GB2129039A

GB2129039A - Apparatus for insulating cavity walls

Info

Publication number: GB2129039A
Application number: GB08227253A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Mellor; Peter Leicester
Original assignee: THORO GLAZE CAVITY WALL DIVISI
Current assignee: THORO GLAZE CAVITY WALL DIVISI
Priority date: 1982-09-24
Filing date: 1982-09-24
Publication date: 1984-05-10

Abstract

Cavity wall insulating apparatus comprises a container (1) for insulating fibres, a screw conveyor (3) disposed in a lower portion of the container and adapted to convey insulator fibres to an outlet (6) of the container, the outlet communicating via a tube (not shown) with the inlet of a pump (14). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for insulating cavity walls This invention relates to apparatus used for insulating a cavity wall or other confined space by means of blowing fibres of insulating material into the cavity or space.

According to the present invention insulating apparatus comprises a container for insulator fibres, a screw conveyor disposed in a lower portion of the container and adapted to convey insulator fibres to an outlet of the container, the outlet communicating with the inlet of a pump.

Apparatus in accordance with this invention finds particular application in filling cavity wails of buildings or other inaccessible confined spaces with fibrous insulating material such as granulated mineral fibres.

Preferably the screw conveyor is actuated manually, for example, by means of a crank.

Manual actuation has the advantages of allowing direct control of the conveyor by a user with immediate response, for example, to a change in rotation of the crank.

Direct responsive control is important in regulating the amount of insulator delivered to the pump and serves to reduce the likelihood of blockages occurring in the cavity and enables immediate action to be taken in the event of a blockage occurring.

Means may be provided for breaking up the insulator material prior to engagement with the screw conveyor. This may comprise a bar provided with radial extensions. The bar may be connected to the drive for the screw conveyor, for example, by a belt or chain.

Both conveyor and the breaker bar may be driven by a single manually operated crank.

The outlet of the container may be connected to the pump by means of a tube communicating with the inlet of the pump. Suction by the pump on the tube causes fibres of the insulator material to be drawn apart as they pass down the tube.

This results in efficient and even distribution of the insulator in the cavity.

The pump is preferably electrically powered and may comprise a radial fan. The blades of the fan are preferably resistant to the abrasive effects of the insulator fibres. An articularly preferred fan has blades which are coated with a ceramic material.

The fan or other pump is preferably continuously variable in output, for example by means of a rheostat. In preferred embodiments of the invention the output of the pump may be increased above the normal operating valve to remove any blockages which may occur within the apparatus or within the cavity. The container may comprise a hopper with the screw conveyor disposed in a semicylindrical depression at the bottom of the hopper. A paddle wheel or other impellor is preferably disposed as an extension of the end of the conveyor adjacent the outlet of the container.

Apparatus in accordance with this invention is preferably composed of lightweight materials and is also sufficiently small to be portable within buildings.

The invention may be further appreciated from the following description by way of example with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a section on A-A of Figure 3.

The apparatus shown in the Figures comprising a hopper 1 composed of fibre glass which may contain 1 5 kg of granulated mineral fibres. The hopper 1 is supported by a plastics coated steel frame 2. A screw conveyor 3 is disposed in a semi-cylindrical depression in the bottom of the hopper and is adapted to convey fibres through a partition 4 to an outlet from the hopper. The portion of the conveyor adjacent the outlet 5 comprises radially extending impellor blades 6 which in use urge fibres into the outlet 5.

A bar 7 containing a plurality of radially extending arms 8 is disposed above the conveyor 3 and serves to break up the fibres in the hopper before the latter are fed to the conveyor. The bar 7 and arms 8 are arranged to deliver fibres to the conveyor 3 at half the rate at which they are transported by the conveyor. By this means the fibres are separated providing economic use of the insulator material and occurrence of blockages is reduced.

The conveyor 3 and bar 4 are connected to a crank wheel 9 by means of pulleys 10, 11 and a chain 1 2. Rotation of the handle 1 3 actuates both the conveyor 3 and the bar 7.

A tube (not shown) connects the outlet 5 to the inlet of a radial fan 14. The tube may have a length of about 1 m so that the fibres are further separated as they pass through the tube to the fan. The outlet 1 5 of the fan 14 is connected in use to a hose which is inserted into the cavity to be insulated. The fan has a power of 1 horsepower and may operate at 7,500 rpm. It is controlled by a rheostat. The blades of the fan are coated with a ceramic material.

In use of the apparatus the rate of delivery of fibres to the fan is regulated by manual operation of the crank 9. The power of the fan may also be continuously varied to accommodate cavities of differing sizes, different densities of insulation and to clear any blockages which may occur.

The apparatus has advantages of simplicity of construction and use, direct control of the rates of feed, ease of maintenance, portability and reliability in use.

1. Insulating apparatus comprising a container for insulator fibres, a screw conveyor disposed in a lower portion of the container and adapted to convey insulator fibres to an outlet of the container, the outlet communicating with the inlet of a pump.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Apparatus for insulating cavity walls This invention relates to apparatus used for insulating a cavity wall or other confined space by means of blowing fibres of insulating material into the cavity or space. According to the present invention insulating apparatus comprises a container for insulator fibres, a screw conveyor disposed in a lower portion of the container and adapted to convey insulator fibres to an outlet of the container, the outlet communicating with the inlet of a pump. Apparatus in accordance with this invention finds particular application in filling cavity wails of buildings or other inaccessible confined spaces with fibrous insulating material such as granulated mineral fibres. Preferably the screw conveyor is actuated manually, for example, by means of a crank. Manual actuation has the advantages of allowing direct control of the conveyor by a user with immediate response, for example, to a change in rotation of the crank. Direct responsive control is important in regulating the amount of insulator delivered to the pump and serves to reduce the likelihood of blockages occurring in the cavity and enables immediate action to be taken in the event of a blockage occurring. Means may be provided for breaking up the insulator material prior to engagement with the screw conveyor. This may comprise a bar provided with radial extensions. The bar may be connected to the drive for the screw conveyor, for example, by a belt or chain. Both conveyor and the breaker bar may be driven by a single manually operated crank. The outlet of the container may be connected to the pump by means of a tube communicating with the inlet of the pump. Suction by the pump on the tube causes fibres of the insulator material to be drawn apart as they pass down the tube. This results in efficient and even distribution of the insulator in the cavity. The pump is preferably electrically powered and may comprise a radial fan. The blades of the fan are preferably resistant to the abrasive effects of the insulator fibres. An articularly preferred fan has blades which are coated with a ceramic material. The fan or other pump is preferably continuously variable in output, for example by means of a rheostat. In preferred embodiments of the invention the output of the pump may be increased above the normal operating valve to remove any blockages which may occur within the apparatus or within the cavity. The container may comprise a hopper with the screw conveyor disposed in a semicylindrical depression at the bottom of the hopper. A paddle wheel or other impellor is preferably disposed as an extension of the end of the conveyor adjacent the outlet of the container. Apparatus in accordance with this invention is preferably composed of lightweight materials and is also sufficiently small to be portable within buildings. The invention may be further appreciated from the following description by way of example with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an end elevation of Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a section on A-A of Figure 3. The apparatus shown in the Figures comprising a hopper 1 composed of fibre glass which may contain 1 5 kg of granulated mineral fibres. The hopper 1 is supported by a plastics coated steel frame 2. A screw conveyor 3 is disposed in a semi-cylindrical depression in the bottom of the hopper and is adapted to convey fibres through a partition 4 to an outlet from the hopper. The portion of the conveyor adjacent the outlet 5 comprises radially extending impellor blades 6 which in use urge fibres into the outlet 5. A bar 7 containing a plurality of radially extending arms 8 is disposed above the conveyor 3 and serves to break up the fibres in the hopper before the latter are fed to the conveyor. The bar 7 and arms 8 are arranged to deliver fibres to the conveyor 3 at half the rate at which they are transported by the conveyor. By this means the fibres are separated providing economic use of the insulator material and occurrence of blockages is reduced. The conveyor 3 and bar 4 are connected to a crank wheel 9 by means of pulleys 10, 11 and a chain 1 2. Rotation of the handle 1 3 actuates both the conveyor 3 and the bar 7. A tube (not shown) connects the outlet 5 to the inlet of a radial fan 14. The tube may have a length of about 1 m so that the fibres are further separated as they pass through the tube to the fan. The outlet 1 5 of the fan 14 is connected in use to a hose which is inserted into the cavity to be insulated. The fan has a power of 1 horsepower and may operate at 7,500 rpm. It is controlled by a rheostat. The blades of the fan are coated with a ceramic material. In use of the apparatus the rate of delivery of fibres to the fan is regulated by manual operation of the crank 9. The power of the fan may also be continuously varied to accommodate cavities of differing sizes, different densities of insulation and to clear any blockages which may occur. The apparatus has advantages of simplicity of construction and use, direct control of the rates of feed, ease of maintenance, portability and reliability in use. CLAIMS

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the screw conveyor is actuated manually.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprising means for breaking up insulator material prior to engagement with the screw conveyor.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means comprises a bar provided with radial extensions.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, the outlet of the container is connected to the pump by a tube, wherein suction by the pump in use causing fibres of the insulator material to be drawn apart as they pass down the tube.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pump is continuously variable in output.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the output of the pump may be increased above the normal operating value.

8. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.