# US 10,372,091 B2 · High pressure enhanced structure technology > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,091 B2 - Document ID: US10372091B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/688,252 - Filed: 2015-04-16 - Published: 2015-10-22 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-18 - Applicants: Robert A. Miller, Jr. - Inventors: Robert A. Miller, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372091B2 ## CPC - G05B 15/02: electric - B60N 2/42709: {involving residual deformation or fracture of the structure} - B64C 1/00: Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like - E04H 15/20: inflatable, e.g. shaped, strengthened or supported by fluid pressure - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) ## Abstract An energy dissipating article of manufacture is disclosed that is a high pressure enhanced structure technology comprising a structure having at least one wall forming a sealed inner chamber, and either (i) the sealed inner chamber is filled with a gas under pressure, or (ii) an inflated bladder filled with gas is located within the sealed inner chamber, or (iii) a deflated bladder that is located within the sealed inner chamber, and an inflation system that produces a gas to inflate the deflated bladder, or (iv) the sealed inner chamber at one atmosphere standard normal pressure, and an inflation system that produces a gas, to pressurize the inner chamber. A method of making the articles of manufacture and uses thereof are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of manufacture comprising: a single sealed structure having at least one wall forming a sealed inner chamber that is free of liquid, and wherein said sealed inner chamber has an internal surface; and a gas that is located within said sealed inner chamber, wherein said sealed structure is hermetically sealed in its working position, and wherein said gas exerts a uniform pressure distribution on all of said internal surface of said inner chamber resulting in an improved weight to strength ratio. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said sealed inner chamber has said gas in said chamber under pressure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The article of manufacture of claim 2 wherein said pressure of said sealed inner chamber is either a positive pressure or a neutral pressure of 1 atmosphere. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The article of manufacture of claim 2 including one or more sensors located within said sealed inner chamber for monitoring said pressure of said gas within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The article of manufacture of claim 1 wherein said sealed inner chamber contains at least one port wherein said port of said sealed inner chamber has one end that extends through at least one opening of said at least one wall of said sealed structure forming said sealed inner chamber wherein said port of said sealed inner chamber has a valve that allows for the addition of gas into said inner chamber or allows for the escape of gas out of said inner chamber, and wherein said port of said sealed inner chamber is in sealed engagement with said opening of said at least one wall of said sealed structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The article of manufacture of claim 5 including wherein said port of said sealed inner chamber has a first end that is external to said wall of said sealed structure wherein said first end of said port of said sealed inner chamber accommodates a first end of a tube that is in sealed engagement with said one end of said port of said sealed inner chamber, and wherein said tube has a second end, wherein said second end of said tube accommodates the outlet of a compressor or gas storage cylinder and wherein said outlet of said compressor or said gas storage cylinder is in sealed engagement with said second end of said tube, said compressor or gas storage cylinder supplying gas under pressure through said tube and from said tube into said port of said sealed inner chamber and through said valve of said port of said sealed inner chamber wherein said valve is in an open position, and into said inner chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The article of manufacture of claim 6 including one or more sensors located within said sealed inner chamber for monitoring said pressure of said gas within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of manufacture of claim 7 including a computer for receiving data transmitted from said one or more sensors to said computer, wherein said computer is interfaced with said compressor or said gas storage cylinder and said valve of said port of said sealed inner chamber, wherein said computer adjusts or maintains the pressure at a desired level within said sealed inner chamber by activation of said compressor or gas storage cylinder and said valve of said port of said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of manufacture of claim 1 having a sealed bladder located within said sealed inner chamber, and wherein said sealed bladder contains said gas. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The article of manufacture of claim 9 wherein said sealed bladder has said gas under pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of manufacture of claim 10 wherein said pressure of said sealed bladder is either a positive pressure or a neutral pressure of 1 atmosphere. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The article of manufacture of claim 10 wherein said sealed bladder has at least one port wherein said port of said sealed bladder has one end that extends through at least one opening of a wall of said sealed bladder and through at least one opening of said wall of said sealed inner chamber wherein said port of said sealed bladder has at least one valve that allows for the addition of gas into said sealed bladder or allows for the escape of gas out of said sealed bladder, and wherein said port of said sealed bladder is in sealed engagement with said opening of said wall of said sealed bladder, or said opening of said wall of said sealed inner chamber, or said opening of said wall of said sealed bladder and said opening of said wall of said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The article of manufacture of claim 12 including wherein said one end of said port of said sealed bladder extends through said opening in said wall of said inner chamber, wherein said one end of said port of said sealed bladder accommodates a first end of a tube and wherein said first end of said tube is in sealed engagement with said one end of said port of said sealed bladder, and wherein said tube has a second end, wherein said second end of said tube accommodates the outlet of a compressor or gas storage cylinder and wherein said outlet of said compressor or said gas storage cylinder is in sealed engagement with said second end of said tube, said compressor or said gas storage cylinder supplying gas under pressure through said tube into said port of said sealed bladder and through said valve of said port of said sealed bladder that is in an open position into said sealed bladder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The article of manufacture of claim 13 including one or more sensors located within said sealed bladder for monitoring the pressure within said sealed bladder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The article of manufacture of claim 14 including a computer for receiving data transmitted from said one or more sensors to said computer, wherein said computer is interfaced with said compressor or said gas storage cylinder and said valve of said port of said sealed bladder, wherein said computer adjusts or maintains the pressure at a desired level within said inner chamber by activation of said compressor or said gas storage cylinder and said valve of said port of said sealed bladder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The article of manufacture of claim 13 including one or more sensors located within said sealed inner chamber and one or more sensors located within said sealed bladder for monitoring the pressure of said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The article of manufacture of claim 10 including one or more sensors located within said sealed bladder for monitoring the pressure within said sealed bladder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 9) The article of manufacture of claim 9 including wherein the article of manufacture is one or more selected from the group of an automobile, truck, industrial equipment, rail car, boat, aircraft, bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, device, frame, construction component, electronic component, packaging, and weapon. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The article of manufacture of claim 1 including wherein the article of manufacture is one or more selected from the group of an automobile, truck, industrial equipment, rail car, boat, aircraft, bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, device, frame, construction component, electronic component, packaging, and weapon. ### Claim 20 A method of making an article of manufacture comprising: a single sealed structure having at least one wall forming a sealed inner chamber that is free of liquid, and wherein said sealed inner chamber has an internal surface; and inserting a gas within said sealed inner chamber; and including wherein said sealed structure is hermetically sealed in its working position, and wherein said gas exerts a uniform pressure distribution on all of said internal surface of said inner chamber resulting in an improved weight to strength ratio. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 wherein said sealed inner chamber has said gas in said chamber under pressure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 wherein said pressure of said sealed inner chamber is either a positive pressure or a neutral pressure of 1 atmosphere. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21 including providing one or more sensors located within said sealed inner chamber for monitoring said pressure of said gas within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 including mounting said one or more sensors to an interior portion of said wall of said sealed inner chamber for monitoring said pressure of said gas within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23 including providing said sensors for transmitting data to a computer concerning said pressure within said sealed inner chamber to a computer. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25 including providing said computer for receiving data transmitted from said one or more sensors to said computer, and providing said computer with a computer interface, said computer interface linked to a compressor or a gas storage cylinder and said valve of said port of said sealed inner chamber, wherein said compressor or said gas storage cylinder is in communication with a first end of a tube and wherein a second end of said tube is in communication with said port of said sealed inner chamber, and wherein said computer adjusts or maintains the pressure at a desired level within said sealed inner chamber by activation of said compressor or said gas storage cylinder sending said gas through said tube and activation of said valve of said port of said sealed inner chamber to an open position allowing said gas to flow from said second end of said tube through said open valve of said port of said sealed inner chamber into said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20 including providing said sealed inner chamber with a port wherein said port of said sealed inner chamber has one end that extends through at least one opening of said at least one wall of the sealed inner chamber and wherein said port of said sealed inner chamber has a valve that allows for the addition of gas into said sealed inner chamber or allows for the escape of gas out of said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27 including providing said port of said inner chamber having one end that is external to said wall of said structure wherein said one end of said port of said sealed inner chamber accommodates a first end of a tube for receiving a gas. ### Claim 29 A method of making an article of manufacture comprising: providing a single sealed structure having at least one wall forming a sealed inner chamber that is free of liquid, and wherein said sealed inner chamber has an internal surface; and; inserting a single sealed bladder within said inner chamber; and providing a gas within said sealed inner chamber and including wherein said sealed structure is hermetically sealed in its working position, and wherein said gas exerts a uniform pressure distribution on all of said internal surface of said inner chamber resulting in an improved weight to strength ratio; and sealing said inner chamber of said sealed structure having said sealed bladder located within said inner chamber for forming a sealed inner chamber having said bladder. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29 including placing a gas within said sealed bladder prior to sealing said bladder and prior to inserting said sealed bladder into said inner chamber. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30 including providing said gas under pressure in said sealed bladder. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The method of claim 31 including providing said gas in either a positive pressure or a neutral pressure of 1 atmosphere within said sealed bladder. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29 including providing a port located within a wall of said sealed bladder wherein said port of said sealed bladder extends through at least one opening of said wall of said sealed bladder and through at least one opening in said at least one wall of said sealed inner chamber of said structure wherein said port of said sealed bladder has a valve that allows for the addition of gas into said sealed bladder or allows for the escape of gas out of said sealed bladder, and wherein said port of said sealed bladder is in sealed engagement with said opening of said wall of said sealed bladder and said opening of said wall of said inner chamber of said sealed structure. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The method of claim 33 including providing said port of said sealed bladder having one end that is external to said opening of said wall of said sealed structure wherein said one end of said port of said sealed bladder accommodates a first end of a tube for receiving a gas. ### Claim 35 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29 including providing one or more sensors located within said sealed inner chamber for monitoring said pressure of said gas within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 including mounting said one or more sensors to an interior portion of said wall of said sealed inner chamber for monitoring said pressure of said gas within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35 including providing said sensors for transmitting data to a computer concerning said pressure within said sealed inner chamber to a computer. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37 including providing said computer for receiving data transmitted from said one or more sensors to said computer, and providing said computer with a computer interface, said computer interface linked to a compressor or a gas storage cylinder and said valve of said port of said sealed bladder, wherein said compressor or said gas storage cylinder is in communication with a first end of a tube and wherein a second end of said tube is in communication with said one end of said port of said sealed bladder, and wherein said computer adjusts or maintains the pressure at a desired level within said sealed bladder of said inner chamber by activation of said compressor or said gas storage cylinder sending said gas through said tube into said one end of said port of said sealed bladder and through said valve of said port of said sealed bladder that is in an open position said valve activated by said computer allowing said gas to flow from said second end of said tube through said open valve of said port of said sealed bladder into said sealed bladder of said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 including providing one or more sensors located within said sealed inner chamber and one or more sensors located within said sealed bladder for monitoring the pressure of said sealed inner chamber, said sealed bladder, or said inner chamber and said sealed bladder. ### Claim 40 An article of manufacture comprising: a single sealed structure having at least one wall forming a sealed inner chamber that is free of liquid, and wherein said sealed inner chamber has an internal surface; and a gas within said sealed inner chamber and including wherein said sealed structure is hermetically sealed in its working position, and wherein said gas exerts a uniform pressure distribution on all of said internal surface of said inner chamber resulting in an improved weight to strength ratio; and a bladder that is in a deflated position located within said sealed inner chamber, wherein said deflated bladder has an inflation system that produces a gas to inflate said deflated bladder upon receiving a signal from a sensor, wherein said sensor is optionally linked to a computer processor. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The article of manufacture of claim 40 wherein said sensor is located either externally of said sealed inner chamber or within said sealed inner chamber. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The article of manufacture of claim 40 wherein said inflation system comprises a solid propellant and an igniter. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The article of manufacture of claim 42 wherein said igniter receives a signal from said sensor which causes said solid propellant to produce a gas wherein said gas inflates said deflated bladder to an inflated bladder under pressure. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein said solid propellant is sodium azide (NaN3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3). ### Claim 45 (depends on 44) The article of manufacture of claim 44 wherein said igniter receives a signal from said sensor which causes said solid propellant of sodium azide (NaN3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3) to react to produce nitrogen gas wherein said nitrogen gas inflates said deflated bladder to an inflated bladder under pressure. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The article of manufacture of claim 45 wherein said pressure of said inflated bladder is either a positive pressure or a neutral pressure of 1 atmosphere. ### Claim 47 (depends on 43) The article of manufacture of claim 43 wherein said pressure of said inflated bladder is either a positive pressure or a neutral pressure of 1 atmosphere.