Thermal container

Abstract

A thermal insulation container for storing materials at predetermined temperatures over extended periods including thermal energy storage units and means for substantially eliminating thermal conductors and providing improved insulation properties by mechanically absorbing temperature induced frictional forces. Highly efficient vacuum thermal insulators embedded within components of the container contribute significantly to its superior temperature maintaining characteristics.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thermal container, comprising: 
 a casing forming an open-ended substantially cylindrical chamber and comprising substantially coaxially disposed external and internal cylindrical walls forming an open ended annular chamber;    means for resiliently and expansively connecting the external and internal walls along circumferential margins at at least one end thereof to provide at least two degrees of freedom between the external and internal walls;    an annular insulation flange encasing the connected ends and extending over a portion of the external and internal walls in intimate contact therewith;    a lid releasably seated in the flange for selectively closing one end of the cylindrical chamber;    thermal insulators embedded in the flange and in the lid; and    means for closing the opposite end of the cylindrical chamber.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the means for connecting comprises a fillet of substantially S-shaped cross section integrally formed with one of the external and internal walls and having a free end connected to an end of the other of the external and internal walls by a welded seam.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one circumferential bead in at least one of the external and internal wall.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the insulation flange extends over the bead.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the external wall is provided with means for evacuating the annular chamber.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the external and internal walls are formed of sheet metal of predetermined material thickness and wherein the material thickness of the fillet is about one fourth less than that of the walls.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the means for closing the opposite end of the cylindrical chamber comprises first and second plates disposed at a predetermined spacing from each other and respectively connected to the external and internal walls by a hermetic seal thereby forming a chamber integral with the annular chamber.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising means in the chamber for maintaining the spacing between the first and second plates.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the spacing means comprises at least one layer of open cell structures.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulator in the lid comprises a substantially cylindrical cavity.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 2 , further comprising a second fillet integrally formed with the opposite end of one of the external and internal walls and provided with a free end connected to the other of the external and internal walls by a welding seam.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , further comprising a pedestal provided with an annular flange encasing the opposite end of the external and internal walls and extending in intimate contact over a portion of the surfaces thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the annular flange and the pedestal are made of foamed plastic encased in a hard shell.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the hard shell comprises a plurality of joined sections.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein thermal insulators comprising at least one evacuated cavity containing at least one layer of supportive structures and enveloped by at least one layer of metalized impervious foil bonded by resinous adhesive to at least one layer of fiber glass mat are embedded in the annular flange and in the pedestal..  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein the cylindrical cavity is formed of sheet metal and comprises a tubular wall forming first and second axial openings hermetically sealed by sheet metal plates.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the sheet metal plates are provided with circular beads.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein a supportive structure is provided within the thermal insulators.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the supportive structure comprises at least one layer of cellular structures.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein supportive structure is made of fiber glass reinforced plastic.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the supportive structure comprises a plurality of superposed layers axially displaced for providing point contact between open cell structures thereof.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a perforated web between the axially displaced layers.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the annular flange comprises two substantially identically formed axial surfaces for axially connecting two containers.  
     
     
         24 . A thermal insulation unit, comprising: 
 an open ended substantially tubular member;    first and second plate members for closing the open ended tubular member;    at least one fillet of substantially S-shaped cross-section integrally formed with one of the tubular member and first and second plate members and sealingly connected to the other of the tubular member and first and second plate member for providing two degrees of freedom therebetween.