Corrosion test chamber

Abstract

A multilayer temperature control shell for a test chamber to control the temperature within the interior of the test chamber wherein the multilayer temperature control shell comprises an inner temperature generating zone and an outer temperature insulating zone disposed between an interior layer of sealant and an exterior layer of sealant.

Claims

1. A multilayer temperature control shell for a test chamber to increase the efficiency of temperature transfer to the interior of the test chamber to control the temperature within the interior of the test chamber wherein said multilayer temperature control shell comprises an inner temperature generating zone and an outer temperature insulating zone disposed between an interior layer of sealant and an exterior layer of sealant.

2. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 1 wherein said inner temperature generating zone comprises an interior layer of temperature conductive material, a layer of temperature distribution material disposed adjacent to said interior layer of temperature conductive material and an interior layer of insulation material disposed adjacent to said outer temperature insulating zone.

3. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 2 wherein said layer of temperature distribution material and said interior layer of insulation material are disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to cooperatively form a space of gap therebetween to receive a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of cooling elements.

4. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 4 wherein said interior layer of temperature conductive material comprises a fiber glass impregnated with a mixture of resin and temperature conductive metallic powder.

5. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 4 wherein said layer of temperature distribution material comprises a sheet or film of aluminum, copper or other heat conductive material.

6. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 5 wherein said layer of insulation material comprises an aluminized mineral fiber.

7. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 2 wherein said layer of temperature distribution material comprises a sheet or film of aluminum, copper or other heat conductive material.

8. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 7 wherein said layer of insulation material comprises an aluminized mineral fiber.

9. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 2 wherein said layer of insulation material comprises an aluminized mineral fiber.

10. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 1 wherein said outer temperature insulating zone comprises a fluid jacket formed between said inner layer of insulation material of said inner temperature generating zone and an exterior layer of insulation material.

11. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 1 wherein said interior layer of sealant forming the interior surface of the test chamber and said exterior layer of sealant forming the exterior surface of the test chamber comprise a gel-like coating.

12. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 1 wherein said inner temperature generating zone comprises an interior layer of temperature conductive material, a layer of temperature distribution material disposed adjacent to said interior layer of temperature conductive material and an interior layer of insulation material disposed adjacent to said outer temperature insulating zone, said layer of temperature distribution material and said interior layer of insulation material are disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to cooperatively form a space of gap therebetween to receive a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of cooling elements, and said outer temperature insulating zone comprises a fluid jacket formed between said inner layer of insulation material of said inner temperature generating zone and an exterior layer of insulation material.

13. The multilayer temperature control shell of claim 12 wherein said interior layer of temperature conductive material comprises a fiberglass impregnated with a mixture of resin and temperature conductive metallic powder, said layer of temperature distribution material comprises a sheet or film of aluminum, copper or other heat conductive material, and said layer of insulation material comprises an aluminized mineral fiber.

14. A multilayer temperature control liner for a test chamber to increase the temperature coefficient of the multilayer temperature control liner for efficient temperature transfer into the interior of the test chamber wherein said multilayer temperature control barrier comprises an inner temperature generating zone disposed between an interior layer of sealant and an outer shell.

15. The multilayer temperature control liner of claim 14 wherein said inner temperature generating zone comprises an interior layer of temperature conductive material, a layer of temperature distribution material disposed adjacent to said interior layer of temperature conductive material and an interior layer of insulation material disposed adjacent to said outer temperature insulating zone.

16. The multilayer temperature control liner of claim 15 wherein said layer of temperature distribution material and said interior layer of insulation material are disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to cooperatively form a space of gap therebetween to receive a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of cooling elements.

17. The multilayer temperature control liner of claim 16 wherein said interior layer of temperature conductive material comprises a fiber glass impregnated with a mixture of resin and temperature conductive metallic powder.

18. A method for producing the multilayer temperature control liner to control the temperature within the interior of the test chamber comprising the steps of: fabricating a mold configured in the shape of the test chamber, applying a layer of resin or sealant to the exterior of the mold, allowing the layer of resin or sealant to dry, applying a layer temperature conductive material to the layer of resin or sealant, affixing a layer of temperature conductive film to the layer of temperature conductive material with resin, allowing the resin used to affix the layer of temperature conductive material to the layer of temperature conductive material, securing heating elements to the layer of temperature conductive material, applying a layer of insulation material to the outside of the heating elements, applying a layer of resin or sealant to the exterior or outside surface of the layer of insulation material, and allowing the layer of resin or sealant to dry.

19. The method for producing the multilayer temperature control liner of claim 18 wherein the layer of temperature conductive material comprises a fibrous material impregnated with temperature conductive metallic powder.

20. The method for producing the multilayer temperature control liner of claim 19 wherein the fibrous material is further impregnated with resin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a test chamber including the multilayer temperature control shell of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a front view of a test chamber including the multilayer temperature control shell of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the multilayer temperature control shell of the present invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the multilayer temperature control shell of the present invention taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

[0039] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention relates to a multilayer temperature control shell generally indicated as 10 for a test chamber generally indicated as 12 to control the temperature within the interior 14 of the test chamber 12. The multilayer temperature control shell 10 includes a layer of resin impregnated with a metallic powder or particles to increase the temperature coefficient of the multilayer temperature control shell 10.

[0041] The test chamber 12 comprises the multilayer temperature control shell 10 having a cover or lid 16 hingedly coupled thereto to form a cavity within the interior 14 of the test chamber 12 when the cover or lid 16 is closed. Test specimens or work pieces (not shown) are placed into the interior 14 of the test chamber 12 where the test specimens or work pieces (not shown) are exposed to mist, humidity, acids, saline solutions or other deleterious environmental conditions often through a spray manifold or nozzle 17.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the multilayer temperature control shell 10 comprises an inner temperature generating zone generally indicated as 18 and an outer temperature insulating zone generally indicated as 20 disposed between an interior layer of sealant 22 forming the interior surface 24 of the test chamber 12 and an exterior layer of sealant 26 forming the exterior surface 28 of the test chamber 12.

[0043] The inner temperature generating zone 18 comprises a interior layer of temperature conductive material 30, a layer of temperature distribution material 32 disposed adjacent to the interior layer of temperature conductive material 30 and an interior layer of insulation material 34 disposed adjacent to the outer temperature insulating zone 20. The layer of temperature distribution material 32 and the interior layer of insulation material 34 are disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to cooperatively form a space or gap 36 therebetween to receive a plurality of heating elements each indicated as 38 and a plurality of cooling elements each indicated as 40. The outer surface or exterior of the interior layer of insulation material 34 is coated with resin to form a fluid proof barrier.

[0044] The interior layer of temperature conductive material 30 may comprise a fibrous material such as fiber glass impregnated with a mixture of at least about 75% bisphenol epoxy vinyl ester resin and from about 4% to about 20% temperature conductive metallic powder all by weight applied in a thickness of from about 5 mm to about 8 mm. The metallic powder may comprise aluminum DIN 100 (granulometry), copper DIN 100 (granulometry) or other metal with high thermal coefficient. Alternatively, the temperature conductive material may comprise temperature conductive particles such as aluminum, copper or other suitable metals.

[0045] The layer of temperature distribution material 32 may comprise a sheet or film of aluminum, copper or other heat conductive material ranging in thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm.

[0046] The layer of insulation material 34 may comprise an aluminized mineral fiber about 3 inches thick.

[0047] The outer temperature insulating zone 20 comprises a fluid jacket 42 about 50 mm wide formed between the inner layer of insulation material 34 of the inner temperature generating zone 18 and an exterior layer of insulation material 44 ranging in thickness from about 25 mm to about 50 mm and the exterior layer of sealant 26.

[0048] The interior layer of sealant 22 forming the interior surface 24 of the test chamber 12 and the exterior layer of sealant 26 form the exterior surface 28 of the test chamber 12 may comprise a gel-like coating such as bisphenol epoxy vinyl ester resin applied in a thickness of from shout 500 μm to about 1 mm.

[0049] The heating elements 38 may comprise individual silicone heating elements, a continuous element of resistive wire or conductor, individual strands of resistive wire or conductor coupled to a power source (not shown) to selectively heat the space or gap 36 formed between the layer of temperature distribution material 32 and the interior layer of insulation material 34. The cooling element 40 may comprise a continuous serpentine cooling coil or individual cooling elements coupled to a refrigeration system (not shown) to selectively cool the space or gap 36 formed between the layer of temperature distribution material 32 and the interior layer of insulation material 34.

[0050] Whether heating or cooling, the energy is distributed over the layer of temperature distribution material 32 and transferred to the interior 14 of the test chamber 12 by conduction through the interior layer of temperature conductive material 30.

[0051] The operation of the test chamber 12 is controlled through a control panel 46 employing existing state of the art sensors and control logic.

[0052] An alternate embodiment of the present invention comprises a multilayer temperature control liner for the test chamber 12 to control the temperature within the interior 14 of the test chamber 12.

[0053] The test chamber 12 comprises an outer shell 10 having a cover or lid 16 hingedly coupled thereto to form a cavity within the interior 14 of the test chamber 12 when the cover or lid 16 is closed. Test specimens or work pieces (not shown) are placed into the interior 14 of the test chamber 12 where the test specimens or work pieces (not shown) are exposed to mist, humidity, acids, saline solutions or other deleterious environmental conditions often through a spray manifold or nozzle 17.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the multilayer temperature control liner or inner temperature generating zone 18 is disposed between the interior layer of sealant 22 forming the interior surface 24 of the test chamber 12 and the outer shell 10.

[0055] The inner temperature generating zone 18 comprises the interior layer of temperature conductive material 30, the layer of temperature distribution material 32 disposed adjacent to the interior layer of temperature conductive material 30 and an interior layer of insulation material 34 disposed adjacent to the outer shell 10. The layer of temperature distribution material 32 and the interior layer of insulation material 34 are disposed in spaced relationship relative to each other to cooperatively form a space or gap 36 therebetween to receive a plurality of heating elements each indicated as 38 and a plurality of cooling elements each indicated as 40. The outer surface or exterior of the interior layer of insulation material is coated with resin to form a fluid proof barrier.

[0056] The interior layer of temperature conductive material 30 may comprise a fibrous material such as fiber glass impregnated with a mixture of at least about 75% bisphenol epoxy vinyl ester resin and from about 4% to about 20% temperature conductive metallic powder all by weight applied in a thickness of from about 5 mm to about 8 mm. The metallic powder may comprise aluminum DIN 100 (granulometry), copper DIN 100 (granulometry) or other metal with high thermal coefficient. Alternatively, the temperature conductive material may comprise temperature conductive particles such as aluminum, copper or other suitable metals.

[0057] The layer of temperature distribution material 32 may comprise a sheet or film of aluminum, copper or other heat conductive material ranging in thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 0.8 mm.

[0058] The layer of insulation material 34 may comprise an aluminized mineral fiber about 3 inches thick.

[0059] The outer shell 10 comprises a fluid jacket 42 about 50 mm wide formed between the inner layer of insulation material 34 of the inner temperature generating zone 18 and an exterior layer of insulation material 44 ranging in thickness from about 25 mm to about 50 mm and the exterior layer of sealant 26.

[0060] The interior layer of sealant 22 forming the interior surface 24 of the test chamber 12 and the exterior layer of sealant 26 form the exterior surface 28 of the test chamber 12 may comprise a gel-like coating such as bisphenol epoxy vinyl ester resin applied in a thickness of from about 500 μm to about 1 mm.

[0061] The heating elements 38 may comprise individual silicone heating elements, a continuous element of resistive wire or conductor, individual strands of resistive wire or conductor coupled to a power source (not shown) to selectively heat the space or gap 36 formed between the layer of temperature distribution material 32 and the interior layer of insulation material 34. The cooling element 40 may comprise a continuous serpentine cooling coil or individual cooling elements coupled to a refrigeration system (not shown) to selectively cool the space or gap 36 formed between the layer of temperature distribution material 32 and the interior layer of insulation material 34.

[0062] To assemble the test chamber 12, the multilayer temperature control liner 18 is placed inside the outer shell 10 and capped around the upper portion or periphery forming the fluid jacket 42 between the interior layer of insulation material 34 and the exterior layer of insulation material 44.

[0063] Whether heating or cooling, the energy is distributed over the layer of temperature distribution material 32 and transferred to the interior 14 of the test chamber 12 by conduction through the interior layer of temperature conductive material 30.

[0064] The method for producing the multilayer temperature control liner to control the temperature within the interior of the test chamber comprising the steps of: [0065] fabricating a mold configured in the shape of the test chamber, [0066] polishing the exterior of the mold, [0067] applying a layer of resin or sealant to the exterior of the mold, [0068] allowing the layer of resin or sealant to dry, [0069] applying a layer temperature conductive fibrous material to the layer of resin or sealant, [0070] allowing the layer of temperature conductive fiberous material to dry, [0071] affixing a layer of temperature conductive film to the layer of temperature conductive fibrous material with resin, [0072] allowing the resin used to affix the layer of temperature conductive material to the layer of temperature conductive fiberous material, [0073] securing heating elements and cooling coils to the layer of temperature conductive material, [0074] securing or applying a layer of insulation material to the outside of the heating elements and the cooling coils, and [0075] applying a layer of resin or sealant to the exterior or outside surface of the layer of insulation.

[0076] It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0077] It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

[0078] Now that the invention has been described,