Insulating package with dry opening for thermal and acoustic insulation of an aircraft

Abstract

An insulation package (8) for thermally and acoustically insulating an aircraft, having a cushion (4) made of an insulating material and a wrapping film (6) which completely wraps the cushion (4). The wrapping film (6) has a plurality of drying openings (10) which can be closed by a cover (12) connected to the wrapping film, respectively. Each cover (12) has at least partially a coating substance whose surface extension changes depending on the relative air humidity of the air inside the insulation package (8), so that each cover (12) moves relative to the wrapping film (6) depending on the air humidity. The cover (12) is adapted to assume an orientation which closes the associated drying opening (10) at a lower predetermined relative air humidity and at least partially opens the associated drying opening (10) at a higher relative air humidity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulating package for heat and sound insulation of an aircraft and an aircraft having an aircraft fuselage having an internal space formed therein, wherein at least one such insulating package is arranged in the internal space. Background Technology

[0002] To insulate aircraft from heat and sound, insulated packaging with bulging insulating material surrounded by a wrapping membrane is typically used. To prevent this wrapping membrane from rupturing due to pressure drop during climb, integrated ventilation openings are proposed. Given the extremely cold outer skin during cruise flight, condensation may occur in the fuselage area near the outer skin, potentially leading to condensation buildup within the insulated packaging even when it is not airtight.

[0003] Various measures are known for preventing moisture buildup in isolation packaging. For example, isolation assemblies with isolation packaging are known from DE 10 2010 052 671A1, wherein the entire wrapping film of the isolation packaging is implemented to be airtight and waterproof, and wherein these isolation packages have vents through the wrapping film, which are arranged to be in fluid connection with the gap formed between the isolation assembly and the body wall. The vents absorb only air from very dry areas, which significantly reduces the buildup of condensate in the isolation packaging. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an insulating package for heat and sound insulation of aircraft, which also prevents the accumulation of condensate and allows for the removal of condensate again by drying if condensate is still generated.

[0005] This objective is achieved by an isolation package having the features of the present invention. Advantageous embodiments and improvements can be derived from the description below.

[0006] An insulating package for heat and sound insulation of an aircraft is proposed, comprising: a liner made of insulating material, and a wrapping film completely enclosing the liner, wherein the wrapping film has a plurality of drying openings closable by cover plates connected to the wrapping film, wherein each cover plate has at least partially a coating material whose surface extension varies depending on the relative humidity of the air inside the insulating package, such that each cover plate moves relative to the wrapping film depending on the air humidity, and wherein the cover plate is adapted to occupy an orientation that closes the corresponding drying opening in the case of lower relative humidity and at least partially opens the corresponding drying opening in the case of higher relative humidity.

[0007] The basic construction of the isolation packaging according to the invention is comparable to that of conventional isolation packaging. A liner made of a particularly bulging isolation material is provided, which is wrapped with a wrapping film. This wrapping film can be based on different materials. Flexible plastics are particularly suitable. Single-layer and multi-layer wrapping films are conceivable. The wrapping film may also have a fabric layer as needed. Preferably, the wrapping film, or at least one layer present in the wrapping film, is made of a fluid-sealing material.

[0008] The wrapping film (as is known) may have at least one vent. The vent allows for pressure equalization inside the isolation package to prevent damage to the isolation package and to prevent expansion of the isolation package during climb flight.

[0009] In addition, the invention includes drying openings that can be closed by covers. The purpose of these additional drying openings is to perform drying of the insulating packaging as needed, in a manner that allows air with a humidity lower than that of the insulating liner to enter the packaging. Covers are provided to open the drying openings as needed; these covers automatically open or close depending on the relative air humidity near the insulating material.

[0010] The cover is a planar element, its dimensions designed to close the corresponding drying opening. The cover can be specifically implemented as a planar element capable of closing the drying opening. Therefore, the configuration of the cover is associated with the configuration of the corresponding drying opening. If the cover is placed on the drying opening, the drying opening is closed.

[0011] For this purpose, the cover may have at least a partial coating material whose properties change when moisture is absorbed from the air. When the relative air humidity at the corresponding drying opening increases, the cover should at least partially open and close again when the air humidity decreases.

[0012] The coating is selected from a variety of materials that are hygroscopic and bind to moisture in the environment upon contact. With appropriate coating materials, the coating material can increase volume, thereby generating a force that moves the cover. Overall, the cover thus exhibits wet behavior.

[0013] While the coating may be applied to the side of the cover plate facing the insulating liner, another coating may also be applied to the side of the cover plate facing away from the insulating liner. For example, this may result in a reduction in volume when in contact with air having low relative humidity, thus applying a force to the cover plate on that side as well. A suitable material may then be selected so that the reduction in relative humidity causes the coating material to shrink.

[0014] It can be proposed that the drying opening according to the invention be provided only partially in a strip-shaped section of the insulating packaging. This section may have a double-layer construction and be supplemented with a single-layer wrapping film.

[0015] Therefore, this insulating packaging can have the same light weight as ordinary insulating packaging. However, the required drying can be achieved without the presence of active elements. No permanent perforations are needed; instead, self-regulation of drying of the encapsulated insulating material is achieved in a very simple way.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the cover plate is flexible. Therefore, the cover plate does not exert any significant resistance to bending movements. This embodiment particularly gives the cover plate the ability to perform a rolling motion. Thus, in a unilateral coating that expands with increasing relative air humidity, the composite formed by the cover plate and the coating can generate shear forces at the interface between the coating and the cover plate. This shear force causes the cover plate to roll up, thereby moving the cover plate away from the drying opening.

[0017] Alternatively, the cover can also be rigid. Therefore, coating with the coating material can be performed only in the area where it connects to the wrapping film, hereinafter also referred to as the hinge area. When the coating material expands, the cover performs a folding motion. The coating material can be confined to a very small plane and pushes the cover away from the drying opening below a lever arm facing the hinge area.

[0018] In one advantageous embodiment, the coating material has an absorbent that increases its volume upon absorbing moisture. The absorbent can be a moisture-absorbing substance. In particular, the absorbent can be a superabsorbent, capable of absorbing multiple times its own weight of water from the air humidity. As shown above, this allows for expansion that causes the cover to move.

[0019] The absorbent is particularly preferably capable of reversible expansion. Therefore, the expansion of the absorbent can be reversed by evaporation, and thus the cover plate closes due to the reduction in volume. Generally, the coating material can be made of such an expandable material.

[0020] The coating material can have at least one bipolar, cross-linked polymer that forms a hydrogel upon absorbing water. Such a hydrogel can, for example, contain polyacrylamide or polyvinylpyrrolidone, but also natural polymers such as cellulose, amylopectin, gelatin, or derivatives thereof.

[0021] However, the coating material can also be an expandable copolymer. In addition to potassium salt-based crosslinked copolymers, they may also be composites formed from thermoplastics and elastomers.

[0022] Other available materials may also possess expandable fibers. Besides natural fibers, certain carbon allotropes, such as graphite, might be considered. Additionally, various protein-based coating materials could also contribute to the expansion behavior.

[0023] Particularly preferred is that the coating is applied to the inside of the cover. This ensures that the inside of the gasket faces the insulating material, so that the inside of the cover is always directly exposed to the relative humidity of the air contained within the insulating material. Furthermore, the coating material is based on water absorption, which only causes expansion upon contact with humid air, thereby moving the cover away from the insulating material.

[0024] The cover may have a nonwoven fabric material as the carrier material. The cover may be manufactured separately from the wrapping film and may have a particularly lightweight carrier material with a coating. The composite formed by the carrier material and the coating should be fluid-tight, thus allowing for the possible provision of additional, fluid-tight layers depending on the coating material.

[0025] Alternatively, the cover can be formed from a section of the wrapping film having an edge that coincides with the opening edge of the associated drying opening. Thus, by cutting the drying opening, the wrapping film can obtain an integrated cover as the edge of the hinged region of the cover transitions into the wrapping film. Therefore, when the drying opening is cut, the edge may be recessed, subsequently holding the cover in place or functioning as a transition between the wrapping film and the cover.

[0026] To further improve the tightness of this cover, the section may have flanges on its edge side for overlapping with the edge of the drying opening. Despite being produced as a single piece, the cover can still perform an overlapping seal to the drying opening. This can be achieved by using two films (stacked one on top of the other to form a wrapping film) to provide an outer film with a larger drying opening than the inner film, wherein a section of the outer film overlaps with the edge of the drying opening of the inner film. According to the example described above, the inner film may have a coating material on the side facing the insulating liner.

[0027] It is recommended that the drying opening be at least partially circular, elliptical, or triangular. A triangular shape is particularly preferred because one side of the triangle can coincide with the edge of the drying opening, and the triangular apexes, spaced apart from it, are freely movable. Especially when the cover is made of a flexible material, the resulting shear force can be introduced from the apexes of the triangles into a particularly advantageous rolling motion.

[0028] Furthermore, the present invention also relates to an aircraft having an aircraft fuselage having an internal space formed therein, wherein at least one of the aforementioned isolation packages is arranged in the internal space.

[0029] For example, the aircraft fuselage may have inner and outer sides, with multiple isolation packs arranged on the inner side of the fuselage, and the drying openings located on the side of the isolation packs facing away from the fuselage. Such isolation packs may be located as primary or secondary isolation packs in the fuselage skin area or at one or more baffle elements facing the fuselage skin. Furthermore, the isolation packs may also be arranged at structural components, such as ribs, longitudinal beams, etc.

[0030] In addition, at least one insulating package may be arranged at the mounting element, which is fixed in the internal space. Such a mounting element may be, for example, a rectangular block, a luggage rack, a floor element, a side panel element, a ceiling element, etc.

[0031] In general, the drying opening can be specifically designed to absorb drier air. Thus, the drying opening may be located within a region of the corresponding isolating packaging, extending into the cavity between the baffle element and the fuselage ribs, or into the gap between mounting components, etc. Alternatively, the drying opening may be located on a planar section of the isolating packaging and / or in an edge region. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Other features, advantages, and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments and drawings. Here, all described and / or illustrated features, in themselves and in any combination, constitute the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their relationship to the individual claims or the claims to which they are referenced. Furthermore, the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar objects.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a highly simplified schematic diagram of isolation packaging according to the prior art.

[0034] Figure 2a and 2b An isolation package according to the invention is shown, having a closed drying opening.

[0035] Figure 3a and 3b An isolation package according to the invention is shown, having an open drying opening, wherein in Figure 3b The drying opening described herein is placed in the strip used.

[0036] Figure 4 The drying opening with a cover is shown in detail, wherein the drying opening is closed.

[0037] Figure 5 The drying opening with a cover is shown in detail, with the drying opening being open.

[0038] Figure 6The drying opening is shown and can be closed with a rigid cover.

[0039] Figure 7 An aircraft with an aircraft fuselage is shown, which is equipped with an internal space with at least one insulating package. Detailed Implementation

[0040] Figure 1 illustrates the basic structure of a barrier package 2 according to the prior art. The barrier package 2 has a liner 4 made of a barrier material and a wrapping film 6 that surrounds the liner 4. The material of the liner 4 is bulging and may include glass wool, foam material, or the like. The wrapping film 6 is preferably implemented as a fluid seal, thereby preventing moisture from passing through the wrapping film 6 between the barrier package 2 and the liner 4.

[0041] Figure 2a A separating package 8 according to the invention is shown, which is constructed based on a separating package 2 according to the prior art. However, here, additional drying openings 10 are provided in the form of holes in the wrapping film 6, which can be correspondingly closed by a cover plate 12. The cover plate 12 extends from the first opening edge 14 beyond the opposite second opening edge 16, thereby overlapping at least a portion 18 with the opening contour of the drying opening 10. In the case shown, the thickness of the cover plate 12 is on the same order of magnitude as the thickness of the wrapping film 6, and can be made of the same material.

[0042] The cover plate 12 can preferably be cut from the wrapping film 6. Figure 2b This illustrates how overlap can be achieved. If the wrapping film 6 is made of two layers 6a and 6b, the cover plate 12 can be arranged in the outer layer 6a and can overlap to close the drying opening 10 in the inner layer 6b. For this purpose, the size of the drying opening 10 is set to be smaller than the extension dimension of the cover plate 12.

[0043] The isolation package 8 according to the invention may have a plurality of such drying openings 10, which are correspondingly covered by their respective covers 12. The extension dimensions of the drying openings 10 are relatively small, thereby allowing the covers 12 to be easily and freely moved while the isolation package 8 is installed. It is conceivable to provide an opening range of 1 to 25 mm, particularly preferably 1 to 10 mm, and especially 1 to 5 mm.

[0044] To achieve a large overlap between the isolation package 8 and such drying openings 10, a relatively large number of such drying openings 10 can be used. The isolation package 8 may contain more than ten, but especially hundreds, thousands or more of such drying openings 10. However, this can also depend on the installation conditions of the corresponding isolation package 8.

[0045] In addition to the drying opening 10, ventilation openings may also be provided, which are not shown in the figure and are used in particular to compensate for pressure differences inside the isolation package 8.

[0046] Figure 3a The cover 12 is shown in the open state, extending outward from the associated drying opening 10. Air 20 can thus penetrate the interior of the insulated packaging 8. The air penetrating the insulated packaging 8 from the outside is, in some cases, drier than the air enclosed within the packaging, thus causing or introducing dry air, resulting in a decrease in the relative humidity inside the insulated packaging 8.

[0047] Figure 3b The isolation package 8 is shown in a front view with two detailed views. Here, the drying opening 10 is implemented in two strips 11 extending at the edge of the isolation package 8. The strips 11 can replace the conventional wrapping film 6 at the edge of the isolation package and reduce production costs because the wrapping film 6 does not need to be completely offset from the drying opening 10 and is especially not fully implemented as a double layer. Exemplarily, the cover 12 has a generally triangular design and can be... Figure 3b It was seen to be at least partially rolled up.

[0048] The working principle of cover plate 12 can be found in Figure 4 and 5 As can be seen, the cover plate 12 has a coating 22 applied on one side, which is made of a hygroscopic or expandable material and has the property of stretching with increasing humidity. Due to the stretching, the length of the coating 22 is greater than the length of the film 24 or other carrier layers, thereby allowing it to... Figure 5 The rolling motion is carried out. Therefore, the cover plate 12 is away from the drying opening 10 (see...). Figure 5 If coating 22 does not expand, cover plate 12 closes (see...). Figure 4 A hinge region 26 is formed at the first opening edge 14, around which the cover plate 12 opens.

[0049] Figure 6 A variation of the rigid cover plate 28 is shown, which is connected to the wrapping film 6 and has at least partially a coating material 30. By expanding the coating material 30, the cover plate 28 can be folded away from the second opening edge 18. The cover plate 28 may thus be positioned on one side of a strip of material at the wrapping film 6, thereby creating a hinge region 31 there.

[0050] Figure 7 Finally, an aircraft 32 is shown having a fuselage 34 and an internal space 36 formed in the fuselage, in which at least one isolation package 8 according to the invention is arranged.

[0051] Additionally, it should be noted that "having" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "an" or "a" does not exclude multiple. Furthermore, it should be noted that combinations of features already described with reference to one of the above embodiments, as well as other features of the other embodiments described above, may be used. Reference numerals in the claims should not be considered limiting.

Claims

1. An insulating package (8) for heat and sound insulation of an aircraft (32), said insulating package having: - A pad made of insulating material (4), and - A wrapping film (6) that completely covers the pad (4). The wrapping film (6) has a plurality of drying openings (10), which can be correspondingly closed by cover plates (12, 28) connected to the wrapping film (6). Each cover plate (12, 28) has at least partially a coating material (22, 30) whose surface extension varies depending on the relative humidity of the air inside the insulating packaging (8), such that each cover plate (12, 28) moves relative to the wrapping film (6) depending on the air humidity, and The cover plate (12, 28) is adapted to occupy an orientation that closes the associated drying opening (10) at a lower relative humidity and at least partially opens the associated drying opening (10) at a higher relative humidity.

2. The isolation packaging (8) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (12) is bendable.

3. The isolation packaging (8) according to claim 1, wherein the cover (28) is rigid.

4. The isolation packaging (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating material (22, 30) has an absorbent that increases its volume when absorbing moisture.

5. The isolation packaging (8) according to claim 4, wherein the coating material (22, 30) is capable of reversible expansion.

6. The isolation packaging (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating material (22, 30) has at least one bipolar, cross-linked polymer.

7. The isolation packaging (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating material (22, 30) has an expandable copolymer.

8. The isolation packaging (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the coating material (22, 30) is disposed on the inside of the cover plate (12, 28).

9. The isolation packaging (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover (12, 28) has a nonwoven material as the carrier material.

10. The isolation package (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cover (12) is formed from a section of the wrapping film (6), the section having an edge that coincides with the opening edge of the associated drying opening.

11. The isolation package (8) according to claim 10, wherein the segment has a flange on the edge side for coinciding with the edge of the associated drying opening (10).

12. The isolation packaging (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drying opening (10) is at least partially implemented as circular, elliptical or triangular.

13. An aircraft (32) having an aircraft fuselage (34) having an internal space (36) formed therein, wherein an isolation package (8) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 is arranged in the internal space.

14. The aircraft according to claim 13, wherein the aircraft fuselage (34) has an inner side and an outer side, wherein a plurality of isolation packages (8) are arranged on the inner side of the aircraft fuselage (34), wherein the drying opening (10) is arranged on the side of the respective isolation package (8) opposite to the aircraft fuselage (34).

15. The aircraft according to claim 13 or 14, wherein at least one isolation package (8) is arranged at the mounting element, which is fixed in the internal space (36).

Images