Radiation-controlled dynamic vacuum insulation
US5433056A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 18, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/26
- WIPO fieldEnvironmental technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A compact vacuum insulation panel comprising a chamber enclosed by two sheets of metal, glass-like spaces disposed in the chamber between the sidewalls, and a high-grade vacuum in the chamber that includes apparatus and methods for enabling and disabling, or turning "on" and "off" the thermal insulating capability of the panel. One type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes a metal hydride for releasing hydrogen gas into the chamber in response to heat, and a hydrogen grate between the metal hydride and the chamber for selectively preventing and allowing return of the hydrogen gas to the metal hydride. Another type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes a variable emissivity coating on the sheets of metal in which the emissivity is controllably variable by heat or electricity. Still another type of enabling and disabling apparatus and method includes metal-to-metal contact devices that can be actuated to establish or break metal-to-metal heat paths or thermal short circuits between the metal sidewalls.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.