Bending preformed vacuum insulation panel
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorIvan A. McCracken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods alter the shape of vacuum insulation panels in processes that begin by supplying a previously manufactured vacuum insulation panel. Such a vacuum insulation panel comprises a continuous porous core material surrounded by a sealed airtight cover that is formed in a process such that the sealed airtight cover keeps the pressure level within the vacuum insulation panel below the ambient atmospheric pressure (maintains a vacuum with the vacuum insulation panel). The methods herein form at least one indent into the exterior of the vacuum insulation panel and into the surface of the continuous porous core material, without piercing the sealed airtight cover. After forming such an indent, the methods herein fold the vacuum insulation panel along the indent.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- supplying a vacuum insulation panel, said vacuum insulation panel comprising a porous core material surrounded by a sealed airtight cover, said sealed airtight cover keeping a pressure level within said vacuum insulation panel below ambient atmospheric pressure;
- forming at least one indent into an exterior of said vacuum insulation panel without piercing said sealed airtight cover;
- and
- folding said vacuum insulation panel along said indent.
A method comprising:
- supplying a previously manufactured vacuum insulation panel, said vacuum insulation panel comprising a continuous porous core material surrounded by a sealed airtight cover, said sealed airtight cover keeping a pressure level within said vacuum insulation panel below ambient atmospheric pressure;
- forming at least one indent into an exterior of said vacuum insulation panel and into a surface of said continuous porous core material without piercing said sealed airtight cover;
- and
- folding said vacuum insulation panel along said indent.
A method comprising:
- supplying a previously manufactured vacuum insulation panel, said vacuum insulation panel comprising a porous core material surrounded by a sealed airtight cover, said sealed airtight cover keeping a pressure level within said vacuum insulation panel below ambient atmospheric pressure;
- forming at least one indent into an exterior of said vacuum insulation panel without piercing said sealed airtight cover;
- and
- folding said vacuum insulation panel along said indent by one of:
- supporting a top and a bottom of said vacuum insulation panel and applying force to said indent;
- supporting said bottom of the vacuum insulation panel and forcing a region of said vacuum insulation panel on one side of said indent toward another side of said vacuum insulation panel on a different side of said indent;
- and
- aligning said indent with a corner of a mold and folding said vacuum insulation panel around said mold.
A vacuum insulation panel comprising:
- a porous core material;
- a sealed airtight cover surrounding said porous core material, said sealed airtight cover keeping a pressure level within said vacuum insulation panel below ambient atmospheric pressure;
- at least one indent in said sealed airtight cover and extending toward said porous core material without piercing said sealed airtight cover;
- and
- a fold in said vacuum insulation panel along said indent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.