INSULATED SPHERE, INSULATION SYSTEM THEREFORE, AND METHOD OF INSTALLING SAME

• US 20180202607A1
• Filed: 06/08/2017
• Published: 07/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Insultherm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Insultherm, Inc.
• Inventors: MCBRIDE, JONATHAN
• Granted Patent: US 10,302,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/06 Coverings, e.g. for insulating purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/00 Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught B67D3/00 takes precedence; apparatus for making beverages A47J31/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 1/12 with provision for thermal insulation F17C1/14, F17C1/16 take precedence; thermal insulation in general F16L59/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/0128 spherical or elliptical
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2201/054 medium (>1 m3)
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0325 Aerogel
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0329 Foam
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0345 Fibres
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0358 in form of panels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0643 Stainless steels
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0646 Aluminium
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2203/0648 Alloys or compositions of metals
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2209/228 by screws, bolts or rivets
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/015 Facilitating maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/033 by enhancing insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/042 Reducing risk of explosion
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/01 for fluid transport or storage
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 3/04 by insulating layers F17C3/08 takes precedence

Abstract

An insulated spherical pressure vessel, such as a sphere, having an insulation system installed thereon. The insulation system includes an equatorial support including an equatorial support bar having upper and lower rods attached to upper and lower sides, and a plurality of clips perpendicular to the bar, the clips having one or more holes for additional rods. One or more insulation layers are installed and held against the sphere wall by metal bands. A cable support matrix including metal straps and horizontal cables is installed over the insulation layers, and then insulation panels are secured to the matrix cables using fasteners. The insulation panels each include insulation material and an exterior metal jacket. The panels are secured to horizontally adjacent insulation panels with standing seams. The cables are not secured to the metal straps in any way, but are allowed to freely move through belt loops of the metal straps.

Claims