GB563014A - Improvements relating to buoyant materials - Google Patents

Abstract

563,014. Thermal insulation. BANKS, J. L. M. S. Dec. 3, 1942, No. 17227. [Class 64 (ii)] [Also in Groups VIII, XIV, XXI and XXXIII] A light weight structure is built up from either triangular or substantially hexagonal identical tubular elements of a material having a specific gravity below 1.5 arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel and adhesively bonded over all their contacting surfaces, the mass being cut into segments or sections, and one or more of the sections, with the ends of all the elements closed, being assembled into the structure. The elements may consist of natural vegetable products such as artichoke stems, rubber, paper, pulp, or plastic tubes deformable to hexagonal cross-section under pressure. Suitable adhesives are glue, rubber solution, bituminous. bonding material or synthetic cement and resins. The elements may be closed collectively, for example, by resinimpregnated paper layers 3, a wrapping skin 4, and fabric end coverings 5 as in the lifebelt pack shown in Fig. 2 or individually, for example, by flaps 12 slit up from the ends of the elements and folded inwards as shown at 13 in Fig. 7. The flaps 12 are then secured by an adhesive. The sections may be assembled with their elements running in different directions as in the core 18 and surrounding casing 19 of the buoy shown in Fig. 8. The structures give thermal insulation and may be used to form buoyancy blocks for lifeboats and for cushions. The elements may contain solid or liquid material to cause them to assume a desired attitude when floating. Specification 551,211 is referred to. The Provisional Specification states that the elements in adjoining layers may be staggered and also that cylindrical elements may be used.