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US4268558A
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Thermal storage material and process for making
Assignee: Boardman Energy Systems Inc
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Filing: 1979-11-19
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Granted: 1981-05-19
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Expires: 1999-11-19
Abstract
Abstract A thermal storage structure and process for making the same comprising a base material of a substantially open cell structure, with the pores interconnected and open to the surface. The open cell structure may be a volcanic rock or alternatively may be a synthetically made structure such as foamed glass, foamed concrete or foamed metal. The open cell material is completely saturated with a latent heat storage component such as a salt-hydrate or eutectic salts. In the process of making the latent heat storage structure, the latent heat storage component is melted in a container and the open cell structure is placed therein, whereupon the melt is spontaneously imbibed by the structure, replacing the air in the open cell structure with the liquid latent heat storage component. The structure, after cooling, is packaged or encapsulated with a vapor impermeable material. In a preferred embodiment of foamed glass material, the structure is sealed in an aluminum foil, and in an alternative embodiment, the foamed aluminum material is sealed with an aluminum foil.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan J. Boardman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 23:10
CPC Classifications
F; F28; F28D; F28D20/00; F28D20/02; F28D20/023; F24; F24C; F24C15/00; F24C15/34; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/14; Y10; Y10S; Y10S165/00; Y10S165/905; Y10S165/907; Y10S428/00; Y10S428/913; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/233; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249967; Y10T428/249968; Y10T428/249969; Y10T428/249987; Y10T428/249988; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2982; Y10T428/2991; Y10T428/2998
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
A thermal storage structure comprising an inorganic latent heat storage component capable of storing thermal energy by way of its heat of fusion when heated at its melting point and wherein said latent heat storage component is essentially uniformly distributed throughout an inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component characterized in that said latent heat storage component is constrained to exhibit non-deteriorating latent heat storage capacity by virtue of its distribution throughout said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component and wherein said structure is encapsulated with a material impervious to moisture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
A thermal storage structure comprising an inorganic latent heat storage component capable of storing thermal energy by way of its heat of fusion when heated at its melting point and wherein said latent heat storage component is essentially uniformly distributed throughout an inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component characterized in that said latent heat storage component is constrained to exhibit non-deteriorating latent heat storage capacity by virtue of its distribution throughout said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component and wherein said structure is encapsulated with a material impervious to moisture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said inorganic latent heat storage component is an inorganic salt-hydrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said inorganic latent heat storage component is a mixture of inorganic salt-hydrates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component has up to 85% open interconnected cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled rock formation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled foam concrete.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled foamed glass.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled foamed metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said material impervious to moisture is a metal foil.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said material impervious to moisture is a sealed container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 1 wherein said material impervious to moisture is a plastic material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 5 wherein said open celled foam rock formation is an open celled foam volcanic rock material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The thermal storage structure of claim 8 wherein said open celled foamed metal is an open celled foamed aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of making a thermal storage structure comprising: (a) Saturating an inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component with a melted inorganic latent heat storage component; (b) Encapsulating or packaging the structure in a material impervious to moisture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process of making a thermal storage structure comprising: (a) Saturating an inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component with a melted inorganic latent heat storage component; (b) Encapsulating or packaging the structure in a material impervious to moisture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said inorganic latent heat storage component is an inorganic salt-hydrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said latent heat storage component is a mixture of inorganic salt-hydrates.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled foam rock formation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled foamed concrete.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said inorganic open celled hydrophillic rigid foam component is an open celled foamed metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material impervious to moisture is a metal foil.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material impervious to moisture is a sealed container.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said material impervious to moisture is a plastic material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said open celled foamed rock formation is an open celled foam volcanic rock material.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 19 wherein said open celled foamed metal is an open celled foamed aluminum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-05-18 | 1984-11-17 | 1985-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-18 | 1988-11-17 | 1989-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-18 | 1992-11-17 | 1993-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |