Insulating cell element and structures composed thereof
First Claim
1. A thermal insulation structure comprising:
- (a) a plurality of insulating cell elements contiguously disposed with respect to each other to form a monolithic structure,(b) each of the insulating cell elements including a hermetically sealed shell defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space with a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a minimal heat conductivity through said space,(c) each of the shells having a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when said vacuum is established in the closed chamber and being further effective to maintain said vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time,(d) each shell being separate and independent with respect to each other to form individual cell elements whereby the loss of vacuum in any single chamber does not adversely affect the vacuum conditions in a contiguously disposed insulating cell element,(e) the monolithic structure having a heat transfer of down to at least about 0.050 Btu'"'"'s per square foot at an overall thickness of about 1/8 of an inch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An insulating cell element comprises a hermetically sealed shell defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space contained by the chamber wall. The space has a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a heat conductivity of substantially zero through the space. The shell has a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when the vacuum is established in the closed chamber and is further effective to maintain the vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time. The energy transfer for a single layer of these elements is down to at least about 0.050 BTU per square foot per degree Fahrenheit (°F.) at an overall thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. A plurality of the insulating cell elements are contiguously disposed with respect to each other to form a monolithic structure.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A thermal insulation structure comprising:
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(a) a plurality of insulating cell elements contiguously disposed with respect to each other to form a monolithic structure, (b) each of the insulating cell elements including a hermetically sealed shell defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space with a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a minimal heat conductivity through said space, (c) each of the shells having a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when said vacuum is established in the closed chamber and being further effective to maintain said vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time, (d) each shell being separate and independent with respect to each other to form individual cell elements whereby the loss of vacuum in any single chamber does not adversely affect the vacuum conditions in a contiguously disposed insulating cell element, (e) the monolithic structure having a heat transfer of down to at least about 0.050 Btu'"'"'s per square foot at an overall thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An insulating cell element comprising:
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(a) a hermetically sealed shell defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space contained by the chamber wall, (b) said space having a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a minimal heat conductivity through said space, (c) the shell having a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when said vacuum is established in the closed chamber, (d) said shell being effective to maintain said vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time, (e) the energy transfer for the element being down to at least about 0.050 Btu'"'"'s per square foot at an overall thickness of about 1/8 of an inch. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An assembly for storing heat, said assembly comprising:
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(a) a heat absorbing material disposed in an insulated container, (b) the insulated container having a housing composed of a plurality of insulating cell elements contiguously disposed with respect to each other to form a monolithic structure, (c) each of the insulating cell elements including a hermetically sealed shell defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space with a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a minimal heat conductivity through said space, (d) each of the shells having a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when said vacuum is established in the closed chamber and being further effective to maintain said vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time, (e) each shell being separate and independent with respect to each other to form individual cell elements whereby the loss of vacuum in any single chamber does not adversely effect the vacuum conditions in a contiguously disposed insulating cell element, (f) the monolithic structure having a heat energy transfer of down to at least about 0.050 BTU per square foot at an overall thickness of about 1/8 of an inch, (g) at least a portion of said housing being effective to allow heat from the sun to pass from the outside of the container therethrough to the heat absorbing material disposed in the container.
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21. A thermal insulation structure comprising:
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(a) a plurality of insulating cells contiguously disposed with respect to each other to form a monolithic structure, (b) each of the insulating cells having a wall defining a closed chamber having a volumetric space with a vacuum established in an amount sufficient to achieve a minimal heat conductivity through said space, (c) each of the cells having a structural configuration effective to resist the outside pressure resulting when said vacuum is established in the closed chamber and being further effective to maintain said vacuum over a substantially unlimited period of time, and (d) radiation shield means disposed within said chamber to prevent gas molecules moving from one section of the chamber wall across the volumetric space to another section of the chamber wall.
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Specification