U.S. patent application number 11/067525 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-11 for projectile barrier and method.
Invention is credited to James Jackson Milham Henry, Russell Allen Monk, Thomas Stegen Ohnstad.
Application Number | 20070009694 11/067525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37618623 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070009694 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Monk; Russell Allen ; et
al. |
January 11, 2007 |
PROJECTILE BARRIER AND METHOD
Abstract
Barrier structure placeable as an anti-fuel-leak coating on the
outside surface of a liquid container. This coating includes a
first-type layer structure formed of a high-elongation-capable
elastomer which also is capable of imbibing container leakage
liquid, and of swelling in the process, and a second-type layer
structure disposed adjacent one side of the first-type layer
structure, composite in nature, and possessing bead-like components
entrained in the same elastomer employed in first-type layer
structure, with these entrained components structured also to be
imbibers of leakage container liquid, and to expand on imbibing
such liquid. Also disclosed is methodology which involves applying
to the outside surface of such a container a coating possessing
cooperative, penetration-sealing characteristics including (a)
elastic elongatability before breakage within a range of about
300-400%, and (b) leakage-liquid-contact swelling, accompanied by
leakage-liquid/coating contact-triggered coagulation.
Inventors: |
Monk; Russell Allen; (Salem,
OR) ; Ohnstad; Thomas Stegen; (Salem, OR) ;
Henry; James Jackson Milham; (Wilsonville, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT D. VARITZ, P.C.
4915 SE 33RD PLACE
PORTLAND
OR
97202
US
|
Family ID: |
37618623 |
Appl. No.: |
11/067525 |
Filed: |
February 25, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60621263 |
Oct 20, 2004 |
|
|
|
60623723 |
Oct 28, 2004 |
|
|
|
60629259 |
Nov 19, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/35.7 ;
220/560.02; 220/900; 428/213; 428/411.1; 428/912 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F17C 2223/0153 20130101;
F17C 2270/0168 20130101; B60K 2015/03046 20130101; Y10T 428/2495
20150115; Y10S 220/90 20130101; Y10S 428/912 20130101; F17C
2203/0639 20130101; Y10T 428/31504 20150401; F17C 2260/042
20130101; Y10T 428/1352 20150115; F17C 2203/0624 20130101; F17C
2203/0607 20130101; B60K 15/03177 20130101; F17C 2203/0621
20130101; F17C 2270/0171 20130101; F17C 2221/035 20130101; B60K
2015/03407 20130101; F17C 2260/011 20130101; F17C 2223/033
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/035.7 ;
428/411.1; 428/213; 428/912; 220/560.02; 220/900 |
International
Class: |
B32B 27/08 20060101
B32B027/08; B32B 27/18 20060101 B32B027/18; F17C 1/00 20060101
F17C001/00 |
Claims
1. Barrier structure placeable as a projectile disabling,
anti-fuel-leak protective coating adjacent a vulnerable outside
surface in a container designed to hold defined liquid of a certain
nature, said structure comprising first-type barrier layer
structure formed as a sheet-like expanse of an elastomeric material
which is capable of imbibing such defined liquid and of swelling in
the process of so imbibing such liquid, and which is substantially
fully self-healing through elastomeric behavior, as well as through
liquid imbibing and resultant swelling, with regard to a
container-piercing projectile wound, and second-type barrier layer
structure operatively disposed adjacent one side of said first-type
barrier layer structure, and composite in nature, said second-type
barrier layer structure having elemental components which are
entrained in another sheet-like expanse of the same elastomeric
material employed in said first-type barrier layer structure, and
wherein said entrained components function as imbibers of the
mentioned defined liquid, and expand, three-dimensionally, in
relation to any direct contact with the mentioned defined
liquid.
2. The barrier structure of claim 1, wherein said elemental
components are additionally structured to form, cooperatively with
any contacting leakage liquid, a leakage-flow-inhibiting
coagulant.
3. The barrier structure of claim 1 which further comprises a
third-type barrier layer structure formed with the same elastomeric
material employed in said first-type barrier layer structure, and
which is operatively disposed adjacent the opposite side of said
second-type barrier layer structure relative to the location of
said first-type barrier layer structure.
4. The barrier structure of claim 3, wherein one of said layer
structures which is formed of the mentioned elastomeric material is
disposed against the outside surface of the mentioned
container.
5. The barrier structure of claim 4, wherein the mentioned three
layer structures have different thicknesses, with the thinnest
layer structure being the one which is directly adjacent the
container's outside surface, the next thickest one being the one
containing said elemental components, and the thickest one being
the third-type barrier layer structure.
6. The barrier structure of claim 1, wherein the defined liquid is
hydrocarbon fuel.
7. CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE
8. A method for sealing a liquid container against leakage as a
result of a container penetration created by a striking projectile
comprising applying to the outside surface of such a container a
coating possessing cooperative penetration-sealing characteristics
including (a) elastic elongatability before breakage within a range
of about 300-400%, and (b) leakage-liquid-contact swelling,
accompanied by leakage-liquid/coating contact-triggered
coagulation.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said applying comprises creating
the mentioned coating in plural layers including at least one layer
which characterized principally by material elastic elongation as
expressed in (a), and at least one other layer which is
characterized principally by swelling and coagulation as expressed
in (b).
10. The method of claim 9, wherein said applying further comprises
disposing the at least one layer directly against the outside
surface of such a container, and disposing the at least one other
layer on the opposite side of the at least one layer relative to
the container.
11. A method for sealing a liquid container against leakage as a
result of a container-wall penetration by a striking projectile
comprising responding to such a penetration by (a) generating,
adjacent the penetration, a coagulant mass in which container
leakage liquid per se is a contributor, and (b) stabilizing this
generated mass with compression which tends to urge the mass in
sealing relationship against the outside of the penetration.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein said stabilizing is performed
through the operative agency of an elastomer in tension.
13. CANCELLED WITHOUT PREJUDICE
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This patent application claims respective priorities to
three currently pending U.S. Provisional Patent Applications, the
entireties of whose disclosure contents are hereby incorporated
herein by reference. These prior-filed applications include: (a)
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/621,263, filed Oct.
20, 2004, for "Projectile Barrier and Method"; (b) U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/623,723, filed Oct. 28, 2004, for
"Projectile Barrier and Method Including Substance Coagulation";
and (c) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/629,259,
filed Nov. 19, 2004, for "Differentiated-Thickness Layer-Sandwich
Projectile Barrier and Method".
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention, which is illustrated and described herein in
a military setting wherein it offers special utility (though it is
not per se dedicated to military use), relates to a layered jacket
barrier structure which may be applied as an outside surface
coating to an exposed container, such as the tanker container body
in a large hydrocarbon fuel-supply truck, and a vehicle's exposed
hydrocarbon fuel tank, to effect quick self-sealing against leakage
from a container puncture wound, such as a penetrating bullet
wound. We refer to this coating structure as being a barrier
structure that disables a container-penetrating projectile, such as
a bullet, from producing an uncontrolled liquid leak from the
container. It also relates to methodology which is associated with
this barrier coating structure.
[0003] For illustration purposes only, a preferred embodiment of
the coating of the invention is specifically disclosed and
illustrated herein in relation to the fuel tank in a
smaller-than-tanker military vehicle.
[0004] Such a coating can effectively substantially nullify a
combat tactic which involves (a) creating a penetrating bullet
wound in such a tank/container, (b) thereby producing flammable
fuel leakage typically enhanced by the usual positive residual
pressure in that tank, (c) and then, using and firing an incendiary
projectile, igniting the leaked fuel to attack the associated
vehicle by fire.
[0005] The layered coating proposed by the present invention, which
is also referred to herein as a projectile disabling barrier
structure, employs two foundation materials, one of which, by
itself, is employed as a singularity to form one type of the two
different layer types, or structures, employed according to the
invention, and the other of which is combined, as an entrained
substance, in and with the first-mentioned foundation material to
form the second layer type. The second layer type, which combines
the two materials just generally mentioned, performs with behavior
that effectively characterizes a de facto third "type" of
material--in effect, a composite material.
[0006] Several different layered coating structures are illustrated
and described herein, with the preferred coating structure being
formed, as will shortly be described, as one including three
cooperative layers.
[0007] According to practice of the invention, and in the
mentioned, illustrative setting involving an exposed fuel tank in a
military vehicle, the exposed surface of such a tank is
appropriately coated/jacketed with a sandwiched, plural-layer,
self-healing/self-sealing barrier structure which implements
several important, cooperative mechanisms for mending a
bullet-puncture fuel leak.
[0008] One of these mechanisms features significant elasticity
furnished by elastic stretch and recovery of a very
high-elastic-stretch-capable (about 400% elongation before
breakage) elastomer. The elastomer employed to implement this
mechanism is also a modest "reaction-time" substance which
responds, in the setting now being described, to fuel contact with
modest hydrocarbon fuel-imbibing and swelling actions. The term
"modest" will be characterized herein shortly.
[0009] Another mechanism employs a layer-embedded pellet, or
bead-like, fuel-imbiber material (also called a "reaction"
substance) which responds aggressively and quickly to contact with
the usual hydrocarbon fuel to undergo a rapid absorption (imbibing)
of any leaking fuel, accompanied by a rapid, three-dimensional,
physical, synergistic, swollen-volume enlargement (about 300%)
because of such absorption. The term "synergistic" is used herein
because of the fact that the swollen bead volume which develops as
just mentioned appears to be greater than the sum of the individual
volumes of the interacting fuel and the reaction-substance
bead-like material.
[0010] Still a further mechanism involves the use per se of the
mentioned bead-like material, which further responds to contact
with hydrocarbon fuel in a manner which results in a congealing
reaction occurring between absorbed fuel and the imbibing bead
material. This congealing reaction can be likened to coagulation,
with respect to which there results a tacky, thickened mass of
material that tends to coalesce so as to form a very tenacious
barrier continuum which contributes significantly to the blockage
of outward flow and leakage of fuel from a tank.
[0011] Yet another mechanism at work in the sealing operation of
the invention comes about because of tension which exists in an
outer elastomeric material layer that forms part of the invention.
This tension leads to enhanced compression of
leakage-contact-swollen layer material in the vicinity of a
container puncture wound.
[0012] The consequences of the above-mentioned mechanism actions
and behaviors are that a leakage passage which results from a
bullet (projectile) strike which penetrates the proposed layer-like
barrier structure (a) is rapidly substantially fully closed almost
immediately by the mentioned elastomer mechanism, (b) is
additionally compression-sealed quickly by fuel-imbibing-produced
material swelling and expansion resulting from material contact
with leakage fuel, and (c) is further closed off by the
coagulation/congealing action just mentioned.
[0013] These and other important mechanisms and features, soon to
be more fully described, are provided by a unique, multi-layer
jacket which includes, fundamentally, the above-mentioned, several,
different, individual and composite materials which work in
cooperation with one another in accordance with the invention.
Among these other mechanisms and features are (a) that initial
tension is built into the outer layer of a plural-layer structure
fabricated in accordance with the invention, and (b), that the
different layers preferably, though not necessarily, and as
initially created, increase in thickness progressing outwardly
through the layer structure from the surface of a protected fuel
(or other) tank.
[0014] All of the features and operating mechanisms of the
invention will be more fully understood and appreciated as the
description which now follows is read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a simplified, small scale, side new of a military
vehicle having an exposed fuel tank, the outer surface of which has
been treated with a preferred embodiment of the layered barrier
coating of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 provides an enlarged, fragmentary, detail view of a
portion of the outside of the fuel tank shown in the vehicle of
FIG. 1. In particular, it illustrates a situation where a bullet
has punctured this tank. Portions of the structure shown in this
figure have been broken away for illustrative purposes.
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates, fragmentarily, and on a larger scale
than that which is employed in FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view taken
generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a still further enlarged cross-sectional view of
the region in FIG. 3 which is bracketed by curved arrows 4-4. In
FIG. 4, certain cross-sectional shading has been omitted for the
sake of visual clarity.
[0019] FIGS. 5 and 6, illustrate two different modifications of the
layer barrier coating pictured in FIGS. 2-4, inclusive.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Turning attention now to the drawings, and referring first
of all to FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1 is
a military vehicle which possesses a laterally disposed, exposed
steel fuel tank, or container, 12. This tank is covered, at least
on its laterally exposed outside surface expanse, by a plural-layer
barrier sandwich coating structure 14 which has been constructed in
accordance with the present invention. Tank 12 contains liquid
hydrocarbon fuel (not specifically shown) which is typically under
a certain small amount of pressure (say about 4-5-psi) which is
above normal atmospheric pressure. This elevated pressure, which of
course exacerbates fuel leakage in the event of a tank puncture,
exists for several well-known reasons, one of which, as an
illustration, involves normal fuel vapor pressure.
[0021] It should be understood that the word "container" as
employed herein is not confined to meaning only a vehicle's fuel
tank. It may also apply, as examples, to a conduit, to a
fuel-supply tanker, to holding tanks, to rail tanker cars, and to
other kinds of liquid containers.
[0022] Coating 14, in its preferred embodiment, and which is best
pictured in FIGS. 2-4, inclusive, includes three unified layers, or
layer structures, 14a, 14b, 14c.
[0023] Layer 14a, which is also referred to herein (a) as a
first-type barrier layer structure, (b) as a bonding layer, and (c)
as a leakage-responsive substructure, has a preferable thickness
(see t.sub.1 in FIG. 3) of about 1/8-inches. This layer is directly
joined (bonded) to the outside surface of tank 12, and is formed of
a suitable high-elasticity, high-tensile-strength,
high-tear-resistance elastomer. A very suitable material for layer
14a is a two-component polyurethane elastomer product called TUFF
STUFF.RTM. FR(with the letters FR standing for fire-resistant),
made by Rhino Linings USA, Inc.--a company based in San Diego,
Calif. This material is applied, as will later herein be described,
by spraying it onto the outside surface of tank 12. It exhibits an
elasticity which permits an elastic elongation before "breakage" of
about 400%, has a tensile strength of about 1700-1900-psi, and
possesses a tear resistance of about 140-150-pli. The material
forming this layer reacts modestly, and over a relatively long time
period, to contact with hydrocarbon fuel, imbibing such fuel, and
swelling in the process. In the preferred embodiment of the
invention which is now being described, this "modest" reaction time
period extends to up to about 20-minutes relative to a puncture
wound.
[0024] Layer 14b, which is also referred to herein (a) as a
second-type barrier layer structure, (b) as an expansion layer, and
(c) as a leakage responsive substructure, has a preferable
thickness (see t.sub.2 in FIG. 3) lying within the range of about
1/8- to about 3/16-inches. This layer is formed as a special
composite structure which includes an elastomeric expanse portion
14b.sub.1 (see FIG. 4) formed of the same material used in layer
14a, in which expanse is entrained what is called herein a reaction
substance which takes the form of a distribution of small
liquid-imbiber beads 14b.sub.2(see FIG. 4). These beads, also
referred herein as elemental components, have a strong affinity for
rapidly fully absorbing (imbibing) various liquids, such as
hydrocarbon fuel, and they swell significantly in volume as a
consequence. Rapid full imbibing typically occurs in under about a
half-minute. A very suitable imbiber-bead material is the product
known as IMB230300 made by Imbibitive Technologies America, Inc. in
Midland, Mich. These beads preferably are blended in any
appropriate manner into the entraining elastomer material to
constitute about 20% by weight in the combined material. This
combined material for layer 14b is then applied to layer 14a by
spraying to achieve the desired thickness mentioned above. While
the weight percentage of entrained beads is preferably at the 20%
level, a suitable range lies between about 15% and about 25%.
[0025] Composite layer 14b is characterized by possessing an
elasticity which permits an elastic elongation (before breakage) of
about 67%, a tensile strength of about 483-psi, and a tear
resistance of about 115-pli.
[0026] Layer 14c, which is also referred to herein as a compression
layer, has a thickness (see t.sub.3 in FIG. 3) of about 1/4-to
about 3/8-inches. It is made of the same material used in layer
14a, and is also spray-formed to the desired thickness on the
outside of layer 14b. After application and "curing" of this layer,
a certain level of tension exists in this layer. This tension,
coupled with the mentioned relatively large thickness,
significantly contributes to the ability of layer 14c to produce
enhanced sealing compression of underlying layer material in the
region of a puncture wound.
[0027] Thus, and as one will note, the three layers which make up
coating 14 are preferably differentiated in thickness, progressing
outwardly from tank 12 with increasing thicknesses.
[0028] While the exact manner of preparing and applying the various
layers that make up coating 14 will vary from application to
application, as for example depending upon the nature of the
container material to which the coating is to be applied, those
skilled in the art will understand, from the description which is
now to follow of one manner of preparing coating 14, how variations
may be implemented to suit such other applications. The application
process now to be described relates to applying coating 14 to the
outside surface of the steel fuel tank in military vehicle 10.
[0029] With respect to use of the two foundation materials that
make up layers 14a, 14b and 14c--namely the mentioned elastomeric
material and the mentioned imbiber bead material--it is important
that the surface of the fuel tank be appropriately prepared so that
inner layer 14a will bond and adhere suitably to the tank. The tank
may be prepared with an appropriate primer, to a thickness of about
3- to about 5-mils, with this primer coating initially presenting a
light shine, and entering a curing period of about 45- to about
60-minutes. After the curing period, this primer coating will be
dry, but will possess a slight tack surface.
[0030] With respect now to creating the various layers of coating
14, taking the materials which have been described above herein as
being preferred materials to employ, we have found that it is best
to apply these materials (in a manner which will now be described)
through orthogonally associated alternate groups of successive,
overlapping, substantially parallel, linear spraying passes, all
performed at an applied-material temperature of about 65- to about
80-degrees Fahrenheit, and in an ambient air temperature of about
70-degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of about 50-percent
or less. We have determined that the very best ambient temperature
and relative humidity conditions are those wherein these is an
absolute value difference between them is about ten (10) or
greater.
[0031] Inner layer 14a is first applied simply by appropriate,
alternate groups of such successive spray passes utilizing the
mentioned elastomeric material. A first round (group) of
substantially parallel, linear spray passes may be suitably
overlapping lateral left-to-right and right-to-left, followed by a
series of laterally overlapping up-to-down and down-to-up vertical
passes, and so forth, until the desired inner layer thickness is
achieved.
[0032] Composite layer 14b is then applied by suitably blending the
same elastomeric material which has been used in layer 14a with
imbiber beads which become entrained in the elastomeric material by
the preferred weight contribution mentioned above. Here, also,
layer application is accomplished by successive, alternate groups
of horizontal and vertical overlapping spray passes until the
desired thickness attained.
[0033] Finally, outer layer 14c is applied via substantially the
same horizontal and vertical overlapping spray activities until the
desired outer layer thickness develops.
[0034] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that variations
of layer thicknesses and/or container surface preparations may be
selected for different specific applications.
[0035] FIG. 2-4, inclusive, illustrate that a bullet has penetrated
the three layers in coating 14, and has punctured tank 12 to
produce a penetration, or puncture, wound 16 in the wall of the
tank.
[0036] Almost instantly after the bullet strike, and the resulting
penetration, layers 14a, 14b, 14c, "re-close" upon themselves
elastomerically to initiate a fluid seal directly over the tank
puncture wound. This is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, and it comes
about especially because of the high intrinsic elasticity in layers
14a and 14c, and in the elastomeric expanse portion 14b.sub.1 in
layer 14b.
[0037] Fuel begins to leak through wound 16, as indicated by arrow
18 in FIG. 3, and in the process of leaking comes into contact with
the materials present in layers 14a 14b, 14c. It turns out, as
mentioned earlier, that both of the foundation materials which are
employed variously in layers 14a, 14b, 14c respond with
fuel-imbibing and volumetric-swelling reactions in relation to
contact with fuel leaking from tank 12. The composite structure in
layer 14b exhibits a significantly greater volumetric swelling rate
than that exhibited by the elastomer material alone in layers 14a,
14c. This cooperative and collaborative swelling, combined with the
enhanced compression-producing tension which is present especially
in compression layer 14c, creates significant sealing pressure
within coating 14 in the important region immediately outside of
and around puncture wound 16. This condition is illustrated quite
clearly in FIG. 4.
[0038] Additionally, and very importantly, leakage fuel and the
material in beads 14b.sub.2 react chemically and cooperatively to
congeal and form a tacky and sticky coagulant mass, pictured at 20
in dark, central, cross-hatch lines in FIG. 4. This coagulant mass
effectively provides a positive blockage (in the form of a sealing
continuum across the path of the puncture wound) to any continued
fuel leakage.
[0039] The rapid response associated with the behavior of beads
14b.sub.2 causes major fuel leakage to become inconsequential
within under about one to five minutes. Substantially all leakage
is normally stopped after the elapse of about 20-minutes, owing to
the more modest, time-extended response nature of the elastomer
material in coating 14. During this longer time period, elastomer
in layer 14b effectively brings a large lateral number of the
imbiber beads into the invention's sealing action.
[0040] Turning attention now to FIGS. 5 and 6 in the drawings,
these two figures illustrates each an alternative embodiment of the
present invention. Material layers in these two figures are labeled
either E for elastomer, or C for combination (composite). The E
layers are like layers 14a, 14c in FIGS. 2-4, inclusive. Layers C
are like layer 14b. These E and C layers are not illustrated in
exact thickness-scale relative to one another.
[0041] The invention thus proposes a unique plural-layer coating
(in preferred and various alternative forms) for rapidly sealing,
against liquid leakage, a puncture wound in the wall of a liquid
container. Following the occurrence of such a wound, the coating of
the invention responds effectively with both rapid and longer-term
sealing actions involving (a) an elastomeric puncture-path,
pressure-closure response, (b) a leakage-liquid-imbibing and
swelling response, aided by elastomeric response (such as tension
in the compression coating layer), to apply sealing pressure which
is effective to close a puncture wound, and (c) a coagulation
response to create a leakage-blocking coagulant mass which forms a
blockage continuum across the path of a puncture wound.
[0042] While a preferred embodiment and methodologic practice of
the invention have been described and illustrated herein, and
several modifications described, it is appreciated that other
variations and modifications may be made without departing from the
sprit of the invention.
* * * * *