A wide variety of potential embodiments will be more readily understood through the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings in which:
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method, which can comprise forming a device. The device can comprise a panel, which can comprise a pair of face sheets, a first set of corrugated ribbons, and a second set of corrugated ribbons. The sets of corrugated ribbons can be adapted to maintain a spacing between the pair of opposing face sheets.
Certain exemplary embodiments provide a flat and/or curved multifunctional lightweight sandwich panel fabricated using a flexible ribbon core structure and/or a method for manufacturing such a panel.
Each ribbon of second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can define:
Each longitudinal axis 1400 of each ribbon of the second set of corrugated ribbons 102 of panel 1100 can be substantially perpendicular to each longitudinal axis 1300 of each ribbon of the first set of corrugated ribbons 101 of the panel.
System 1000 can comprise a first face sheet 103 and a second face sheet 104, which can be substantially opposing face sheets when operatively installed as a part of panel 1100. First set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be releasably and/or fixedly attached to first face sheet 103 and/or second face sheet 104 and, thereby, can be sandwiched between first face sheet 103 and second face sheet 104. For example, first set of corrugated ribbons 101 and second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be fixedly attached to first face sheet 103 and/or second face sheet 104 via adhesive bonding, welding, brazing, and/or via any other suitable bonding method. Thereby, first set of corrugated ribbons 101 and second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be sandwiched between first face sheet 103 and second face sheet 104.
Raised portions 1800 of each ribbon of first set of corrugated ribbons 101 can interlock with a corresponding recessed portion 1900 of ribbons of second set of corrugated ribbons 102. Via interaction with raised portions 1800 of each ribbon of first set of corrugated ribbons 101 with second set of corrugated ribbons 102, second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be adapted to restrain motion of each of first set of corrugated ribbons 101 relative to second set of corrugated ribbons 102:
The sets of corrugated ribbons can be adapted to
When operatively attached to first face sheet 103 and/or second face sheet 104, longitudinal axes 1300 of each of first set of corrugated ribbons 101 can be substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axes 1400 of each of second set of corrugated ribbons 102.
The panel, via the pair of opposing face sheets and the sets of corrugated ribbons, can define:
First plurality of channels 1500 and/or second plurality of channels 1600 can be adapted to transfer heat from panel 1100 via a heat transfer fluid 1700.
First set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be adapted to transfer electrical energy from panel 1100.
First face sheet 103, second face sheet 104, first set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be fabricated from metal, plastic, or other suitable material. In certain exemplary embodiments, each of first face sheet 103, second face sheet 104, first set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be made of substantially identical materials. In other exemplary embodiments, each of first face sheet 103, second face sheet 104, first set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be made of different materials.
First set of corrugated ribbons 101 can define a characteristic period, P a height H, and a width W1. Similarly, second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can define a characteristic period P, a height H, and a width W2. For example, characteristic period P can be any suitable dimension, such as in inches, 0.375, 0.5, 0.81, 0.993, 1, 1.07, 1.5, 2.06, 4.967, 5.3, 7, 8.937, 10.012, 12, and/or any value or subrange therebetween. Height H can be any suitable dimension, such as in inches, 0.1, 0.245, 0.25, 0.495, 0.81, 0.993, 1.12, 1.764, 2.5, 2.86, 3.459, 5.32, 6, and/or any value or subrange therebetween. Widths W1 and/or W2 can be any suitable dimension, such as in inches, 0.075, 0.234, 0.35, 0.446, 0.913, 1.387, 1.75, 2.5, 2.86, 3.27, 3.459, 4 and/or any value or subrange therebetween.
A single or multi-curved panel can be fabricated via forming and/or fixturing to obtain a desired face sheet curvature. First set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be bonded to such a curved face sheet, after which, a top face sheet can be applied, bonded, formed, and/or fixtured in place.
Corrugations of first set of corrugated ribbons 101 and/or second set of corrugated ribbons 102 can be created via rolling a substantially planar ribbon material through a set of rolls.
When operatively attached to first face sheet 103, second face sheet 104, corrugations of first set of corrugated ribbons 101 can overlap and/or interlock with corrugations of second set of corrugated ribbons 102. For example, when operatively coupled to at least one of first face sheet 103 and second face sheet 104:
At activity 2200, the face sheets can be shaped. The face sheets can be rolled, formed, bent, and/or shaped in a metal break in order to obtain a desired contour. The desired contour can comprise a compound curvature. The face sheets can be rolled such that each of the pair of opposing face sheets comprises a compound curvature.
At activity 2300, ribbons can be obtained. In certain exemplary embodiments, the ribbons can be substantially planar when obtained and can be shaped and/or formed to define corrugations. The corrugations can be spaced and of a sufficient size to overlap and/or interlock with other ribbons when operatively coupled to one or more of the face sheets.
At activity 2400, the ribbons can be formed and/or shaped. In certain exemplary embodiments, the ribbons can be rolled between two rollers. The rollers can be adapted to form corrugations in the ribbons. Each ribbon can define a longitudinal axis.
At activity 2450, the first set of ribbons can be interlocked with the second set of ribbons. The interlocking can be such that a raised portion of each ribbon of the first set of corrugated ribbons is interlocked with a corresponding recessed portion of ribbons of the second set of corrugated ribbons. Via interaction with the raised portion of each ribbon of the first set of corrugated ribbons with the second set of corrugated ribbons, the second set of corrugated ribbons can be adapted to restrain motion of each of the first set of corrugated ribbons relative to the second set of corrugated ribbons:
At activity 2500, the ribbons, which can comprise a first set of corrugated ribbons and a second set of corrugated ribbons, can be releasably and/or fixedly attached to the face sheets. For example the ribbons can be attached to the face sheets via adhesive bonding, welding, brazing, and/or any other suitable fastening means. The face sheets can be operatively coupled to the ribbons such that:
The sets of corrugated ribbons can be adapted to maintain a spacing between the pair of face sheets. The sets of corrugated ribbons can be adapted to increase resistance of the panel to a reduction in spacing between the pair of opposing face sheets from a force applied to a surface of one of the pair of opposing face sheets. Each longitudinal axis of each ribbon of the second set of corrugated ribbons of the panel can be substantially perpendicular to each longitudinal axis of each ribbon of the first set of corrugated ribbons of the panel.
The panel, via the pair of opposing face sheets and the sets of corrugated ribbons, can define a first plurality of channels, each of which can define a longitudinal axis, and a second plurality of channels, each of which can define a longitudinal axis. Each longitudinal axis of each of the first plurality of channels can be substantially perpendicular to each longitudinal axis of each of the second plurality of channels.
At activity 2600, a panel comprising the face sheets and the ribbons can be attached to a device and/or system. In certain exemplary embodiments, the system can comprise one or more solar panels, floor structures, walls, vehicular surfaces, and/or building surfaces, etc. The panel can be adapted to provide heat transfer and/or electrical transfer between surfaces. For example, in certain exemplary solar cell applications, a first face sheet of the panel can be adapted to transfer electricity while a second face sheet of the panel transfers heat from the solar cell. The panel can be adapted to reduce heat transfer from a surface in contact with the panel as compared to a solid mass of material of a comparable size.
The first plurality of channels and/or the second plurality of channels can be adapted to transfer heat from the panel via a heat transfer fluid. The first set of corrugated ribbons and/or the second set of corrugated ribbons can be adapted to transfer electrical energy from the panel.
When the following terms are used substantively herein, the accompanying definitions apply. The right to redefine these terms during the prosecution of this application or any application claiming priority hereto is expressly reserved. For the purpose of interpreting a claim of any patent that claims priority hereto, each definition (or redefined term if an original definition was amended during the prosecution of that patent), functions as a clear and unambiguous disavowal of the subject matter outside of that definition.
Still other practical and useful embodiments will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from reading the above-recited and/or herein-included detailed description and/or drawings of certain exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that numerous variations, modifications, and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the scope of this application.
Thus, regardless of the content of any portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, unless clearly specified to the contrary, such as via explicit definition, assertion, or argument, with respect to any claim, whether of this application and/or any claim of any application claiming priority hereto, and whether originally presented or otherwise:
Moreover, when any number or range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that number or range is approximate. When any range is described herein, unless clearly stated otherwise, that range includes all values therein and all subranges therein. For example, if a range of 1 to 10 is described, that range includes all values therebetween, such as for example, 1.1, 2.5, 3.335, 5, 6.179, 8.9999, etc., and includes all subranges therebetween, such as for example, 1 to 3.65, 2.8 to 8.14, 1.93 to 9, etc.
When any claim element is followed by a drawing element number, that drawing element number is exemplary and non-limiting on claim scope. No claim of this application is intended to invoke paragraph six of 35 USC 112 unless the precise phrase “means for” is followed by a gerund.
Any information in any material (e.g., a United States patent, United States patent application, book, article, etc.) that has been incorporated by reference herein, is only incorporated by reference to the extent that no conflict exists between such information and the other statements and drawings set forth herein. In the event of such conflict, including a conflict that would render invalid any claim herein or seeking priority hereto, then any such conflicting information in such material is specifically not incorporated by reference herein.
Accordingly, every portion (e.g., title, field, background, summary, description, abstract, drawing figure, etc.) of this application, other than the claims themselves, is to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive, and the scope of subject matter protected by any patent that issues based on this application is defined only by the claims of that patent.
This application claims priority to, and incorporates by reference herein in its entirety, pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/312,727 (Attorney Docket No. 1010-004), filed 11 Mar. 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61312727 | Mar 2010 | US |