VACUUM INSULATION ELEMENT FOR USE AS A PRESSURE- AND IMPACT-RESISTANT, SELF-SUPPORTING ELEMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vacuum insulation element for use as a pressure- and impact-resistant, self-supporting element comprising a supporting body and a foil casing surrounding the supporting body, and wherein the foil casing, at least in sections, comprises a fiber composite material.

Claims

1. Vacuum insulation element for use as a pressure- and impact-resistant, self-supporting element comprising a supporting body and a foil casing surrounding the supporting body, and wherein the foil casing, at least in sections, comprises a fiber composite material.

2. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 1, wherein the fiber composite material comprises thermosetting, elastomeric and/or thermoplastic materials.

3. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 2, wherein the thermosetting and/or thermoplastic materials include phenolic, epoxy, polyimide or silicone resin, cyanate esters or combinations thereof.

4. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 1, wherein the fiber composite material comprises reinforcing fibers of glass, aramide and/or carbon fibers.

5. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 1, wherein the fiber composite material is designed to completely surround the foil casing.

6. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum insulation element is a vacuum insulation panel.

7. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 6, wherein the foil casing comprises a sealed seam, and wherein the sealed seam is folded so as to rest against the supporting body.

8. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 6, wherein the vacuum insulation panel includes a recess.

9. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 6, wherein the fiber composite material comprises an edge portion, and wherein the edge portion is designed to protrude from an edge of the vacuum insulation panel by at least 2 mm.

10. Vacuum insulation element according to claim 1, wherein threads, metal elements, magnets, retainers and/or hinges are incorporated in the fiber composite material.

11. Method of manufacturing a vacuum insulation element according to claim 1, comprising the following steps of: providing a vacuum insulation element comprising a supporting body (step A); and encasing the supporting body with a foil casing comprising a fiber composite material (step B).

12. Method of claim 11, wherein the step of encasing the supporting body comprises encasing the supporting body with a foil casing and applying a fiber composite material onto the foil casing.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein the step of encasing the supporting body includes complete and/or partial encasing thereof.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein the application of the fiber composite material is carried out by means of manual lamination or spraying or winding or prepreg technology or resin transfer molding.

15. Method according to claim 11, wherein the application of the fiber composite material is carried out without pressure and at ambient temperature, under pressure and heat, or without pressure under heat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a first vacuum insulation element;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the first vacuum insulation element of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of a second vacuum insulation element;

[0017] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the second vacuum insulation element of FIG. 3;

[0018] FIG. 5 shows a schematic top view of a third vacuum insulation element; and

[0019] FIG. 6 shows a schematic sectional view of the third vacuum insulation element of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] According to a preferred aspect, the fiber composite material comprises thermosetting, elastomeric and/or thermoplastic materials. The fiber composite material, for example, can be pre-impregnated with thermosetting and/or thermoplastic materials in a prepreg process. The exoskeleton can be adapted to specific applications by appropriately selecting the fabric structure and the thermosetting or thermoplastic materials used.

[0021] According to another preferred aspect, the thermosetting and/or thermoplastic materials include phenolic, epoxy, polyimide or silicone resin, cyanate esters or combinations thereof.

[0022] According to a particularly preferred aspect, the fiber composite material comprises reinforcing fibers of glass, aramide or carbon fibers. The fiber composite material can be designed in the form of rovings, filaments, hybrid yarns, woven fabrics, interlaid scrims, warp-knitted fabrics, knitted fabrics or non-woven fabrics. The fiber composite material may be selected with respect to resistance to mechanical and thermal effects or chemicals.

[0023] According to an advantageous aspect, the fiber composite material is designed to completely surround the foil casing. This makes it possible to realize comprehensive protection against damage to the foil casing by mechanical and thermal effects or chemicals. In this context, several vacuum insulation elements can be laminated together, whereby, for example, a hinge element can be formed or incorporated.

[0024] According to a particularly advantageous aspect, the foil casing comprises a sealed seam. In this regard, the sealed seam is folded so as to rest against the supporting body. The sealed seam can be formed by thermal welding. Thereby, the sealed seam can project beyond the supporting body.

[0025] According to a preferred aspect, the vacuum insulation panel includes a recess. Thereby, the foil casing and/or the fiber composite material can straddle the recess.

[0026] According to another preferred aspect, the fiber composite material includes an edge portion. In this context, the edge portion is designed to protrude from an edge of the vacuum insulation panel by at least 2 mm.

[0027] According to a particularly preferred aspect, threads, metal elements, magnets, retainers and/or hinges are incorporated into the fiber composite material.

[0028] The invention encompasses a method of manufacturing a vacuum insulation element according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps of: providing a vacuum insulation element comprising a supporting body (step A); and encasing the supporting body with a foil casing comprising a fiber composite material (step B).

[0029] According to an advantageous aspect, the step of encasing the supporting body comprises encasing the supporting body with a foil casing and applying a fiber composite material onto the foil casing.

[0030] According to a further advantageous aspect, the step of encasing the supporting body comprises complete and/or partial encasing thereof. This makes it possible to achieve protection against damage to the foil casing by mechanical effects or chemicals.

[0031] According to a particularly advantageous aspect, the application of the fiber composite material is carried out by means of manual lamination or fiber spraying or winding or prepreg technology or resin transfer molding.

[0032] According to a preferred aspect, the application of the fiber composite material is carried out without pressure and at ambient temperature or under pressure and heat. The application is also possible at ambient temperature with pressure or at a higher temperature without pressure.

[0033] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail using the examples shown in the attached drawings. Identical reference signs refer to identical features in all figures.

[0034] FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 each show a schematic top view of a first, second and third vacuum insulation element 1 and FIG. 2, FIG. 4 and FIG. 6 each show a schematic sectional view of the first, second and third vacuum insulation element 1.

[0035] The vacuum insulation element 1 shown in each case is designed as a vacuum insulation panel and is particularly suitable for use as a pressure-resistant and impact-resistant, self-supporting element. In this regard, the vacuum insulation element 1 comprises a supporting body 2 and a foil casing 3 surrounding the supporting body 2. In the examples shown, the supporting body 2 is formed from fumed silica and the foil casing 3 is formed from a metallized plastic foil.

[0036] The foil casing 3 comprises a fiber composite material 4 which completely surrounds the foil casing. This makes it possible to realize particularly effective protection against damage to the foil casing by mechanical and thermal effects or chemicals.

[0037] The fiber composite material 4 is designed as a woven fabric comprising reinforcing aramide fibers and is particularly suitable in terms of resistance to mechanical effects.

[0038] The fiber composite material 4 was applied onto the foil casing 3 under pressure and heat. Here, the fiber composite material 4 comprises thermosetting and thermoplastic materials, which were pre-impregnated in a prepreg process.

[0039] The fiber composite material 2 comprises an edge portion 21, which edge portion 21 is formed to protrude from an edge of the vacuum insulation panel by at least 2 mm.

[0040] The foil casing 3 comprises a sealed seam 31 which is folded so as to rest against the supporting body 2. Here, the sealed seam 31 is formed by thermal welding.

[0041] The sealed seam 31 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 projects beyond the supporting body 2.

[0042] The sealed seam 31 shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 does not project beyond the supporting body 2.

[0043] The vacuum insulation element 1 shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 comprises a recess 11, wherein the foil casing 3 and the fiber composite material 4 straddle the recess 11.