US2986247A - Heat insulation - Google Patents

Description

May 30, 1961 A. SCHNITT ETAL HEAT INSULATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May '21, 1956 May 30, 1961 Filed May 21, 1956 A. SCHNITT ET AL 2,986,247

HEAT INSULATION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IZZZZ FIG 7 W I VWVVV W 2/ W INVENTORS A R THUR SCI/NI 7'7- fzlo 05L 0 #s/vz/ 2,986,247 HEAT INSULATION Arthur Schnitt, Buffalo, and Ezio P. De Lorenzi, Snyder,

N.Y., assignors to Bell Aerospace Corporation, Wheatfield, N.Y.

Filed May 21, 1956, Ser. No. 586,072

3 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates generally to the heat insulator art, and more'specifically to a new and useful heatshielded panel construction wherein a protective metal sheathing secondary to a basic structure functions as a heat shielding mechanism to the basic structure and protects the same against high temperatures such as might.

be encountered by virtue of radiation, friction'or conduction, which sheathing must have multi-directional expansion characteristics in order to avoid distortion,

of the basic structure.

. A primary object of this invention is to provide a heatshielded panel construction as aforesaid wherein the protective sheathing is mounted for expansion'movements relative to the. basic'structure both lengthwise and widthwise, as well as toward and away from the basic structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a heat-shielded panel construction using a number of substantially identical protective sheathing units or componentsso interrelated and connected to the basic structure as to provide each unit with the desired multidirectional expansion and contraction characteristics, while causing the assembled units to function as an overall protective. sheathing.

It is also .an'object of the invention to provide a heatshielded panel construction having the aforesaid characteristics and which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to fabricate, easy to handle and readily assembled and disassembled by relatively unskilled labor, whilebeing rugged and durable in operation and extremely flexible and adaptable to difierent installations.

A heat-shielded panel construction in accord with this invention is characterized by protective sheathing, and a novel mounting arrangement supporting the sheathing in heat-shielding relation to the basic structure and enabling the sheathing to expand and contract lengthwise, widthwise and toward and away from the basic structure without distorting the same.

- .The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of a heat-shielded panel construction in accord with this invention will become clearly apparent from the. ensuing detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof taken together with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and showing such embodiment wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a heat-shielded panel construction in accord with the invention, certain parts being broken away to show details thereof;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view thereof partly in section and with certain parts broken away to show details;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view thereof taken at about right angles to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the protective' sheathing illustrating with broken lines a detail of the mounting thereof;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showthe expansion joint between adjacent sheathing'units;

2,986,247 Patented May 30, 1961 Fig. 6 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale,

.. about alongline VIVI ofFig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing another embodiment of the principles. ofconstruction,

shown in Fig. 2; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

A presently preferred embodiment of the heat-shielded.

construction according to this invention comprises one or more protective sheathing units generally designated I mounted on a primary or basic structure 2 in spaced,

heat-shielding relation thereto by means including mounting members generally designated 3 at the opposite ends.

thereof.

The basic structure 2 is the structure for which protection from heat is sought and thereforecan assume any number of different forms. However, the protective sheathing preferably is in the form of separate subassembly components or units 1, as shown in the drawing, which units can be used singly or with any number of,

other units as required by a particular installation.

The protective sheathing units 1 are preferably identical sheet material fabrications, each preferably, al-

though not necessarily comprising a substantially flab sheet metal outer panelmember 5 and a corrugated sheet metal panel member 6 secured thereto on the underside thereof as by welding, or the. like. 'This provides a reinforced protective sheathing of double walled, cored construction.

Each sheathing unit 1 is mounted on the basic structure 2 in spaced heat-shielding relation thereto by means of mounting members 3 which comprise bridge-like members extending transversely of the sheathing unit adjacent the opposite endsthereof. Members 3 are of inverted, generally U-shaped cross section and have longitudinally spaced pairs of legs 8 adjacent the opposite ends thereof. Legs 8 are provided with terminal flange portions forming feet 9 'which bear against the basic structure 2' and which are secured thereto as by rivets 10.

The top wall 12 of each mounting member 3 has down-turned terminal flanges 13 at the opposite ends.

thereof and crater-like portions 14 of inverted, frustoconical form intermediate said ends, said portions 14 being stamped or otherwise formed and having open bottoms.

As previously ,noted, mounting members 3 extendlaterally of the sheathing units 1 adjacent the opposite. ends thereof. The opposite ends of sheathing units 15 rest on the. members 3 and as clearly illustrated in Fig.

3 each mounting member'S is adapted to support in. bridging relation the adjacent ends of two sheathing units 1v arranged in end-to-end relation.

The sheathing units 1 are loosely held on mounting members 3 by holder means in the form of clamping plates 16 carried by spacer members 17. The spacer members 17 have a raised center boss-formation19 ter-1 minating at opposite sides thercofin tab portions 20 which' are secured to the top wall 12 of member 3 as by rivets. 21 and have short edge flange side reinforcing formations throughout. The raised center boss portion 19 of each member 17 has a slot 22 formed therein and elongated longitudinnaly of the mounting member 3.

The raised central boss portion 19 of each spacer mem ber 17 receives a floating anchor member 24 to which a clamping plate 16 is secured by a bolt device 25. Members 24 each have an enlarged, generally rectangular collar 26 of a width greater than the width of slots 22 which bears against the boss 19 of spacer member 17 on the underside thereof. Anchor members 24 also have a portion 27 extending through slot 22 and terminating in an. annular flange 28 against which clamping plate 16 bears. Each bolt device 25- is provided with a tapered aken adapted to be received in countersunk openings 29 in clamping plates 16, whereby upon threading bolt devices 25 into the anchor members '24 each mounting plate 16 is secured to its spacer members 17.

To provide a fiush finished assembly. the sheathing units 1 are formed to provide end portions 30 of reduced thickness, which can be accomplished by simply slightly crushing the opposite ends of the sheathing'units. The clamping plates 16 fit within the,recessed upper surfaces of end portions 30 and therefore are flush with the top of each unit 1.

In this way, each sheathing unit 1 is mounted in spaced relation to the base structure 2 to shield the latter from excessive heat. At the same time, members 3 and the spacing members 17 thereon are spaced apart slightly further than the normal length of each unit 1, and the spacing between the underside of plates 16 and the top. wall 12 of mounting member 3 exceeds the thickness of the reduced thickness end portions 30 of units 1, whereby the units 1 can expand and contract in a lengthwise direction without distorting even the mounting members 3 and spacing members 17, and are free to expand and contract toward and away from the basic structure 2. The units are free to expand and contract in a sidewise direction because of only the clamping action of plates 16 which also can move relative to mounting members 3 lengthwise thereof. Also, it will be appreciated that by reason of the fact that the joints between adjacent outer skin sheets 5 are not pressure-sealed, any air pressure changes externally thereof will be transmitted to the interior of the space between the panel strucures 1 and 2; thereby relieving the outer panel 1 of incident stresses such as are more effectively borne by the basic panel 2.

It is also a particular feature of the invention that a coolant fluid may be fed through passages within or attached to the inner panel to absorb the greatly reduced heat flow to the inner panel. The flow of coolant fluid through the structure is controlled by the configuration of the structural components interiorly thereof, and may be further controlled by placing some suitable cellular or wick-like material such as asbestos or glass wool, in the open interior portions of the structure, as indicated at 40 (Fig. 2). The outwardly facing metal surface portions of the various components of the structure may be of polished form to reduce initial heat absorption by the structure.

To hold each unit 1 against sliding sidewise oft its mounting members 3, the corrugated panel 6 of each unit 1 carries adjacent one end thereof a plate 31 having an opening 32 therein. Opening 32 is adapted to loosely receive a pin 33 welded or otherwise secured to one side wall of each mounting member 3 to extend upwardly above the top wall 12 thereof, whereby each unit 1 is held against undesired sidewise displacement while remaining free to expand and contract lengthwise, sidewise and toward and away from the basic structure 2.

It will be appreciated that the crater-like formations 14 facilitate handling of the anchor members 24 and avoid interference thereof with the top wall 12 of mounting members 3. If desired a single, centrally positioned crater formation as shown at 14 can be used with only one bolt device 25 being used to anchor the adjacent sheathing units 1 in position on each mounting member 3.

A significant advantage of the heat-shielded panel construction of this invention is that the same comprises identical mounting and sheathing units which can be formed as separate components and then assembled in any combination as required by a particular installation.

Where a number of sheathing units 1 are used in sideby-side relation, they are jointed together by an expansion joint permitting the aforesaid expansion and contraction movements and comprising a return bent and inwardly directed U-shaped portion 34 formed along one side of panel member 5 of each unit on the underside thereof which is adapted to slip-fit into an inwardly &-

set and reversely directed U-shaped portion 35 formed along the opposite side of panel member of each unit on the top side thereof. In this way, adjacent sheathing units 1 are readily slip-fitted into an assembled relation providing the expansion joints 34, 35 which insulate the basic structure 2 while avoiding interference with the desired expansion and contraction movements. Mounting members 3 and clamping plates 16 are arranged in spaced apart relation and it will be noted that even where multiple units are used, each individual unit 1 functions as a separate entity insofar as expansion and contraction movements are concerned, while cooperating with the other units to provide therewith a heat shielding sheathmg.

It is also a significant feature of the heat-shielded panel construction of this invention that, because sheathing units 1 are only loosely interconnected by the expansion joints 34, and are only loosely held on mounting members 3 by plates 16 and spacer members 17, which latter elements comprise expansion joints between the unit ends, heat transfer by conduction between adjacent units 1 and between units 1 and members 3 is much less than would be the case if more solid joints were used.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate another embodiment of the same structural principle, wherein the protective panel 1 and its corrugated stiffener 6 are supported relative to I the basic structure 2 by means of mounting members 50 each of which comprises a pair of formed metal brackets 5?,52 sectionally shaped as shown in Fig. 8 and welded together as indicated at 54, 56. The members SL-SZ are shaped at their upper ends to provide channel-like holding portions into which the marginal edges of the panels 1 are slip-fitted, to obtain the lateral expansioncontraction flexibility referred to hereinabove. As shown in Fig. 7, the legs of the support members 50 may be headed as indicated at 58 to stiffen them.

Accordingly, the heat-shielded panel construction of this invention fully accomplishes the aforesaid objects, and it is believed that the same has application in virtually any commercial field where high temperatures and/ or frictional heats might be encountered. While only two embodiments are shown in detail herein, it is not intended that the invention necessarily be limited thereto and it is believed that various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described our invention, together with its mode of operation, what we claim as new is:

1. A heat-shielded panel construction comprising a base structure, mounting members mounted on said base structure, said mounting members including outer surfaces positioned remote from said base structure, a plurality of sheathing units mounted on said mounting members, spacer members supported on the outer surfaces of said mounting members and including outer portions positioned remote from said base structure, clamping plate means carried by the outer portions of said spacer members and including outer surfaces positioned remote from said base structure, the end portions of said sheathing units being of reduced thickness to provide recesses thereat, said clamping plate means fitting within said recesses to provide a flush upper surface of the sheathing units and clamping plate means, said spacer members being spaced apart a distance greater than the normal length of each of said sheathing units, and the outer surfaces of said clamping plate means being spaced from the outer surfaces of said mounting members by a distance greater than the normal thickness of the reduced end portions of the sheathing units, whereby the sheathing units can expand and contract in a lengthwise direction and are further free to expand and contract toward nad away from the base structure.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping plate means is mounted for relative movement lengthwise of said mounting members, said mounting members References Cited in the file of this patent extending transversely of said sheathing units, whereby UNITED STATES PATENTS said sheathing units are also free to expand and con 1900111 Howard Mar 7 1933 "actmasldmw 5 2,067,252 Whelan Jan. 12, 1931 3. Apparatus as defined 1n claim 1, wherem the sheath- 2,114,155 Streich AWL 12' 3 ing units are disposed in side-by-side relation, the side 7 75 Swanson May 2, 1944 ge p t s f i units being of complementary 2,620,906 Ketchum Dec. 9, 1952 figuration and slip-fitted with respect to one another to 2,655,238 Langvand Oct. 13, 19-53 provide an expansion joint permitting expansion and 10 2,656,902 Gotshall Oct. 27, 1953 contraction of the units with respect to one another. 2,694,475 Grafton Nov. 1-6, 1954

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