Device for compressing blocks of insulation and method for compressing blocks of insulation

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 100 ) for compressing thermal insulation material into blocks of insulation comprising: a support surface ( 110 ) for the compressed blocks ( 200 ) of insulation, a compression device ( 120 ) with a compression surface ( 120 a ), and a feeding device ( 130 ) for feeding thermal insulation material. By adapting the compression device ( 120 ) for reciprocal movement between a first position, wherein the feeding device ( 130 ) is allowed to feed thermal insulation material to a position on the support surface ( 110 ), and a second position, wherein, during movement from the first position to the second position of the compression device, thermal insulation material ( 200 ) fed by the feeding device ( 130 ) is compressed, highly compressed blocks of thermal insulation material is obtained that are suitable for use with known shredding devices. A corresponding method is also provided.

1 . A device for compressing thermal insulation material into blocks of insulation comprising:
 a support surface for the compressed blocks of insulation,   a compression device with a compression surface, and   a feeding device for feeding thermal insulation material,   
       characterized in that 
       the compression device is adapted for reciprocal movement between a first position, wherein the feeding device is allowed to feed thermal insulation material to a position on the support surface, and a second position, 
       wherein, during movement from the first position to the second position of the compression device, thermal insulation material fed by the feeding device is compressed. 
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material is loose-fill cellulose thermal insulation material. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression surface is provided with protrusions, such as ribs or nail-like protrusions. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising a driving device for operating the compression device by hydraulic, pneumatic or electrical power, such as a rotating electrical machine. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising means for adjusting a cross-sectional area of compressed thermal insulation material. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the means for adjusting a cross-sectional area of compressed thermal insulation material comprises an adjustable wall, preferably a vertically adjustable upper wall, which, when the adjustable wall is adjusted, adjusts the area of an opening defined by the adjustable wall, two side walls and the support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein, the device is adapted to compress the thermal insulation material to a density of at least 160 kg/m 3 . 
     
     
         8 . A method for compressing loose-fill cellulose thermal insulation material into a block, comprising the steps:
 a) feeding an amount of thermal insulation material to a support surface,   b) compressing the amount of thermal insulation material fed in step a), thereby creating a block of insulation,   c) feeding an additional amount of thermal insulation material to the support surface,   d) compressing the additional amount of thermal insulation material fed in step c), adding compressed thermal insulation material to the block of insulation, and   e) repeating steps c) and d) until the block of insulation has a predetermined size.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the thermal insulation material is compressed to a density of at least 160 kg/m3. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein each portion of the block is compressed to a thickness of between 0.5-1.0 inch.