Light-weight structural panel
AssigneeDofasco Inc.
InventorDavid D'Arcy Clifford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structural panel comprises a metal and fibrous composite in which the metal outer skins have a minimum thickness of 0.005 in. exceeding foils and a maximum thickness of 0.012 in. while the fibrous core ranges between 0.01 in. and 0.05 in. The panel is a stiff, lightweight substitute for thicker metals and may replace light metal sheets such as aluminum with a composite in which the metal skins comprise sheets from heavier metals such as steel. The fibrous core is a web which is adhesively bonded to the metal skins and which has a plurality of weight-reducing openings formed therein to form a structural laminate having comparable strength to steel sheets of greater weight.
Claims34
A structural laminate comprising:
- first and second skins of sheet metal, each of said skins having a thickness of at least about 0.005 in.;
- a resin-impregnated fibrous core disposed between said skins of sheet metal;
- said fibrous core being bonded to said skins of sheet metal;
- and
- said fibrous core having a plurality of holes formed therein, each of said holes:
- (i) having an area of from about 0.008 square in. to about 0.2 square in.;
- and (ii) being substantially free of resin.
A structural panel comprising:
- a first steel skin and a second steel skin, each of the steel skin and the second steel skin having a thickness in the range of from about 0.005 in. to about 0.012 in.;
- a fibrous core impregnated with a thermoplastic resin, the core being interposed between and bonded to the first steel skin and the second steel skin;
- wherein the core comprises a plurality of apertures formed therein, each aperture:
- (i) having an area of from about 0.008 square in. to about 0.2 square in.;
- and (ii) being substantially free of thermoplastic resin which impregnates the core.
A cargo vehicle wall comprising:
- a first steel skin and a second steel skin, each of the steel skin and the second steel skin having a thickness in the range of from about 0.005 in. to about 0.012 in.;
- a fibrous core impregnated with a thermoplastic resin, the core being interposed between and bonded to the first steel skin and the second steel skin;
- wherein the core comprises a plurality of voids formed therethrough, each void:
- (i) having an area adjacent the steel skin of from about 0.008 square in. to about 0.2 square in.;
- and (ii) being substantially free of thermoplastic resin which impregnates the core.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.