Formed materials and strips used in fuel tanks and to prevent explosive reactions

Abstract

The invention relates to a stamped or braided form of a solid material or foil that can be inserted into a tank or container, for example to prevent an explosion of fuel inside the tank. Various combinations of materials can be used to produce the forms and braids. In a preferred embodiment, two or more stamped, helical forms of a metal foil material are interlocked or linked together, and a wire or fiber is placed at least partially in the center of one of the helical forms. This structure presents advantageous properties when used in fuel tanks, and resists deformation. In addition, certain forms or structures can be designed and used so they can be easily removed from the container or tank.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of PCT application PCT / CH2005 / 000576, filed Oct. 4, 2005, which claims priority benefit of expired U.S. provisional application 60 / 615,026, filed Oct. 4, 2004, the entire contents of which are both incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to products that can be used in preventing explosions of fuel or other flammable or dangerous materials and / or products that be used in the clean-up or removal of explosive or dangerous materials and / or methods to use these products to prevent an explosion, as well as methods to produce these products. In a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a formed or braided product, typically but not necessarily made of or comprising aluminum or stainless steel, that can be inserted into a fuel tank to prevent the fuel from exploding. Advantageously, the optional shapes of the formed or braided products make them extr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] A third solution uses the same materials noted above but combines braiding and cutting. Advantageously, the invention differs from other manufacturing processes by using only the stamping and cutting step without having the need for complex machines to stretch previously cut sheets in order to guarantee the porosity of the material.

[0010] The stamping or pressing allows one to realize a helical, rippled, twisted or irregular ribbon structure and also makes the strips able to receive one or several strands in a braid or weaved structure or form. The process characterizing the invention in one aspect allows a simple way to manufacture the product by using simple and well-known machines. According to the desired dimensions of the form or braid, it is even possible to produce it by a portable device that can be used to directly fill any reservoir. Also, the resulting form or braid can be cut into segments that will be themselves compressed to form spheres or polyhedrons, or used to constitute a more solid form accor...

Problems solved by technology

However, the widespread use of these materials has been hampered by the limitations in producing, transporting, and adding these materials to existing tanks.

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