Inflatable mold construction for sale or licensing
Licensing 01.10.2011 By: downing9837
Summary of Patents:
United States Patent 5,339,574
The present invention utilizes flexible inflatable mold materials with at least two layers of materials to form at least one airtight cavity therebetween. In a first embodiment, an inflatable mold is used to create a habitation. The habitation could be used in space. The mold preferably has at least three layers of mold material forming two airtight cavities around an innermost cavity. The mold may be in the shape of a cylinder.
A first outermost cavity of the mold is blown up with pressurized gas. An innermost flexible wall layer surround an innermost cavity. Constraints between the middle layer and outermost layer are provided in order to expand the middle layer when the outermost cavity is filled with pressurized gas. Constraints between the middle layer and innermost layer expand the innermost cavity. A hatch opening at one end of the cylinder allows access to the inner most cavity. Means to attach constraints inside this inner most cavity are provided on the inner wall of the third layer of material so that further constraints can be added once the mold is blown up. These constraints could be place within the inner most cavity, which forms the habitation, before or after the mold is blown up. Once the mold is blown up and a final shape is achieved, fluid mold material is injected into the middle cavity and is allowed to harden, i.e., with time. Afterwards, the inflated cavity may then be deflated and mold material may be injected therein to form an outermost hull layer within the outermost cavity. Clearly, a plurality of layers may be used in the habitation.
In a second embodiment, modular components which may be combined to form a desired final structure are formed in approximately the same manner as the habitation. Inner constraints are placed within the inner most cavity and between each concentric layer of material. Pressurized gas is injected into one of the cavities except the inner cavity. In this manner the final desired shape of the inner cavity is obtained. Mold material is then injected into the inner cavity of the mold. Once the mold material hardens, the other cavities may also be filled with mold material including the cavity which was inflated. The inflated cavity would have to be deflated before the mold material could be added therein.
Accordingly. it is a principal object of the invention to provide flexible molds which may be utilized in space to form habitations suitable for humans.
It is another object of the invention to provide internal constraints within the flexible molds which may be formed therein or added thereto so as to obtain a desire shape for the final product.
It is a further object of the invention to provide molds for forming modular components of a final structure, in which the modular components may be connected with other like or dissimilar components.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependabre and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
United States Patent 5,664,373
The present invention discloses method and apparatus for utilizing flexible, inflatable molds forming at least one airtight cavity. Inflatable molds offer two advantages. One is that inflation causes distension of the mold into a predetermined configuration that may be achieved only with difficulty if methods of mold erection other than inflation are empfoyed. Secondly, a mold assuming compact dimensions can be more easily transported into space.
In a first embodiment, the product of the mold is a habitation. In a further embodiment, habitation modules are joined together at rotatable joints, open in the center to enable access or passage therethrough from one module to an adjacent module. A mold having a cylindrical outer configuration is employed to form a tubular object, that is, generally annular, but capped at both ends. This mold features three walls, there being two annular cavities defined between the outermost wall, the central wall, and the innermost wall. The innermost wall further defines a third, cylindrical cavity therein. The outermost cavity is pressurized with gas, and forces the outermost and central walls into a predetermined configuration. The next cavity is provided with mechanical reinforcing members to hold a shape or configuration. Mold material is then injected into the middle cavity and allowed to harden over time. Once mold material hardens, pressurizing gas filling an adjacent cavity can be evacuated. The cavity or chamber previously employed to contain pressurizing gas can then in turn be filled with mold material. This process eventually forms a multilayered, solid object having external walls. This method avoids the necessity of transporting and handling the final, total amount of mold material in one step, which could entail the requirement for very large transport vehicles. The method enables lesser amounts to be employed in successive operations without compromising the strength of the final molded object. The object so formed may be placed into service by itself. In still a further embodiment, modules may be fabricated by the steps outlined above, and joined together to form a final structure. Where the final structure comprises individual, habitable modules, novel connecting joints enable connection of modules, rotation of one module with respect to the other, and communication between modules, all accomplished simultaneously. In still another embodiment, plural habitations can be formed within a single inflatable section by alternating concentric spaces between habitations and inflatable mold walls.
The present invention contemplates that modular habitations will take the form of large and small cylinders and spheres, communicably joined to one another. Thus, both like and unlike components are connected together. Connectors providing leak-tight connection are of either the fixed or solid type, or of the type enabling rotation between one cylinder or sphere and an adjacent cylinder or sphere. As employed hereinafter, the term "hard connection" will refer to fixed or solid connection, and the term "soft connection" will refer to rotatable connection between habitations. The ability to rotate is important in accommodating rotation which will impart centrifugal forces serving in the capacity of an artificial gravitational field. Motors and gears, as well as generators or inflatable tires are incorporated into the habitations for initiating, maintaining, and changing rotation as required, as well as powering the habitation.
Construction in outer space is fostered because large, intricate structures having significant bulk and requisite strength can be manufactured by the novel molding method, while not requiring transport into space of large masses of either raw materials or finished structures. Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide flexible molds which may be utilized in outer space to form structures suitable for human habitation.
It is another object of the invention to provide a system of internal mechanical structural members which support a flexible mold. in a desired shape or configuration.
It is a further object of the invention to form mutually compatible modules.
Still another object of the invention is to enable rotatable connection of modules, while accommodating passage of objects through the connection from module to module.
An additional object of the invention is to enable a large object to be molded in successive injection and hardening operations.
It is again an object of the invention to enable a flexible mold to assume and maintain predetermined configuration after inflation.
Still another object of the invention is to join together cylindrical and spherical habitations in space.
A further object of the invention is to fabricate habitations and connectors in situ in outer space.
Yet an additional object of the invention is to enable rotating connections between modular habitations in outer space, as well as hard connections between modular habitations, as desired.
It is again an object of the invention to provide mechanisms for causing and changing rotation of modular habitations in outer space.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended
Contact: Brian B Downing
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