Method and apparatus for welding a fluoropolymer seam
OwnerScott Feldmanninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for sealing and smoothing a seam produced from applying flexible protective covering sheets of a fluoropolymer to a hull of a marine craft, thus forming a protective fluoropolymer film on the hull. The method comprises placing a thread of fluoropolymer caulk onto the seam produced from applying the flexible protective covering sheets and applying sufficient heat and pressure to the thread of fluoropolymer caulk to melt and weld the fluoropolymer caulk with the fluoropolymer of the flexible protective covering sheets. The method includes smoothing the melted fluoropolymer caulk to produce a smooth seam with a sealed and smooth surface.
Claims46
A method for sealing and smoothing a seam produced from applying flexible protective covering sheets of a fluoropolymer to a hull of a marine craft, so as to form a protective film on an exterior of the hull, said method comprising:
- placing a thread of fluoropolymer caulk onto the seam produced from applying the flexible protective covering sheets;
- applying sufficient heat and pressure to the thread of fluoropolymer caulk to melt and weld the fluoropolymer caulk with the fluoropolymer of the flexible protective covering sheets;
- and
- smoothing the melted fluoropolymer caulk to produce a smooth seam having a smoothly sealed surface.
A method for sealing and smoothing a seam produced from applying flexible protective covering sheets of a fluoropolymer to a hull of a marine craft, thus forming a protective film on an exterior of the hull, said method comprising:
- applying sufficient heat and pressure to the seam to melt and weld the seam of fluoropolymer of adjacent flexible protective covering sheets;
- and
- smoothing the melted seam to produce a smooth seam having a smoothly sealed surface.
A protected marine craft hull, comprising:
- a hull having an external portion covered with flexible fluoropolymer covering sheets adhered to the hull;
- the flexible fluoropolymer covering sheets being arranged with at least two adjacent flexible fluoropolymer covering sheets meeting and forming a seam;
- and
- the seam having a smooth and sealed surface produced through an application of sufficient heat and pressure at the seam.
An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to a fluoropolymer seam to melt and weld the fluoropolymer of the seam into a seam having a smoothly sealed surface, comprising:
- a heating device having a heating surface suitable for applying the heat and pressure to the fluoropolymer seam;
- and
- a thread roll apparatus having a thread roll spool configured to have a spool of fluoropolymer caulk and a thread roll guide for guiding the fluoropolymer caulk onto the fluoropolymer seam.
An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to a fluoropolymer seam to melt and weld the fluoropolymer of the seam into a seam having a smoothly sealed surface, comprising:
- a heating surface for heating a portion of a flexible heat strap;
- and
- the flexible heat strap configurable to have a shape of at least one of a flat surface, a concave surface, and a convex surface for applying the heat and pressure correspondingly, to at least one of a flat fluoropolymer surface, a convex fluoropolymer surface, and a concave fluoropolymer surface.
An apparatus for sealing the seam between two abutting sheets of fluoropolymer film, said apparatus comprising:
- a thread roll apparatus having a thread roll spool configured to have a spool of fluoropolymer caulk;
- a thread roll guide for guiding the fluoropolymer caulk onto the fluoropolymer seam;
- a heating apparatus for heating at least a portion of the spool of fluoropolymer caulk;
- and
- a trowel member for spreading the fluoropolymer caulk on the seam after dispensing.
An apparatus for applying heat and pressure to a fluoropolymer seam to melt and weld the fluoropolymer of the seam into a seam having a smoothly sealed surface, comprising:
- a heating device having a heating surface suitable for applying the heat and pressure to the fluoropolymer seam;
- and
- a glue gun apparatus for pre-heating a fluoropolymer caulk before application of the fluoropolymer caulk to the seam.
A flexible guide rail apparatus, comprising:
- a flexible guide rail strip adapted for guiding a heating device along a fluoropolymer seam;
- and
- at least one of a plurality of suction cups fitted to the flexible guide rail strip to allow coupling of the flexible guide rail strip to a surface.
A glue gun apparatus for applying a pre-heated fluoropolymer caulk to a fluoropolymer seam to form a seam having a smoothly sealed surface, comprising:
- a glue gun having a guide adapter, the guide adapter configured to be coupled to a sliding carriage of a flexible guide rail apparatus;
- and
- the glue gun having a trowel member for spreading the pre-heated fluoropolymer caulk as the fluoropolymer caulk is dispensed from the glue gun.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.