Fireproof enclosure

• US 8,472,189 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Penny & Giles Aerospace Limited
• Original Assignee: Penny & Giles Aerospace Limited
• Inventors: Aslin, David Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Hung S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, James
• Application Number:
  US12/301,612
• Publication Number:
  US 20090303671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,267 Days
• Field of Search: 361700-704, 361/730, 361/752, 361/796
• US Class Current: 361/704
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/12 of paper or cardboard
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/14 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 15/20 comprising aluminium or copper B32B15/016 and B32B15/017 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/021 Fibrous or filamentary layer layers of natural mineral fibres or particles being impregnated in a plastic substance B32B19/02
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/028 Paper layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/044 Water-setting substance, e.g. concrete, plaster
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2260/046 Synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/062 Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 23/00 Layered products comprising a layer of cellulosic plastic substances , i.e. substances obtained by chemical modification of cellulose, e.g. cellulose ethers, cellulose esters, viscose
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/3065 Flame resistant or retardant, fire resistant or retardant
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2429/00 Carriers for sound or information
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2605/18 Aircraft blades, propellers B32B2603/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/04 as impregnant, bonding, or embedding substance not used
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/021 specially adapted for data recorders, e.g. for flight recorders

Abstract

An enclosure comprises a thermal barrier (42) for protecting a heat sensitive component (40). The thermal barrier includes at least one endothermic layer (48, 54, 58) that includes water gelled with a thickening agent, absorbed onto a cellulose-comprising fabric or paper. The endothermic layer is sandwiched between layers comprising metal foil or sheet (49, 52, 56).

Claims

1. An enclosure comprising a casing forming a compartment surrounding a heat sensitive component, and a thermal barrier between the casing and the heat sensitive component,

wherein the thermal barrier includes at least one endothermic layer comprising water gelled with a thickening agent and absorbed onto a cellulose-comprising fabric or paper and sandwiched between layers comprising metal foil or sheet,

and wherein the thermal barrier is wrapped around the heat sensitive component so as to completely fill available space between the casing and the heat sensitive component and thereby provide a support for the heat-sensitive component before and after endothermic decomposition of said at least one endothermic layer.

2. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier is made up of successive alternating endothermic layers and metal foil/sheet layers.

3. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier is made up of a continuous wound composite of said metal foil and endothermic layers.

4. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the thickening agent comprises one of polyethylene oxides and cross-linked sodium polyacrylates.

9. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier contacts the heat sensitive component.

10. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the enclosure is void of any support structure of the heat sensitive component apart from the thermal barrier and the casing.

11. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier occupies substantially the same volume before and after decomposition of the thermal barrier.

12. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the at least one endothermic layer is configured to support the heat sensitive component after decomposition of the at least one endothermic layer.

13. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the thermal barrier is configured to protect the heat sensitive component from vibration and shock.

18. The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the heat sensitive component is a memory module of a data recorder.

5. An enclosure comprising a thermal barrier for protecting a heat sensitive component, wherein the thermal barrier includes at least one endothermic layer comprising water gelled with a thickening agent, absorbed onto a cellulose-comprising fabric or paper and wherein said endothermic layer is sandwiched between layers comprising metal foil or sheet, and wherein said thermal barrier is configured such that a plurality of said endothermic layers surround said heat sensitive component and the thermal barrier and the heat sensitive component completely fill said enclosure.

6. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the thermal barrier is made up of successive alternating endothermic layers and metal foil/sheet layers.

7. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the thermal barrier is made up of a continuous wound composite of layers of said metal foil and endothermic layers.

8. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the thickening agent comprises one of polyethylene oxides and cross-linked sodium polyacrylates.

14. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the enclosure is void of any support structure of the heat sensitive component apart from the thermal barrier and an outer casing about the thermal barrier.

15. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the thermal barrier occupies substantially the same volume before and after decomposition of the thermal barrier.

16. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the at least one endothermic layer is configured to support the heat sensitive component after decomposition of the at least one endothermic layer.

17. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the thermal barrier is configured to protect the heat sensitive component from vibration and shock.

19. The enclosure according to claim 5 wherein the heat sensitive component is a memory module of a data recorder.

20. An enclosure comprising a casing forming a compartment surrounding a heat sensitive component, and a thermal barrier between the casing and the heat sensitive component,

wherein the thermal barrier includes at least one endothermic layer comprising water gelled with a thickening agent and absorbed onto a cellulose-comprising fabric or paper and sandwiched between layers comprising metal foil or sheet,

and wherein the thermal barrier is wrapped around the heat sensitive component so as to substantially fill the compartment and thereby provide a support for the heat-sensitive component before and after endothermic decomposition of said at least one endothermic layer, and

wherein the enclosure is void of any support structure of the heat sensitive component apart from the thermal barrier and the casing.

21. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the thermal barrier is made up of successive alternating endothermic layers and metal foil/sheet layers.

22. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the thermal barrier is made up of a continuous wound composite of said metal foil and endothermic layers.

23. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the thickening agent comprises one of polyethylene oxides and cross-linked sodium polyacrylates.

24. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the thermal barrier contacts the heat sensitive component.

25. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the thermal barrier occupies substantially the same volume before and after decomposition of the thermal barrier.

26. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the at least one endothermic layer is configured to support the heat sensitive component after decomposition of the at least one endothermic layer.

27. The enclosure according to claim 20 wherein the heat sensitive component is a memory module of a data recorder.