Dynamic foam insulation/shading system with inflatable bags

Abstract

A building insulation/shading system comprises a dynamic fluid foam generator and a plurality of deployable/retractable flexible containers mounted to the building structure. Each container has an inlet connected to the dynamic fluid foam generator and an outlet for draining the liquid resulting from the degradation of the insulation foam directed in the container by the foam generator. The containers are movable between an expanded operational position in which the flexible containers are filled with dynamic fluid insulation foam and a retracted storage position in which the flexible containers have been emptied and retracted along the sides of the building.

1 . An insulation/shading system for a building structure, comprising a dynamic fluid foam generator, a plurality of inflatable/deflatable containers adapted to be mounted to the building structure, each of said plurality of inflatable/deflatable containers having an inlet connected to said dynamic fluid foam generator for allowing filling of the containers with a dynamic fluid insulation foam and an outlet for draining the liquid resulting from the degradation of the insulation foam, said inflatable/deflatable containers being movable between an expanded operational position in which the containers are filled with said dynamic fluid insulation foam and a retracted storage position in which the dynamic fluid insulation foam has been substantially emptied from the containers, and wherein the dynamic fluid foam generator is located outside the inflatable/deflatable containers, the foaming process being initiated externally of the inflatable/deflatable containers by the foam generator.  
   
   
       2 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least some of said containers are individually deployable.  
   
   
       3 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein first and second valves are respectively provided at said inlet and said outlet of at least some of said containers.  
   
   
       4 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of containers defines a drainage slope to direct the liquid resulting from the degradation of the insulation foam to the outlet of the container.  
   
   
       5 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a source of vacuum is connected to the outlets of the containers to collapse the containers and empty the containers from the content thereof.  
   
   
       6 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said containers are retractable along at least one side of the building structure.  
   
   
       7 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said containers are slidable along a guiding system spanning the building structure.  
   
   
       8 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the containers are mounted via slides to cables stretched across the building structure.  
   
   
       9 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid foam generator comprises a reservoir containing a foaming solution, a pump for pumping the foaming solution into a mixing chamber where the foaming solution is mixed with pressurized air, and a secondary mixing chamber along which the foaming process continues before the foam be directed into the containers.  
   
   
       10 . The insulation/shading system as defined in  claim 9 , wherein an air blower is provided to discharge pressurized air into the mixing chamber as the foaming solution is being injected therein.  
   
   
       11 . A method for periodically insulating/shading a building structure comprising the steps of: a) mounting a plurality of inflatable/deflatable bags to the building structure, b) generating degradable fluid foam outside of said inflatable/deflatable bags, and c) deploying the bags from a retracted state to an expanded state and filling the bags with the pre-formed degradable fluid foam.  
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein step b) comprises the step of creating a high density liquid foam by injecting pressurized air in a fluid containing a foaming agent and water.  
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the high density liquid foam is obtained by separately injecting pressurized air and a surfactant in a mixing chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , comprising the step of using air pressure to carry the fluid foam from a mixing chamber to the bags via a piping network.  
   
   
       15 . The method as defined in  claim 11 , wherein each bag has a selectively closable inlet, and wherein step c) comprises the steps of: selecting a section of the building to be insulated, and opening the inlets of the bags located in this section.  
   
   
       16 . A system for periodically thermally shielding/shading a building structure with a degradable fluid foam for insulation and shading, the system comprising a foam generator adapted to produce the degradable fluid foam, a distribution pipe connected to an outlet of the foam generator for receiving the foam, and a number of sprinklers connected to the distribution pipe for spray-applying the foam on the building structure interior or exterior.  
   
   
       17 . The system as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the foam generator comprises a reservoir containing a surfactant solution, a pump for pumping the surfactant solution from the reservoir into a mixing chamber, and an air blower for injecting pressurized air into said mixing chamber while the surfactant solution is being pumped therein in order to produce the degradable fluid foam.  
   
   
       18 . The system as defined in  claim 16 , further comprising foam containers provided on the building structure for receiving the foam from the sprinklers.  
   
   
       19 . The system as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said foam containers are provided in the form of wall or roof cavities defined between first and second structural membranes mounted to building structure.  
   
   
       20 . The system as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said sprinklers extend outwardly of said building structure for spray-applying a layer of foam on the exterior of the building structure.  
   
   
       21 . A system for periodically insulating/shading a transparent building structure, comprising a number of sprinklers spraying liquid foam onto a membrane adapted to be mounted to the building structure, and a foam return line for recuperating the liquid which result from the degradation of the foam over time.  
   
   
       22 . The system as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the sprinklers are mounted along a distribution line connected to a source of liquid foam.  
   
   
       23 . The system as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said source of liquid foam comprises a mixing chamber in which pressurized air and a surfactant solution are separately injected.  
   
   
       24 . A system for washing the exterior of a greenhouse, comprising a number of sprinklers distributed along a distribution line connected to a source of washing fluid, the sprinklers extending outwardly of the greenhouse for spray-applying a washing fluid on the exterior of the greenhouse.  
   
   
       25 . A method of producing a sound insulation, comprising the steps of: providing a source of foaming solution consisting essentially of a surfactant and water, providing a source of pressurized air, and mixing the foaming solution with the pressurized air to generate dynamic liquid foam.