# US 10,118,361 B2 · Thermal insulation

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- Number: US 10,118,361 B2
- Document ID: US10118361B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/004,261
- Filed: 2016-01-22
- Published: 2017-07-27
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-22
- Assignees: United Technologies Corporation
- Applicants: United Technologies Corporation
- Inventors: Stuart C. Kozan; William Bogue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118361B2

## CPC

- B32B 3/08: characterised by added members at particular parts {(layer formed of separate pieces of material which are juxtaposed side-by-side B32B3/14, B32B3/18)}
- F16L 59/028: {Compositions for or methods of fixing a thermally insulating material}
- F16L 59/029: {layered}
- F16L 59/14: Arrangements for the insulation of pipes or pipe systems (F16L59/02 - F16L59/12 take precedence)
- F16L 59/163: {Branch units; Insulation forming a whole with branches}
- F16L 59/166: {covering the end of an insulated section}
- F16L 59/168: {Flexible insulating material or covers for flanges, junctions, valves or the like}
- F17C 13/001: {Thermal insulation specially adapted for cryogenic vessels (vessels not under pressure with insulation F17C3/02; thermal insulation in general F16L59/00)}
- B32B 2307/304: Insulating
- B32B 2571/00: Protective equipment
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F17C: VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES (storing fluids in natural or artificial cavities or chambers in the earth B65G5/00; construction or assembling of bulk storage containers employing civil-engineering techniques E04H7/00; variable-capacity gas-holders F17B; liquefaction or refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25)

## Abstract

A thermal protection apparatus is disclosed. The thermal protection apparatus may comprise a thermally insulative layer positioned proximate to a portion of a structure having a dimensional transition, wherein the dimensional transition is thermally protected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermal protection apparatus comprising:
A spiral interleave transition structure comprising a layer configured to thermally insulate a dimensional transition of the structure, a plurality of flaps arranged to spirally overlap and configured to conform to the dimensional transition; and
an affixation tab comprising a portion of a flap from the plurality of flaps lying outward of the other flaps and a closure configured to secure the transition structure in fixed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a spiral matrix intersection comprising a region of a distal tip of each flap wherein each flap of the plurality of flaps overlaps at least another flap.

### Claim 3

A thermally protected structure comprising:
a thermal protection apparatus comprising a spiral interleave transition structure having a plurality of flaps arranged to spirally overlap and an affixation tab comprising a portion of a flap from the plurality of flaps; and
a structure comprising a dimensional transition,
wherein the spiral interleave transition structure overlays and is configured to conform to the dimensional transition, secures the spiral interleave transition structure via the affixation tab, and thermally insulates the dimensional transition.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The thermally protected structure according to claim 3,
wherein the affixation tab comprises a closure configured to secure the transition structure in fixed position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 4, wherein the closure comprises a spiral matrix intersection comprising a region of a distal tip of each flap wherein each flap of the plurality of flaps overlaps at least another flap.

### Claim 6

A thermal protection apparatus comprising:
A petal overlap transition structure comprising a layer configured to thermally insulate a dimensional transition of the structure and a plurality of petal interleaves arranged to at least partially overlap; and
an affixation tab comprising a portion of a petal interleave from the plurality of petal interleaves lying outward of the other petal interleaves and a closure configured to secure the transition structure in fixed position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 6, wherein each petal interleave in the plurality of petal interleaves comprises a curved shape.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 7, wherein the curved shape comprises at least one of:
a cross section of a conic;
a tangent ogive;
a spherically blunted tangent ogive;
a secant ogive;
an elliptical shape;
an oval shape;
a parabolic shape;
an ovoid shape;
an ellipsoid shape; or
a shape defined by a power series.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 6, wherein the closure comprises a fastener.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fastener is disposed through a portion of at least one of the plurality of petal interleaves.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 10, wherein the fastener is disposed through the portion of the petal interleave comprising the petal interleave that is outermost relative to the other petal interleaves.

### Claim 12 (depends on 6)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 6, wherein a plurality of petal interleaves leave exposed a dimensional reduction portion.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The thermal protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein each flap interleave further comprises a curved distal tip.