Viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting compositions

Claim 2

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, semi-solid, non-resilient, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, essentially non-resilient, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads, per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight of said continuous wax-oil phase, said sturdy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.5 fo 1 gm./cc., said sturdy, glass microbeads having a density of about 0.05 to 0.70 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.2 to 0.8; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogenous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm. 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1, wherein said was comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 2, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcrystalline wax.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 1, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 1, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax, said oil comprises petroleum-based oil, and said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax and about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil.

Claim 11

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition material has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax and about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 1, wherein the proportions by weight of said wax, oil and glass microbeads are such as to provide a major proportion by weight of said continuous phase, and a minor proportion by weight of the discontinuous phase.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition material has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 13.8 to 31.2 parts by weight of wax and about 86.2 to 68.8 parts by weight of oil.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition material has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 13.8 to 31.2 parts by weight of wax and about 86.2 to 68.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 15

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.3 to 0.6.

Claim 16

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, in the vicinity of between about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and in the vicinity of between about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 17

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has about 10 to 68% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, and about 26.5 to 81% by weight of oil.

Claim 18

The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition has about 23 to 30.7% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, and about 26.5 to 63.75% by weight of oil.

Claim 19

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, semi-solid, non-resilient, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, essentially non-resilient, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads, per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight of said continuous wax-oil phase, said sturdy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase. the continuous phase being present in the composition in a major proportion by weight and the discontinuous phase being present therein in a minor porportion by weight; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.75 to 0.90 gm./cc., said strudy glass microbeads having a density of about 0.15 to 0.30 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.3 to 0.6; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm. 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 20

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, semi-solid, non-resilient, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, essentially non-resilient, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads, per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight of said continuous wax-oil phase, said sturdy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase. the continuous phase being present in the composition in a major proportion by weight and the discontinuous phase being present therein in a minor porportion by weight; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.75 to 0.90 gm./cc., said strudy glass microbeads having a density of about 0.15 to 0.30 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.3 to 0.6; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm. 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 21

The composition of claim 18, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 22

The composition of claim 19, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcrystalline wax.

Claim 23

The composition of claim 18, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 24

The composition of claim 18, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 25

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 26

The composition of claim 18, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax, said oil comprises petroleum-based oil, and said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 27

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition has about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 28

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax and about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil.

Claim 29

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition material has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax and about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 30

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 13.8 to 31.2 parts by weight of wax and about 86.2 to 68.8 parts by weight of oil.

Claim 31

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 13.8 to 31.2 parts by weight of wax and about 86.2 to 68.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 32

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, in the vicinity of between about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and in the vicinity of between about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 33

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition has about 23 to 30.7% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, and about 26.5 to 81% by weight of oil.

Claim 34

The composition of claim 18, wherein said composition has about 23 to 30.7% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, and about 26.5 to 63.75% by weight of oil.

Claim 35

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads, per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight, of said continuous wax-oil phase, said strudy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.5 to 1 gm./cc., said strudy, glass microbeads having a density of about 0.05 to 0.70 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.2 to 0.8; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogenous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm. 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 36

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads, per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight, of said continuous wax-oil phase, said strudy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.5 to 1 gm./cc., said strudy, glass microbeads having a density of about 0.05 to 0.70 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.2 to 0.8; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogenous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm. 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 37

The composition of claim 33, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 38

The composition of claim 34, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcystalline wax.

Claim 39

The composition of claim 33, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 40

The composition of claim 33, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 41

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 42

The composition of claim 33, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax, said oil comprises petroleum-based oil, and said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 43

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition has about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 44

The composition of claim 37, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax and about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil.

Claim 45

The composition of claim 33, wherein the proportions by weight of said wax, oil and glass microbeads are such as to provide a major proportion by weight of said continuous phase with wax and oil, and a minor proportion by weight of the discontinuous phase of glass microbeads.

Claim 46

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition material has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 13.8 to 31.2 parts by weight of wax and about 86.2 to 68.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 47

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition has a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.3 to 0.6.

Claim 48

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, in the vicinity of between about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and in the vicinity of between about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 49

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition has about 10 to 68% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, about 8.5 to 34% by weight of wax, and about 26.5 to 81% by weight of oil.

Claim 50

The composition of claim 33, wherein said composition has about 23 to 30.7% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, about 10.2 to 21.25% by weight of wax, and about 46.8 to 63.75% by weight of oil.

Claim 51

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight of said continuous wax-oil phase, said sturdy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase; the weight ratio of wax and oil being about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax to about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.75 to 0.90 gm./cc., said sturdy glass microbeads having a density of about 0.15 to 0.30 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.3 to 0.6; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 52

A viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating composition, which essentially consists of: a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase formed of the combination of wax, which is an essentially non-flowable solid, and liquid oil, and, as a discontinuous phase, about 1 part by weight of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, unicellular particles in the form of hollow, glass microbeads per about 0.7 to 9 parts by weight of said continuous wax-oil phase, said sturdy glass microbeads being substantially uniformly distributed as a discontinuous phase in said continuous wax-oil phase; the weight ratio of wax and oil being about 9.5 to 56.2 parts by weight of wax to about 90.5 to 43.8 parts by weight of oil; said combination of wax and oil having a density of about 0.75 to 0.90 gm./cc., said sturdy glass microbeads having a density of about 0.15 to 0.30 gm./cc., but always lower than the density of said combination of wax and oil, so as to lower the overall density of said composition, and, said composition having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.3 to 0.6; said continuous phase having the combination of wax and oil being present in the composition in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said distributed glass microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is more than the volume of the interstital spaces of the quantity of glass microbeads alone; said composition being further characterized by being a viscous, flowable and thus deformable, pressure-compensating composition, being substantially incompressible, having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing under shear stress after its yield point is reached, having a minimum yield point of at least about 4 gm./cm 2 , flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, undergoing flow and deformation away from areas or regions of highest pressure loads, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, being recoverable momentarily from deformation following the relief of deforming pressure loads.

Claim 53

The composition of claim 48, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax.

Claim 54

The composition of claim 49, wherein said petroleum-based wax comprises microcrystalline wax.

Claim 55

The composition of claim 48, wherein said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 56

The composition of claim 48, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax and said oil comprises petroleum-based oil.

Claim 57

The composition of claim 48, wherein said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 58

The composition of claim 48, wherein said wax comprises petroleum-based wax, said oil comprises petroleum-based oil, and said composition is shaped to have a nominal thickness in the vicinity of about 0.01 to 0.6 inch.

Claim 59

The composition of claim 48, wherein said composition has about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 60

The composition of claim 52, wherein said composition has wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 13.8 to 31.2 parts by weight of wax and about 86.2 to 68.8 parts by weight of oil, and about 1 part by weight of glass microbeads per about 2.3 to 3.3 parts by weight of both wax and oil.

Claim 61

The composition of claim 48, wherein said composition is characterized by having a penetrometer value, 5 sec. after dropping a cone under a 50-gm. load, in the vicinity of between about 6 to 12 mm. at a temperature of -20° F. and in the vicinity of between about 10 to 24 mm. at a temperature of 75° F.

Claim 62

The composition of claim 48, wherein said composition has about 10 to 68% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, about 8.5 to 34% by weight of wax, and about 26.5 to 81% by weight of oil.

Claim 63

The composition of claim 48, wherein said composition has about 23 to 30.7% by weight of hollow, glass microbeads, about 10.2 to 21.25% by weight of wax, and about 46.8 to 63.75% by weight of oil.