Vacuum insulated shipping container and method

A vacuum insulated container, having a longitudinal axis, a vertical axis, and a transverse axis:

• a. a fluid tight outer containing structure having first outer wall means adapted to be exposed to ambient pressure;
• b. a fluid tight inner containing structure having a second inner wall means spaced intwardly from said first wall means and defining a product containing area;
• c. said first and second wall means defining therebetween a substantially evacuated insulating area to insulate said containing area from ambient heat transfer;
• d. said outer containing structure comprising a first support frame, said first support frame comprising:
• 1. a plurality of first longitudinally extending corner beams located at edge corner locations of said container;
• 2. a plurality of first cross beams extending transversely between adjacent pairs of said first corner beams, with each adjacent pair of first cross beams forming with portions of their said related corner beams a first perimeter frame section;
• e. said outer container structure further comprising a first membrane means mounted to said first frame structure, each first perimeter frame section defining a first related wall section area, with said membrane means defining a plurality of generally planar first membrane sections, each extending across a related one of said first wall section areas, with each first membrane section having a main central portion and a perimeter portion attaching to its said related first perimeter frame, the main central portion of each first membrane section having a configuration, relative to its said related perimeter frame, of an inwardly curved plane in a manner that ambient pressure acting against an outer surface of said first membrane section causes said first membrane section to react substantially entirely in tension to withstand said ambient pressure;
• f. said inner containing structure comprising a second support frame, said second support frame comprising:
• 1. a plurality of second longitudinally extending corner beams located at edge corner locations of said container;
• 2. a plurality of second cross beams extending transversely between adjacent pairs of said first corner beams, with each adjacent pair of second cross beams forming with portions of their said related corner beams a second perimeter frame section;
• g. said inner container structure further comprising a second membrane means mounted to said second frame structure, each second perimeter frame section defining a second related wall section area, with said membrane means defining a plurality of generally planar second membrane sections, each extending across a related one of said second wall section areas, with each second membrane section having a main central portion and a perimeter portion attaching to its said related second perimeter frame, the main central portion of each second membrane section having a configuration, relative to its said related perimeter frame, of an outwardly curved plane in a manner that pressure within said container acting against an inner surface of said second membrane section causes said second membrane section to react substantially entirely in tension to withstand said ambient pressure.

An insulating structure, comprising:

• a. a fluid tight outer wall structure;
• b. a fluid tight inner wall structure;
• c. said outer and inner wall structures defining therebetween a substantially evacuated insulating area to insulate said containing area from ambient heat transfer;
• d. said outer wall structure comprising:
• 1. a first perimeter frame comprising a plurality of interconnected first beams located at edge locations of said first frame;
• 2. a planar first membrane section, extending across said first perimeter frame, with said first membrane section having a main central portion and a perimeter portion attaching to said first perimeter frame, the main central portion of said first membrane section having a configuration, relative to its said related perimeter frame, of an inwardly curved plane in a manner that pressure acting against an outer surface of said first membrane section causes said first membrane section to react substantially entirely in tension to withstand said ambient pressure;
• e. said inner containing structure comprising:
• 1. a second support frame comprising a plurality of interconnecting second beams located at edge locations of said second frame;
• 2. a planar second membrane section extending across said second perimeter frame, with said second membrane section having a main central portion and a perimeter portion attaching to its said related second perimeter frame, the main central portion of said second membrane section having a configuration, relative to its said related perimeter frame, of an outwardly curved plane in a manner that pressure acting against an inner surface of said second membrane section causes said second membrane section to react substantially entirely in tension to withstand said ambient pressure.