Abstract
A cluster cap sealing mechanism and method for a Geodesic construction. A packaging for a sealant placed in a ring wherein the ring is a sealant delivery device for providing a predetermined volume of sealant to the joints of the Geodesic construction.
Claims
1. A Geodesic dome comprising: aluminum frame triangles, a membrane skin, and sealed joints; a cluster of corner bosses, having an outer cap and an inner cap bolted thereto; aluminum frame beams creating said aluminum frame triangles, said aluminum frame beams attached to said corner bosses; said frame beams of each triangle are bolted to an adjacent triangular facet; said cluster of corner bosses having a pre-dosed sealant ring attached; said cluster of corner bosses having said inner cap below said cluster of corner bosses, said pre-dosed sealant ring above said cluster of corner bosses, and said outer cap above said pre-dosed sealant ring; said membrane skin located between said aluminum frame beams attached to an attachment groove; an additional groove for receiving silicone sealant from said sealant ring.
2. The dome of claim 1 wherein said sealant ring comprises an upper sealant channel pre-loaded with sealant, and a lower sealant channel pre-loaded with sealant.
3. The dome of claim 1 wherein said sealant ring comprises a low durometer elastomer that collapses when said outer cap is installed, driving said pre-dosed sealant into mating surfaces.
4. The dome of claim 2 wherein said sealant ring flattens after pressure has been added, forcing said sealant from said lower channel onto said membrane skin.
5. The dome of claim 1 wherein said sealant ring comprises a top flap and bottom flap providing nearly complete closure of said pre-dosed sealant.
6. The dome of claim 1 wherein said outer cap comprises retaining lobes.
7. The dome of claim 1 further comprising a molded elastomer cap having an insertion contours, retention pockets, and a zone that conforms to flat facets of said membrane skin of said dome.
8. The dome of claim 7 wherein said insertion contours of said molded elastomer cap accept retaining lobes of said outer cap; said molded elastomer cap is rotated to position said retaining lobes of said outer cap in said retention pockets of said molded elastomer cap.
9. The dome of claim 8 wherein said rotational force exerted on said elastomer cap increases retention of said elastomer cap.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a top view of a cluster joint pre-sealant and cap.
(2) FIG. 2 shows a side view of a cluster joint with sealant and cap.
(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view of the prior art method for applying sealant.
(4) FIG. 4 is a side view of a Geodesic dome.
(5) FIG. 5 is an assembly view of the cluster of the present invention.
(6) FIG. 6 is an assembly view of the cluster of the present invention having a sealant ring.
(7) FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of the sealant ring.
(8) FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the packaging for the sealant ring.
(9) FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of the uncollapsed sealant ring.
(10) FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of the collapsed sealant ring.
(11) FIG. 11 shows a cross sectional view of the sealant ring.
(12) FIG. 12 shows the forces necessary to expel the sealant from the sealant ring.
(13) FIG. 13 shows a top view of the outer cap of the present invention.
(14) FIG. 14 shows a cross sectional view of the elastomer cap of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(15) FIG. 1 shows a cluster joint 10 before sealant application and cap.
(16) FIG. 2 shows the cap 20 and the cured silicone sealant 22.
(17) FIG. 3 (Prior Art) shows the cap 20 wherein a caulking gun 24 is used to provide a sealant. Use of a caulking gun 24 does not insure sealant contact with the underside of the outer cap. Angle 26 misses the pointing of the nozzle of the gun 24 to assure sealant contact with the bottom of the cap.
(18) FIG. 4 shows a Geodesic dome 30 having aluminum frame triangles 32, a membrane skin 34 and sealed joints 36.
(19) FIG. 5 shows the assembly of the cluster of corner bosses 40, having an outer cap 42 and an inner cap 44. Aluminum frame beams 46 are attached to the corner bosses 48. Beams 46 of each triangular facet are bolted to the next facet. The inner cap 44 and the outer cap 42 are bolted to the cluster of corner bosses 40.
(20) FIG. 6 shows the cluster of corner bosses 50 having a pre-dosed sealant ring 52. The cluster of corner bosses has an inner cap 54 below it, and the pre-dosed sealant ring 52 above it, with the outer cap 56 above it. The membrane 58 is cutaway in the figure. An attachment groove 60 for the membrane 58 is shown. The membrane 58 is attached to the attachment groove 60 through an epoxy bond. The groove 62 is for the silicone sealant.
(21) FIG. 7 is a cross section of the sealant ring 52 having an upper sealant channel 70 pre-loaded with sealant, and a lower sealant channel 72 pre-loaded with sealant.
(22) FIG. 8 shows the upper vacuum-formed protective plastic shell 80 and the lower vacuum-formed protective plastic shell 82 that is deployed above and below the sealant ring. In an embodiment, the shell packaging is hermetically sealed in an aluminum composite-film packaging pouch to provide extended shelf life.
(23) FIG. 9 shows a cross section of the sealant ring 52. In an embodiment, the sealant ring 52 comprises a low durometer elastomer that collapses when the outer cap is installed, driving the pre-loaded sealant into the mating surfaces.
(24) FIG. 10 shows the sealant ring 52 after pressure has been added, flattening the ring 52 wherein the ring becomes embedded in the gasket, forcing the lower sealant band onto the membrane skin.
(25) FIG. 11 shows the sealant ring 52 having pre-loaded sealant 90 and 92. The top flap 94 and the bottom flap 96 provide nearly complete closure. The sealant expulsion package provides a high level of protection.
(26) FIG. 12 shows the method for expelling the sealant from the support channels to opposite surfaces to be sealed. Force 100 is exerted which causes the sealant 102 to be forced from the support channels
(27) FIG. 13 shows outer cap 110 that provides retaining lobes to mate with complementary features inside additional protective cap.
(28) FIG. 14 shows a molded elastomer cap 120 having an insertion contour 122 and retention pockets 124. The insertion contour 122 accepts the retaining lobes of outer cap 110. The cap 120 is then rotated to position the retaining lobes of outer cap 110 in the retention pockets 124 of the cap 120. The force exerted in dilating the elastomer cap 120 increases the retention of the cap 120. Zone 126 of the lip conforms to the flat facets of the membrane skin of the dome.
