Cluster cap sealing mechanism and method
View Patent ↗A cluster cap sealing mechanism and method for a Geodesic construction. A packaging for a sealant placed in a ring wherein the ring is a sealant delivery device for providing a predetermined volume of sealant to the joints of the Geodesic construction.
1. A Geodesic dome comprising:
aluminum frame triangles, a membrane skin, and sealed joints;
a cluster of corner bosses, having an outer cap and an inner cap bolted thereto;
aluminum frame beams creating said aluminum frame triangles, said aluminum frame beams attached to said corner bosses;
said frame beams of each triangle are bolted to an adjacent triangular facet;
said cluster of corner bosses having a pre-dosed sealant ring attached;
said cluster of corner bosses having said inner cap below said cluster of corner bosses, said pre-dosed sealant ring above said cluster of corner bosses, and said outer cap above said pre-dosed sealant ring;
said membrane skin located between said aluminum frame beams attached to an attachment groove;
an additional groove for receiving silicone sealant from said sealant ring.
2. The dome of claim 1 wherein said sealant ring comprises an upper sealant channel pre-loaded with sealant, and a lower sealant channel pre-loaded with sealant.
3. The dome of claim 1 wherein said sealant ring comprises a low durometer elastomer that collapses when said outer cap is installed, driving said pre-dosed sealant into mating surfaces.
4. The dome of claim 2 wherein said sealant ring flattens after pressure has been added, forcing said sealant from said lower channel onto said membrane skin.
5. The dome of claim 1 wherein said sealant ring comprises a top flap and bottom flap providing nearly complete closure of said pre-dosed sealant.
6. The dome of claim 1 wherein said outer cap comprises retaining lobes.
7. The dome of claim 1 further comprising a molded elastomer cap having an insertion contours, retention pockets, and a zone that conforms to flat facets of said membrane skin of said dome.
8. The dome of claim 7 wherein said insertion contours of said molded elastomer cap accept retaining lobes of said outer cap;
said molded elastomer cap is rotated to position said retaining lobes of said outer cap in said retention pockets of said molded elastomer cap.
9. The dome of claim 8 wherein said rotational force exerted on said elastomer cap increases retention of said elastomer cap.