US3364642A

US3364642A - Temperature controlled environmental enclosure with modular panels

Info

Publication number: US3364642A
Application number: US464515A
Authority: US
Inventors: Bernard I Blickman
Original assignee: S BLICKMAN Inc
Current assignee: S BLICKMAN Inc
Priority date: 1965-06-16
Filing date: 1965-06-16
Publication date: 1968-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 1985-01-23

Description

Jan. 23, 1968 B. 1. BLICKMAN TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED ENVlRONMLN'xAh ENCLOSURE WITH NODULAR PANELS Filed June 16, 1965 INVENTOR ckma/v United States Patent 3,354,642 TEMPERATURE CSNTRGLLED ENVIRON- P'QEFTAL ENCLQURE WITH MODULAR PANELS Bernard l. Biiclonan, New York, N.Y., assignor to S. Elickznan, lnc., Weehawhen, NJ. Filed .lune 16, 1965, Ser. No. 64,515 1 Claim. (Cl. 52-403) ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLQSURE An environmental enclosure or room wherein temperature and humidity are controlled over specified ranges. Said enclosure having paneled walls, roof and floor, each panel having rigid cellular plastic thermally-insulated cores spaced from each other. Sheet metal plates are bonded to opposite sides of the cores, one plate terminating in a flange, flanges on adjacent plates being closely spaced from each other, a resilient gasket strip between the flanges, spring clips securing the gasket and flanges to each other, and a plastic block assembly between adjacent ends of spaced adjacent cores, each assembly including a resilient plastic sponge block with a comparatively rigid plastic narrow block on each side of the sponge block.

This invention relates to an improved construction for a closed environment enclosure or room wherein temperature and humidity are controlled over specified ranges.

According to the invention, there is provided a rectangular, closed enclosure having walls, roof, floor and door panels made of blocks of foam plastic encased inside the outside in sheet metal, such as aluminum. The panels are modular in construction and arranged so that the enclosure can be erected by means of pressure fittings forming vapor tight thermally-insulated seals between adjacent panels. The flanged panels are sealed to one another by synthetic rubber gaskets.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an environment enclosure having walls, floor and roof formed of comparatively rigid modular thermallyinsulated panels.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved joint between adjacent spaced cores of panels forming the wall structure of the enclosure.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a joint between adjacent panels including an assembly of a plastic compressible sponge block and a comparatively rigid plastic block on each side of the sponge block.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an environment enclosure embodying the invention, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of FIG. 1, on an enlarged scale, parts being shown disassembled and parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a joint between the wall panels.

Referring now more in detail to the various views of the drawings wherein similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts, in FIG. 1 there is shown an environmental enclosure made in accordance with the invention. The enclosure includes a horizontal floor 12 and roof 14, vertical opposing side walls 15, rear wall-17 and front wall 18. The walls are composed of panels P1.

3,3545% Patented Jan. 23, 1%68 A door 20 closes an opening 21 in the front wall 13. The door is mounted on hinges 22 and is held closed by a latch not shown. Above the door there is provided a screened opening for exhausting air from the enclosure.

On the roof there is provided an electrical junction box 26. This box contains relays for control of components inside the enclosure. A power cable 23 is connected to this box to supply electric power. A switch 30 on the front wall 18 is connected to box 26.

The front and side walls are assembled from flat rectangular modular panels P1; see FIG. 2. Each of the wall panels has a flat, rigid rectangular thermally-insulated core 32 made of closed expanded plastic such as polystyrene, polyurethane or the like. On the outer side of each wall panel, there is a metal sheet or plate 34 preferably made of aluminum. A similar metal sheet 36 is provided on the inner side of each wall panel.

The

plates

34 and 36 are bonded to opposite sides of the cores 32 to form a rigid structure. The end edges of the outer plates 34 extend beyond the opposite end edges of the cores 32 and then are turned inwardly to form flanges 35 remote from the end edges of the adjacent cores. The flanges 35 are closely spaced from each other and interposed in the space between the flanges there is interposed a resilient non-porous gasket strip 38 running the full length of the flanges. The flanges 35 and gasket strip 38 are secured in position by means of a U-shaped metal clip 39 at the top and bottom thereof and intermediate locations therebetween. A space 4 1 is left between adjacent cores 32.

In accordance with the present invention, an improved vapor'tight joint assembly 42 fills and seals the space 41 between adjacent cores 32. This joint includes an elongated thick block 44 extending from top to bottom of the cores 32 in FIG. 1, with a narrow block 46 on each side of the block 44 and suitably fastened thereto by adhesive or the like. The block 44 is formed of resilient, cellular, expanded plastic sponge material, and the

narrower blocks

46, 46 are formed of comparatively rigid plastic material, such as polystyrene, polyurethane or the like.

The joint or block assembly 42 is slightly wider than the width of the space 41 between adjacent cores 32 and in assembling the joint or block assembly is squeezed F compressing the sponge block 44 and fitting the joint or block assembly in the space 36 in abutting relation with the ends of the adjacent cores as shown in FIG. 2. During this operation, the joint comprising the flanges 35 and gasket 33 is pressed into the material of the block 44 thereby becoming embedded therein with the material of the block around the joint as seen in FIG. 2. The sponge block 44 will expand once the assembly is in place to tightly force the rigid blocks 4-6, 46 against the edges of the panel cores 32.

The enclosure described is arranged so that all walls, the floor, roof and door are thermally insulated by thick, rigid cellular cores covered inside and outside by metal plates. The thermal insulation is continuous at all joints which are vapor tight and flush with the outer Walls. The door hermetically seals the opening 21 when the door is closed. Thus it is possible to control completely the temperature and humidity of air within the enclosure.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. An environmental enclosure of the type described, said enclosure having front and rear walls, side walls,

3 horizontal roof and horizontal floor, a plurality of panels forming said walls, roof and fioor, each of said panels having a rigid cellular plastic thermally-insulated core, said cores being spaced from each other, sheet metal plates bonded to opposite sides of said cores, one plate on the outer side of each core extending laterally beyond the edge of the core and terminating in a flange turned inwardly toward the other plate in the space between the cores, the flanges on adjacent outer plates being closely spaced from each other, a resilient gasket strip in the space between the closely spaced flanges, spring clips securing the gasket and spaced flanges to each other, at the top and bottom ends thereof, said flanges and gasket forming a vapor-tight, pressure sealed joint, and a plastic block assembly between adjacent ends of the spaced adjacent cores, said assembly including a resilient plastic sponge block with a comparatively rigid plastic narrow block of material similar to the core on each side of the sponge block, said block assembly being fitted in and secured in the space between the adjacent cores, the

flanges of said one plate, said gasket and said spring clips being embedded in the sponge block in the space between adjacent cores, said block assembly being normally of greater width than the space between cores of the assembled panels and hand-squeezed compressible to be readily assembled upon the joined flanges and gasket strip and between the cores, said rigid side blocks rendering the block assembly self-supporting before assembly into the space between the cores.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,016,404 10/1935 Warner 94-182 2,023,529 12/1935 Jussen 94-182 2,240,787 5/1941 Kinzer 94-182 3,252,258 5/1966 Blickman 52403 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.