초록 ▼

A rigid patch body for placing over and around a damaged portion (hole) of the external wall of a pressurized vessel, such as a space vehicle or habitat. The rigid patch body allows a person such as an astronaut to make temporary repairs to the pressurized vessel from the exterior of the vessel to e

A rigid patch body for placing over and around a damaged portion (hole) of the external wall of a pressurized vessel, such as a space vehicle or habitat. The rigid patch body allows a person such as an astronaut to make temporary repairs to the pressurized vessel from the exterior of the vessel to enable more permanent repairs to be made from the interior of the vessel. The pressure wall patch of the present invention includes a floor surrounded by four side members. Each side member includes a threaded screw for anchoring the patch body to the external wall of the pressurized vessel and a recess in its lower surface for supporting an inflatable bladder for surrounding the damaged portion (hole) of the external wall to seal the area surrounding the damaged portion to allow the vessel to be repressurized. The floor of the rigid patch body supports a source of gas in communication with a gas supply valve and a gas supply gauge in communication with the gas supply valve and the inflatable bladder.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for making repairs to a damaged external wall of a pressure vessel, said external wall including an outer surface, said apparatus comprising: a frame including upstanding closure means and a floor; means for securing said frame to said external wall of said pressure vessel for spaced re

An apparatus for making repairs to a damaged external wall of a pressure vessel, said external wall including an outer surface, said apparatus comprising: a frame including upstanding closure means and a floor; means for securing said frame to said external wall of said pressure vessel for spaced relation of said floor and said outer surface of said external wall; inflatable seal means peripherally disposed around said frame, said inflatable seal means forming a chamber between said floor and said outer surface of said wall by enclosing the space between said floor and said external surface of said wall responsive to inflation of said inflatable seal means; and inflating means for inflating said seal means for engagement of said seal means with said external surface of said wall to provide an air-tight relation.