Thermal insulation assembly

Claim 1

A thermal insulation unit for securely covering an elongated body which unit comprises first and second assemblies, each of said assemblies comprising a series of abutting similar U shaped insulation elements made of a resilient heat resistant material, each of said elements having an interior surface, an exterior surface, two side surfaces and two end surfaces, the elements in said series being in an aligned arrangement with a side surface of each element securely contacting a side surface of each abutting element and each of said elements having a radial orientation similar to that of each abutting element, said arrangement being held by a plurality of elongated rods having first and second ends, said rods passing through axially oriented holes in said elements, each of said assemblies further comprising a first and second plate, said rods being joined and secured at their first ends by said first plate, said first plate being smaller than and abutting the side surface nearest said first plate and being arranged so that all portions of said first plate are distally removed from all exterior surfaces, said rods being similarly joined at their second ends by said second plate which is smaller than and abuts the side surface nearest said second plate, all portions of said second plate being distally removed from all exterior surfaces, said first and second assemblies abutting at the end surfaces of the elements of said assemblies to completely encircle said elongated body.