Patent Application
20200407117
This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. EP19182617.1, filed Jun. 26, 2019, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present disclosure relates a container as well as the use thereof.
According to the present disclosure, the container comprises an encasement made of a yarn, where a sheath of the yarn comprises or, respectively, consists of at least one biodegradable sheath fibre, for example, a natural fibre and/or a biodegradable plastic fibre, as well as a mineral fibre of the yarn making up the core of the yarn which is sheathed, for example, braided, ensnared, wrapped, wound, woven, etc., by the at least one biodegradable sheath fibre at least in certain regions, preferably fully.
In illustrative embodiments, the yarn and therewith also the encasement consist, for example, exclusively of mineral fibres (core) and biodegradable sheath fibres so that an encasement is created which is environmentally friendly overall. Thus, particles becoming detached from the sheath can be autonomously be degraded or, respectively, composted in the environment. Moreover, when using natural fibres as sheath fibres it is possible to create an encasement entirely free from plastics.
In illustrative embodiments, the yarn may comprise a biodegradable coating made of a natural and/or a biodegradable synthetic material, for example, natural latex or, respectively, natural rubber or wollastonite or a compostable polymer so as to additionally protect the yarn or, respectively, render it less vulnerable. Hereby, natural materials shall be generally understood to mean materials which, in contrast to synthetic materials, emanate from natural sources like plants, animals or minerals. A biodegradable synthetic material shall be understood to mean a synthetic material capable of autonomously degrading in the environment.
In illustrative embodiments, the biodegradable coating may be applied in that the manufactured yarn is coated, for example, by means if immersing in a liquid coating mass or, respectively, coating solution, or the finished encasement, for example, by applying and wiping the coating mass or, respectively, the coating solution onto the surface of the encasement.
In illustrative embodiments, because only natural (sheath and core and possibly coating) and/or biodegradable or, respectively, compostable materials (sheath and possibly coating) are being utilised for the encasement, the container will be very environmentally friendly so that environmental pollution at the respective site of use can be avoided. Thus, a container can be provided which is able to meet even strict environmental protection regulations. This is relevant, for example, if the container according to the present disclosure is designated to be used in coastal protection, civil engineering or in other areas in which the container may come into contact with water or ground water. Thus, no environmental pollutants will contaminate water or ground water respectively even under conditions of damage to the encasement due to age or wear. But this is of advantage even on land because the container according to the present disclosure cannot release any environmental pollutants in use.
Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
Here, the encasement 3 also determines which fillings 2 can beheld inside the container 1. Thus, in principle, course mesh containers 1 can only be used to hold fillings 2 made or more coarse particles, for example stones, while fine mesh containers 1 can also hold fillings 2 made of finder particles, for example sand. Hereby, the type of containers 1 used is determined by the respective intended use, whereby, as a function thereof, it is possible to determine or, respectively, adapt the shape or, respectively, size, the material, and the properties of the encasement 3 and the filling 2.
The encasement 3 itself is made of a yarn 4, the yarn 4 being environmentally compatible. Hereby, it is not compulsory to provide a biodegradable coating made from a natural and/or a biodegradable synthetic material so as to result in the textile structure of the yarn 4 extending in the longitudinal direction X as shown in
Preferably, the core or, respectively, the mineral fibre 5 is a continuous filament (textile filament), extending “endlessly” in the longitudinal direction X. For making the yarn 4, for example, individual endless mineral fibres 5 are spun from a liquid rock mass (basalt rock) in a thin drawing process. Subsequently, on an external perimeter 5a of the mineral fibre 5, the biodegradable sheath fibre 6 is wound in several windings or braided or knitted or entwined or enveloped, etc. therewith, so that the biodegradable sheath fibre 6 completely surrounds the mineral fibre 5 thereby protecting the mineral fibre 5.
With the web-type container 1 according to
A container according to the present disclosure comprises an encasement made of a yarn, where a sheath of the yarn comprises or, respectively, consists of at least one biodegradable sheath fibre, for example, a natural fibre and/or a biodegradable plastic fibre, as well as a mineral fibre of the yarn making up the core of the yarn which is sheathed, for example, braided, ensnared, wrapped, wound, woven, etc., by the at least one biodegradable sheath fibre at least in certain regions, preferably fully.
The yarn and therewith also the encasement consist, for example, exclusively of mineral fibres (core) and biodegradable sheath fibres so that an encasement is created which is environmentally friendly overall. Thus, particles becoming detached from the sheath can be autonomously be degraded or, respectively, composted in the environment. Moreover, when using natural fibres as sheath fibres it is possible to create an encasement entirely free from plastics.
The yarn may comprise a biodegradable coating made of a natural and/or a biodegradable synthetic material, for example, natural latex or, respectively, natural rubber or wollastonite or a compostable polymer so as to additionally protect the yarn or, respectively, render it less vulnerable. Hereby, natural materials shall be generally understood to mean materials which, in contrast to synthetic materials, emanate from natural sources like plants, animals or minerals. A biodegradable synthetic material shall be understood to mean a synthetic material capable of autonomously degrading in the environment.
The biodegradable coating may be applied in that the manufactured yarn is coated, for example, by means if immersing in a liquid coating mass or, respectively, coating solution, or the finished encasement, for example, by applying and wiping the coating mass or, respectively, the coating solution onto the surface of the encasement.
Because only natural (sheath and core and possibly coating) and/or biodegradable or, respectively, compostable materials (sheath and possibly coating) are being utilised for the encasement, the container will be very environmentally friendly so that environmental pollution at the respective site of use can be avoided. Thus, a container can be provided which is able to meet even strict environmental protection regulations. This is relevant, for example, if the container according to the present disclosure is designated to be used in coastal protection, civil engineering or in other areas in which the container may come into contact with water or ground water. Thus, no environmental pollutants will contaminate water or ground water respectively even under conditions of damage to the encasement due to age or wear. But this is of advantage even on land because the container according to the present disclosure cannot release any environmental pollutants in use.
The container according to the present disclosure can contribute, in particular, to fulfilling the requirements of the Guidelines 2008/56/EG (Marine Strategy Framework Directive) and 2000/60/EG (Water Framework Directive) because both in the making of the mineral fibre of the core as well as in the making of the encasement of the mineral fibre only natural or, respectively, biodegradable materials are used.
The construction of the environmentally friendly yarn from a mineral fibre that makes up the of the yarn, and at least one biodegradable sheath fibre that is encasing the mineral fibre at least in part, preferably entirely, has the advantage that the yarn despite the brittleness of the mineral fibre retains high mechanical resilience, in particular breaking strength, and the handling of the yarn can be improved. Thus, the mineral fibre, which exhibits a high tensile strength already on its own, is protected from certain exterior influences which may lead, die in particular to excessive bending.
The term “encasement” or, respectively, “encased” shall be understood to mean that the at least one biodegradable sheath fibre creates a sheath which surrounds the mineral fibre or, respectively, the core preferably entirely. Hereby, the sheath fibre and the mineral fibre do not enter into an extensive substance-to-substance bond so that the sheath lies on the mineral fibre free of adhesion. In order to attain this the at least one sheath fibre may be wound onto the core in any suitable manner in a plurality of windings or coils respectively and/or the core is covered by several sheath fibres by means of mesh-type entwining and/or the core is braided by entanglement by a plurality of sheath fibres. However, other textile and adhesion-free types of encasing may be utilised also. In any case, the biodegradable sheath fibre(s) run(s) around the external perimeter (peripheral direction) of the mineral fibre, whereby the individual windings, coils, entanglements, braiding, etc. of the at least one biodegradable sheath fibre lie adjacent one another in such a way that the mineral fibre it covered and thereby protected by the at least one biodegradable sheath fibre preferably across its entire longitudinal extension.
The encasement according to the present disclosure does not constitute a coating, as used in the state of the are in the form of a liquid coating mass or, respectively, coating solution, because the at least one biodegradable sheath fibre used for encasement does not create any adhesion or, respectively, extensive substance-to-substance bond with the mineral fibre, as is the case, by definition, with a coating. Moreover, the biodegradable sheath fibre used for the encasement is not a shapeless substance but possesses and retains a certain pre-determined fibre shape, and this is what leads to the yarn being mechanically more stable or durable respectively overall, as will be explained in more detail in the following.
In comparison with a non-encased or a merely coated mineral fibre, with the yarn according to the present disclosure used, in particular, the diameter of the yarn is larger so that bending radii of the yarn in bent regions of the encasements, for example, in knots of a mechanically knotted web or in the event of transverse loads emanating from the environment or from the filling will be greater by necessity. Hereby, preferred bending radii can be purposefully adjusted by means of the thickness of the biodegradable sheath fibre used form the encasement. This, in turn, significantly reduces the bending load acting upon the mineral fibre, for example, under heavy load when used with a heavy filling, in particular, in a knotted web. Thus, by virtue of this effect it is possible to strongly increase the mechanical resilience of the container without the need of reinforcing the actual load bearer itself, i.e. the mineral fibre, which would be complex and costly.
In comparison with a container whose encasement is manufactured merely from biodegradable fibres, in particular natural fibres, and/or biodegradable plastic fibres, without using the mineral fibre in the core, the container according to the present disclosure has an increased tensile strength and an increased mechanical stability overall. This is because yarns comprising exclusively natural fibres or biodegradable plastic fibres respectively as stability carriers, provided they are of comparable thickness, are unable to guarantee the needed stabilities or, respectively, load bearing capacities. According to the present disclosure, by virtue of the mineral fibre a stable mineral core for the yarn of the encasement is provided which is shrouded by the biodegradable sheath fibre for attaining an additionally increased mechanical stability or, respectively, strength and for protection.
Thus, by virtue of an encasement using the biodegradable sheath fibres it is possible to provide a fibre-type, adhesion-free encasement making it possible for the mineral fibre to bend only to a limited extent. Thereby, in spite of the brittleness or, respectively, low breaking strength of the mineral fibre, breakage can be avoided and thus a yarn with high mechanical resilience can be provided. This is impossible to attain by merely a full-surface, adhesive coating according to the state of the art, which is more elastic overall and has only little influence on the bending resilience, if any.
Moreover, the yarn may even adapt later due to the adhesion-free connection between the core and the sheath since a slight displacement of the coat in relation to the core is possible. A yarn to be processed without the encasement according to the present disclosure with a mineral fibre would necessarily have to be twisted or, respectively, twined or, respectively, roped leading to a limitation in longitudinal displaceability of the filaments in relation to one another. By virtue of the encasement, however, such a twisting of the mineral fibre of the core can be omitted which in turn improves flexibility. Thus, the mineral fibre of the core can be encased as a simple, parallel running string making it easier not only for the core and the encasement but also the individual filaments to be displaced in relation to one another when bent.
An improvement of the manufacturing process is achieved. Owing to the brittleness of the mineral fibre this tends to splice when running through industrial manufacturing plants or, respectively, manufacturing machines. Thus, the mineral fibre wears itself out on deflections, loops and other guides and suffers partial breakage. Using the encasement according to the present disclosure with the biodegradable sheath fibre the mineral fibre is protected against such splicing so that it can be processed nearly free of loss and without damage and also in a manufacturing speed higher in principle because the mineral fibre itself does not come into contact with the guide elements. The biodegradable or, respectively, compostable materials or, respectively, the biodegradable sheath fibres used for the encasement do not suffer such damage due to the significantly higher ductility and suppleness. Also, as pointed out earlier, the bending of the mineral fibre when lying on the deflections, loops and other guides is limited by the encasement so that there will be less breakage during manufacturing.
Not least, by means of the encasement according to the present disclosure it can be attained that the abrasion of the innermost mineral fibres is reduced to a minimum. Since the mineral fibre comprises a material very susceptible to abrasion and the filling of a container with a non-encased sheath partially with stones having sharp edges as well as the following handling of the filled container can lead to damage to the sheath, a sheath encased with a biodegradable sheath fibre less susceptible to abrasion provides a significantly increased handling resilience.
In the container according to the present disclosure, the encased sheath of the container completely surrounds the filling, preferably a firm filling, which is also nature compatible or, respectively, environmentally compatible. This means that the encasement in the container according to the present disclosure, when closed, has no opening through which the filling can exit the container. The encasement can be realised, for example, by sewing, knotting, splicing, or other joining processes suitable for textiles from one individual mineral fibre or, respectively, one individual yarn or by means of sewing, knotting, splicing together or joining two different mineral fibres or, respectively, yarns, or similar. Hereby, preferably, it is provided for the seams or other joints exhibit at least 80% of the strength of the mineral fibre or, respectively, the yarn so as to not significantly compromise the tensile strength or, respectively, the general mechanical resilience of the container.
The container or, respectively, the encasement may have the shape, for example, of a thin mat or roll. Alternatively, a mattress shape having a thickness of preferably up to 80 cm may be provided. In this variant the container may be used as protection against mechanical influence or erosion and for impermeable linings. Alternatively, it may be provided for the encasement to be in the shape of a horizontal or vertical hose. This can be made by joining the longitudinal edges of the encasement of the container. Hereby, the open ends of the hose may be closed, preferably, by sewing, gluing, knotting, splicing or any other suitable manner so as to keep the filling inside the encasement.
The container may be used as storage container, as a barrier, for depositing stones or rocks or as the core of a dam or, respectively, embankment. A container comprising an encasement in the shape of a vertical hose may be used for soil improvement or as vertical drain. Alternatively, it may be provided for the encasement to be generally in the shape of a bag. Such bags can be used for flood protection, for scour protection and repair or in embankment construction. Also, a use in the form of gabions or in artificial riffs is possible.
In the shape of a web it is possible to hold stones or pieces of rock inside the encasement so that the container can be used as a filter. In that case the meshes of the web are selected such that the stones cannot pass through them so as to be kept permanently inside the encasement. In this embodiment, a container is provided the properties of which are significantly determined by the nature of the filling, whereby a certain filtering effect can be achieved thereby. Such a web filled with stones may serve, for example, as protection or ballast of an object, for example, under water. Further, the filled web-type container may be used for straightening in order to lay, for example, pipelines or cables onto an originally uneven underground.
The filling of the container is preferably adapted to the permeability of the encasement. Moreover, in hydraulic engineering, the stability of a container is increased the faster the water can drain from it, whereby the permeability of the encasement is preferably at least 10 times larger than the permeability of the filling of the container.
It is further provided for the mineral fibre of the core to be a basalt fibre, a glass fibre, a carbon fibre or to comprise mixtures thereof. These are characterised by a high degree of stability or, respectively, tensile strength so that, when these materials are used in the yarn core, a highly resilient container can be provided. The high tensile strength can be achieved, in particular, when the mineral fibre is a continuous filament, i.e. a not first-twisted fibre, or, respectively, a textile filament so that the loads can be distributed over the entire longitudinal extension of the mineral fibre.
It is further provided for the sheath as biodegradable sheath fibre to comprise a natural fibre, such as coconut, jute, hemp, cotton or flax, and/or a biodegradable plastic fibre, such as a compostable polymer, or mixtures thereof. Thereby, highly stable natural fibres are used for the encasement. Jute, for example, is one of the strongest natural fibres and, moreover, is easy to process so that a simple manufacturing process and a good mechanical resilience can be guaranteed. Cotton, likewise, is very hard-wearing and also tear proof in a wet environment and durable. Coconut fibres are able to cling thereby guarantee in an improved stackability while maintaining high positional stability of the containers among each other. Furthermore, coconut fibres are consistently elastic and exhibit strong properties of sound and thermal insulation. Further, coconut fibres are insensitive to moisture and exhibit a high degree of abrasion resistance and tear resistance. They are not susceptible to moth damage.
It is further provided for at least the mineral fibre to be sea water resistant. That means that these are made of a widely sea water resistant material and, therefore, only slightly affected by sea water when used in a sea water environment. Hereby, the sea water resistance may be quantified, for example, following the DIN standards DIN53739 or DIN53521, whereby, for the biodegradable sheath fibres and/or the mineral fibres possibly other materials may be used instead of the materials specified in the DIN standards while the examination guidelines specified in the DIN standards stay the same, however. Thus, sea water resistance will be attained already when the goals set in the DIN standards are met.
It is further provided for the container including the filling to have a total weight of at least 100 kg, in particular at least 1000 kg, for example, up to 12 t and/or the container to have a capacity of between 0.5 and 10 m3. By virtue of such a weight it is possible to provide a container that will not be swept away when used in the water and will be able to maintain its shape. But even on land such a filling weight can guarantee the structural stability of such a container.
In general, the size and the weight of the container may vary depending on its dedicated use, for example as a function of the underground to be straightened or the object to be protected.
Preferably, it is further provided for the shrouded yarn to have a thickness of at least 4.5 mm and/or a grammage of at least 500 g/m2. By virtue of such a thickness or, respectively, such a grammage it is possible, advantageously, to achieve a particularly high degree of mechanical stability or, respectively, robustness and filtering stability of the container. In particular, the robustness and the mechanical stability can be adapted to an environmental stress prevailing in coastal regions.
Preferably, it is further provided for the yarn of the encasement to have a tensile strength of at least 30 kN/m. This makes the container suitable for withstanding the load exerted on the encasement, in particular, during mechanical transport or in normal use. Moreover, preferably, it may be provided for the yarn, i.e. the mineral fibre and/or the biodegradable sheath fibre, to be a UV resistant material. This can increase longevity, in particular, in case of high UV exposure in coastal areas.
Preferably, it is provided for the filling of the container to comprise sand and/or concrete. This makes it possible to provide a flexible and adaptable container whose encasement is to be made more close meshed to avoid the filling from leaving the container. To that end, for example, sand having a density of between 1.4 and 2.0 g/cm3 can be used, whereby a particularly good stability of the container structure can be achieved.
Preferably, it may further be provided for the yarn of the encasement to be joined in the form of a fleece, fabric, core, interlaced yarns, or knitted fabric to create the die encasement filled with sand and/or concrete. By virtue of the encasement of the yarn according to the present disclosure tying points and knotting points of the respective textile structure of the encasement are protected particularly well against breakage under high mechanical load.
Preferably, it may further be provided for the yarn to be joined, in particular concatenated, in the form of a web so as to create the encasement. Hereby. it is possible to provide a filter, in particular, for hydraulic engineering, whereby the web-type encasement will then contain, preferably, stones or similar as filling, whereby the stones have a diameter which is larger than the openings or, respectively, the meshed of the web (encasement) formed by the yarn. Due to the encasement of the yarn according to the present disclosure, tying points and knotting points of the web are protected particularly well against breakage under high mechanical load as well as against adjoining pointed stones.
According to the present disclosure, further, a use of the container according to the present disclosure in hydraulic engineering and/or coastal protection, in civil engineering, in particular, in road construction, or as a filter is provided.
Hereby, hydraulic engineering shall be understood to mean measures, technical interventions and constructions related to ground water, surface waters and sea coasts. Coastal protection includes, in particular, flood protection. The use in coastal protection includes, in particular, the use under tidal influences or, respectively, under conditions of rough seas. Use in embankment construction, protection of waterways, scour protection, the fixation of lead lines (wires, pipes, etc.), and the fixation of gas or, respectively, electricity lines and foundation protection may be provided, too. In civil engineering such containers may be used for separating, draining, filtering, reinforcement or corrosion protection. In particular, such containers may be utilised in offshore wind farms or similar, for example, for protecting foundations of wind turbines or, respectively, straighten their underground so as to optimise the lead line paths.
Due to their filtering effect such containers may also be used as filters provided a suitable selection of the filling. Hereby, preferably, it may be provided for the container to be brought into contact with an underground which includes particles having a certain average particle size. The width of the openings of the container may be adapted to this average particle size so as to adapt the container to the hydro-dynamic stresses and the fine and medium sands typically appearing at coasts.
Containers of this type can be utilised in many ways for protection, as filters or for transport, for example, in hydraulic engineering, in coastal protection, or in civil engineering, in particular, road construction. Hereby, the container is filled with a material, for example sand, concrete or stones, and can be unloaded and positioned at a desired position depending on the use. At the respective position the filled container can serve to protect or weigh down an object, for example, under water. Furthermore, the filled container can be used for straightening purposes, for example, in order to lay pipes on an originally uneven underground. In coastal protection or, respectively, flood control, too, such filled containers can be used to restrain water.
For this purpose, comparative containers comprise an encasement that can be made, for example, of synthetic polymers (plastics), for example, polyester fibres, polyacrylics fibres, or polypropylene fibres, whereby synthetic fibres may be used or, for example, a synthetic coating may be used. Due to age and damage to the encasement small particles of the synthetic polymers may become detached in the use of such containers made of plastic materials leading to large amounts to reach rivers and seas when used in hydraulic engineering. Even when the containers used on land, plastic particles may become detached thereby being released into the environment. This leads to undesired environmental pollution.
To counteract this, it is proposed to utilise as material for the encasement of a comparative container geotextiles or, respectively, mineral fibres that contain natural fibres, basalt fibres, glass fibres or mixtures thereof. These mineral fibres are suitably coated, for example, by immersing into a liquid coating material or, respectively, coating solution. This coating prevents abrasion during the use of the container thereby providing protection against wear. The coating itself is manufactured from a natural material so that, even when this suffers abrasion, there will be no environmental pollution by synthetic materials. Thus, the encasement is made from a plastic-free and coated yarn.
It has become apparent that mineral fibres, when untreated and insufficiently protected, in many cases do not survive unscathed the making of the encasement, in particular, into mechanically knotted webs, as well as the load suffered in use, for example, involving a nominal load of several tons. This is due primarily to the properties of the respective mineral fibre, in particular, the high degree of brittleness of the material which has a negative effect on the longevity. The properties of the mineral fibre may lead, for example, to impairment of mechanical stability of the container because the mineral fibres of the encasement, which are put together very tightly in certain regions, in particular knotted into a web or provided with another textile structure (woven fabric, fleece, fabric, knitted fabric), contracting under the load of the filling. Hereby, the nominal minimum bend radii of the mineral fibres are fallen short of, leading to breaks of the brittle material.
Furthermore, the mineral fibres may be damaged due to the brittleness when fed to or, respectively, when processed in automatic web knitting machines, in particular, when lying on deflections, loops and other guides, which is why the speed of production must be reduced to allow for a continuous process. This leads to an increase in manufacturing time and thereby manufacturing cost.
A container in accordance with the present disclosure may be manufactured quickly and affordably while providing high resistance to wear as well as high mechanical stability, in particular, breaking resistance, under load and, at the same time, high environmental compatibility.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19182617.1 | Jun 2019 | EP | regional |
