The modular pin spotting system described herein allows a common welding source to be utilized with both hand held pinspotters and fixed pinspotters. This allows the operator to choose the mode of operation for the welding source based on operator needs. In some aspects, the pin spotting system includes a mobile welding source, a ground handpiece, a handheld pinspotter apparatus, and a fixed pinspotter apparatus. The welding source is removably attachable to either of the hand held pinspotter apparatus and fixed pinspotter apparatus and configured to supply welding energy to the attached pinspotter apparatus. Each of the hand held and fixed pinspotter apparatus are configured to energize the mobile welding source to supply welding energy to a weld pin positioned against a sheet metal surface to affix the weld pin to the sheet metal surface through welding.

A method for forming a super-insulating material for a vacuum insulated structure includes disposing glass spheres within a rotating drum. A plurality of interstitial spaces are defined between the glass spheres. A binder material is disposed within the rotating drum. The glass spheres and the at least one binder material are rotated within the rotating drum, wherein the binder material is mixed during a first mixing stage with the glass spheres. A first insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The binder material, the first insulating material and the glass spheres are mixed to define an insulating base. A second insulating material is disposed within the rotating drum. The secondary insulating material is mixed with the insulating base to define a homogenous form of the super-insulating material, wherein the first and second insulating materials occupy substantially all of the interstitial spaces.

A magnetic liquid damping shock absorber includes a housing, a thermal insulating material layer, a mass block and a magnetic liquid. The housing defines a sealed cavity, the sealed cavity has a first wall face and a second wall face opposite in a first direction and a circumferential wall face located between the first wall face and the second wall face in the first direction. The thermal insulating material layer is provided on an outer surface of the housing, on a wall face of the sealed cavity or in a housing wall of the housing. The mass block is located in the sealed cavity, and the mass block and the housing define a magnetic liquid cavity therebetween. The magnetic liquid is filled in the magnetic liquid cavity.

A conduit thermal shield that may include a section of shielding material having opposing ends connected by a connector. The shielding material is configured to wrap around a pipe with the opposing ends connecting via the connector. In various embodiments, the shielding material may be sections of a roped material, such as sisal rope, and the connectors may include one or more cooperating magnets disposed at or near opposing ends of the shielding material and the connectors may be adjustable.

The present invention provides compositions and methods related to aerogel materials, including polyimide-based aerogels. In particular, aerogel materials optimized to have certain physical and chemical properties such as flexural and compressive strength are provided. In some embodiments, the aerogel materials can be at least partially carbonized.

Provided are a composite type heat insulator having an excellent heat insulating properties at high temperatures regardless of its thin body, and a method for producing the same. The composite type heat insulator comprises a first and a second cloths composed of silica fibers having a hydroxyl group; and a heat insulating layer sandwiched between the first and the second cloths. The heat insulating layer contains a silica aerogel and silica staple fibers having a fiber length of 0.5 to 5 mm. The heat insulating layer may optionally contain an infrared absorber and/or a film-forming inorganic binder.

An appliance cabinet includes a structural envelope having an exterior surface and an interior surface that defines an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity defines an at least partial vacuum. A plurality of silica-based agglomerates are disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each agglomerate of the plurality of silica-based agglomerates includes silica-based powder insulation material that is water-densified and is at least substantially free of a material binder. A secondary insulation material is disposed within interstitial spaces defined between the plurality of silica-based agglomerates, wherein the plurality of silica-based agglomerates defines an interior structure that resists inward compressive forces exerted as a result of the at least partial vacuum defined within the insulating cavity.

A hybrid compound for insulating a substrate is formed by dispersing functionalized inorganic nanomaterials in a non-toxic reagent at a controlled pH using volatile bases to form an aqueous dispersion. The aqueous dispersion is then stirred to form the hybrid compound. The compound is then applied to a substrate and dried to from an insulating layer. The insulating layer protects the substrate from temperatures exceeding 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

A sol composition for aerogel formation including a hydrolysis product of a polysiloxane compound.

A subsea pipeline has a steel pipe surrounded by a thermally-insulating coating system having at least one thermal insulation layer. The thermal insulation layer has a thermally-insulating matrix in which elongate tensile elements of a thermoplastic polymer, such as monofilament yarns, are embedded. The pipe is preheated to promote bonding between the matrix and the elongate elements and between successive layers of the coating system.