Collapsible Cellular Insulation

Abstract

Multi-layered insulation is disclosed for having a collapsed configuration in which one dimension of the insulation is minimized to reduce the volume for storage. The multi-layered insulation has an expanded configuration in which the dimension is maximized to separate outer layers of the insulation. The insulation layer is composed of internal connecting membranes between outer surfaces. The MLI lattice is configured such that, when properly deployed, creates a cellular structure, thus providing the air gap between the outer surfaces.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulation panel, comprising:
 two outer surfaces; and   a plurality of membranes connected to the outer surfaces, the insulation panel configured to translate from a stored configuration, in which the outer surfaces and plurality of membranes are generally aligned, to a deployed configuration, wherein the panel is configured to deploy by translating the outer surfaces outwardly from one another without an associated relative in-plane translation relative to the other.   
     
     
         2 . The insulation panel of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surfaces and membranes are aligned generally flat in a collapsed configuration to minimize the thickness of the insulation panel and reorient to form a layered cellular structure in a deployed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The insulation panel of  claim 2 , further comprising an intermediate layer between two outer layers defining the two outer surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The insulation panel of  claim 3 , wherein a plurality of membranes connect the intermediate layer to the outer layers, the membranes configured to translate the intermediate layer generally parallel to the two outer layers when transitioning from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The insulation panel of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of membranes are coupled to the intermediate layer at one end of the membrane and extend out of plane, away from the intermediate layer on opposing sides of the intermediate layer to an outer end of the membrane in the deployed configuration; and in the stored configuration, the membranes extend in the same in plane direction relative to the intermediate layer from the one end to the outer end. 
     
     
         6 . The insulation panel of  claim 5 , wherein the inner cellular structure is formed from thin flexible membranes which form two to six air cell layers between the outer surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The insulation panel of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more connecting membranes between adjacent membranes to create the inner cellular structure of four to six air cell layers. 
     
     
         8 . The insulation panel of  claim 7 , wherein each of the outer layers, intermediate layer, membranes, and connecting membranes are configured to not overlap itself in a plane perpendicular to a plane of the panel. 
     
     
         9 . The insulation panel of  claim 8 , wherein each of the outer layers, intermediate layer, membranes, and connecting membranes are configured to not overlap itself in a plane perpendicular to its own surface. 
     
     
         10 . A multiple layered cellular insulation structure comprising:
 a first outer layer;   a second outer layer;   an intermediate layer between the first outer layer and second outer layer;   a first plurality of membranes connected between the intermediate layer and the first outer layer;   a second plurality of membranes connected between the intermediate layer and the second outer layer;   the multiple layered cellular insulation configured to translate from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by a relative movement of the first and second outer layers in a first direction, and the relative movement of the intermediate layer in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein an inner cellular structure is defined by the first outer layer, second outer layer, first plurality of membranes, second plurality of membranes, and intermediate layer in the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The multiple layered cellular insulation structure of  claim 10 , wherein the first outer layer, second outer layer, first plurality of membranes, second plurality of membranes, and intermediate layer are configured to lay generally flat in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The multiple layered cellular insulation structure of  claim 10 , further comprising a third plurality of membranes connected between adjacent first plurality of membranes, and a fourth plurality of membranes connected between adjacent second plurality of membranes. 
     
     
         13 . The multiple layered cellular insulation structure of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth plurality of membranes are configured to lay adjacent another layer or membrane along its entire length and not contact itself along its length. 
     
     
         14 . The multiple layered cellular insulation structure of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second plurality of membranes are oriented in a generally zig-zag shape in the deployed configuration, such that a first and second terminal end of each membrane is aligned with the intermediate layer, and an interior section of the membrane is directed generally perpendicular thereto; wherein the first and second terminal ends and the interior section of each of the membranes are generally parallel in the collapsed configuration, with the first terminal end connected to the intermediate section and the second terminal end extending in the same direction along the intermediate layer. 
     
     
         15 . The multiple layered cellular insulation structure of  claim 10 , further comprising a second and third intermediate layer between the intermediate layer and the first outer layer such that the multiple layered cellular insulation structure is configured to translate from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration by translating the first and second outer layers and the second intermediate layer in a first direction and the intermediate layer and third intermediate layer in a second direction opposite the first direction, the intermediate layer positioned between the second outer layer and the second intermediate layer and the third intermediate layer positioned between the first outer layer and the second intermediate layer. 
     
     
         16 . The multiple layered cellular insulation structure of  claim 10 , further comprising a second intermediate layer between the intermediate layer and the first outer layer and a third intermediate layer between the intermediate layer and the second outer layer, the multiple layered cellular insulation structure configured to translate from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration by moving the first and second outer layers and the second and third intermediate layers in a first direction and the intermediate layer in a second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . A method of insulating an area, comprising:
 providing an insulation panel comprising two outer layers, and intermediate layer, and membranes connected between the intermediate layer and outer layers to form a layered cellular structure in a deployed configuration;   collapsing the insulation panel to a collapsed configuration in which the outer layers, intermediate layer, and membranes generally align such that a thickness of the insulation panel is minimized in the collapsed configuration; and   expanding the insulation panel to a deployed configuration by separating the outer layers to form the cellular structure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of insulating the area of  claim 17 , wherein the insulation panel is expanded by separating the outer layers out of plane away from each other without needing to translate the outer layers in a plane relative to each other, and translating the intermediate layer in a direction parallel to the outer layers. 
     
     
         19 . The method of insulating the area of  claim 18 , wherein the outer layers, intermediate layer, and membranes are configured in the collapsed configuration such that each does not cross a plane perpendicular to its own surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of insulating an area of  claim 17 , wherein the insulation panel is deployed by imposing an outside force to translate the intermediate layer relative to the outer layer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of insulating an area of  claim 17 , wherein the insulation panel is deployed by gravity. 
     
     
         22 . The method of insulating an area of  claim 17 , wherein the insulation panel is deployed by inflating the panel.