Controllable insulating effects by selective interposition of insulating

Abstract

A system for selectively interposing particulate insulating material in a cavity of a transmission or window panel assembly employs an upper aperture into the cavity through which the insulating material enters and is removed. A flow diverting means adjacent the aperture diverts positive pressure air flowing toward the cavity into the ambient atmosphere, and the momentum of the insulating material causes it to continue through the aperture and fill the cavity. Suction pressure air flow out of the aperture removes the insulating particles, and ambient pressure air flows into the lower portion of the cavity through vents to lift the insulating material upward out of the cavity. The flow diverting means confines the suction air flow out of the cavity to the conduit or communicating means connected to the aperture. A mode selection valve means operatively connects one of either a blower inlet or a blower outlet to the air flow conducting conduit to create positive pressure or suction pressure air flow to fill or empty the cavity. A storage chamber for the insulating material is preferably located in close adjacency to the panel assembly in the space between a suspended ceiling and an upper structure or floor of a building. Branch valves operatively communicate the air flow with each storage chamber. A system control means operates the branch valve and the mode selection valve and the blower to create the desired air flow for changing the status, either empty of filled, of the cavities. The system control means includes temperature sensors for sensing the interior and exterior temperatures adjacent the panel assembly or a group of associated panel assemblies, and the temperature information is utilized to determine the most favorable status of the cavity to reduce heat load loss or heat load gain to the structure.