US3769770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal super insulation
Assignee: Sanders Nuclear Corp
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Filing: 1969-01-23
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Granted: 1973-11-06
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Expires: 1989-01-23
Abstract
Abstract Thermal super insulation is formed by utilizing highly heat reflective, thin layers on bases under vacuum conditions to increase radiation reflection and decrease radiation heat transfer through the insulation. Thermal super insulation preferably comprises a plurality of extremely small spheres of a hard, low thermal conductivity material grouped together in point contact with adjacent spheres. The spheres are individually coated with a thin layer of a highly heat reflective, low emissivity material. Interstitial spaces between the spheres are maintained in a vacuum. The spheres are preferably hollow and formed of an inorganic insulating material with a thin metallic heat reflective surface layer. In some cases, fibers rather than spheres are used and are coated with the heat reflective surface layer preferably by a sputtering technique. The thermal super insulation material is used to form a heat barrier by positioning a plurality of spheres or fibers in a compact mass over a surface to be insulated. The spaces formed between the spheres or fibers are then maintained in a vacuum to obtain good heat insulation values when used in extremely high temperature applications.
Inventors
- 👤 N Deschamps
- 👤 G Bernier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L59/00; F16L59/08; E; E04; E04B; E04B1/00; E04B1/62; E04B1/74; E04B1/76; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/231; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
Thermal super insulation for use under vacuum conditions comprising a plurality of microspheres of a hard low thermal conductivity material grouped together with substantial point contact between adjacent microspheres, said spheres defining interstitial spaces therebetween maintained at a vacuum of at least 10 4 Torr, and microspheres being hollow and each defining a space therein surrounded by a wall of an inorganic insulating material being individually coated with a thin layer of highly heat reflective, low emissivity metal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
Thermal super insulation for use under vacuum conditions comprising a plurality of microspheres of a hard low thermal conductivity material grouped together with substantial point contact between adjacent microspheres, said spheres defining interstitial spaces therebetween maintained at a vacuum of at least 10 4 Torr, and microspheres being hollow and each defining a space therein surrounded by a wall of an inorganic insulating material being individually coated with a thin layer of highly heat reflective, low emissivity metal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
Thermal super insulation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spheres have a diameter no greater than 250 microns.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
Thermal super insulation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said sphere walls have a thickness no greater than 10 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
Thermal super insulation in accordance with claim 1 wherein the material of said thin layer is selected from the group consisting of nickel, tantalum, rhenium and cobalt, and said layer has a thickness of from 1 to 5 microns.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of forming a super insulation heat barrier, said method comprising, positioning between objects to be insulated from one another a plurality of microspheres of an insulating material having diameters of no more than 250 microns each having a thin heat reflective, low emissivity layer thereover, in point contact with each other in a compact mass defining interstitial spaces therebetween, and maintaining said spaces at a vacuum of at least 10 4 Torr.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of forming a super insulation heat barrier, said method comprising, positioning between objects to be insulated from one another a plurality of microspheres of an insulating material having diameters of no more than 250 microns each having a thin heat reflective, low emissivity layer thereover, in point contact with each other in a compact mass defining interstitial spaces therebetween, and maintaining said spaces at a vacuum of at least 10 4 Torr.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A thermal super insulation barrier comprising, a plurality of extremely small spheres of a hard, low thermal conductivity material grouped together with substantially point contact between adjacent spheres, each of said spheres defining at least one space therein and having outer diameters in the range from 10 to 250 microns, said low thermal conductivity material being resistant to degradation at temperatures of at least 1,000* F, said spheres each being coated with a continuous, thin layer of a highly heat reflective, low emissivity material, said heat reflective, low emissivity material being resistant to degradation at temperatures of at least 1,000* F, sid spheres defining interstitial space therebetween maintained at a vacuum of at least 10 4 Torr.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
117 words
A thermal super insulation barrier comprising, a plurality of extremely small spheres of a hard, low thermal conductivity material grouped together with substantially point contact between adjacent spheres, each of said spheres defining at least one space therein and having outer diameters in the range from 10 to 250 microns, said low thermal conductivity material being resistant to degradation at temperatures of at least 1,000* F, said spheres each being coated with a continuous, thin layer of a highly heat reflective, low emissivity material, said heat reflective, low emissivity material being resistant to degradation at temperatures of at least 1,000* F, sid spheres defining interstitial space therebetween maintained at a vacuum of at least 10 4 Torr.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermal super insulation barrier in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one space is filled with a low heat conductivity gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A thermal super insulation barrier in accordance with claim 6 wherein said spheres have uniform diameters.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2978340A
Cited
US3189535A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-05 | 1977-05-07 | 1977-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-05 | 1981-05-07 | 1981-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-05 | 1985-05-07 | 1985-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |