Thermally insulated air cargo container
AssigneeAdvanced Composite Structures, LLC
InventorThomas R. Pherson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermally insulated panel includes a first skin, a second skin spaced apart from the first skin, and a core that is disposed between and bonded to the first skin and the second skin such that the core transfers loads between the first skin and the second skin. The core includes a porous filler material that has a vacuum drawn therein such that the core resists transfer of thermal energy through the panel. A cargo container including thermally insulated panels and a method of manufacturing the thermally insulated panels are also disclosed. In addition, a method of repairing a vacuum insulated panel is disclosed.
Claims20
A thermally insulated panel, the panel comprising:
- a first skin;
- a second skin spaced apart from the first skin;
- and
- a core including an open-cell foam core, the foam core disposed between and bonded to the first skin and the second skin such that the foam core transfers shear loads of at least 20 pounds per square inch between the first skin and the second skin, the core including a porous filler material, the porous filler material having a vacuum drawn therein such that the core resists transfer of thermal energy through the panel.
A thermally insulated panel, the panel comprising:
- a first skin;
- a second skin spaced apart from the first skin;
- a core disposed between and bonded to the first skin and the second skin such that the core transfers loads between the first skin and the second skin, the core including a porous filler material, the porous filler material having a vacuum drawn therein such that the core resists transfer of thermal energy through the panel;
- and
- a rigid frame disposed about edge portions of the core and disposed between the first skin and the second skin, the rigid frame including a frame pocket defined therein, the frame pocket having a frame vacuum defined therein, the frame pocket including a microporous frame filler material.
A method of manufacturing a thermally insulated panel, the method comprising:
- forming a core with a porous filler material therein;
- applying a first skin over the core such that the first skin is bonded to an open cell foam core of the core;
- applying a second skin over the core such that the second skin is bonded to the foam core of the core, the foam core capable of transferring at least 20 pounds per square inch of shear load between the first skin and the second skin;
- and
- sealing edge portions of the core such that the core is sealed within first and second skins, the porous filler material having a vacuum defined therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.