Mobile device for producing an insulation material containing a plant-based material

Description

2 Hemp concrete is usually prepared on the construction site using, for example, forced mixing, and the hemp concrete is then manually placed behind lost formwork. More recently, a technique has also come into use whereby the hemp-lime mixture is projected using a projection sheet instead of being poured. However, this technique is not yet applied on an industrial scale because the current equipment is too limited to produce the insulation material efficiently and in large volumes. Moreover, with the current equipment, many working hours and manpower are required to apply this insulation technique on a construction site. Thus, there is a need to improve the equipment for producing and projecting a hemp-lime mixture in order to make the application of the plant-based insulation material more economically viable.15 SUMMARY One objective of the present invention is to provide a mobile apparatus for the efficient production and projection of an insulation material containing a plant material, in particular20 an insulation material consisting of a hemp-lime mixture. The apparatus should allow the manpower required to apply the insulation material to be reduced, and the number of transports to the construction site for the application of material to be drastically reduced. The present invention is defined in the attached25 independent claims. The independent claims define advantageous embodiments. A first aspect of the invention relates to a mobile apparatus for the production of an insulation material containing a mixture of a plant material and a binder.30 BE2025 / 5074 3 The mobile device comprises a first container for the storage of plant material, a second container for the storage of one or more binding agents, a first and a second output tube, and a first production unit connected to the first container to receive plant material and configured for creating a flow of the plant material through the first output tube. The mobile device further comprises a second production unit connected to the second container to receive one or more binding agents, and where the second production unit is configured for producing a binding agent by mixing one or more binding agents with water and for creating a flow of the binding agent through the second output tube. The mobile device further comprises a control system to control the first and second production unit.The mobile device also comprises a frame, at least two wheels and a wheel suspension connecting the at least two wheels to the frame, and15 whereby at least the first container, the second container, the first production unit and the second production unit are supported by the frame. By placing the first and second production units for generating a stream of plant material and a stream of binder respectively, on the same mobile frame, the number of transports to the construction site can be limited. Indeed, not only can the two production units be transported together to the construction site, but also the basic material for the insulation, such as hemp shives and lime, are transported in bulk via the first and second containers that are also mounted on the frame. In various configurations, the mobile device can be part of a truck or a trailer that can be coupled to a towing vehicle.30 BE2025 / 5074 4 The work on the construction site, and the number of required manpower, is also drastically reduced because, for example, bags of hemp shives or bags of lime no longer need to be moved and opened, as is the case with existing systems. The basic elements of the insulation material are brought to the site in bulk using the containers of the mobile device. By providing a common control system for both the first and second production units, the ratio of the flow of hemp shives to the flow of binding agent can be optimally monitored. The volume of insulation material projected with a projection sheet is largely determined by the volume of the plant material. The first container containing the plant material, for example hemp shives, can have a large capacity, meaning that large volumes of insulation material can be produced on the site with a single delivery by the mobile device.For example, the first container has a volume equal to or greater than 5 m³, preferably equal to or greater than 10 m³, with greater preference equal to or greater than 50 m³. The volume of the second container containing the binding agents is determined in proportion to the volume of the first container. For example, the second container has a volume equal to or greater than 0.5 m³, preferably equal to or greater than 1 m³, with greater preference equal to or greater than 5 m³. The plant material is usually a woody component of a plant, preferably where the plant material is hemp-25, and one of the one or more binding agents is usually lime, loam, or cement, or a combination thereof. In implementation forms, the first container comprises a transport system configured to transport the plant material from BE2025 / 5074 5 the first container to the first production unit. The transport system may, for example, comprise a conveyor belt.In implementation forms, the transport system may be configured to transport the plant material to a wall opening in the first container, and where the wall opening is connected to the first production unit so that the plant material can be fed through the wall opening to the first production unit. In implementation forms, the first production unit may include a dosing element to dose the supply of plant material from the first container to the first outlet tube, and furthermore include a blowing device configured to blow air through the first outlet tube in order to create the flow of plant material through the first outlet tube. The dosing element may, for example, include a screw pump. In implementation forms, the second production unit may include a mixing device configured for forming the binder by mixing one or more binder substances with water.The second production unit may furthermore include a pump configured to pump away the formed binder and to create the flow of the binder through the second tube. The pump may be, for example, a screw pump. Optionally, the mobile device may include a generator to supply the first and second production units with electricity, whereby the generator is mounted on the frame. Optionally, the mobile device may also include a boiler to heat the water supplied to the mixing device. In embodiments, the boiler may be configured to heat the water by recovering heat from the generator. A second aspect of the invention relates to a system that, in addition to the mobile device, also includes a projection line for projecting the insulation material comprising a mixture of the plant material and the binder. BE2025 / 5074 6The projection lance is connectable to the mobile device and is configured for mixing the flow of plant material with the flow of binders for projecting the mixed flows of plant material and binder. In terms of execution, the projection consists of a first flexible hose for connecting the first outlet tube to the first inlet of the spray head and a second flexible hose for connecting the second outlet tube to the second inlet of the spray head.10 In a more economical way, a high flow rate of insulation material can be projected with the system of the present invention. With the system according to the present invention, a flow rate of insulation material of 1 m³ / hour or more, preferably 5 m³ / hour or more, and preferably 10 m³ / hour or more, can be projected.15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be explained in more detail below, with reference to drawings, on the basis of examples of execution forms. The drawings are schematic and show only examples.In the drawings20, corresponding elements are indicated by corresponding reference signs. Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a system comprising a mobile device for producing insulation material and a projection tube for projecting the insulation material according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of an example of a first version of the mobile device according to the present invention, where the mobile device is part of a truck; BE2025 / 5074 7 Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of an example of a second version of the mobile device according to the present invention, where the mobile device is part of a trailer that can be coupled to a towing vehicle; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of an example of a version of the first production unit connected to the first container to receive plant material and to create a flow of plant material through the first outlet tube of the mobile device; Fig. 5a and Fig.5b is a schematic representation of two examples of implementation forms of the second production unit connected to the second container and configured to create a flow of binding agent through the second outlet tube; Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a implementation form of a buffer tank with boiler to produce hot water and in which the buffer tank with boiler is coupled to the second production unit to produce the binding agent with hot water. DETAILED DESCRIPTION System for producing and projecting insulation material With reference to Fig. 1, a schematic representation is shown of an example of an implementation form of a system according to the present invention to produce and project insulation material. The system as schematically represented in Fig. 1 comprises a mobile device for producing the insulation material and a projection tube connectable to the mobile device.The mobile device 1 has a first and second outlet tube from which a flow of the plant material and a flow of the binder can respectively flow. The projection channel 50 is configured for mixing the flow of the plant material with the flow of the binders for projecting the mixed flows of plant material and binder. Projecting the insulation material with the projection channel 5 is understood to mean spraying, usually under pressure, the insulation material. For example, projecting the insulation material onto a subfloor to apply an insulation layer. In this way, an insulation screed is obtained. The insulation material comprises a mixture of a plant material and a binder. The plant material can be a woody component of a plant; for example, the plant material can consist of hemp shives. Hemp shives are a residual product of the cultivation of hemp plants and are obtained by separating hemp straws into hemp fibers on the one hand and hemp shives on the other.The present invention is, however, not limited to hemp shives and other plant material; in particular, woody components of plant material can be used as insulation material. The binder consists of a mixture of water with one or more binder substances. Examples of binder substances are lime, loam, cement, or a combination thereof. In implementation forms, as schematically shown in Fig. 1, the projection sheet comprises a nozzle which has a first inlet and a second inlet which can be connected to the first outlet tube and the second outlet tube of the mobile device respectively, so that the nozzle receives both the flow of the plant material and the flow of the binder. In execution forms, the projection tube 50 further comprises a first flexible hose 51 for connecting the first outlet tube 11 with the 30 BE2025 / 5074 9 first inlet 56 of the spray head 55 and a second flexible hose 52 for connecting the second outlet tube 21 with the second inlet 57 of the spray head 55.The flexible hoses can be, for example, rubber hoses. The mobile device1 is therefore a device that can be moved5, and can, for example, be transported to a construction site. To this end, the mobile device1 comprises a frame2, at least two wheels3, and a wheel suspension that connects the at least two wheels to the frame. The frame2 can, for example, be made of steel or aluminium. In design forms, the frame can have a rectangular shape10. The frame2 can, for example, extend along a longitudinal axisL from a front to a rear of the mobile device. In design forms, the frame2, the wheels3 and the suspension of the mobile device10 can be part of a truck chassis60, as schematically shown in Fig. 2.15. In other design forms, the frame2, the wheels3 and the suspension can be part of a trailer chassis65 as schematically shown in Fig. 3.In this configuration, the mobile device comprises a coupling element4 attached to the front of the frame2 and configured to attach the mobile device1 to a 20 towing vehicle70 so that the mobile device10 can be transported. The mobile device1 further comprises a first container12 for the storage of the plant material31, a second container22 for the storage of one or more binding agents43, a first production unit10 and a second production unit20.25 The first container12 has, for example, a volume equal to or greater than 5 m³, preferably equal to or greater than 10 m³, with more preferably equal to or greater than 50 m³. In this way, large volumes of plant material can be brought to a construction site BE2025 / 5074 10 with the mobile device and large volumes of insulation material can be projected with a single delivery by the mobile device1.The volume of the second container is generally smaller than the volume of the first container and is determined in proportion to the quantity of binding agents required for a given volume of plant material. For example, the second container22 has a capacity equal to or greater than 0.5 m³, preferably equal to or greater than 1 m³, with greater preference equal to or greater than 5 m³. The first production unit10 is connected to the first container12 to receive plant material31 and is configured10 to create a flow of the plant material30 through the first outlet tube11 of the mobile device1. In implementation forms, the first container can include a transport system to transport the plant material from the first container to the first production unit. The transport system can, for example, include a conveyor belt. In implementation forms, the conveyor belt is located on the bottom side of the first container.In execution forms, the first container has a wall opening 19 and the transport system 15 is configured to transport the plant material 20 to the wall opening 19 in the first container 12, and where the wall opening 19 is connected to the first production unit 10 so that the plant material can be fed through the wall opening to the first production unit 10. The first container 12 generally comprises a bottom side that 25 rests on the frame 2, two longitudinal sides that extend along the longitudinal axis L, and a first and a second lateral side that are perpendicular to the longitudinal sides. The top of the first container, opposite the bottom side, can initially be open to bring the plant material in bulk into the first container. After filling the first container with the 30 BE2025 / 5074 11 plant material, the top can be closed off with, for example, a tarpaulin. In execution forms, the wall opening19 in the first container is located in one of the lateral sides of the container, for example in a lateral side located at the back of the mobile device5.In implementation forms, the container can also be configured to include one or more scraping elements that push plant material located on the walls of the container onto the conveyor belt. Especially when the first container is nearly empty, it is useful to activate these scraping elements in order to completely empty the container and prevent bridging. The second production unit is connected to the second container to receive one or more binding agents and is configured to produce a binding agent by mixing one or more binding agents with water, and to create a flow of the binding agent through the second outlet tube of the mobile device. With the system according to the present invention, the projection of insulation material can be carried out not only in an efficient but also in a fast manner.For example, the first and second production units are configured so that the system can generate a flow rate of insulation material of 1 m³ / hour or more, preferably 5 m³ / hour or more, or preferably 10 m³ / hour or more. This flow rate is the flow rate of insulation material projected through the spray nozzle of the projection line. The frame of the mobile device forms a mechanical support structure for both the first and second container as well as for the first and second production units. BE2025 / 5074 12 The first outlet tube and the second outlet tube can also be attached to the frame. In the configurations as schematically shown in Fig. 1, the first and / or second outlet tube or at least part of the first and / or second outlet tube can be mounted at the bottom of the frame. The first and second outlet tubes can each include a coupling element to make a connection with the first and second flexible hose of the projection hose, respectively. In the configurations as schematically shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig.The first and second output tubes each have an end that opens at the rear of the frame. The mobile device further comprises a control system to test the first and second production units. In its configuration, the control system is configured to monitor the flow rate of the plant material flowing through the first tube and the flow rate of the binder flowing through the second tube so that a predetermined ratio between plant material and binder is maintained during the projection of the insulation material. In its configuration, the mobile device comprises a generator to supply the first and second production units with electricity. Preferably, the generator can be mounted on the frame. In further versions, the mobile device can optionally include a boiler to heat the water used to mix the binder. The use of hot water promotes the formation of a homogeneous binder mass.In implementation forms, the boiler can be configured to heat the water by heat recovery from the generator. The hot water has, for example, a temperature equal to or higher than 17°, preferably equal to or higher than 20°, with even more preference equal to or higher than 25°.30 BE2025 / 5074 13 In implementation forms, the mobile device1 can also include additional containers. For example, the mobile device can include a third container for the storage of one or more additives that can be used together with the one or more binding agents from the first container to produce the binding agent with the second production unit. In implementation forms, the system100 can also include an air compressor which is mounted on the frame2 and a third outlet pipe through which compressed air can be pumped. This third outlet pipe can further be connected to a second flexible hose.The nozzle of the projection line can, for example, have a third inlet to attach the flexible hose with compressed air so that compressed air can flow through the nozzle, together with the mixed flow of plant material and binder. The first production unit, the second production unit, and the control system are discussed in more detail below. First production unit With reference to Fig. 4, a schematic representation is shown of an example of a design of the first production unit. The first production unit is connected to the first container to receive plant material and is configured to create a flow of plant material through the first outlet tube of the mobile device. In designs, as shown in Fig. 4, the first production unit includes a collection bin to collect the plant material supplied from the first container.The plant material31 is supplied, for example, from the first container12 by a conveyor belt15, in particular a conveyor belt mounted on the bottom of the first container.30 BE2025 / 5074 14 The first production unit10 further comprises a dosing element 13 to dose the supply of plant material from the first container12 to the first tube11. The dosing element13 can, for example, comprise an auger screw. In various configurations, the dosing element 13 can be placed between the first container12 and the first outlet tube5 11, or more precisely between the collection bin17 and the first outlet tube11. As schematically shown in Fig. 4, the first production unit comprises a blower device configured to blow air through the first outlet tube 11 in order to thereby create the flow of plant material 30 through the first tube. The blower device 14 is, for example, a fan.The first production unit10 generally also includes an airlock16 placed between the dosing element13 and the first outlet tube 11, and where the airlock16 is configured such that air originating from the blowing device14 is blown only through the first tube11 and15 is not blown through the dosing element13. Lock 16 can, for example, consist of a rotor with a number of compartments as schematically illustrated in Fig. 4. Each compartment can be filled with plant material coming from the dosing element when the compartment is positioned in a first position, and each compartment can be emptied and the plant material discharged to the first outlet tube when the compartment is positioned in a second position, for example, where the second position corresponds to a rotation over the first position between 60° and 180°. The rotor can be provided with a seal to ensure that no air originating from the blowing device enters the dosing element.In implementation form, the first production unit is configured to counteract the flow rate of plant material of 1 m³ / hour or BE2025 / 5074 15 more, preferably 5 m³ / hour or more, preferably 10 m³ / hour or more, through the first outlet pipe11. Second production unit With reference to Fig. 5a and Fig. 5b, two examples of an implementation form of the second production unit20 are shown.5 The second production unit20 comprises a mixing device23 configured for forming the binder41 by mixing one or more binder substances43 with water42, and a pump24 configured to pump away the binder and create the flow of the binder through the second pipe.10 The pump24 is, for example, a screw pump. The mixing device23 is further equipped with a first inlet25 for receiving water42 and a second inlet26 for receiving one or more binding agents43. The mixing device23 also has an outlet27 which can generally be open or closed.15 In configurations, the mixing device 23 may include rotatable vanes or blades to stir the lime-water mixture through each other in order to obtain a homogeneous mixture. In configurations as shown in Fig. 5, the second production unit 20 includes a binder collection tank 28 placed between the 20 mixing device 23 and the pump 24 to collect the binder produced by the mixing device 23. The pump 24 then pumps the binder from the binder collection tank 28 to the second outlet pipe 21. By providing the collection tank 28 for the produced binder, a new quantity of binder can be created in the 25 mixing device 23 while the binder in the collection tank 28 is pumped away. The water supply system is configured to add the exact amount of water required to mix with an amount of lime. In the configuration, the first inlet 25 may have a 30 BE2025 / 5074 16 control valve or regulating tap to regulate the water supply to the mixing device 23.The second supply26 for one or more binding agents may also include a dosing element to determine the correct amount of binding agents supplied to the mixing device 23.5. As mentioned above and shown in Fig. 5b, the mobile device1 may optionally include a boiler29 to heat the water42 supplied to the mixing device23. In implementation forms, the second production unit is configured to generate a binding agent flow rate in the second tube of 70 liters / hour or more, preferably 350 liters / hour or more, with a preference for 700 liters / hour or more. Control system In implementation forms, the control system5 is configured.

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