Abstract:
The present invention discloses a thermal insulating blanket ( 10 ) including an insulating core ( 41 ) encased in a fibrous envelope with at least one breather vent ( 50 ) in the upper portion of the outer enveloping cover ( 31 ) and at least one drain opening ( 60 ) in the lower portion of the outer enveloping cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/934,384 filed Jun. 13, 2007, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to insulating blankets and more specifically to insulation blankets for high temperature systems. The blanket can be selectively manufactured to encompass turbines, pumps and valves, piping/conduit (straight, elbows, valves, T&#39;s and Y&#39;s), fans and blowers, nuclear components, exchangers, headers and tanks, dryers and hoppers, and component parts and specialty equipment used for transporting or storing different materials in difficult environments. The thermal insulation blanket of the present development has an inner blanket core of aerogel material and is encapsulated by an insulative fabric cover that includes one or more drain openings and one or more breather vents. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     Blanket-type insulation is frequently used in power plants and other extreme conditions requiring protection, insulation and/or acoustical dampening due to heat, cold and/or sound. Such blankets are typically removable and reusable and have a fiberglass core incased or encapsulated by a fiberglass or glass fabric. The blanket is held around the component, such as a vessel or pipe, by connectors, buckles/straps, spring clasps, and hook and loop type fasteners. 
     In some environments, the blankets are covered by metal jackets to protect the blankets from moisture. In indoor and outdoor environments wherein blankets are employed without a metal or water repellant/water-impervious outer jacket, the blankets have an inherited problem, they can absorb and hold moisture. Specifically, the blanket&#39;s outer fabric&#39;s weave and the needle holes in the seam can let moisture pass through the fabric layer to the inner insulating core. 
     The resulting wet-blanket becomes heavy, causing the blanket to sag down. The ingress and holding of water not only affects the insulating properties of individual components of the blanket (cover and core) but the geometry of the blanket relative to the object being insulated. 
     Blankets used in the manholes and tunnels can become completely submerged in water or surrounded by steam for extended periods. Once the water is removed from the surrounding environment, these blankets can be difficult, if not impossible, to remove as they are holding large amounts of water within. A standard 10″ or 12″ valve cover can weigh up to 200 lbs. 
     The present invention is provided to solve the problems discussed above and other problems. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an insulation blanket system. The insulation blanket system comprises an insulating core produced from a flexible aerogel, an outer layer of a fabric, an inner layer of a fabric, a pair of opposing end layers of a fabric wherein the insulating layer is substantially encapsulated by a combination of the inner, outer, and pair of end layers; and a plurality of fasteners located adjacent the opposing end layers for drawing the pair of end layers together forming a substantially tubular arrangement. 
     The flexible aerogel of the insulation blanket system may be hydrophobic. 
     The flexible aerogel of the insulation blanket system may be doped with a hydrophobic agent. 
     The flexible aerogel of the insulation blanket system may be selected from the group consisting of: a silica aerogel, a nanoporous aerogel, and an aerogel with reinforcing fibers. 
     The insulating core of the insulation blanket system may have a thickness between 6 mm and 20 mm. 
     The insulating core of the insulation blanket system may comprise a first layer of the flexible aerogel and a second layer of the flexible aerogel. 
     The first and second layers of the insulation blanket system may have a thickness between 6 mm (0.24 ins.) and 10 mm (0.40 ins.) 
     The insulating blanket may further comprise a drain opening in the outer layer located adjacent the end layers exposing a portion of the insulating core. 
     The insulating blanket may further comprise a breather vent in the outer layer located opposite the opposing end layers exposing a portion of the insulating core. 
     The drain may be produced from a brass grommet. 
     The vent may be produced from a two-piece brass screen. 
     The insulating blanket of may further comprise a plurality of tuft supports in the outer layer enhancing structural integrity of the blanket. 
     The insulating blanket may further comprise a plurality of tuft supports in the inner layer enhancing structural integrity of the blanket. 
     The present invention is an improvement on existing systems and tries to alleviate the above problems. The improved blanket of the present development includes an inner blanket core of an aerogel material, preferably Pyrogel®E 6350 insulation or Pyrogel® 10350 insulation, and is encapsulated by an insulative fabric cover that includes one or more drain openings and one or more breather vents. The stitching is preferably Teflon® or like material and the hardware is pure brass. 
     Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the following drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       To understand the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view (cross-section) of thermal insulation blanket made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1A  is a sectional view along line A-A of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 1B  is a sectional view along line B-B of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail drawing of the grommet used for the drain opening; 
         FIG. 3  is a detail drawing of the breather vent; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a grommet used in association with the drain opening; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a vent used in association with the breather vent. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. 
     A blanket made in accordance with the teaching of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1  by the general reference number  10 . Blankets of this type are typically used in sections of piping/conduit having a valve connected thereto. Specifically, a front portion  21  of the blanket  10  covers a portion of the conduit going to the valve (not shown), a rear portion  22  of the blanket  10  covers a portion of the conduit leaving the valve, and an upper portion  23  of the blanket covers the valve, leaving an opening  24  for the valve control, such as a turning knob. In the construction of  FIG. 1 , the blanket  10  is constructed of two (2) halves, a right blanket portion  25  and a left blanket portion  26 . The two blanket portions  25 , 26  are mated or placed in confronting relationship with their butt surfaces  33  abutting one another. 
     The blanket  10  has an outer fabric or skin  31 , an inner fabric or skin  32 , and a butt-end fabric or skin  33  encapsulating the insulating core  41 . The fabric/skin is sewn together. A plurality of tuft supports  35 , 36  are sewn into the blanket  10  to enhance the structural integrity of the blanket and prevent shifting. A plurality of fasteners  37 , 38  are employed to secure the blanket in place around the component to be insulated. D-rings and straps are shown, however, it is recognized by those in the field that other fasteners can be used, such as hook and loop type fasteners, laces, etc. 
     As noted, once the blanket  10  halves  25 , 26  are put around the object to be insulated, the butt ends  33  of the blanket are pressed against one another in abutting relationship and the fasteners  37 , 38  are mated and locked to ensure the blanket stays in its desired location and position. 
     The blanket  10  includes one or more breather vents  50  in the upper portion of the blanket and one or more drain openings  60  in the lower portion of the blanket. 
     The drain opening  60  provides an opening through the outer fabric  31  to the core  41 . In the preferred embodiment, the opening  60  is supported or fixed by a two piece grommet  61 , 62  ( FIG. 4 ), specifically a pure brass # 1  grommet. It has been learned that pure brass is important as it does not corrode like stainless steel. The drain opening  60  permits liquids, such as water entering into the enclosed core to drain out of the system. 
     In the preferred embodiment, there are two (2) drain opening  60  per blanket on each side of the blanket (e.g., the right side and the left side of the blanket or the right blanket portion  25  and the left blanket portion  26 ). The preferred locations of the openings  60  are at the bottom of the valve (not shown), in the center and on each side of the valve. 
     The purpose of the breather vent  50  is to permit air to enter the outer fabrics or skins  31  of the blanket to the core  41  and to let moisture escape in the form of steam or vapor. It has been found that to the extent residual moisture stays inside the skins  31 , 32 , 33  or on the core  41  and/or inner skin surfaces  32 , mold can occur. The breather vent  50  is a pure brass vent #D3926. In the preferred embodiment, the opening vent  50  is supported or fixed by a two piece construction  51 , 52  ( FIG. 5 ). At least one of the two pieces  51 , 52  includes a mesh, e.g., surface with a plurality openings therein with a mesh or particle size. The breather vent  50  is installed just like a standard grommet. 
     It should be noted that preferably all hardware associated with the blankets of the present invention (such as tags, hooks, D-rings, etc.) are made of pure brass and the threading used to sew/stitch the blankets is pure Teflon® or similar material. 
     As to core insulation  41 , it is preferably made with Pyrogel® insulation, produced by Aspen Aerogels, Inc., Northborough, Mass. This material is a flexible aerogel, nanoporous insulation specifically designed for high temperature applications. Generally, aerogels are nanoporous solids created when silica is gelled in a solvent. When the solvent is removed, the remaining product is a puffed-up, sand-like substance with up to 99% porosity. The nanoporosity slows heat and mass transport, providing very low thermal conductivity. It has some of the following characteristics: very low thermal conductivity, high temperature resistance, good flexibility, and relatively easy of use. The material combines a silica aerogel with reinforcing fibers (non-woven, carbon- and glass-fiber batting). It can be cut using conventional textile cutting tools, including scissors, electric scissors and razor knives. The material can be stitched to high temperature cloth and encapsulated as with the present product. 
     The material is preferably used in two (2) thicknesses, that being 6 mm (0.24″) (Pyrogel® 6350 insulation) and 10 mm (0.40″) (Pyrogel® 10350 insulation). These sizes can be stacked to together to obtain thicknesses of 12 mm (0.48″), 20 mm (0.8″), 16 mm (0.64″), etc. Silica aerogels possess the lowest thermal conductivity of any known solid. For example, such aerogels can be used up to 725° F. (385° C.), are hydrophobic, and have a density of about 10.7 lb/ft 3  (0.17 g/cc). They are roughly 2 to 8 times better than other insulating products, and can be used with a smaller or reduced thickness or profile. They can be easily cut and conformed to complex shapes, tight curvatures, and spaces with restricted access. They are physically robust, soft and flexible but with excellent springback. For example the material recovers its thermal performance even after compression events as high as 50 psi. It has been found that the material has equal or better fire protection characteristics than mineral wool and/or calcium silicate. And, significantly, the material repels liquid but allows vapor to pass through. In addition, if the material is doped with a hydrophobic agent, it will help make the material resistant to moisture. Water ingression can be desorbed when the materials is exposed to a heated environment. 
     See Table 1 below. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Product Specifications 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Nominal 
                   
                   
                 Max. Use 
               
               
                 Product 
                 Thickness 
                 Thermal Conductivity 
                 Density 
                 Temp. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Pyrogel ® 
                    6 mm 
                  15.5 mW/m-K 
                 0.17 g/cc 
                 385° C. 
               
               
                 6350 
                 0.24 in 
                 0.107 Btu-in/hr-ft 2 -° F. 
                 10.7 lb/ft 3   
                 725° F. 
               
               
                 Pyrogel ® 
                 10.0 mm 
                  15.5 mW/m-K 
                 0.17 g/cc 
                 385° C. 
               
               
                 10350 
                 0.40 in 
                 0.107 Btu-in/hr-ft 2 -° F. 
                 10.7 lb/ft 3   
                 725° F. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     In experiments, it has been found that with the lower K factor (thermal conductivity), two inches (2″) of traditional Tem-Mat 9 lb./cu,ft density insulation can be replaced by 1 layer of the 6 mm and 1 layer of the 10 mm aerogel (approx. 16 mm or ¾″). It has been observed that for lower temperature environments, only one layer of the Pyrogel® insulation needs to be used, such as the 6 mm or the 10 mm sizes. 
     The terms “first,” “second,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “back,” etc. are used for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments in any way. The term “plurality” as used herein is intended to indicate any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively as necessary, up to an infinite number. The terms “joined” and “connected” as used herein are intended to put or bring two elements together so as to form a unit, and any number of elements, devices, fasteners, etc. may be provided between the joined or connected elements unless otherwise specified by the use of the term “directly” and supported by the drawings. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be protected otherwise than as specifically described.