Modular Insulation Hose Connectors for Fiber Sizing and Conditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing loose fill insulation installation systems lack flexibility in adjusting performance characteristics for different applications, as they rely on pneumatic devices that condition insulation uniformly, failing to adapt to varying installation site requirements.
Innovation Solution
A kit comprising modular sections for a loose fill insulation hose, including fiber sizing, fiber conditioning, and installation modules, allowing for customizable configurations to modify fiber length and density, and the ability to add additives, enabling tailored insulation performance for specific applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional pneumatic devices are used to condition insulation uniformly, then the insulation installation process is simplified, but the system lacks flexibility to adapt to varying installation site requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation delivery system is divided into modular hose sections (e.g., 130, 140) that can be connected in different configurations. Each section can include different functional elements such as fiber sizing modules with cutting projections, conditioning modules, or installation modules with varying nozzle openings, allowing the system to be segmented and reconfigured for different application requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamically configurable hose assemblies where the length, composition, and functional elements can be adjusted based on specific installation needs. The modular design allows workers to assemble different combinations of sections to optimize performance for varying site conditions, making the system dynamic rather than static.
2Adaptability or versatility
If modular hose sections are used to provide different performance characteristics, then the system becomes adaptable to various applications, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modular hose sections are designed with universal coupling mechanisms that allow different functional modules to be interconnected. Standardized connectors enable fiber sizing modules, conditioning modules, and installation modules to be combined in various sequences, creating a universal platform that can address multiple application requirements through different configurations rather than requiring entirely separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the hose assembly can be equipped with specific functional elements tailored to local requirements. For example, certain sections may include cutting projections for fiber sizing, while others include conditioning elements or specific nozzle configurations, allowing each part of the system to have optimized local qualities for its specific function while contributing to the overall system performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If fiber sizing and conditioning modules are added to modify insulation properties, then the insulation performance can be tailored for specific applications, but the installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fiber sizing and conditioning processes are performed in advance as the insulation material passes through the modular hose sections during normal installation operations. Cutting projections within the hose sections trim fibers to desired lengths, and conditioning elements prepare the insulation material before it reaches the installation point, eliminating the need for separate pre-treatment steps and reducing overall installation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions (fiber cutting, conditioning, and insulation delivery) into a single integrated hose assembly system. The modular sections that condition and size the fibers are merged with the delivery hose itself, so that insulation preparation and installation occur simultaneously through one continuous process rather than as separate sequential operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to loose fill insulation installation systems, for example, suitable for installing loose fill insulation to an installation site. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a kit for forming one or more connection modules for use with a loose fill insulation hose. The kit includes a plurality of module sections configured to be attached in a variety of configurations that provide different performance characteristics. Each of the module sections includes a tubular body extending from an upstream end to a downstream end and an interior surface that surrounds a flow path for conveying loose fill insulation. The kit includes at least a first fiber sizing module section, a first fiber conditioning module section, and an installation module section.