GB2243328A

GB2243328A - Gas-impermeable laminate material

Info

Publication number: GB2243328A
Application number: GB9009594A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Charles Short
Original assignee: SEABASS
Current assignee: SEABASS
Priority date: 1990-04-28
Filing date: 1990-04-28
Publication date: 1991-10-30
Also published as: GB9009594D0

Abstract

A gas-impermeable laminate material (1) for use in the manufacture of inflatable bags, such as, inflatable buoyancy bags for use with marine vessels, inflatable hull-type boats or fluid storage compartments which material (1) or (11) comprises a support layer (3) or (13) and an outermost impact and/or abrasion resistant layer (4) or (14) which may be made of an aramid fibre material. The support layer (3) or (13) is preferably made of a heavy duty woven material, whilst one or each side thereof may be coated with a gas-impermeable material (2), (12), (15), such as polyurethane. <IMAGE>

Description

GAS-IMPERMEABLE LAMINATE MATERIAL DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a gas-impermeable laminate material for use in the manufacture of inflatable bags and is especially, but not exclusively, related to such a material from which inflatable buoyancy bags for use in extremely arduous marine operating conditions, such as arctic conditions, can be made.

In particular, the inventive material can be used as that for the inflatable buoyancy bags used in the buoyancy . and stability apparatus disclosed and claimed in our granted British Patent No. 2184401 and, also, as disclosed in our co-pending International Patent Application No. PCT/GB90/00127 (Publication No.

In our two patent cases referenced above, in inflatable buoyancy bags disposed around the hull of a vessel, are inflated when the vessel encounters an emergency situation at sea, particularly where capsize is imminent, to maintain the buoyancy and stability of the vessel, thereby keeping it upright and afloat.

Under extremely severe or arduous marine conditions the inflated buoyancy baas not only have to perform their normal function of maintaining the associated vessel buoyant and stable but may also have to withstand random impacts by, say, ice or debris, as well as having to withstand abrasive action caused by contact with pack ice anaicr ice -lows.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention provides a gas-impermeable laminate material for use in the manufacture of inflatable bags, such as, inflatable buoyancy bags for use with marine vessels, or inflatable hull-type boats, which material comprises a support layer and an outermost impact and/or abrasion resistant layer.

Another aspect of the invention resides in an inflatable bag or like structure, such as an inflatable hull or fluid storage compartment, manufactured from a fluid impermeable laminate material comprising a support layer and an outermost impact and/or abrasion resistant layer.

Preferably, the outermost layer is an aramid fibre material, such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark KEVLAR or that sold under the name SPECTRIX.

The support layer may be of a heavy duty woven material, preferably a polyamide material, such as, NYLON (Registered Trade Mark) cloth, which is preferably provided on one or both sides with a coating of a gas-impermeable material, such as, a suitable polyurethane.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, two preferred enbodiments in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a section of a first form of gasimpermeable laminate material; and Figure 2 is a second form of gas-impermeable laminate material.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawing, a gas-impermeable laminate material for use in the manufacture of an inflatable bag or like structure, such as a marine buoyancy bag or fluid storage compartment, as indicated generally at 1, comprises an inner, gasimpermeable, polyurethane coating 2, an intermediate, support layer 3 of a heavy duty, woven NYLON cloth and an outermost, impact and/or abrasion resistant layer 4 of an aramid fibre material, such as, that sold under the Registered Trade Mark KEVLAR or the trade name SPECTRICS.

The second embodiment of gas-impermeable laminate material is shown in Figure 2 at 11 and comprises an intermediate layer 13 of a heavy duty, woven NYLON cloth material, an inner, gas-impermeable coating 12 of polyurethane, an outer, gas-impermeable coating 15 also of polyurethane and an outermost layer 14 of the same material, namely, an aramid fibre material, as that of the outermost layer 4 of Figure 1.

It is to be appreciated that the inventive, gasimpermeable laminate material can be stored for use in a compact manner when used as the flexible material for an inflatable bag, in deflated form, but provides a bag, when inflated, whose outer surface is resistant to impact and abrasion under the severest operating conditions, such as those indicated above in a marine environment. Also, it can be seen that, even when a bag made from the inventive material is in its deflated condition and ready for use as, say, a buoyancy bag in buoyancy and stability apparatus associated with a marine vessel, with a plurality of such bags arranged around the vessel hull in an exposed manner without any protection from the environment by, say, releasable covers, cowlings or other types of housing, the outermost impact and/or abrasion resistant layer substantially prevents the bags from being punctured by foreign body impact and/or abrasion.

Further, it is to be understood that the inventive laminate material may also be used for other purposes than in a marine environment, for instance, liquid storage compartments for use in the oil andjor irrigation industries.

Claims

1. A gas-impermeable laminate material comprising a support layer and an outermost impact and/or abrasion resistant layer.

2. An inflatable bag or like structure manufactured from a fluid impermeable laminate material comprising a support layer and an outermost impact and/or abrasion resistant layer.

3. A material or inflatable bag or like structure manufactured therefrom according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outermost layer is an aramid fibre material.

4. A material or inflatable bag or like structure manufactured therefrom according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the support layer is a heavy duty woven material, such as, a woven polyamide material.

5. A material or inflatable bag or like structure manufactured therefrom according to any preceding claim, wherein one or each side of the support layer is provided with a coating of a gas-impermeable material.

6. A material or inflatable bag or like structure manufactured therefrom according to claim 5, wherein the gas-impermeable coating material comprises a suitable polyurethane material.

7. A gas-impermeable laminate material for use in the manufacture of inflatable bags, such as, inflatable buoyancy bags for use with marine vessels, or inflatable hull-type boats, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.