in that

the phase of protecting said roving (25), is followed by a phase of stably connecting together said first and second panels (10, 11) and of making stable the positioning of said rovings of free fibres (24) between said two panels (11, 11) in an adhesive manner through the application of pressure.

71. Method according to claim 70,

characterized in that

said phase of stably connecting said first and second panel (10) (11) is performed inside a vacuum bag through the delivery of heat.

77. Method according to claim 69,

characterized in that

said phase of stably connecting said tie rods (16) to said first and second panels (10, 11) through respective end portions (17, 18) of said tie rods (16) is performed through heat.

78. Method according to claim 69,

characterized in that

said phase of stably connecting said tie rods (16) to said first and second panels (10, 11) through respective end portions (17, 18) of said tie rods (16) is performed cold.