Systems for and methods of conditioning loosefill insulation material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11035134-B2
Application number	US-201816171447-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 26, 2018
Priority date	Oct 27, 2017
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A machine for distributing unbonded loosefill insulation material through a hose connected thereto is disclosed. The machine includes a fluidizer having one or more air knives for conditioning the loosefill material as it is being applied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for conditioning loosefill material during application thereof, the system comprising:
a machine for distributing loosefill material, the machine comprising:
a chute configured to receive and direct the loosefill material in a machine direction;
a shredder configured to shred and pick apart the loosefill material; and
a blower for distributing the loosefill material into an airstream;

a hose connected to the machine for conveying the loosefill material in the airstream; and
a fluidizer for receiving the loosefill material in the airstream and conditioning the loosefill material to decrease its average density,
wherein the fluidizer includes a first air knife that generates a first shaped stream of air that impinges on the loosefill material within the fluidizer;
wherein the fluidizer includes a second air knife that generates a second shaped stream of air that impinges on the loosefill material within the fluidizer; and
wherein the first shaped stream of air and the second shaped stream of air flow parallel to one another within the fluidizer.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluidizer is positioned between the machine and the hose.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned at the output end of the hose.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end;
wherein the fluidizer comprises a first fluidizer and a second fluidizer;
wherein the first fluidizer is positioned at the input end of the hose; and
wherein the second fluidizer is positioned at the output end of the hose.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned closer to the output end of the hose than the input end of the hose.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned closer to the input end of the hose than the output end of the hose.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned so as to at least partially overlap with a portion of the hose equidistant from the input end of the hose and the output end of the hose.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the hose includes a plurality of discrete segments; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned between two adjacent segments.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the hose is smooth.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the hose is corrugated.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first air knife and the second air knife operates at a pressure within the range of 1 psi to 5 psi.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first air knife and the second air knife operates at a pressure within the range of 40 psi to 120 psi.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluidizer includes three or more air knives.

14. A system for conditioning loosefill material during application thereof, the system comprising:
a machine for distributing loosefill material, the machine comprising:
a chute configured to receive and direct the loosefill material in a machine direction;
a shredder configured to shred and pick apart the loosefill material; and
a blower for distributing the loosefill material into an airstream;

a hose connected to the machine for conveying the loosefill material in the airstream; and
a fluidizer for receiving the loosefill material in the airstream and conditioning the loosefill material to decrease its average density,
wherein the fluidizer includes a first air knife that generates a first shaped stream of air that impinges on the loosefill material within the fluidizer;
wherein the fluidizer includes a second air knife that generates a second shaped stream of air that impinges on the loosefill material within the fluidizer; and
wherein the first shaped stream of air and the second shaped stream of air intersect with one another within the fluidizer.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the fluidizer is positioned between the machine and the hose.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned at the output end of the hose.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end;
wherein the fluidizer comprises a first fluidizer and a second fluidizer;
wherein the first fluidizer is positioned at the input end of the hose; and
wherein the second fluidizer is positioned at the output end of the hose.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned closer to the output end of the hose than the input end of the hose.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned closer to the input end of the hose than the output end of the hose.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes an input end and an output end;
wherein the loosefill material enters the hose at the input end;
wherein the loosefill material exits the hose at the output end; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned so as to at least partially overlap with a portion of the hose equidistant from the input end of the hose and the output end of the hose.

21. The system of claim 14 , wherein the hose includes a plurality of discrete segments; and
wherein the fluidizer is positioned between two adjacent segments.

22. The system of claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the hose is smooth.

23. The system of claim 14 , wherein an inner surface of the hose is corrugated.

24. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first air knife and the second air knife operates at a pressure within the range of 1 psi to 5 psi.

25. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first air knife and the second air knife operates at a pressure within the range of 40 psi to 120 psi.

26. The system of claim 14 , wherein the fluidizer includes three or more air knives.

Assignees

• Owens Corning Intellectual Capital Llc

Inventors

• Evans James Justin
• Evans Michael Eugene
• Newell Timothy H
• Hannon Apollo

Classifications

• B02C18/2216

  Discharge means · CPC title

• E04F21/085 Primary

  for filling building cavity walls with insulating materials · CPC title

• B02C21/02

  Transportable disintegrating plant · CPC title

• B02C23/20

  after crushing or disintegrating · CPC title

• B02C23/40

  with more than one means for adding fluid to the material being crushed or disintegrated · CPC title