US3451913A - Dissoluble wall structure - Google Patents

Dissoluble wall structure Download PDF

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US3451913A
US3451913A US531593A US3451913DA US3451913A US 3451913 A US3451913 A US 3451913A US 531593 A US531593 A US 531593A US 3451913D A US3451913D A US 3451913DA US 3451913 A US3451913 A US 3451913A
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plate
wall
plate structure
metal
dissoluble
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US531593A
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Emile Laborde
Jean Zilberman
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Alcatel CIT SA
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Alcatel CIT SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M6/00—Primary cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M6/30—Deferred-action cells
    • H01M6/32—Deferred-action cells activated through external addition of electrolyte or of electrolyte components
    • H01M6/34—Immersion cells, e.g. sea-water cells
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B22/00—Buoys
    • B63B22/04—Fixations or other anchoring arrangements
    • B63B22/08—Fixations or other anchoring arrangements having means to release or urge to the surface a buoy on submergence thereof, e.g. to mark location of a sunken object
    • B63B22/10—Water soluble or water weakened means, i.e. buoy released by buoy-to-object securing means being destroyed on contact with water
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23F—NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25
    • C23F13/00—Inhibiting corrosion of metals by anodic or cathodic protection
    • C23F13/02—Inhibiting corrosion of metals by anodic or cathodic protection cathodic; Selection of conditions, parameters or procedures for cathodic protection, e.g. of electrical conditions
    • C23F13/06—Constructional parts, or assemblies of cathodic-protection apparatus
    • C23F13/08—Electrodes specially adapted for inhibiting corrosion by cathodic protection; Manufacture thereof; Conducting electric current thereto
    • C23F13/10—Electrodes characterised by the structure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B22/00—Marine mines, e.g. launched by surface vessels or submarines
    • F42B22/22—Marine mines, e.g. launched by surface vessels or submarines having self-contained sinking means
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
    • C23F—NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25
    • C23F2213/00—Aspects of inhibiting corrosion of metals by anodic or cathodic protection
    • C23F2213/30—Anodic or cathodic protection specially adapted for a specific object
    • C23F2213/31—Immersed structures, e.g. submarine structures

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device susceptible to bring about the piercing of a wall of a body floating on a liquid after a duration of immersion comprised within certain limits.
  • At least one dissolvable plug or stopper constituted, for example, by a mineral salt, is inserted into an aperture made into the enclosure below the water line.
  • the nature of the product and the dimensions of the aperture are chosen in such a manner that the dissolution takes place from one side to the other, i.e., through and through at the end of a time, which, taking into consideration the variations of the parameters such as temperature of the water, degree of salinity, is comprised within the prescribed limits, for example, between 3 and 30 hours.
  • a small plate of a first metal on which is deposited preferably by electroplating
  • a layer of a second metal susceptible of forming with the first metal a galvanic couple In the presence of the conductive sea water, the small plate and the metallic layer behave like an electric battery, producing a certain current giving rise to an electrolytic attack of the plate which leads finally to the piercing of the wall.
  • Such a small plate may be obtained in an advantageous manner, for example, by a deposit of gold on zinc.
  • a wall element intended to constitute an assembly to be pierced by immersion into the sea comprises two metallic parts of different metal, separated by an insulating medium and connected externally by a conductor.
  • the electrolysis takes place regularly and furnishes, with a dispersion of the duration reduced to a minimum, the desired piercing of the wall.
  • a further object of the present invention resides in a dissolvable wall structure for a floating body which is not only simple in construction and reliable in operation but which also assures proper functioning thereof within the given time limits.
  • the single figure is a partial cross-sectional view through a floating body provided with a dissolvable wall structure in accordance with the present invention.
  • ref erence numeral 2 designates therein a portion of a wall of an enclosure or vessel capable of floating.
  • the bottom of the wall 2 comprises an aperture in the embossment or recess 3 thereof, formed "by a galvanic element comprising a plate 1 of a first metal or alloy and a counterplate 4 through which is pierced a central opening or aperture, made of a metal or alloy dilferent from the first metal and presenting another oxidation potential.
  • the plate 1 and the counterplate 4 are spaced from one an other by an insulating layer or element 5 extending over the entire or at least a portion of the mutually facing surfaces; the plate 1 and the counterplate 4 are in electrical contact along the external circumference by the intermediary of a conductor 6.
  • the em'bossment or recess 3 accommodating the galvanic element in accordance with the present invention is sealed by an impermeable or water-repellent skin or cover 7 having an annular adhesive zone adhering to the external surface of the wall 2.
  • the skin or cover 7 which will be torn off at the moment of use of the apparatus may be made of rubber or a flexible synthetic plastic resin of any known nature.
  • an electric battery is constituted thereby with the plate .1 and the counterplate 4 as electrodes connected by an external circuit formed by the conductor 6 which may be in the form of an annular shaped conductor welded to the peripheral edges of the plate 1 and the counterplate 4.
  • the substances forming the electrodes of the battery thus constituted are chosen in such a manner that the polarity of their couple is such that there will be corrosion of the electrode formed by the plate 1.
  • the plate 1 is made of magnesium and the counterplate 4 of zinc.
  • the wall 2 of the enclosure is metallic
  • the metallic substances forming the elements 1 and 6 are chosen in such a manner that the elfect of the difl'erent galvanic couples created with the metal of the wall 2 reinforce the piercing effect of the galvanic element described here inabove.
  • the insulating material 5 is chosen in particular for its water-repellent properties in order that its surface resistivity is little sensitive to the moisture of the air in the normal storage condiions and that thus no galvanic corrosion takes place prior to actually putting the device into service. It may be of any non-hygroscopic, insulating substance, in particular, Mylar. Its thickness must be sufiicient in order that the metallic surfaces facing each other are effectively insulated.
  • the skin or cover 7 may be, for example, of polyethylene.
  • a wall equipped with a surface element according to the present invention presents a duration of the piercing which can be readily reproduced for the same value of parameters. This duration varies as a function of the temperature and conductivity of the liquid medium, and in particular, of the degree of salinity of the ocean water, in the most frequent case of application in which the enclosure to be pierced floats on the ocean.
  • a metallic structure capable of being destroyed by a continuous contact with an electrolyte comprising:
  • a second annular plate structure of a metal different from said first plate structure said second plate structure being disposed on said layer of insulating material so that mutually facing surface portions of said first and second plate structures are separated by said insulating material, and a substantially annular shaped conductor means connected to said first and second plate structure along their peripheral edges.
  • a metallic structure capable of being destroyed by a continuous contact with an electrolyte comprising:
  • a substantially annular zinc plate structure being disposed on said layer of insulating material, the periphery of said zinc plate structure substantially following the periphery of said insulating material and said magnesium plate structure, and

Description

June 24, 1969 E. LABORDE ETAL DISSOLUBLE WALL STRUCTURE Filed March a, 1966 awn/mes EMILE LRBORDE EnN Z/LBGEMRA/ United States Patent 3,451,913 DISSOLUBLE WALL STRUCTURE Emile Laborde and Jean Zilberman, Paris, France, assiguors to C.I.T.-Compagnie Industrielle des Telecommunications, Paris, France Filed Mar. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 531,593 Claims priority, applicati7on France, Mar. 3, 1965,
7, 98 Int. Cl. C23b 1/02 US. Cl. 204-248 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a device susceptible to bring about the piercing of a wall of a body floating on a liquid after a duration of immersion comprised within certain limits.
There exist certain cases in which a three-dimensional body is intended to float on a liquid, then at the end of a certain time, to lose its floatability and to sink to the bottom. This is the case in particular with certain carrier apparatus for detection devices whose role is to float on the ocean during a certain time and thereafter to sink to the bottom at the end of some hours of operation of said devices,
There are already known in the prior art means to cause a body floating on the ocean to lose its floatability, particularly by way of dissolution or by way of electrochemical corrosion. In the first case at least one dissolvable plug or stopper, constituted, for example, by a mineral salt, is inserted into an aperture made into the enclosure below the water line. The nature of the product and the dimensions of the aperture are chosen in such a manner that the dissolution takes place from one side to the other, i.e., through and through at the end of a time, which, taking into consideration the variations of the parameters such as temperature of the water, degree of salinity, is comprised within the prescribed limits, for example, between 3 and 30 hours. One may also realize an element or portion of the wall constituted by a small plate of a first metal on which is deposited, preferably by electroplating, a layer of a second metal susceptible of forming with the first metal a galvanic couple. In the presence of the conductive sea water, the small plate and the metallic layer behave like an electric battery, producing a certain current giving rise to an electrolytic attack of the plate which leads finally to the piercing of the wall.
Such a small plate may be obtained in an advantageous manner, for example, by a deposit of gold on zinc.
However, experience has demonstrated that such a battery element formed by a plate of a metal covered by another plated metal, exposed to the sea water, has a tendency for the so-called passivation phenomenon by the formation of compounds insoluble within the medium and electrically insulating, which enclosure or surround the surface, thereby increasing enormously the internal resistance of the cell, and slowing down the speed of dissolution. An extreme dispersion of the piercing duration results therefrom which may even exceed the maximum admissible limit.
This is the reason why, according to the present in- 3,451,913 Patented June 24, 1969 vention, a wall element intended to constitute an assembly to be pierced by immersion into the sea comprises two metallic parts of different metal, separated by an insulating medium and connected externally by a conductor. In this manner, the electrolysis takes place regularly and furnishes, with a dispersion of the duration reduced to a minimum, the desired piercing of the wall.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a floating structure of the type described above which eliminates by simple means the shortcomings and drawbacks encountered with the prior art constructions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wall structure for a floating body which assures the dedesired termination of the floata'bility thereof within the given time limits after immersion into the salt water of the sea.
A further object of the present invention resides in a dissolvable wall structure for a floating body which is not only simple in construction and reliable in operation but which also assures proper functioning thereof within the given time limits.
These and further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, in the single figure thereof, for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and where- 1n:
The single figure is a partial cross-sectional view through a floating body provided with a dissolvable wall structure in accordance with the present invention.
Referring now to the single figure of the drawings, ref erence numeral 2 designates therein a portion of a wall of an enclosure or vessel capable of floating. The bottom of the wall 2 comprises an aperture in the embossment or recess 3 thereof, formed "by a galvanic element comprising a plate 1 of a first metal or alloy and a counterplate 4 through which is pierced a central opening or aperture, made of a metal or alloy dilferent from the first metal and presenting another oxidation potential. The plate 1 and the counterplate 4 are spaced from one an other by an insulating layer or element 5 extending over the entire or at least a portion of the mutually facing surfaces; the plate 1 and the counterplate 4 are in electrical contact along the external circumference by the intermediary of a conductor 6. To avoid the corrosion of the plate 1 during storage, the em'bossment or recess 3 accommodating the galvanic element in accordance with the present invention is sealed by an impermeable or water-repellent skin or cover 7 having an annular adhesive zone adhering to the external surface of the wall 2. The skin or cover 7 which will be torn off at the moment of use of the apparatus may be made of rubber or a flexible synthetic plastic resin of any known nature.
In the presence of a conductive liquid, for example, saline water of the ocean, an electric battery is constituted thereby with the plate .1 and the counterplate 4 as electrodes connected by an external circuit formed by the conductor 6 which may be in the form of an annular shaped conductor welded to the peripheral edges of the plate 1 and the counterplate 4.
The substances forming the electrodes of the battery thus constituted are chosen in such a manner that the polarity of their couple is such that there will be corrosion of the electrode formed by the plate 1.
In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plate 1 is made of magnesium and the counterplate 4 of zinc.
1f the wall 2 of the enclosure is metallic, the metallic substances forming the elements 1 and 6 are chosen in such a manner that the elfect of the difl'erent galvanic couples created with the metal of the wall 2 reinforce the piercing effect of the galvanic element described here inabove.
When the corrosion has taken place over the entire thickness of the plate 1, the wall of the enclosure becomes perforated.
The insulating material 5 is chosen in particular for its water-repellent properties in order that its surface resistivity is little sensitive to the moisture of the air in the normal storage condiions and that thus no galvanic corrosion takes place prior to actually putting the device into service. It may be of any non-hygroscopic, insulating substance, in particular, Mylar. Its thickness must be sufiicient in order that the metallic surfaces facing each other are effectively insulated.
The skin or cover 7 may be, for example, of polyethylene.
A wall equipped with a surface element according to the present invention presents a duration of the piercing which can be readily reproduced for the same value of parameters. This duration varies as a function of the temperature and conductivity of the liquid medium, and in particular, of the degree of salinity of the ocean water, in the most frequent case of application in which the enclosure to be pierced floats on the ocean.
While we have shown and described one embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.
We claim:
1. A metallic structure capable of being destroyed by a continuous contact with an electrolyte, comprising:
afirst substantially circular metallic plate structure,
a layer of insulating material disposed over a substantially annular surface of said first plate structure,
a second annular plate structure of a metal different from said first plate structure, said second plate structure being disposed on said layer of insulating material so that mutually facing surface portions of said first and second plate structures are separated by said insulating material, and a substantially annular shaped conductor means connected to said first and second plate structure along their peripheral edges.
2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said first plate structure is made of magnesium, said second plate structure of zinc, and said insulating material is non-hygroscopic.
3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said conductor means is welded to said first and second plate structures along their peripheral edges.
4. The combination according to claim 3, which further includes a removable cover means disposed over said second plate structure to preclude an electrolyte from contacting said first and second plate structures and said conductor means until said cover is removed.
5. A metallic structure capable of being destroyed by a continuous contact with an electrolyte, comprising:
a substantially circular magnesium plate structure,
a layer of non-hygroscopic insulating material disposed over a substantially annular surface of said first plate structure,
a substantially annular zinc plate structure being disposed on said layer of insulating material, the periphery of said zinc plate structure substantially following the periphery of said insulating material and said magnesium plate structure, and
a substantially annular shaped conductor means connected to said magnesium and zinc plate structures along their peripheral edges.
6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein said conductor means is welded to said magnesium and Zinc plate structures along their peripheral edges.
7. The combination according to claim 6, which further includes a removable cover means disposed over said zinc plate structure to preclude an electrolyte from contacting said Zinc and magnesium plate structures and said conductor means until said cover is removed.
References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1961 Skinner 136- 3/1967 Suleski 204-196 US. Cl. X.R.
US531593A 1965-03-03 1966-03-03 Dissoluble wall structure Expired - Lifetime US3451913A (en)

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4863578A (en) * 1988-04-25 1989-09-05 Corrosion Service Company Limited Corrodible link for cathodic protection systems
US5358617A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-10-25 Makiko Yoshida Self-contained water treatment device
US5368704A (en) * 1993-08-06 1994-11-29 Teknekron Corporation Micro-electrochemical valves and method
US5480522A (en) * 1994-01-04 1996-01-02 Makiko Yoshida Self-energizing fluid treatment apparatus employing external electrodes

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2968688A (en) * 1958-04-10 1961-01-17 Gen Motors Corp Rain sensor
US3308046A (en) * 1963-02-06 1967-03-07 Hazeltine Research Inc Galvanic action device for scuttling floating objects

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2868126A (en) * 1952-12-04 1959-01-13 John C Goff Electrolytically controlled delay device

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2968688A (en) * 1958-04-10 1961-01-17 Gen Motors Corp Rain sensor
US3308046A (en) * 1963-02-06 1967-03-07 Hazeltine Research Inc Galvanic action device for scuttling floating objects

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4863578A (en) * 1988-04-25 1989-09-05 Corrosion Service Company Limited Corrodible link for cathodic protection systems
US5358617A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-10-25 Makiko Yoshida Self-contained water treatment device
US5368704A (en) * 1993-08-06 1994-11-29 Teknekron Corporation Micro-electrochemical valves and method
US5480522A (en) * 1994-01-04 1996-01-02 Makiko Yoshida Self-energizing fluid treatment apparatus employing external electrodes

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FR1439075A (en) 1966-05-20
GB1110467A (en) 1968-04-18
DE1283623B (en) 1968-11-21

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