An auger feeder includes a hopper having an inner hopper wall and an outer hopper wall where the inner hopper wall includes an air permeable surface. A space is positioned between the inner and outer hopper walls. A heater is coupled to an outside edge of the inner hopper wall or a n outside edge of the outer hopper wall while a feed screw is positioned along an inside edge of the inner hopper wall. The auger feeder additionally includes an evacuator coupled to a vacuum port that is positioned in the outer hopper wall. The auger feeder also includes an aperture exit positioned at a bottom of the inner and outer hopper walls.

The present invention concerns a method of producing an insulation product comprising a board of porous insulation material wrapped in a gas-impermeable foil, said method comprising the steps of providing a succession of porous insulation material boards on a first conveyor apparatus and feeding the boards on a second conveyor apparatus; providing wrapping foil and wrapping said foil to form a tube around the boards on said second conveyor apparatus, flushing the boards with an insulating gas, and sealing the wrapping foil at the ends of each board transverse to the direction of travel of the second conveyor apparatus.

A thermal insulator, a vacuum insulation member, and a method of manufacturing a vacuum insulation member maintaining reliability and having an excellent thermal insulation property. The thermal insulator thermally insulates a thermal insulation target disposed on one surface side of a vacuum insulation member including a core and an outer covering member enclosing the core, from an outer region located on an other surface side of the vacuum insulation member. The vacuum insulation member includes a radiation prevention film configured to prevent or reduce radiation. The radiation prevention film is disposed between the core and the outer covering member and in a peripheral region on the other surface side.

An insulation structure for an appliance includes a cabinet having an outer wrapper and an inner liner, with an insulating cavity defined therebetween. Insulating powder material is disposed substantially throughout the insulating cavity. An insulating gas is disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating powder material is combined with the insulating gas and cooperatively defines a suspended state and a precipitated state. The suspended state is defined by the insulating gas in motion and the insulating powder being in an aeolian suspension within the insulating gas while in motion. The precipitated state is defined by the insulating gas being in a deposition state and the insulating powder being precipitated from the insulating gas and deposited within the insulating cavity.

An insulation structure for an appliance includes a cabinet having an outer wrapper and an inner liner, with an insulating cavity defined therebetween. Insulating powder material is disposed substantially throughout the insulating cavity. An insulating gas is disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating powder material is combined with the insulating gas and cooperatively defines a suspended state and a precipitated state. The suspended state is defined by the insulating gas in motion and the insulating powder being in an aeolian suspension within the insulating gas while in motion. The precipitated state is defined by the insulating gas being in a deposition state and the insulating powder being precipitated from the insulating gas and deposited within the insulating cavity.

A vacuum heat-insulation material includes: at least one first fiber member; at least one second member that is placed around an outer peripheral part of the at least one first fiber member and that is thinner than an inner part; and at least one shell material that surrounds the at least one first fiber member and the at least one second fiber member.

Air permeable core material is vacuum sealed in enveloping member. Further, core material is formed of at least two layers of heat insulating core materials having different heat conductivities. Further, at least two of the at least two layers of heat insulating core materials which form core material are formed of materials having change gradients in the heat conductivity changed in accordance with temperature, and the change gradients in the heat conductivity of the heat insulating core materials intersect with each other. Since two layers of heat insulating core materials having different heat conductivities are provided in a vacuum state, a heat insulating property becomes higher compared to a conventional configuration in which a single layer of the heat insulating core material formed of fiber material such as glass wool or rock wool is vacuum sealed and the high heat insulating property is shown in a wide temperature range.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for transporting sets of items at different temperatures using a modular system, which comprises a cooler, a detachable tote, and a means of securely affixing the tote to the top of the cooler for facilitating compact portability. In more detail, the Modular Cooler Apparatus and System invention comprises a soft-sided cooler comprising an insulated base and an insulated lid that connect together in a sealable fashion using a water proof zipper, lower strap connection points, and connecting support straps with connectors; a detachable soft-sided tote comprising a waterproof polyester exterior, a pocket, handle straps, upper strap connection points; and connecting straps comprising webbing, stitched loops, and tension locks with gates, which securely bind the detachable tote pack to the top of the cooler in a well-balanced fashion.

A portable case is particularly configured to store compression garments, and heat and cold packs to maintain respective elevated and reduced temperatures of the heat and cold packs when stored therein. The case includes a first shell coupled to a second shell to pivot between open and closed positions. A zipper releasably secures the two shells together in the closed position. A first thermal insulating material lines the interior of the first shell. A periphery of a second thermal insulating material is fixedly secured to the interior of the first shell a distance away from its full depth forming an insulated compartment. A third thermal insulating material subdivides the compartment into a first insulated sub-compartment for storing heat packs, and a second insulated sub-compartment for simultaneously storing cold packs in a compact arrangement. First and second zippers respectively provide access into the first and second insulated sub-compartment.

An insulation delivery apparatus for forming an insulated appliance structure includes an insulated structure having a wrapper and a liner that define an interior cavity and a hopper having a storage bin and a delivery mechanism. The delivery mechanism delivers an insulating medium from the storage bin, through an insulation conduit and into the interior cavity. The delivery mechanism operates between idle and delivery states. A pressing mechanism is coupled with the insulation conduit and is in selective engagement with the insulated structure. The pressing mechanism operates between rest and compressing states. An inner support is in selective engagement with an outer surface of the inner liner and an operable outer support in selective engagement with the outer wrapper. The inner support and the operable outer support provide structural support to the insulated structure when the pressing mechanism is in the compressing state.