The invention relates to an aeration device, for spraying insulation product.
Mineral wool is a very good thermal and acoustic insulator since it comprises entangled mineral fibers, giving it a porous and elastic structure. Such a structure makes it possible to trap air and absorb or attenuate noise. Moreover, mineral wool is manufactured mainly from mineral materials, in particular natural materials or recycled products (recycled glass), and thus exhibits an advantageous environmental balance. Lastly, since mineral wool is based on naturally noncombustible materials, it does not feed fire and does not spread flames. Preferably, the mineral wool is chosen from glass wool or rock wool.
There exist products of the loose-fill type, which are in the form of small bundles of entangled fibers forming particles on a centimeter scale, in which no bonding agent ensures the cohesion of the fibers in the bundles.
The manufacture of loose-fill mineral wool has at least the following steps:
The manufacture of loose-fill mineral wool may also comprise the following steps:
At the end of the nodulation step, the mineral wool is in the form of nodules or flakes. The mineral wool can then be used as such as a loose-fill insulation product or loose-fill insulation by spreading it, blowing it or using it to fill cavities, Loose-fill insulation corresponds, in the building sector, to a variety of materials offered in the form of small particles, the texture of which varies from granular to flake-like.
Mineral wool is advantageously used in the form of nodules or flakes as main constituents in loose-fill insulation products for spaces that are difficult to access such as the floors of attic spaces that have not been developed or are difficult to access.
These loose-fill insulation products are generally applied by mechanical blowing with the aid of a blowing machine that makes it possible to spray an insulation product over a surface or inject it into a cavity from an outlet pipe.
The loose-fill insulation products are therefore mostly installed by being sprayed directly into the space to be insulated such as attics or by being injected into a wall cavity.
The loose-fill insulation products are also known as blown insulation products. The insulation product, once blown, needs to be as homogeneous as possible in order to avoid thermal bridging and thus to improve thermal performance. However, when the insulation product is blown, whatever the diameter of the outlet pipe, the mineral wool in the form of nodules or flakes is not entirely homogeneous. The thermal conductivity of the resulting insulation product is not optimized.
In this regard, there exist, as shown in
However, these chambers for aerating the wool are unable to solve all of the problems that an operator may encounter on a site. This is because, while the chamber makes it possible to aerate the flakes in order to improve the thermal properties, this chamber is bulky and is not easy to handle, therefore not allowing good quality blowing.
This bulkiness is all the more bothersome when the operator needs to move around with the aeration chamber in order to blow the wool over the entire surface of the room to be insulated.
The present invention seeks to solve the problems of aeration chambers known from the prior art by providing a chamber that makes it possible to homogenize the amount of particles/nodules over its scope of action.
To this end, the present invention relates to a device for preparing an insulation product based on wool, comprising a chamber comprising an inlet opening through which a stream of carrier gas and a wool in the form of nodules or flakes are introduced, at least one means capable of generating a turbulent gas flow in said chamber, and an outlet opening through which flakes mixed with an outlet gas stream are expelled, characterized in that said device also comprises a system for adjusting the outlet opening that makes it possible to control the area of the outlet opening from 0 to 100%.
Advantageously, the present invention consists in varying the intensity and the pressure of the outlet gas stream from the chamber, making it possible to increase the radius of action of the device for preparing an insulation product based on wool.
According to one example, the system for adjusting the outlet opening comprises at least one shutter arranged on one of the faces of the chamber and means for positioning the shutter. According to one example, the means for positioning the shutter comprise a plurality of blind holes arranged, on said face of the chamber, in at least one line and at least one pair of studs arranged on said shutter in order to fit in two blind holes.
According to one example, the plurality of blind holes are arranged in two parallel lines, said shutter comprising at least two pairs of studs arranged such that each stud of a pair fits into a hole in a different line.
According to one example, the means for positioning the shutter comprise a rail system comprising two receiving rails arranged on the chamber and two sliding rails arranged on the shutter, the arrangement of said sliding rails being such that said sliding rails fit in the receiving rails so as to slide.
According to one example, the means for positioning the shutter comprise indexing means for locking the position of said shutter with respect to the receiving rails.
According to one example, the means for positioning the shutter comprise drive means comprising at least one motor, at least one serration-engagement element arranged on the shutter and at least one gear element for creating the mechanical link between said motor and the serration-engagement element.
According to one example, the system for adjusting the outlet opening comprises two shutters that are each arranged on one of the faces of the chamber and means for positioning the shutters.
According to one example, the means for positioning the shutter comprise, for each shutter, drive means comprising a motor, at least one serration-engagement element arranged on the shutter and at least one gear element for creating the mechanical link between said motor and the serration-engagement element.
According to one example, the means for positioning the shutter comprise drive means comprising a motor, at least one serration-engagement element arranged on each shutter and at least one gear element for creating the mechanical link between said motor and the serration-engagement element of each shutter.
According to one example, the system for adjusting the outlet opening comprises at least one diaphragm arranged at the outlet opening, which is preferably circular.
According to one example, the chamber comprises an inlet face for the inlet opening, an outlet face for the outlet opening, two side faces, an upper face and a lower face, said at least one shutter being arranged on the outlet face.
According to one example, the chamber comprises an inlet face for the inlet opening, two side faces, an upper face and a lower face, said upper face and said lower face being designed to converge toward one another while leaving a space acting as the outlet opening, said at least one shutter being arranged on the upper face or the lower face.
According to one example, the chamber comprises an inlet face for the inlet opening, an outlet face for the outlet opening, two side faces, an upper face and a lower face, said outlet face comprising two portions designed to converge toward one another while leaving a space acting as the outlet opening, said at least one shutter being arranged on one of the portions of the outlet face.
According to one example, said chamber has a volume of between 5 and 90 dm3.
According to one example, the chamber is such that at least the area of the inlet opening differs from the area of the inlet face.
The invention also relates to a spray insulation system; comprising a means P for generating a gas stream connected to the device for preparing an insulation product based on wool according to the invention, said means P for generating a gas stream being able to supply a gas stream in which flakes of wool are mixed.
According to one example, the material has one of the densities of around 5 to 15 kg/m3 for products based on glass wool and of around 15 to 50 kg/m3 for products based on rock wool.
Further particular features and advantages will become clearly apparent from the following description thereof, which is given by way of entirely nonlimiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
As regards the chamber 100, the latter is designed such that the inlet opening 101 and the outlet opening 103 are arranged on opposite faces of the chamber. Thus, the inlet opening is arranged on an inlet face 100a while the outlet opening is arranged at an outlet face 100b. Preferably, the inlet opening 101 and the outlet opening 103 are opposite one another. The chamber is such that at least the area of the inlet opening differs from the area of the inlet face, meaning that the area of the inlet opening is smaller than the area of the inlet face. Preferably, the area of the inlet opening is equal to half the area of the inlet face, preferably to a third, a quarter or a fifth. Preferably, the area of the outlet opening also differs from the area of the outlet face. This chamber configuration allows the gas stream circulating therein to be disrupted. In the case of a chamber in which the inlet opening has the same area as the inlet face and the outlet opening has the same area as the outlet face, the entering gas stream is not subjected to turbulent flow for aerating the flakes of wool, the stream entering and then exiting without any residence time in said chamber.
In a first configuration, which can be seen in
In a second configuration, which can be seen in
In a third configuration, which can be seen in
The chamber has dimensions that allow it to have a volume of, preferably, between 5 and 90 dm3.
The outlet opening 103 may have any shape, such as a circular shape 103a. Preferably, the outlet opening is in the form of a slot 103b. This slot extends horizontally with respect to the plane of the floor of the chamber, on the opposite side from the inlet face. This slot extends across part of or across the entire width of the chamber. This slot has a height of between 0.1 and 3 cm, preferably between 0.5 and 2 cm.
The advantage of a slot 103b is to allow the flakes to be expelled across a greater width and thus to make it possible to cover a larger area.
Cleverly, the chamber 100 is provided with a system 200 for adjusting the outlet opening that makes it possible to control the area of the outlet opening 103. Specifically, by controlling the area of the outlet opening 103, it is possible to vary the outlet speed of the stream. This is because the chamber is governed by the principle of conserving the mass flow of air such that the outlet stream is constant, it being the speed of this stream that varies. This increase in speed allows the exiting flakes to be sprayed to a greater distance. This allows the operator to spray the flakes of insulating products over a larger radius without moving. According to the invention, with the stream entering the chamber at a speed of between 8 and 30 m/s, said chamber provided with the system 200 for adjusting the outlet opening makes it possible to have an outlet stream having a speed of between 5 and 60 mls. Specifically, while the increase in speed makes it possible to have a greater range for the spray of flakes, having a lower speed makes it possible to avoid difficult movements. It will therefore be understood that the system 200 for adjusting the outlet opening is such that it allows adjustment of the outlet opening from 0 to 100%. The outlet opening can therefore be 100% open or closed (that is to say 0% open) or adopt any of the positions between 0 and 100%.
Thus, with this in mind, the outlet opening 103 has a larger area than the inlet opening 101. The system 200 for adjusting the outlet opening thus makes it possible to adjust the area of the outlet opening 103 such that it is greater than, the same as or less than the area of the inlet opening. This means that the outlet opening can have a larger area than the inlet opening.
The material L is therefore aerated in said chamber. The insulation products obtained after the aeration step, at the outlet, have low densities, in particular of around 5 to 15 kg/m3 for products based on glass wool and around 15 to 50 kg; m3 for products based on rock wool.
To allow this modification of the area of the outlet opening 103, the system 200 for adjusting the outlet opening comprises at least one shutter 201, as can be seen in
In a first embodiment, the movable shutter 201 is moved manually.
In a first embodiment, which can be seen in
The movable shutter 201 comprises at least one pair of studs 213. This pair of studs 213 is used when the shutter 201 comprises a plurality of holes 211 arranged in the form of one line. When the shutter 201 comprises holes 213 that are arranged so as to form two lines, the shutter 201 comprises at least one, or even at least two pairs of studs 213. Each stud extends orthogonally to the plane of the shutter.
In the case of holes 211 arranged in the form of a single line, the pair of studs 213 is arranged such that the spacing between the two studs allows the latter to be fitted into two holes, which are not necessarily contiguous.
In the case of holes 211 arranged in the form of two lines, the studs 213 are arranged such that the spacing between the two studs 213 of a pair is identical to the spacing between the two parallel lines of holes 211. The two pairs are also positioned with respect to one another such that each stud 213 can fit in a hole 211. Thus, it becomes possible to modify the position of the shutter 201 by disposing the studs in different holes along the parallel lines. Thus, the holes and the studs form means 203 for positioning the shutter. Thus, the position of the shutter 201 with respect to the holes 211 makes it possible to adjust the outlet opening. The holes 211 of one line are, preferably, spaced apart regularly to allow linear adjustment of the outlet opening. It is also possible for the user to move the shutter 201 from one end position to another without passing through intermediate positions.
Ira a second embodiment, which can be seen in
According to one example, each rail 221 has a C-shaped profile. The rails are positioned such that the C-profiles face one another. The spacing is such that the shutter 201 fits in the rails 221 so as to slide. For locking in position, a through-hole having a screw (not shown) can be used, the tightening of the screw making it possible to tighten and therefore lock the position of the shutter. The user can thus position the shutter 201 as desired and then lock it in said position.
According to another example, the rail system 220 comprises receiving rails 223. Each rail 223 has a U-shaped profile. The rails 223 are positioned such that the U-profiles are spaced apart from one another and serve as receiving rails. The shutter 201 also comprises two longitudinal rails known as sliding rails 224. The arrangement of the sliding rails 224 of the shutter 201 is such that said sliding rails 224 of the shutter fit in the U-shaped rails 223 so as to slide. For locking in position, in an example that is not shown, there is a through-hole having a screw, the tightening of the screw making it possible to tighten and therefore lock the position of the shutter.
In a variant that can be seen in
In a second embodiment, the movable shutter 201 is moved electrically. This means that the shutter is moved by virtue of drive means 230. These drive means 230 comprise at least one motor 231, at least one serration-engagement element 232 and at least one gear element 233 for creating the mechanical link between said motor and the serration-engagement element.
In a first embodiment, the chamber is provided with two parallel rails for guiding the shutter.
According to one example, which can be seen in
In another example, which can be seen in
The serration-engagement element 232 may be in the form of a toothing or a plurality of through-notches or blind notches in which the teeth of the pinion fit.
In the first configuration, having a single movable shutter 201 arranged on the outlet face makes it possible to reduce the size of the slot and therefore to increase the spraying range of the insulating flakes.
In the second and third configurations, having a single movable shutter 201 arranged on the upper or lower face or on one of the parts of the outlet face makes it possible to reduce the area when looking at the outlet opening 103 from in front of the latter. Nevertheless, having a single shutter causes a part of the stream of flakes sprayed to be oriented upward or downward depending on the position of the shutter. Thus, the shutter 201 positioned on the upper part of the chamber 100 will direct the stream downward and vice versa.
In a variant of the embodiments, the chamber 100 is provided with two shutters 201, the two shutters being movable, as can be seen in
Thus, in the first embodiment, the two shutters 201 can be moved manually independently, as can be seen in
In the second embodiment, each of the shutters can be controlled by its own motor 231 in order for the movement of each shutter to be independent, as can be seen in
This independence of the movements is advantageous in the second and third configurations of the chamber. This is because, in these configurations, the presence of a single shutter causes the stream to be diverted. With the presence of two shutters that are movable independently, it is possible, by altering the movement of each shutter, to control this diversion of the air in order to have an upward or downward diversion. In addition, it is advantageously possible to move the two shutters simultaneously such that the movement of the two shutters is identical.
According to an alternative that can be seen in
Although this alternative does not allow the operator to guide the outlet stream downward or upward, it makes it possible to have a slot that is regulated uniformly, thereby avoiding any risk of a stream that is oriented upward or downward.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to the example illustrated, but can be varied and modified in various ways that will become apparent to a person skilled in the art.
Specifically, it is also possible for the gear train that controls the movement of the shutter(s) to be actuated manually. To this end, one of the gears is provided with a gripping element that allows the operator to act on the gear train in order to control the movement of the shutter(s).
Of course, the invention is not limited to an outlet opening in the form of a slot. The outlet opening may have a circular or parallelepipedal shape. The system for adjusting the outlet opening is then adapted in accordance with the shape of said outlet opening. For example, for a circular opening, the system for adjusting the outlet opening comprises shutters or a diaphragm 203, as can be seen in
Similarly, the shutter(s) may move in a different direction. Specifically, in the above examples, the shutters move in a direction which is, substantially, parallel to the direction of the length of the chamber. However, it is conceivable for the direction of movement of the shutter(s) to be orthogonal to the length of the chamber, as can be seen in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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FR1915096 | Dec 2019 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/FR2020/052549 | 12/18/2020 | WO |