Lightweight constructional element of sandwich structure

Stock material or miscellaneous articles – Sheet including cover or casing – Including elements cooperating to form cells

Patent

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

52806, 428116, 4289122, B32B 312

Patent

active

050284690

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lightweight constructional element or structural member of a sandwich structure having two cover plates which are held at a distance apart by a honeycomb structure. Said lightweight constructional element is intended in particular as a structural part of a solar collector.
Solar collectors require a very large area because the incident energy radiation of the sun per square meter is relatively small. Such solar collectors are set up as large paraboloids on steel frames and must follow the path of the sun. To achieve adequate energy yield a large area is necessary which in turn means a relatively high weight. As support for such paraboloids usually lightweight structural members or constructional elements are employed which however have to be specially made and are very expensive. Such lightweight constructional elements as described for example in DE-OS 2,836,418 can however also be used as support for solar cells.


THE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention is to provide a lightweight constructional element in particular for solar collectors which is relatively economical, can be easily made and has high strength.
In keeping with these objects and with other which will become apparent hereinafter, the honeycomb structure between the cover plates is formed by essentially cylindrical cans whose axes are perpendicular to the cover plates. This provides a lightweight structural member having basic elements which do not need to be specially made but which are obtained from waste products. In can recycling as hitherto employed only the material value of the drink cans was of interest. However, due to their precise shape these cans, which accrue in very large quantities, have a very much higher value than that of their raw material alone.
In particular, the substantially cylindrical sheet metal cans made by extrusion of aluminium, aluminium alloys or steel have in spite of their very small wall thickness of for example 0.07 to 0.1 mm a very high dimensional stability in the axial direction. This dimensional stability is increased still further in used beverage cans by the lid which is connected at its periphery to the cylindrical wall of the can by folding. Opening the can by pulling out an opening tab does not appreciably change this very high dimensional stability. These drink cans, connected together in as close an arrangement as possible along their lines of contact, in particular adhered together, form the cells of the honeycomb structure which in known manner is also connected by adhesion to the cover plates.
In the production of these drink cans of standardised size and form from aluminium or steel a certain percentage of rejects always occurs and hitherto these were melted down again. These reject cans, due to their shape, can be used just like already used cans as honeycomb cells for this lightweight constructional element. Since these reject cans are not provided with a lid it is possible to connect them together also by spot welding or riveting.
To obtain a homogeneous lightweight constructional element which can be loaded equally on both sides it is advantageous to arrange these cans which are open on one side so that they bear with the bottom side in uniform distribution alternately on the one cover plate and on the other cover plate.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the invention will be described in detail in the following description with reference to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a view of a lightweight constructional element along the section line I--I of FIG. 2,
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the lightweight constructional element along the section line II--II of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a solar collector or parabolic mirror of which the support plate is a lightweight constructional element according to the invention,
FIG. 4 is a plan view, partially in section, of two different embodiments of the lightweight constructional element according to my invention,
FIG. 5 is

REFERENCES:
patent: 1708462 (1929-04-01), Bodman
patent: 2043445 (1936-06-01), Oxhandler
patent: 3134705 (1964-05-01), Moeller
patent: 3743568 (1973-07-01), DeWolf
patent: 3754812 (1973-08-01), Mohn
patent: 3878661 (1975-04-01), Moore
patent: 4050978 (1977-09-01), Moore
patent: 4068429 (1978-01-01), Moore

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Lightweight constructional element of sandwich structure does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Lightweight constructional element of sandwich structure, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lightweight constructional element of sandwich structure will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1245908

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.