Self-Healing Membrane
AssigneeProspective Concepts AG
InventorsRolf Luchsinger, Thomas Speck, Olga Speck
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Abstract
The invention relates to a membrane that heals on its own after being damaged mechanically as well as a method for producing said membrane which is used for pneumatic structures featuring an internal operating pressure of 10 mbar to 500 mbar. The inventive membrane is provided with a plastic layer on the pressure side, said plastic layer being interspersed with blisters that have a diameter ranging from 10μ to 200μ.
Claims36
A method of producing a self-healing membrane of the type for compressed-gastight sealing of a pressurized pneumatic structure having an excess pressure in the order of 10 to 500 mbar, the method comprising:
- applying a layer of a polymerizable plastic to a side facing a compressed gas of an envelope, the envelope comprising a gastight membrane, and adapted to contain a compressed gas;
- polymerizing the layer of polymerizable plastic under pressure;
- and
- wherein air or gas bubbles, suspended in the polymerizable plastic and formed as a result of prior mixing of the polymerizable plastic, and/or formed by the polymerizing step are not removed by a vacuum treatment.
A self-healing membrane of the type designed for gastight closure of a pneumatic structure with an internal operating pressure of 10 to 500 mbar, the membrane comprising:
- a self-healing plastic layer disposed on an interior side of an envelope comprising a gastight membrane;
- wherein the layer is permeated with gas bubbles having a diameter of about 10μ-200μ.
A pneumatic structure with an internal operating pressure of 10 to 500 mbar, the pneumatic structure having an envelope comprising, the membrane comprising;
- a self-healing plastic layer disposed on an interior side of an envelope comprising a gastight membrane;
- wherein the layer is permeated with gas bubbles having a diameter of about 10μ-200μ.
A transportable or storable pneumatic structure comprising at least one folded-together, gastight envelope which can be inflated to an internal operating pressure of 10 to 500 mbar in the operating state, the envelope comprising a membrane, the membrane comprising:
- a self-healing plastic layer disposed on an interior side of an envelope comprising a gastight membrane;
- wherein the layer is permeated with gas bubbles having a diameter of about 10μ-200μ.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.