Multiple Geometry And Multiple Material Insulated Components

Abstract

The present disclosure provides insulated components that include corrugated regions, which corrugated regions may reside on inner tubes, outer tubes, or both. The present disclosure also provides insulated components that may achieve straight, curved, or other variable geometries.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An insulated conduit, comprising:
 (a) an outer tube, the outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end,   the outer tube further comprising a first corrugated region having a length and comprising a plurality of corrugations extending along the outer tube from the distal end of the outer tube toward the proximal end of the outer tube; and   an inner tube disposed within the outer tube, the inner tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and the inner tube defining a lumen,   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed to one another at a joint, optionally at the distal end of the inner tube, the seal defining a sealed insulating region of reduced pressure between the outer tube and the inner tube, and   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed to one another such that the length of the first corrugated region of the outer tube increases or decreases in response to a temperature, or   (b) an outer tube, the outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end;   an inner tube disposed within the outer tube, the inner tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and the inner tube defining a lumen,   the inner tube further comprising a first corrugated region having a length and comprising a plurality of corrugations extending along the inner tube from the distal end of the inner tube toward the proximal end of the inner tube,   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed to one another at a joint, optionally at the distal end of the outer tube, the seal defining a sealed insulating region of reduced pressure between the outer tube and the inner tube, and   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed to one another such that the length of the first corrugated region of the inner tube increases or decreases in response to a temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the sealed insulating region defines a pressure in the range of from about 10 −2  to about 10 −9  Torr. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated conduit of any of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the joint comprises (a) a first vent communicating with the sealed insulating region to provide an exit pathway for gas molecules from the sealed insulating region, the first vent being sealable for maintaining a reduced pressure within the first insulating space following evacuation of gas molecules through the first vent, and (b) a first seal sealing the first insulating space at the first vent. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated conduit of any of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the outer tube first corrugated region defines a corrugation height that is from about 0.1 to about 100% of an inner diameter of an uncorrugated section of the outer tube. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated conduit of any of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the inner tube first corrugated region defines a corrugation height that is from about 0.1 to about 100% of an inner diameter of an uncorrugated section of the inner tube. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated conduit of any of  claims 1 - 2 , wherein the outer tube first corrugated region has a length that is less than about 50% of the distance between the distal and proximal ends of the outer tube. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tube first corrugated region has a length that is less than about 20% of the distance between the distal and proximal ends of the outer tube. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube first corrugated region has a length that is less than about 50% of the distance between the distal and proximal ends of the inner tube. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated conduit of  claim 6 , wherein the inner tube first corrugated region has a length that is less than about 20% of the distance between the distal and proximal ends of the inner tube. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the joint comprises a brazed joint. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated conduit of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube and the outer tube comprise different materials. 
     
     
         12 . The insulated conduit of  claim 11 , wherein the inner tube and the outer tube comprise different metallic materials. 
     
     
         13 . The insulated conduit of  claim 11 , wherein the inner tube and the outer tube comprise materials that have different coefficients of thermal expansion. 
     
     
         14 . The insulated conduit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fitting configured to securably maintain the insulated conduit in engagement with a fluid source or fluid outlet. 
     
     
         15 . A method, comprising communicating a fluid through the lumen of the inner tube of an insulated conduit according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fluid defines a temperature of between about 200 deg C. and about −200 deg. C. 
     
     
         17 . A method, comprising
 with (a) an outer tube, the outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end,   the outer tube further comprising a first corrugated region having a length and comprising a plurality of corrugations extending along the outer tube from the distal end of the outer tube toward the proximal end of the outer tube, and   (b) an inner tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and the inner tube defining a lumen,   disposing the inner tube within the outer tube and sealing the inner tube and outer tube to one another at a joint, optionally at the distal end of the inner tube, the seal defining a sealed insulating region of reduced pressure between the outer tube and the inner tube,   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed to one another such that the length of the first corrugated region of the outer tube increases or decreases in response to a temperature.   
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising
 with (a) an outer tube, the outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end,   and (b) an inner tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and the inner tube defining a lumen and the inner tube further comprising a first corrugated region having a length and comprising a plurality of corrugations extending along the inner tube from the distal end of the inner tube toward the proximal end of the inner tube,   disposing the inner tube within the outer tube and sealing the inner tube and outer tube to one another at a joint, optionally at the distal end of the outer tube, the seal defining a sealed insulating region of reduced pressure between the outer tube and the inner tube,   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed to one another such that the length of the first corrugated region of the inner tube increases or decreases in response to a temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 18 , wherein the sealed insulating region defines a pressure in the range of from about 10 −2  to about 10 −9  Torr. 
     
     
         20 . The method of any of  claims 17 - 18 , wherein the inner and outer tubes define a first vent communicating with the sealed insulating region to provide an exit pathway for gas molecules from the sealed insulating region, the first vent being sealable for maintaining the reduced pressure within the first insulating space following evacuation of gas molecules through the first vent. 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 (a) an outer tube, the outer tube having a distal end and a proximal end,   (b) an inner tube having a distal end and a proximal end, and the inner tube defining a lumen and the inner tube further comprising a first corrugated region having a length and comprising a plurality of corrugations extending along the inner tube from the distal end of the inner tube toward the proximal end of the inner tube,   the inner tube being disposed within the outer tube and the inner tube and outer tube being sealed so as to define a sealed insulating region of reduced pressure between the outer tube and the inner tube,   the inner tube and outer tube being sealed such that the first corrugated region of the inner tube expands or contracts in response to a temperature.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the lumen of the inner tube is in fluid communication with a source of combustion. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the system of combustion comprises an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the outer tube comprises at least one corrugated region having a length. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the inner tube comprises two or more corrugated regions. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein at least two of the regions differ in at least one of corrugation height or corrugation period. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the inner tube and the outer tube is characterized as curved. 
     
     
         28 . A method, comprising communicating a fluid within the lumen of a system according to  claim 21 .