초록 ▼

An all metal, low conductivity, high performance and relatively lightweight, composite structure, in the form of an insulation blanket is operably disposed to be exposed to a high temperature zone, e.g., a high temperature fluid, or on a supporting surface exposed to high temperature. The composite

An all metal, low conductivity, high performance and relatively lightweight, composite structure, in the form of an insulation blanket is operably disposed to be exposed to a high temperature zone, e.g., a high temperature fluid, or on a supporting surface exposed to high temperature. The composite includes two metal skin members spaced from each other by a metallic member functioning as a spacing member. The spacing member is preferably deformed to contact the spaced skin sheets at spaced positions, the space between the skin sheets forming a fluid space which defines a zone of substantially reduced heat transfer by convection. When deformed, the spacing member, or an array of spacers, also provides an elongated path for conduction of heat, and defines a plurality of cavities of limited volume forming stagnant gas pockets. The skin sheets may be perforated to vent the cavities and to provide expansion space for absorbing thermal growth by the metal components of the composite. The spacing member also operates as a shield against the transfer of heat by radiation with the effect that the composite has a heat transfer coefficient substantially dictated by the thermal conductivity of the fluid in the space between the skin members. Use of metal components, principally of commercially available materials, permits fabrication of composites having various shapes and structural strengths, e.g., vibration, compaction, fatigue, etc., good chemical stability and easily repaired. Various different forms and alternate arrangements are described.

대표청구항 ▼

An alL-metal, low-conductivity, high-performance and relatively low-weight composite structure for use as a thermal insulation, said structure comprising: metallic member means forming one skin surface for exposure to a zone of one temperature; means forming a second skin surface for exposure to a z

An alL-metal, low-conductivity, high-performance and relatively low-weight composite structure for use as a thermal insulation, said structure comprising: metallic member means forming one skin surface for exposure to a zone of one temperature; means forming a second skin surface for exposure to a zone of another temperature which is different from said one temperature; said metallic member means being spaced from said means forming a second skin surface so as to form a fluid space therebetween; metallic means disposed in said fluid space to define a spacer with opposite surface portions of said spacer in adjacent facing relationship with said metallic member means and said means; said spacer being formed of a metal mesh having deformations therein to increase the spacing between said metallic member means and said means forming a second skin surface; fixing means maintaining said metallic member means, said means and said metallic spacer in fixed relationship to each other; the wire mesh of said spacer defining relatively long paths for the conduction of heat between said metallic member means and said means forming a second skin surface; said metallic spacer forming multiple void spaces between said metallic member means and said means forming a second skin surface and said void spaces being sufficiently small in size to limit the circulation of gas between said metallic member means and said means forming a second skin surface, and said composite structure being essentially free of non-metallic components.