초록 ▼

One embodiment of an cabinet according to the present invention comprises an inner cabinet having a plurality of inner walls that form an enclosure. A phase change material covers at least some of the plurality of inner walls. An outer cabinet is positioned around the inner cabinet and comprises a p

One embodiment of an cabinet according to the present invention comprises an inner cabinet having a plurality of inner walls that form an enclosure. A phase change material covers at least some of the plurality of inner walls. An outer cabinet is positioned around the inner cabinet and comprises a plurality of outer walls arranged such that there is a space between the inner and outer walls. A mechanism is included for drawing air from outside of the outer cabinet into the space between the inner and outer walls. The phase-change material is arranged to melt when exposed to heat energy to reduce heat transfer into the enclosure. The enclosure is particularly adapted for holding heat sensitive devices such as batteries with the cabinet controlling heat transfer during cyclic heat exposure.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A cabinet, comprising: an inner cabinet comprising a plurality of inner walls that form an enclosure; a first phase change material (PCM) disposed outside said enclosure in compartments and covering at least two of said plurality of inner walls: an outer cabinet positioned ar

What is claimed is: 1. A cabinet, comprising: an inner cabinet comprising a plurality of inner walls that form an enclosure; a first phase change material (PCM) disposed outside said enclosure in compartments and covering at least two of said plurality of inner walls: an outer cabinet positioned around said inner cabinet and also comprising a plurality of outer walls arranged such that there is a space between at least two said inner and outer walls; and a mechanism for drawing air from outside of said outer cabinet into the space between at least two said inner and outer walls. 2. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said inner cabinet comprises top and bottom walls and a plurality of substantially vertical walls running between said top and bottom wall. 3. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein said first PCM is arranged in horizontal compartments covering at least one of said substantially vertical walls. 4. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein said at least some of said outer walls are adjacent to said substantially vertical walls, said mechanism for drawing air arranged to draw outside air between each of said substantially vertical walls and its adjacent one of said outside walls. 5. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said mechanism for drawing air comprises a fan panel having a plurality of fans, each of which is arranged to draw outside air between one of said substantially vertical walls and its adjacent one of said outside walls. 6. The cabinet of claim 4, wherein said fan panel can selectively operate each of its said plurality of fans to selectively draw outside air between one of said substantially vertical walls and its adjacent one of said outside walls. 7. The cabinet of claim 4, further comprising a controller for controlling said mechanism for drawing air. 8. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein each of said substantially vertical walls comprises a tray for holding said phase change material. 9. The cabinet of claim 1, further comprising a layer of insulation on the inside surface of each of said outer walls. 10. The cabinet of claim 2, wherein said top and bottom walls are covered by a layer of said phase change material. 11. The cabinet of claim 1, wherein said inner cabinet is arranged to hold batteries, said inner cabinet further comprising a hydrogen filter to expel hydrogen from within said inner cabinet. 12. The inner cabinet of claim 1, further comprising an air inlet duct to allow air into said inner cabinet as a hydrogen filter expels said hydrogen. 13. A thermally insulated electrical cabinet, comprising: first and second substantially vertical supports; a phase-change material disposed between and contacting said first and second supports; and an outer cabinet positioned around said first and second substantially vertical supports to establish an air gap with said second support; wherein said phase change-material inhibits heat transfer between said first support and said outer cabinet. 14. The cabinet according to claim 13, wherein said outer cabinet comprises an exterior wall for said electrical cabinet. 15. The cabinet according to claim 13, wherein said phase-change material comprises a hydrated salt. 16. The cabinet according to claim 13, wherein said phase-change material comprises a linear crystalline alkyl hydrocarbon. 17. The cabinet according to claim 13, said outer cabinet further comprising: an exterior wall spaced apart from one of said first and second supports to establish an air space. 18. The cabinet according to claim 17, further comprising: a fan to draw air through said air space. 19. The cabinet according to claim 13, wherein said first support comprises: a flange adapted to couple said first support to said second support. 20. The cabinet according to claim 13, wherein said second support comprises: a flange to provide bending stiffness to said second support. 21. The cabinet according to claim 13, further comprising: a spacer disposed between said first and second supports to maintain a predetermined spacing between said first and second supports. 22. An electrical enclosure, comprising: a plurality of walls to establish an electrical component cavity; a phase-change material disposed outside said component cavity and substantially covering at least two of said plurality of walls; and an outer cabinet positioned around said plurality of walls to establish an air gap with said plurality of walls; wherein said phase change-material insulates said electrical component cavity from heat energy. 23. The enclosure according to claim 22, wherein said phase-change material comprises a hydrated salt. 24. The enclosure according to claim 22, wherein said phase-change material comprises a linear crystalline alkyl hydrocarbon. 25. The enclosure according to claim 22, further comprising: a plurality of phase-change material containers disposed on one of said plurality of walls to contain said phase-change material. 26. The enclosure according to claim 22, the outer cabinet further comprising: an exterior wall spaced apart from at least one of said plurality of phase-change material containers to establish an air space. 27. The enclosure according to claim 26, further comprising: a fan to draw air through said air space. 28. An electrical enclosure, comprising: a plurality of walls establishing an electrical component cavity; an outer cabinet positioned around said plurality of walls to establish an air gap between said outer cabinet and said plurality of walls; a phase-change material container disposed on said plurality of walls to establish insulation against heat energy; and a phase change material disposed in the phase-change material container; wherein said phase-change material provides insulation for said electrical enclosure. 29. The enclosure according to claim 28, wherein said phase-change material comprises a hydrated salt. 30. The enclosure according to claim 28, wherein said phase-change material comprises a linear crystalline alkyl hydrocarbon. 31. The enclosure according to claim 28, further comprising: a plurality of phase-change material containers disposed on one of said plurality of walls to contain said phase-change material. 32. The enclosure according to claim 28, the outer cabinet further comprising: an exterior wall spaced apart from said phase-change material container to establish an air space. 33. The enclosure according to claim 32, further comprising: a fan to draw air through said air space. 34. A method of insulating an electrical enclosure, comprising: placing a phase-change material in a plurality of containers; placing said containers between substantially vertical supports, such that said containers substantially cover said substantially vertical supports; and enclosing said substantially vertical supports in said electrical enclosure and coupling said supports to said electrical enclosure; wherein said phase-change material provides insulation for said electrical enclosure from heat energy. 35. The method according to claim 34, further comprising: coupling a fan to said electrical enclosure to induce air movement over said containers. 36. The method according to claim 34, wherein said placing the phase change material comprises: pouring said phase-change material in said plurality of containers, said phase-change material in liquid form during said pouring. 37. An electrical enclosure, comprising: at least two phase-change panels having phase-change material arranged in compartments; at least two substantially parallel exterior panels spaced adjacent to said phase change panels; and a fan to circulate air between said phase change panels and said exterior panels; wherein said fan reduces thermal energy introduced to said phase-change panels by said exterior panels. 38. The electrical enclosure according to claim 37, wherein said compartments comprise a plurality of horizontal containers and a phase-change material is disposed in said containers to absorb heat energy. 39. The electrical enclosure according to claim 37, wherein said phase-change panels comprise: spacers to maintain a cavity for a phase-change material disposed in said phase-change panels.