Flexible vacuum chamber

Abstract

An apparatus for evacuating and sealing a panel having a core material and a pair of walls. The apparatus includes a flexible bag that surrounds the panel and a vacuum pump assembly configured to evacuate air from within the bag. A sealing mechanism is located in the bag. The sealing mechanism is configured to bond at least one pair of adjoining edges of the pair of walls together to seal a panel with an evacuated core.

1 . An apparatus for evacuating and sealing a panel having a core material and a pair of walls, comprising:
 a flexible bag configured to surround the panel;   a vacuum pump assembly configured to evacuate air from within the bag;   a sealing mechanism located in the bag, wherein the sealing mechanism is configured to bond at least one pair of adjoining edges of the pair of walls together to seal the panel after the core material has been evacuated.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of breathable material positioned between the panel and the bag. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum pump is connected to the bag with a hose and wherein the hose extends into the bag and wherein the connection between the hose and the bag is sealed. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises a heat sealing mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sealing mechanism comprises an RF welding device. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved mold for supporting the panel during the evacuation of the bag. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the bag is a curved rigid mold for supporting the panel during evacuation of the bag. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the mold comprises a heater for heating the panel and thereby removing moisture from the core material. 
     
     
         9 . A method for evacuating and sealing an insulation panel including a core material and a surrounding film, comprising the steps of:
 placing the panel in a flexible bag;   placing a sealing mechanism in the bag;   evacuating the bag using a vacuum pump assembly;   after the core material is evacuated, sealing edges of the surrounding film to thereby seal the evacuated core material.