US5820737A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-fouling laminate marine structures
Assignee: Baltek Inc
•
Filing: 1997-02-25
•
Granted: 1998-10-13
•
Expires: 2017-02-25
Abstract
Abstract A marine structure submersible in seawater, such as a hull, which when electrically activated is then resistant to fouling by marine organisms. The hull is formed by a structural laminate having a core sandwiched between inner and outer skins. The outer skin which forms the exposed surface of the hull is coated with a metallic paint defining a cathodic electrode. The core is constituted by balsa wood or foam plastic modules attached to an open-mesh scrim that includes conductive fibers to create an electrical grid defining an anodic electrode that is embedded in the laminate. Impressed across the electrodes is a direct voltage to establish an electric field causing marine organisms which seek to foul the hull surface to migrate away from this surface. Alternatively, the cathodic electrode may be formed by an open-mesh scrim defining an electrical grid interposed between the core and the outer skin.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri-Armand Kohn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 09:34
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B59/00; B63B59/04; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T70/00; Y02T70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A laminated marine structure, such as a hull, which when submerged in seawater is resistant to fouling by marine organisms, said structure comprising: A. a contourable core of insulation material adapted to conform to the contours of the hull, said core being attached on one side to an open-mesh fabric scrim that includes conductive fibers whereby the scrim functions as an electric grid defining an anodic electrode; B. an inner skin laminated to the scrim side of the core; C. an outer skin laminated to the other side of the core to form the surface of the hull; D. means adjacent the outer skin to define a cathodic electrode; and E. means to apply a direct voltage between said cathodic electrode and said anodic electrode to create an electric field therebetween producing a negative charge on the cathodic electrode which repels negatively-charged marine organisms to prevent their growth on the surface of the hull.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
154 words
A laminated marine structure, such as a hull, which when submerged in seawater is resistant to fouling by marine organisms, said structure comprising: A. a contourable core of insulation material adapted to conform to the contours of the hull, said core being attached on one side to an open-mesh fabric scrim that includes conductive fibers whereby the scrim functions as an electric grid defining an anodic electrode; B. an inner skin laminated to the scrim side of the core; C. an outer skin laminated to the other side of the core to form the surface of the hull; D. means adjacent the outer skin to define a cathodic electrode; and E. means to apply a direct voltage between said cathodic electrode and said anodic electrode to create an electric field therebetween producing a negative charge on the cathodic electrode which repels negatively-charged marine organisms to prevent their growth on the surface of the hull.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the means defining the cathodic electrode is constituted by an electrically conductive open-mesh scrim interposed between the outer skin and the core.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the means defining the cathodic electrode is constituted by a layer of metallic paint coated on the outer skin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 3, on which the layer contains zinc.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the core is composed of a rectangular array of balsa wood modules in edge-to-edge relation attached to said scrim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 5, in which the non-conductive fibers are fiberglass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the core is composed of a rectangular array of foam-plastic modules in edge-to-edge relation attached to said scrim.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A marine structure as set forth in claims 5 or 7 in which the scrim has larger rectangular dimensions than the array to provide a margin extending beyond the array whereby when two cores are placed in abutting relation, the margin on the scrim of one core then overlaps the scrim of the other core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the scrim includes non-conductive fibers which alternate with the conductive fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the inner and outer skins are each formed of fiberglass-reinforced resin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A marine structure as set forth in claim 1, in which the conductive fibers in the scrim are carbon fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US843357A
Cited
US994405A
Cited
US2435986A
Cited
US3325037A
Cited
US3298892A
Cited
US3520790A
Cited
US3497434A
Cited
US3510094A
Cited
US3540967A
Cited
US3971084A
Cited
US4375199A
Cited
US4283461A
Cited
US4568585A
Cited
US4869016A
Cited
US4767512A
Cited
US5346598A
Cited
US5088432A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-10-12 | 2002-04-13 | 2002-10-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-10-12 | 2006-04-13 | 2006-10-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-10-12 | 2010-04-13 | 2010-10-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |