Compact vacuum insulation

Patent · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:868515

Benson, David K ^[1]; Potter, Thomas F ^[2]

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1. Golden, CO
2. Denver, CO

Improved compact insulation panel is provided which is comprised of two adjacent metal sheets spaced close together with a plurality of spherical, or other discretely shaped, glass or ceramic beads optimally positioned between the sheets to provide support and maintain the spacing between the metal sheets when the gases therebetween are evacuated to form a vacuum. These spherical glass beads provide the maximum support while minimizing thermal conductance. In its preferred embodiment; these two metal sheets are textured with ribs or concave protrusions in conjunction with the glass beads to maximize the structural integrity of the panels while increasing the spacing between beads, thereby reducing the number of beads and the number of thermal conduction paths. Glass or porcelain-enameled liners in combination with the glass spacers and metal sidewalls effectively decrease thermal conductivity, and variious laminates, including wood, porcelain-enameled metal, and others effectively increase the strength and insulation capabilities of the panels. Also, a metal web is provided to hold the spacers in place, and strategic grooves are shown to accommodate expansion and contraction or shaping of the panels.

• Research Organization: MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• Assignee: Midwest Research Institute (Kansas City, MO)
• Patent Number(s): US 5157893
• OSTI ID: 868515
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/52/
accommodate
adjacent
adjacent metal
beads
capabilities
ceramic
ceramic beads
close
combination
compact
compact vacuum
comprised
concave
conductance
conduction
conduction path
conductivity
conjunction
contraction
decrease
decrease thermal
discretely
effectively
embodiment
evacuated
expansion
form
gases
glass
glass beads
grooves
hold
improved
including
increase
increasing
insulation
insulation panel
integrity
laminates
liners
maintain
maximize
maximum
metal
metal sheet
metal sheets
metal sidewall
metal sidewalls
minimizing
minimizing thermal
optimally
panel
panels
paths
plurality
porcelain-enameled
positioned
preferred
preferred embodiment
protrusions
provide
provided
reducing
ribs
shaped
shaping
sheets
shown
sidewalls
spaced
spaced close
spacers
spacing
spherical
spherical glass
strategic
strength
structural
structural integrity
support
textured
therebetween
thermal
thermal conduction
thermal conductivity
vacuum
vacuum insulation
variious
web
wood