Method of thermal insulation

Claim 1

A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN EVACUATED INSULATING STRUCTURE WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A FIRST WALL AND A SECOND PAN-SHAPED WALL OF PREDETERMINED DEPTH INCLUDING A CENTRAL PORTION AND A RIM EXTENDING TOWARD SAID FIRST WALL FOR SPACING SAID FIRST WALL FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID SECOND WALL, PROVIDING A BATT OF FILLER MATERIAL OF A THICKNESS GREATLY EXCEEDING THE DEPTH OF SAID SECOND WALL, SAID BATT FILLER MATERIAL CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED GLASS FILAMENTS, APPLYING A FORCE AT LEAST OF THE ORDER OF ONE ATMOSPHERE TO COMPRESS SAID BATT TO A THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DEPTH OF SAID SECOND WALL, AND, WHILE SAID FORCE IS APPLIED, HEATING SAID BATT TO A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE STRAIN POINT OF THE GLASS FILAMENTS AND BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH ANY SOFTENING AND FLOW OF THE GLASS OCCURS TO CAUSE SAID BATT TO SUBSTANTIALLY RETAIN ITS COMPRESSED FORM AFTER SAID FORCE, IS REMOVED, COOLING SAID BATT TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID STRAIN POINT BEFORE REMOVING SAID FORCE, ASSEMBLING SAID COMPRESSED BATT IN SAID PAN-SHAPED SECOND WALL, BRINGING SAID FIRST WALL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND WALL TO ENCLOSE SAID BATT, WELDING SAID FIRST WALL TO SAID SECOND WALL TO SEAL SAID STRUCTURE, AND EVACUATING SAID SEALING STRUCTURE TO A PRESSURE OF THE ORDER OF 100 MICRONS OF MERCURY.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN EVACUATED INSULATING STRUCTURE WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING A FIRST WALL AND A SECOND PAN-SHAPED WALL OF PREDETERMINED DEPTH INCLUDING A CENTRAL PORTION AND A RIM EXTENDING TOWARD SAID FIRST WALL FOR SPACING SAID FIRST WALL FROM SAID CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID SECOND WALL, PROVIDING A BATT OF FILLER MATERIAL OF A THICKNESS GREATLY EXCEEDING THE DEPTH OF SAID SECOND WALL, SAID BATT FILLER MATERIAL CONSISTING OF A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED GLASS FILAMENTS, APPLYING A FORCE AT LEAST OF THE ORDER OF ONE ATMOSPHERE TO COMPRESS SAID BATT TO A THICKNESS SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DEPTH OF SAID SECOND WALL, AND, WHILE SAID FORCE IS APPLIED, HEATING SAID BATT TO A TEMPERATURE ABOVE THE STRAIN POINT OF THE GLASS FILAMENTS AND BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH ANY SOFTENING AND FLOW OF THE GLASS OCCURS TO CAUSE SAID BATT TO SUBSTANTIALLY RETAIN ITS COMPRESSED FORM AFTER SAID FORCE, IS REMOVED, COOLING SAID BATT TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW SAID STRAIN POINT BEFORE REMOVING SAID FORCE, ASSEMBLING SAID COMPRESSED BATT IN SAID PAN-SHAPED SECOND WALL, BRINGING SAID FIRST WALL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SECOND WALL TO ENCLOSE SAID BATT, WELDING SAID FIRST WALL TO SAID SECOND WALL TO SEAL SAID STRUCTURE, AND EVACUATING SAID SEALING STRUCTURE TO A PRESSURE OF THE ORDER OF 100 MICRONS OF MERCURY.