Vacuum insulation element, vacuum insulation package and vacuum insulation crate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum insulation solutions for temperature-controlled goods are expensive, bulky, and difficult to dispose of, making them unsuitable for small or cheap items, and lack efficient production and recycling methods.
Innovation Solution
A vacuum insulation element comprising a core made of structured cardboard or plastic, evacuated within a flexible film envelope, which provides dimensional stability without the need for porous filling materials, allowing for easy assembly and disposal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional expanded polystyrene boxes are used for thermal insulation, then insulation effect is achieved, but the boxes become expensive and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible foil covering (metalized or non-metalized) as a thin film shell to enclose the evacuated core, replacing bulky expanded polystyrene with a lightweight flexible membrane that maintains structural integrity while providing thermal insulation in the vacuum state
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a vacuum environment (inert atmosphere without gas molecules) within the foil covering, eliminating convection and conduction heat transfer mechanisms, thereby achieving superior thermal insulation with minimal material thickness compared to conventional polystyrene
2Temperature
If vacuum insulation elements with porous material are used, then insulation is improved, but manufacturing cost and disposal complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the porous filling material from the vacuum insulation structure, using only the evacuated space between the foil covering and the core structure, thereby simplifying manufacturing and disposal while maintaining insulation performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the insulation structure into separate functional components: the foil covering provides the vacuum seal, the core structure provides dimensional stability, and the evacuated space provides thermal insulation, allowing each component to be optimized independently for cost and disposal
3Volume of moving object
If flat vacuum insulation panels are produced with metal-coated casing, then thinner insulation is achieved, but production requires special equipment and becomes costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible metalized or non-metalized foil coverings that can be applied to pre-formed corrugated cardboard cores using simple vacuum sealing equipment, avoiding the need for specialized metal coating equipment while achieving thin-panel vacuum insulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-forms the corrugated cardboard core structure before applying the foil covering and evacuation, allowing the core to provide immediate dimensional stability and enabling simpler downstream processing compared to forming and coating operations in sequence
4Object-generated harmful factors
If reused vacuum insulation boxes are implemented, then disposal cost is reduced, but a return system becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs vacuum insulation packaging using inexpensive corrugated cardboard and simple foil coverings that can be easily disposed of or recycled, making single-use economically viable and eliminating the need for complex return and refurbishment systems
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 cost-effective, lightweight, and eco-friendly vacuum insulation with improved thermal efficiency, suitable for one-way use and adaptable packaging, while reducing production and disposal costs.
Implementation Method 1
the core maintains an evacuated insulation volume within the film covering against the atmospheric pressure acting on the film covering
Implementation Method 2
a vacuum insulation element, in particular in the form of a vacuum insulation panel ('VIP'), which comprises or consists of a core and a flexible, vacuum-tight film covering. The core is vacuum-tight and evacuated within the film covering
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a vacuum insulation element, in which a core is evacuated in a vacuum-tight envelope, as well as a vacuum insulation packaging and a vacuum insulation box, the core being formed by one or more elements having a shaping structure which forms an insulation volume which is in the envelope is evacuated. If necessary, the filling material in the usable volume can be vacuumed in one work step.