Vacuum insulation element, vacuum insulated packaging, and vacuum insulated case
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum insulation solutions for temperature-controlled shipping and construction are costly, resource-intensive, and not optimally suited for small or inexpensive goods, requiring complex manufacturing and difficult disposal, with existing solutions being either bulky or inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulation element comprising a core of unfilled cavities formed by shaped plate elements within a flexible, vacuum-tight sheeting or foil enclosure, providing dimensional stability without the need for porous materials, allowing for easy assembly and disposal, and using materials like corrugated cardboard or plastic for economic and ecological benefits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If foamed polystyrene (Styropor) is used for thermal insulation, then insulating effect is achieved, but the solution becomes costly and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses vacuum (absence of matter) instead of solid foam material to achieve thermal insulation. By removing gas molecules from the insulation chamber, heat transfer through conduction and convection is eliminated, achieving superior insulation with reduced thickness and volume compared to foamed polystyrene
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the gas molecules from the insulation space, creating a vacuum environment. This removal of matter allows achieving thermal insulation without the bulkiness of solid foam materials, directly resolving the contradiction between insulation effectiveness and volume
2Temperature
If vacuum insulation elements made of porous material are used, then insulating effect is improved, but manufacture becomes costly and disposal resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable vacuum insulation container with a simple plastic enclosure and vacuum-sealed core. This single-use design eliminates complex manufacturing and disposal processes associated with reusable porous material vacuum insulation, making it cost-effective for small and inexpensive goods while maintaining insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible plastic enclosure instead of rigid porous material structures. This allows for simpler manufacturing processes, easier sealing, and more efficient vacuum maintenance, reducing both manufacturing costs and disposal complexity while achieving the desired insulation effect
3Temperature
If reusable vacuum insulation boxes are used, then insulation performance is maintained, but a return system is necessary increasing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a disposable vacuum insulation container that eliminates the need for return systems. The low cost of the disposable unit allows it to be discarded after use, removing the logistical complexity of collecting, cleaning, and redistributing reusable containers while maintaining insulation performance during the shipping period
4Temperature
If metal-coated enclosures with evacuated foam plates are used, then insulation efficiency is improved, but manufacture becomes complicated and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple plastic enclosures instead of metal-coated enclosures for disposable vacuum insulation containers. This substitution dramatically simplifies manufacturing processes and reduces costs, making the solution economically viable for small and inexpensive goods while maintaining sufficient insulation performance for the intended use duration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible plastic sheeting and thin-walled enclosures instead of rigid metal structures. This allows for simpler fabrication methods, easier sealing, and reduced material costs, directly addressing the manufacturing complexity issue while achieving the desired vacuum insulation effect
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
The solution enables the creation of lightweight, cost-effective, and easily assembled vacuum insulation elements that can be recycled, offering improved thermal insulation with reduced thickness and environmental impact, suitable for temperature-controlled transport and construction applications.
Implementation Method 1
maintains an evacuated insulation volume inside the enclosure in opposition to the atmospheric pressure that presses on the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
The core is encapsulated in the enclosure in a vacuum-tight manner and evacuated
Implementation Method 3
providing dimensional stability without the need for porous materials, allowing for easy assembly and disposal, and using materials like corrugated cardboard or plastic for economic and ecological benefits
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure concerns a vacuum insulation element in which a core in a vacuum-tight enclosure is evacuated, as well as vacuum insulated packaging and a vacuum insulated case, wherein the core is composed of one or more elements that have a shape-giving structure, which forms an insulation volume, which is evacuated in the enclosure. Where appropriate, a single step can also include vacuum-sealing the contents in the effective volume.