US3740905A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Insulation and condensation control system
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1971-12-22
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Granted: 1973-06-26
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Expires: 1991-12-22
Abstract
Abstract In a climate controlled chamber, an insulation system for controlling condensation of water vapor and for channeling the condensate to a central collection point. The preferred embodiment involves an aircraft fuselage having specially constructed insulation blankets arranged in overlapping fashion in close proximity to the exterior skin of the fuselage. Each blanket has a sandwich construction comprising a centrally located corrugated metallic foil member surrounded by layers of insulating material such as glass fiber mat. The insulating materials are of predetermined thicknesses to maintain the metallic foil member within a temperature range wherein it will act as a condenser plate for water vapor. The corrugations of the foil member are vertically aligned and spaced from the insulation material on the interior side such that vertical drain passageways are formed to allow draining of the condensed water. The drain passageways turn outwardly toward the fuselage exterior skin at the lower end of each of the blankets to thereby direct the water out of the blanket and downwardly along the interior of the skin to a central collection point at the bottom of the fuselage for optional recycling through a humidifier system, or removal from the aircraft.
Inventors
- 👤 C Adams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 02:10
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/40; B64C1/06; B64C1/066; B64C1/067; B64D; B64D13/00; B64D2013/003; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In an insulation system for a climate controlled chamber having cold exterior walls: a plurality of insulation blankets installed in overlapping fashion in close proximity and generally parallel to said exterior walls; each of said blankets having a sandwich cross-section comprising: a corrugated metallic foil member centrally located between an inner layer and an outer layer of insulating material, and oriented such that its corrugations extend vertically with respect to said chamber; said inner layer of insulating material having relatively flat sides with its outer side pressed against the raised portions of the corrugations of said foil member to thereby cooperate with the valleys of said corrugations to form open passageways within said blanket which extend vertically with respect to said chamber; each of said inner and outer layers of insulating materials having predetermined thicknesses to provide means for maintaining the temperature of said metallic foil member above the freezing point and below the dew point of water vapor; and wherein during normal operating conditions within said climate controlled chamber, water vapor migrating toward said cold exterior walls passes through said inner layer of insulating material to condense upon contact with said foil member and the resulting condensate is drained by gravity action downwardly through said open passageways and out of said blankets at the lower ends thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In an insulation system for a climate controlled chamber having cold exterior walls: a plurality of insulation blankets installed in overlapping fashion in close proximity and generally parallel to said exterior walls; each of said blankets having a sandwich cross-section comprising: a corrugated metallic foil member centrally located between an inner layer and an outer layer of insulating material, and oriented such that its corrugations extend vertically with respect to said chamber; said inner layer of insulating material having relatively flat sides with its outer side pressed against the raised portions of the corrugations of said foil member to thereby cooperate with the valleys of said corrugations to form open passageways within said blanket which extend vertically with respect to said chamber; each of said inner and outer layers of insulating materials having predetermined thicknesses to provide means for maintaining the temperature of said metallic foil member above the freezing point and below the dew point of water vapor; and wherein during normal operating conditions within said climate controlled chamber, water vapor migrating toward said cold exterior walls passes through said inner layer of insulating material to condense upon contact with said foil member and the resulting condensate is drained by gravity action downwardly through said open passageways and out of said blankets at the lower ends thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The system of claim 1 wherein at the lower end of each of said blankets, said foil member is bent outwardly a predetermined amount so as to deposit the condensed water at a collection passageway along said exterior walls for draining to a central collection point at the bottom of said chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 2 which includes means for recycling condensed water from said central collection point back to a humidifier which increases the moisture content of the atmosphere within said climate controlled chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said inner insulation material comprises a flat non-wicking glass fiber mat capped on its inner side by a water permeable cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
ThE system of claim 4 wherein said outer insulation material comprises a flat non-wicking glass fiber mat having its inner side pressed against the raised portions of the corrugations of said foil member and capped on its outer side by a water permeable cover.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said outer insulation material comprises a closed cell foam adhering to the foil member and capped on its outer side by a water permeable cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 which includes means for maintaining the temperature of the foil member above the freezing point of water comprising resistance heating elements connected to the foil members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |