Application of sealant membrane by spraying and resultant membrane
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorDomenico Della-Penna
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sealant membrane for preventing leakage of fluids from fluid-containing tanks and a method of application of the membrane. The membrane is deposited in a varying thickness atop surfaces of interconnected wall panels in the tank by spray application of successive coats of a sealant material, so that the coating thickness is a maximum where the greatest structural deflections can occur. The successive coats are applied with a predetermined lapse time between layers to prevent slumping of the sealant material.
Claims10
A method of sealing the juncture of structural components from which a fluid-containment tank is fabricated, said method comprising:
- preparing a diluted mixture of a polysulfide material and a solvent, and
- depositing droplets of said mixture on surfaces of said structural components at and about said juncture on the interior surface of said tank to form a leak-proof membrane, whereby
- the juncture and adjacent regions thereof are covered with a varying thickness, continuous, coherent layer of said mixture having maximum thickness in the vicinity of said juncture where the greatest structural deflections can occur and minimum thickness at a distance most remote from said juncture.
A graduated thickness sealing membrane for preventing leakage of fluid from the interior of a fluid-containing tank through joint structures, said sealing membrane comprising:
- a coherent continuous coating of sealant material formed by spraying and then at least partially curing each of a plurality of layers of a solvent-diluted mixture of the composition onto selected areas of surfaces of said joint structures,
- said coating being deposited on the interior surfaces of the tank and delimiting a ramp for minimizing the eroding effects of slushing fluid and having a maximum thickness at the region of maximum deflection associated with said joint structures, and a minimum thickness at a region removed a predetermined distance from said region of maximum deflection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.