Flexible and non-water absorbing insulation system

• US 5,601,670 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Praxair Technology Incorporated (Linde Plc)
• Original Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Corp. (Linde Plc)
• Inventors: Rhoades, George D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seidleck, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williamson, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/458,447
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 156/60, 156/80, 156/90, 156/184, 156/185, 156/187, 156/212, 156/230, 156/307.3, 428/35.7, 428/36.5, 428/36.9, 428/36.91, 428/36.92, 428/304.4, 428/304.5, 428/308.4, 428/314.4, 428/315.9, 428/328.4, 428/40
• US Class Current: 156/80
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/10 on synthetic resin layer or on natural or synthetic rubber layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/205 Metallic coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2597/00 Tubular articles, e.g. hoses, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/12 characterised by a layer of regularly- arranged cells, e.g. a honeycomb structure
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/20 of hollow pieces, e.g. tubes; of pieces with channels or cavities
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 59/026 Mattresses, mats, blankets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1355 Elemental metal containing [e.g., substrate, foil, film, coating, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1359 Three or more layers [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/139 Open-ended, self-supporting conduit, cylinder, or tube-type article
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1393 Multilayer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1397 Single layer [continuous layer]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24273 including aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24562 Interlaminar spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24579 with particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24653 Differential nonplanarity at margin
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24661 Forming, or cooperating to form cells

Abstract

A flexible, non-water absorbing insulation system is described for insulating articles exposed to relatively cold temperatures. This insulation system is especially adapted for insulating delivery or transfer hoses used with cryogenic liquid transfer operations. The insulating material is a thermoplastic sheet-like layer having gas-filled cells to which is attached or bonded to a metallized thermoplastic film. In one embodiment, the metallized thermoplastic material is bonded to the smooth side of the thermoplastic sheet-like material. In another embodiment, metallized thermoplastic material is bonded to both sides of the cell-containing thermoplastic material. The sheet-like insulating material is wrapped at least twice around the hose or article to be insulated. Slits may be cut in the insulating material to make the hose self draining whereby any condensed water can gravity drain once the temperature is above the freezing point of water. The wrapped hose may also be wrapped or encased in a flexible protective material such as leather, fabric, or knitted material.

Claims

1. A method for thermally insulating an article, said method comprising

(a) wrapping the exposed surfaces of the article to be insulated with at least two wraps of a flexible sheet material having (1) a first thermoplastic layer having gas-filled cells formed in one planar surface and a relatively smooth surface as the second and opposite planar surface, (2) a second metallized thermoplastic layer, and (3) a bonding layer interdisposed between and directly contacting both the relatively smooth surface of the first layer and the second layer for bonding the first and second layers to each other, whereby the exposed surfaces of the article are wrapped with the flexible sheet material such that, for each wrap, the gas-filled cell surface of the first layer is located in closer proximity to the exposed surface of the article than the second layer bonded to that first layer;

and

(b) securing the flexible sheet material to hold the flexible sheet material in place around the article;

whereby the article is insulated by one layer of gas-filled cells and one layer of metallized thermoplastic per each wrap of the flexible sheet material.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the article to be insulated is a flexible delivery or transfer hose suitable for transferring cryogenic liquids, the hose is wrapped with at least four wraps of the flexible sheet material, and the wrapped hose remains flexible.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein a plurality of drainage openings are provided in the wrapped layers of flexible sheet material along the length of the wrapped hose such that liquid water may drain from the wrapped hose and such that the insulating properties of the wrapped layers of flexible sheet material are not significantly reduced.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

5. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

6. A method as defined in claim 3, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

7. A method as defined in claim 4, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

8. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

9. A method as defined in claim 6, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet material has an adhesive layer on a portion of the cell-containing surface of the first layer to assist in attaching the flexible sheet material to the exposed surface of the article or earlier wraps of the flexible sheet material.

11. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second layer is extended beyond the edges of the first layer and an adhesive layer is provided on the portion of the second layer extending beyond the edge of the first layer and on the same side of the second layer as the bonding layer, whereby the adhesive layer assists in attaching the flexible sheet to the exposed surface of the article or earlier wraps of the flexible sheet material.

12. A method as defined in claim 11, wherein the adhesive layer is protected by a release sheet which is removed when the flexible sheet material is applied to the article.

13. A method for thermally insulating an article, said method comprising

(a) wrapping the exposed surfaces of the article to be insulated with at least two wraps of a flexible sheet material having (1) a middle thermoplastic layer having gas-filled cells formed in one planar surface and a relatively smooth surface as the second and opposite planar surface, (2) a first metallized thermoplastic layer bonded directly to the relatively smooth surface of the middle layer, and (3) a second metallized thermoplastic layer bonded directed to the cell-containing surface of the middle layer, whereby the exposed surfaces of the article are wrapped with the flexible sheet material;

and

(b) securing the flexible sheet material to hold the flexible sheet material in place around the article;

whereby the article is insulated by one layer of gas-filled cells and two layers of metallized thermoplastic per each wrap of the flexible sheet material.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the article to be insulated is a flexible delivery or transfer hose suitable for transferring cryogenic liquids, the hose is wrapped with at least four wraps of the flexible sheet material, and the wrapped hose remains flexible.

15. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein a plurality of drainage openings are provided in the wrapped layers of flexible sheet material along the length of the wrapped hose such that liquid water may drain from the wrapped hose and such that the insulating properties of the wrapped layers of flexible sheet material are not significantly reduced.

16. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

17. A method as defined in claim 14, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

18. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

19. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

20. A method as defined in claim 17, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

21. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

22. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the flexible sheet material has an adhesive layer on a portion of the outer surface of either the first or second metallized thermoplastic layer to assist in attaching the flexible sheet material to the exposed surface of the article or earlier wraps of the flexible sheet material.

23. A method as defined in claim 13, wherein the either the first or second metallized thermoplastic layers or both first and second metallized thermoplastic layers are extended beyond the edges of the middle thermoplastic layer and an adhesive layer is provided on the portion of the first or second layers extending beyond the edge of the middle layer, whereby the adhesive layer assists in attaching the flexible sheet to the exposed surface of the article or earlier wraps of the flexible sheet material.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the adhesive layer is protected by a release sheet which is removed when the flexible sheet material is applied to the article.

25. A method for thermally insulating a flexible hose suitable for transferring cryogenic liquids, said method comprising

(a) wrapping the hose with at least two wraps of a flexible sheet material having (1) a first thermoplastic layer having gas-filled cells formed in one planar surface and a relatively smooth surface as the second and opposite planar surface, (2) a second metallized thermoplastic layer, and (3) a bonding layer interdisposed between and directly contacting both the relatively smooth surface of the first layer and the second layer for bonding the first and second layers to each other;

and

(b) providing a plurality of drainage openings in the flexible sheet material along the length of the wrapped hose such that liquid water may drain from the wrapped hose and such that the insulating properties of the wrapped flexible sheet material are not significantly reduced;

whereby the article is insulated by one layer of gas-filled cells and one layer of metallized thermoplastic per each wrap of the flexible sheet material.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.

28. A method for thermally insulating a flexible hose suitable for transferring cryogenic liquids, said method comprising

(a) wrapping the hose with at least two wraps of a flexible sheet material having (1) a middle thermoplastic sheet-like layer having gas-filled cells formed in one planar surface and a relatively smooth surface as the second and opposite planar surface, (2) a first metallized thermoplastic layer bonded directly to the relatively smooth surface of the middle layer, and (3) a second metallized thermoplastic layer bonded directed to the cell-containing surface of the middle layer;

and

(b) providing a plurality of drainage openings in the flexible sheet material along the length of the wrapped hose such that liquid water may drain from the wrapped hose and such that the insulating properties of the wrapped flexible sheet material are not significantly reduced;

whereby the article is insulated by one layer of gas-filled cells and two layers of metallized thermoplastic per each wrap of the flexible sheet material.

29. A method as defined in claim 28, wherein the wrapped hose is covered with a flexible protective material to form a protective outer covering.

30. A method as defined in claim 29, wherein the flexible protective material is leather, fabric, or knitted material.