On-Demand Thermal Insulator with Fluid-Actuated Air Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional insulative materials with air layers, such as those used in double-paned windows and stainless-steel containers, are costly and lack flexibility, and the insulating air layer is not always desired, making them prohibitive in various settings.
Innovation Solution
An on-demand thermal insulator system that transitions between a collapsed and deployed state, using a body with a fluid-filled air layer between materials, allowing for selective resistance to thermal energy transfer, with the ability to dynamically adjust thickness based on insulation needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional insulative materials with air layers are used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but cost increases and flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the insulation system changeable between deployed and collapsed states. The air-layer insulation structure can be dynamically deployed when insulation is needed and collapsed when not needed, allowing the system to adapt to varying thermal requirements. This resolves the contradiction by providing insulation performance only when required, rather than being permanently fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the thickness and presence of the air-layer between different states. The insulation parameter (air-layer thickness) can be changed from a thick deployed state providing high insulation to a thin or collapsed state providing minimal insulation. This allows dynamic adjustment of thermal properties to match changing environmental conditions and requirements.
2Loss of energy
If conventional insulative materials with air layers are used, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by creating a deployable insulation structure that can be collapsed for storage and deployed when needed. This dynamic capability allows the system to provide expensive high-performance insulation only when required, rather than permanently, thereby reducing overall cost while maintaining insulation performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies periodic action by deploying the insulation air-layer only during periods when thermal protection is needed and collapsing it during periods when it is not needed. This periodic deployment pattern allows the system to achieve insulation performance comparable to permanent structures while using less material and incurring lower costs.
3Loss of energy
If an insulating air-layer is always present, then thermal insulation is maintained, but flexibility in design and deployment is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the insulation air-layer changeable between deployed and collapsed states. The structure can be deployed when insulation is needed and collapsed when not needed, providing operational flexibility. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to maintain insulation performance when required while enabling easy deployment and reconfiguration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides flexible and cost-effective insulation that can be deployed only when needed, effectively resisting thermal energy transfer while allowing energy transmission when desired, thus optimizing energy management in various applications.
Implementation Method 1
The body while in the deployed state in resisting the transfer of thermal energy resists transfer through the defined boundary
Implementation Method 2
The body while in the non-deployed state allows a transfer of thermal energy through a defined boundary
Data Source
AI summary
An on-demand thermal insulator system has a a body that is configured to transition between a collapsed form non-deployed state and a deployed state. The body while in the non-deployed state allows a transfer of thermal energy through a defined boundary. The body while in the deployed state in resisting the transfer of thermal energy resists transfer through the defined boundary. In particular configurations, the body has a layer disposed between two material that receives fluid when transitioning from the non-deployed state to the deployed state.