Viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting compositions

Claim 2

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition, which essentially consists of: a major proportion by weight of a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which although deformable under pressure, is substantially incompressible and is an essentially non-flowable solid at temperatures below about 110° F., and liquid oil in a weight ratio of about 21.2 to 76.5 parts by weight of wax and about 78.8 to 23.5 parts by weight of oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a minor proportion by weight of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, hollow, monocellular, sturdy, resilient, resin particles in the form of microbeads having a specific gravity which lowers the overall specific gravity of the fitting composition, which togehter provide a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of microbeads alone; said fitting composition being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, being virtually resilient in that it is momentarily or slowly, at least in part, recoverable from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, and undergoing flow and deformation away from areas of highest pressure loads.

Claim 3

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 4

The fitting composition of claim 2, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcrystalline wax.

Claim 5

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 6

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 7

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 8

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has about 1 part by weight of microbeads per about 10.9 to 106.5 parts by weight of wax and oil.

Claim 9

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has wax and oil in weight ratio of about 34 to 55.2 parts by weight of wax and about 66 to 44.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of microbeads per about 12.3 to 52.7 parts by weight of wax and oil.

Claim 10

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has a specific gravity of about 0.15 to 0.8.

Claim 11

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has a specific gravity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

Claim 12

The fitting composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, of about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 13

The viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition of claim 44, wherein said microbeads are present in said discontinuous solid phase in combination with distributed lightweight, sturdy, non-resilient microbeads which impart different desired characteristics.

Claim 14

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition, which essentially consists of: a major proportion by weight of a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed on the combination of wax, which although deformable under pressure, is substantially incompressible and is an essentially non-flowable solid at temperatures below about 110° F., and liquid oil in a weight ratio of about 21.2 to 76.5 parts by weight of wax and about 78.8 to 23.5 parts by weight of oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a minor proportion by weight of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, monocellular, thermoplastic, resilient, hollow, expanded, resinous particles in the form of microbeads having a specific gravity which lowers the overall specific gravity of the fitting composition, which together provide a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less; said expanded microbeads being present in an amount of 1 part by weight of expanded microbeads per about 10.9 to 106.5 parts by weight of wax and oil; said expanded microbeads being heat-expanded and hollow as a result of heating discrete, thermoplastic, resinous particles of a micro-size having encapsulated therein, a thermally-responsive expanding agent; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in an amont sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly cost substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of expanded microbeads alone; said fitting composition being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in responsive and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, being virtually resilient in that it is momentarily or slowly, at least in part, recoverable from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, and undergoing flow and deformation away from areas of highest pressure loads.

Claim 15

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition, which essentially consists of: a major proportion by weight of a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed on the combination of wax, which although deformable under pressure, is substantially incompressible and is an essentially non-flowable solid at temperatures below about 110° F., and liquid oil in a weight ratio of about 21.2 to 76.5 parts by weight of wax and about 78.8 to 23.5 parts by weight of oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a minor proportion by weight of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, monocellular, thermoplastic, resilient, hollow, expanded, resinous particles in the form of microbeads having a specific gravity which lowers the overall specific gravity of the fitting composition, which together provide a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less; said expanded microbeads being present in an amount of 1 part by weight of expanded microbeads per about 10.9 to 106.5 parts by weight of wax and oil; said expanded microbeads being heat-expanded and hollow as a result of heating discrete, thermoplastic, resinous particles of a micro-size having encapsulated therein, a thermally-responsive expanding agent; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in an amont sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly cost substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of expanded microbeads alone; said fitting composition being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in responsive and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, being virtually resilient in that it is momentarily or slowly, at least in part, recoverable from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, and undergoing flow and deformation away from areas of highest pressure loads.

Claim 16

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said expanded microbeads are formed of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile.

Claim 17

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said expanded microbeads are in situ heat-expanded microspheres.

Claim 18

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said expanded microbeads are in situ heat-expanded microspheres formed of a vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer.

Claim 19

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 20

The fitting composition of claim 17, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcrystalline wax.

Claim 21

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 22

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 23

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax, said oil comprises petroleum-based oil, and said expanded microbeads are formed of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile.

Claim 24

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 25

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said composition has about 1 part by weight of expanded microbeads per about 10.9 to 106.5 parts by weight of wax and oil.

Claim 26

The fitting composition of claim 23, wherein the expanded microbeads are formed of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile.

Claim 27

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 34 to 55.2 parts by weight of wax and about 66 to 44.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of expanded microbeads per about 12.3 to 52.7 parts by weight of wax and oil.

Claim 28

The fitting composition of claim 25, wherein the expanded microbeads are formed of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile.

Claim 29

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said composition has a specific gravity of about 0.15 to 0.8.

Claim 30

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said composition has a specific gravity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

Claim 31

The fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, of about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 32

The viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition of claim 13, wherein said microbeads are present in said discontinuous solid phase in combination with distributed lightweight, sturdy, non-resilient microbeads which impart different desired characteristics.

Claim 33

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of about 20.93 to 66.39% by weight of wax, which although deformable under pressure, is substantially incompressible and is an essentially non-flowable solid at temperatures below about 110° F., and about 77.55 to 20.4% by weight of liquid oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, about 0.99 to 8.58% by weight of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, resilient, hollow, heat-expanded, monocellular, thermoplastic, resinous particles in the form of microspheres having a specific gravity which lowers the overall specific gravity of the fitting composition, which together provide a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less; said expanded microspheres being heat-expanded and hollow as a result of heating discrete, thermoplastic, resinous particles of a micro-size having encapsulated therein, a thermally-responsive expanding agent; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said expanded microspheres or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said expanded microspheres, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of expanded microspheres alone; said fitting composition being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, being virtually resilient in that it is momentarily or slowly, at least in part, recoverable from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, and undergoing flow and deformation away from areas of highest pressure loads.

Claim 34

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of about 20.93 to 66.39% by weight of wax, which although deformable under pressure, is substantially incompressible and is an essentially non-flowable solid at temperatures below about 110° F., and about 77.55 to 20.4% by weight of liquid oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, about 0.99 to 8.58% by weight of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, resilient, hollow, heat-expanded, monocellular, thermoplastic, resinous particles in the form of microspheres having a specific gravity which lowers the overall specific gravity of the fitting composition, which together provide a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less; said expanded microspheres being heat-expanded and hollow as a result of heating discrete, thermoplastic, resinous particles of a micro-size having encapsulated therein, a thermally-responsive expanding agent; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said expanded microspheres or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said expanded microspheres, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of expanded microspheres alone; said fitting composition being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, being virtually resilient in that it is momentarily or slowly, at least in part, recoverable from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, and undergoing flow and deformation away from areas of highest pressure loads.

Claim 35

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said expanded microspheres are formed of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile.

Claim 36

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 37

The fitting composition of claim 33, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcrystalline wax.

Claim 38

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 39

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 40

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax, said oil comprises petroleum-based oil, and said expanded microspheres are formed of vinylidene chloride and acrylonitrile.

Claim 41

The fitting composition of claim 37, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 42

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said composition has a specific gravity of about 0.15 to 0.8.

Claim 43

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said composition has a specific gravity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

Claim 44

The fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, of about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 45

The viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition of claim 31, wherein said microspheres are present in said discontinuous solid phase in combination with distributed lightweight, sturdy, non-resilient microbeads which impart different desired characteristics.

Claim 46

The viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting composition of claim 31, wherein the resilient, expanded microspheres have diameters of about 5 to 150 microns and a bulk density of about 0.65 to 5 lbs./ft. 3 .