The Boeing Company

Randall S Smith

Khashayar Borumand

David Charles Hass

Karl E Schuster

Adam Robert Weston

Nigel G Moores

Richard G Struve

Albert H Smith

Hossein Farange

An example modular environmental control chamber (MECC) includes an outer chamber formed by an outer chamber housing section enclosing an outer face of a section of fuselage and an inner chamber formed by an inner chamber housing section enclosing an inner face of the section of fuselage. An outer chamber airflow delivery and return system includes an outer chamber blower for directing temperature-controlled air to the outer chamber through an air inflow aperture of the outer chamber housing section and an outer chamber air return duct connected to an air outflow aperture of the outer chamber housing section. An inner chamber airflow delivery and return system includes an inner chamber blower for directing humidity-controlled air to the inner chamber through an air inflow aperture of the inner chamber housing section and an inner chamber air return duct connected to an air outflow aperture of the inner chamber housing section.

Modular environmental control chamber

A method of insulating a structural frame member of a transport vehicle is provided. The method includes coupling a first end of at least one flexible insulation member to one of at least two self-retaining foam insulation members using a coupling element. The method includes wrapping the at least one flexible insulation member over a first free end of the structural frame member of the transport vehicle and over at least portions of two sides of the structural frame member. The method further includes positioning one of the self-retaining foam insulation members on each side of the wrapped structural frame member and in compression fit between each side of the wrapped structural frame member and adjacent structural frame members, such that the self-retaining foam insulation members impart one or more compression forces on the flexible insulation member to secure the flexible insulation member in place without use of any fastener device.

Methods for insulating frame members

An insulation system, for use with transport vehicle structural frame members, having at least a first structural frame member and adjacent structural frame members in a transport vehicle. Each structural frame member has a first free end, a second end attached to a transport vehicle wall, and two sides disposed between the first and second ends. The system has at least one flexible insulation member wrapped over the first free end and over at least portions of the two sides, and at least first and second self-retaining foam insulation members positioned on each side of the wrapped first structural frame member and disposed in compression fit between each side of the wrapped first structural frame member and each of the adjacent structural frame members. The foam insulation members impart one or more compression forces on the flexible insulation member to secure it in place without use of any fastener device.

Method and system for insulating frame member

The disclosure provides in one embodiment a method of insulating a structural frame member of a transport vehicle. The method comprises providing at least one flexible insulation member. The method further comprises providing at least two self-retaining foam insulation members. The method further comprises wrapping the flexible insulation member over a first end of a structural frame member of a transport vehicle and over at least portions of two sides of the structural frame member. The method further comprises positioning one self-retaining foam insulation member on each side of the wrapped structural frame member and in compression fit between each side of the wrapped structural frame member and adjacent structural frame members, such that the self-retaining foam insulation members impart one or more compression forces on the flexible insulation member to secure the flexible insulation member in place without use of any fastener device.

Insulation for use in an aircraft fuselage is formed wherein at least one layer made from an open-celled foam that provides acoustic and thermal insulation. The open-celled foam is compression fitted into the airplane fuselage so as to provide effective attachment to the fuselage. The open-celled foam requires minimal attachment treatments. Further, compression fit of the open cell layer is used as an interface around brackets and unrelated hardware to provide superior close-out of gaps that would normally occur using traditional insulation to bracket interfaces. The preferred foam for the open celled compression layer is also relatively moisture resistant (i.e. hydrophobic) in nature and is compressible to between about 0.5 and 10 percent compression, with about 2% compression being ideal for most applications.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

Randall S Smith