Low thermally conductive spacer for hot and cold feedline insulation
AssigneeQuest Thermal Group LLC
InventorsScott Anthony Dye, Phillip Nolan Tyler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multilayer insulation is provided that includes radiant barrier layers separated by one or more spacers. The spacers are configured to maintain separation and provide a low conductivity thermal path between adjacent radiant barrier layers of the multilayer insulation. In certain implementations, the spacers have a shape defined by the intersection of three orthogonally oriented discs and are disposed between two radiant barrier layers of the multilayer insulation. In other implementations, the spacers are mechanically coupled to and extend from a radiant barrier layer.
Claims19
A multi-layer insulation comprising:
- a first radiant barrier layer;
- a second radiant barrier layer;
- and
- a spacer disposed between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer, wherein the spacer is attached to at least one of the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer, the spacer having a shape defined by an intersection of three orthogonally oriented disc shapes.
An insulation layer for use in a multi-layer insulation, the insulation layer comprising:
- a radiant barrier layer having a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
- and
- a plurality of first spacers, each first spacer having a shape defined by intersecting arcuate members extending from a base, wherein the first spacers are mechanically coupled to the radiant barrier layer such that the arcuate members of the first spacers extend from the first side;
- wherein each first spacer of the plurality of first spacers comprises a coupling feature for mechanically coupling the first spacer to the radiant barrier layer, the coupling feature extending from the base and extending through the radiant barrier layer.
A multi-layer insulation comprising:
- a first radiant barrier layer;
- a second radiant barrier layer;
- and
- a plurality of spacers formed, at least in part, from a plurality of orthogonally intersecting discs and configured to maintain a predetermined spacing between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer, each of the plurality of spacers defining a thermally conductive path extending through the spacer from a first area in contact with the first radiant barrier layer to a second area in contact with the second radiant barrier layer, wherein:
- each thermally conductive path has a cross-sectional area (A), a length (L), and an effective length defined as a ratio of the cross-sectional area to the length (A/L), and
- each of the plurality of spacers is shaped to minimize the effective length.
A spacer for maintaining a predetermined spacing between adjacent layers of a multi-layer insulation, the spacer having a shape defined by an intersection of three orthogonally oriented disc shapes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.