Submersible articles and method of manufacture thereof
AssigneeH2EYE (International) Limited
InventorsNicholas Ian Kemp, Robert Murdoch Mackie, Ian Robert Mackie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A submersible article comprises a buoyancy body formed from polyurethane foam having a first density, which is at least partly overmolded with a protective skin of polyurethane foam having a second density higher than the first density. The lower density foam of the body gives the article buoyancy, while the higher density protective skin strengthens the article and gives impact resistance. The protective skin can be stiffened, either uniformly or locally, by the addition of glass fiber or other reinforcing material which is arranged over the buoyancy body prior to the overmolding. The article can be made by a two-stage molding process.
Claims25
A submersible article comprising:
- a buoyancy body formed from polyurethane foam of a first density;
- a protective skin formed from polyurethane foam of a second density higher than the first density, wherein the protective skin is overmolded onto the buoyancy body, and at least one of the buoyancy body and protective skin includes an aperture for housing a control and/or power component of the submersible article;
- and
- at least one control or power component housed in the aperture.
A method of manufacturing a submersible article, comprising:
- providing a buoyancy body comprising polyurethane foam of a first density;
- placing the buoyancy body in a mold;
- overmolding a protective skin onto the buoyancy body using polyurethane foam of a second density higher than the first density;
- providing at least one of the buoyancy body and protective skin with an aperture for housing a control and/or power component of the submersible article;
- and
- housing at least one control or power component in the aperture.
A submersible vehicle having a hull comprising:
- a buoyancy body formed from polyurethane foam of a first density;
- a protective skin formed from polyurethane foam of a second density higher than the first density, wherein the protective skin is overmolded onto the buoyancy body, and at least one of the buoyancy body and protective skin includes an aperture for housing a control and/or power component of the submersible article;
- and
- at least one control or power component housed in the aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.