GB2193478A

GB2193478A - Cavity wall injecting machine

Info

Publication number: GB2193478A
Application number: GB08713780A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Arthur Burton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-09
Filing date: 1987-06-12
Publication date: 1988-02-10
Also published as: GB8616769D0; GB8713780D0

Abstract

There is disclosed a control arrangement for a cavity wall insulation injecting machine having a shredding arrangement 11 delivering into a rotary air lock 12 supplied with air through a line from a blower 14, the control arrangement comprising valve means 22, 23 in said line adapted to switch air between the air lock and exhaust 29. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Cavity wall injecting machine This invention relates to a control arrangement for a cavity wall injecting machine.

Such machines have a shredding arrangement for the rockwool or glass fibre which is to be injected delivering into a rotary air lock supplied with air through a line from a blower.

The blower is controlled by a clutch between it and the drive motor, the clutch being electrically operated from a remote switch at the injection nozzle.

The clutch is subject to frequent actuation, which requires it to be of robust construction, therefore heavy-disadvantageous in a machine which needs to be transported from site to site-and expensive, yet still requiring frequent maintenance or replacement, as well as giving rise to failures on site which mean lost profits. Moreover, the power consumption is heavy.

The present invention provides a control arrangement which does not suffer these disadvantages.

The invention comprises a control arrangement for a cavity wall insulation injecting machine having a shredding arrangement delivering into a rotary air lock supplied with air through a line from a blower, the control arrangement comprising valve means in said line adapted to switch air between the air lock and exhaust.

Said valve means may comprise a single, two outlet port valve, one outlet port of which is connected to the air lock, the other to exhaust.

Otherwise, said valve means may comprise two valves, one in the line and the other opening and closing an exhaust opening from the line, arranged so that one valve is open when the other is closed.

The valve means may be electrically operated, for instance by a remote control switch at the injection nozzle.

However, the valve means might also be actuated to exhaust air from the line on sensing an increase in back pressure from the air lock. Such might be brought about by a mechanical valve at the nozzle.

Exhaust air can be directed for motor cooling.

Embodiments of control arrangements for a cavity wall injecting machine according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate control arrangements for a cavity wall injecting machine having a shredding arrangement 11, delivering into a rotary air lock 12 supplied with air though a line 13 from a blower 14. The control arrangement comprises valve means 15 in said line 13 adapted to switch air between the air lock 12 and the exhaust 16.

The control arrangement of Figure 1 has valve means 15 comprising a single two outlet port valve 17, one outlet port 17a of which is connected to the air lock 12 and the other, 17b, is connected to exhaust.

The control arrangement of Figure 2 has valve means 21 comprising two valves 22, 23, one 22, in the line 13 and the other, 23, opening and closing an exhaust 24 from the line 13.

The valves 22, 23 are arranged so that one is open when the other is closed.

The valve means 15 are electrically operated, having solenoids 25.

In the arrangement of Figure 1 the valve means 15 are actuated to exhaust air from the line 13 on sensing an increase in back pressure from the air lock 12. The nozzle 28 has a mechanical valve 26 which is operable to close off the supply of blown rockwool or the like. Closure of this valve 26 thus increases the back pressure in line 13. A pressure sensor 27 in line 13 actuates the valve means 15 so as to direct the air supplied from the blower 14 to exhaust when the back pressure is high, but when the pressure drops, indicating renewed demand for air/rockwool at the nozzle, the exhaust is closed off and the line 13 opened up for the supply of air to the air lock 12.

In the arrangement of Figure 2, the valves 22 are controlled by a signal from a nozzle switch 28a.

The air exhausted may be ducted as by duct 29 to cool the motor.

Thus, no clutch is required, the motor operating (with improved, forced cooling, if the ducting 29 option is taken) continuously to supply power to the blower, air to the rotary air lock being controlled by the valve means which, as described, may be manually controlled or automatically actuated. The weight, cost and downtime penalties of the clutch are therefore eliminated, and because of the reduced power consumption a smaller motor can be used.

If an electric motor is used to drive the machine, its power can be substantially reduced as compared to the original so that it is even safe to use it connected to a conventional 13 amp ring main supply.

1. A control arrangement for a cavity wall insulation injecting machine having a shredding arrangement delivering into a rotary air lock supplied with air through a line from a blower, the control arrangement comprising valve means in said line adapted to switch air between the air lock and exhaust.

2. A control arrangement according to claim

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Cavity wall injecting machine This invention relates to a control arrangement for a cavity wall injecting machine. Such machines have a shredding arrangement for the rockwool or glass fibre which is to be injected delivering into a rotary air lock supplied with air through a line from a blower. The blower is controlled by a clutch between it and the drive motor, the clutch being electrically operated from a remote switch at the injection nozzle. The clutch is subject to frequent actuation, which requires it to be of robust construction, therefore heavy-disadvantageous in a machine which needs to be transported from site to site-and expensive, yet still requiring frequent maintenance or replacement, as well as giving rise to failures on site which mean lost profits. Moreover, the power consumption is heavy. The present invention provides a control arrangement which does not suffer these disadvantages. The invention comprises a control arrangement for a cavity wall insulation injecting machine having a shredding arrangement delivering into a rotary air lock supplied with air through a line from a blower, the control arrangement comprising valve means in said line adapted to switch air between the air lock and exhaust. Said valve means may comprise a single, two outlet port valve, one outlet port of which is connected to the air lock, the other to exhaust. Otherwise, said valve means may comprise two valves, one in the line and the other opening and closing an exhaust opening from the line, arranged so that one valve is open when the other is closed. The valve means may be electrically operated, for instance by a remote control switch at the injection nozzle. However, the valve means might also be actuated to exhaust air from the line on sensing an increase in back pressure from the air lock. Such might be brought about by a mechanical valve at the nozzle. Exhaust air can be directed for motor cooling. Embodiments of control arrangements for a cavity wall injecting machine according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment, and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate control arrangements for a cavity wall injecting machine having a shredding arrangement 11, delivering into a rotary air lock 12 supplied with air though a line 13 from a blower 14. The control arrangement comprises valve means 15 in said line 13 adapted to switch air between the air lock 12 and the exhaust 16. The control arrangement of Figure 1 has valve means 15 comprising a single two outlet port valve 17, one outlet port 17a of which is connected to the air lock 12 and the other, 17b, is connected to exhaust. The control arrangement of Figure 2 has valve means 21 comprising two valves 22, 23, one 22, in the line 13 and the other, 23, opening and closing an exhaust 24 from the line 13. The valves 22, 23 are arranged so that one is open when the other is closed. The valve means 15 are electrically operated, having solenoids 25. In the arrangement of Figure 1 the valve means 15 are actuated to exhaust air from the line 13 on sensing an increase in back pressure from the air lock 12. The nozzle 28 has a mechanical valve 26 which is operable to close off the supply of blown rockwool or the like. Closure of this valve 26 thus increases the back pressure in line 13. A pressure sensor 27 in line 13 actuates the valve means 15 so as to direct the air supplied from the blower 14 to exhaust when the back pressure is high, but when the pressure drops, indicating renewed demand for air/rockwool at the nozzle, the exhaust is closed off and the line 13 opened up for the supply of air to the air lock 12. In the arrangement of Figure 2, the valves 22 are controlled by a signal from a nozzle switch 28a. The air exhausted may be ducted as by duct 29 to cool the motor. Thus, no clutch is required, the motor operating (with improved, forced cooling, if the ducting 29 option is taken) continuously to supply power to the blower, air to the rotary air lock being controlled by the valve means which, as described, may be manually controlled or automatically actuated. The weight, cost and downtime penalties of the clutch are therefore eliminated, and because of the reduced power consumption a smaller motor can be used. If an electric motor is used to drive the machine, its power can be substantially reduced as compared to the original so that it is even safe to use it connected to a conventional 13 amp ring main supply. CLAIMS

2. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a single, two outlet port valve, one outlet port of which is connected to the air lock, the other to exhaust.

3. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises two valves, one in the line and the other opening and closing an exhaust opening from the line, arranged so that one valve is open when the other is closed.

4. A control arrangement according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein valve means is electrically operated.

5. A control arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the valve means is operated by a remote control switch at the injection nozzle.

6. A control arrangement according to any one of claims 1-3 wherein the valve means is actuated to exhaust air from the line on sensing an increase in back pressure from the air lock.

7. A control arrangement according to claim 6 wherein said increase in back pressure is brought about by a mechanical valve at the nozzle.

8. A control arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein exhaust air is directed for motor cooling.

9. A control arrangement for a cavity wall insulation injection machine substantially as described herein with reference to either Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.