DE2421317A1 - AUTOMATED PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SHAPED COVERS - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorney Dipl.-Phys. Gerhard Liedl 8 Munich 22 Steinsdorfstr. 21-22 Tel. 29 8462

B 6446

FIBERGIAS CANADA LTD. 48 St. Clair Ave. Toronto 195, Ontario / CANADA

Automated process and apparatus for making molded covers

The invention relates to a method and a device for production a molded product, for example pipe insulation, made of a material having a low density and is in the form of an anisotropic mass, the material being fed with finite width and indefinite length, longitudinally an initially straight path in one plane

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tied, folded to form corrugations or corrugations, into pieces cut, then thermoset to harden or solidify the corrugations and finally cut into insulating half-shells.

Lines for the transport of hot or cold liquids or gases, electrical lines or lines used in heating and ventilation or air conditioning systems are usually made of soft or semi-rigid or rigid insulation material. Soft insulation materials include, for example Felt wraps and covers, foamed rubber or urethane foam a. The semi-rigid covers are made of glass wool in a shape that is also known as "snap-on". can be designated. In contrast, rigid pipe or line covers are made, for example, of organic foams, such as polystyrene or urethane, made of foam glass, shaped mineral or glass wool, asbestos, calcium silicate or expanded or foamed perlite.

The insulating wire cover, which is made of pliable and semi-rigid Materials is made, is usually delivered and installed as a single piece. The insulating shells made of rigid materials are available in sections. They are often semi-cylindrical or consist of three parts, in each case they are held by straps, Staples, facing material and / or other surface treatments be held together.

Such line covers have been used so far, mn for to provide thermal insulation of pipes made of steel, copper, stainless steel etc. and a medium, such as water, steam, petrochemicals or gases, at temperatures.

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2A21317

lead, which are in the order of about -84.4 C to +649 G move. A line cover with a length of 91.4 cm + 0.1588 cm corresponds to normal industrial use. With regard to their size, the cable covers are available in a large number of sizes, which are in the size range Move from about 0.952 cm up to, for example, 53.3 cm and more if necessary. As cross-sectional shapes came preferably circular or right-angled cross-sections are used. Depending on the operating temperature, the thickness of the cable cover is usually in the size range of 1.27 cm up to several centimeters. Pipeline covers with a thickness of more than 6.35 cm are usually made up of several Layers composed, each layer having a thickness of up to 5.08 cm.

The rigid or semi-flexible insulation cover for pipes is common made of a material that is known in the industry as "basic wool" or with the English technical term "basic wool ". This is a felt mat or mass made from Glass or mineral wool fibers of controlled average fiber diameter, of random length and of wide dimensions random alignment and with a thermosetting Binding material is combined in the uncured state. The line cover is made, for example, that pre-cut, Preformed pieces of such a felt mat are pressed together in a two-part mold and the mat is then allowed to harden of the binding material is heated. The resulting product is resiliently rigid and retains the cross-sectional design as well Dimensions of the form.

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Felt mats or "base wool ¹¹ are manufactured in a continuous fibering process, which is known per se. The base wool is of infinite length, with a predetermined width, generally in a width of 91.4 cm - 122 cm and even up to 244 cm , and made with a precisely predetermined weight per unit area.

Even with the slowest fiberising process, felt masses are usually produced at a speed that is greater than that Speed, by means of which previously known processes for the production of pipe insulation shells, the felt mass in more economical Way into a cured product. The usual practice so far has therefore been to make the base wool and to store them temporarily, in coiled form or in pre-cut lengths. These pre-cut lengths can be stored flat. Instead, however, it is also possible to pre-fold this according to US Pat. No. 2,684,107 and then store it. Any length sections thereof will then be further treated individually at a later point in time, with the possibility that they have in the meantime suffered physical and / or chemical damage or impairment. The efficiency of such previously known method has therefore always been less than the maximum possible efficiency, in terms of both on the material application as well as on the additional work required.

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In the previously known molding processes, two basic ways of producing line covers were used. According to The first type of procedure is pre-cut length cuts Intermittently formed and cured from flat or pre-folded base wool in a compression molding press (two-compression molding press). This allows shaped half-sections to be created from insulation, however, this requires both trimming to the exact length desired and trimming along the longitudinal edges, to ensure that the cover fits exactly on the line. There are therefore certain losses of material. Furthermore, there is a considerable amount at every single step of this process Degree of manual work required.

The second basic type of procedure involves precutting Length sections of basic wool for application, usually in several layers, on a mandrel of the desired Tube size is wound. The wound wool is then cured, with or without the use of an external mold, to form the outer diameter. The winding of the base wool on the mandrel can be carried out intermittently, whereby the following layers are wound up coaxially with this. Instead, the layers of the base wool can also be continuous and are wound up spirally, with the following layers overlapping each other. This type of approach requires both but does not include trimming at the ends to achieve the desired length as well as longitudinal cutting with the first-mentioned type of procedure occurring Beschneidbzw. Bleed losses. The two previously known manufacturing processes have certain technical and economic limits.

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First, the speeds at which ground wool can be converted into pipeline covers are very much slower than the speeds at which the cotton wool itself can be produced, so that the two processes must be carried out separately from one another. This requires intermediate storage and additional handling of the uncured base wool. Second, the intermittent manufacturing processes involve repetitive material handling in multiple process stages. Additional manual labor is therefore required, including additional material losses resulting from physical damage during material handling. Furthermore, some of the products manufactured using the previous method have to be trimmed to the desired format in at least one dimension, which likewise results in corresponding trimming losses.

To understand the importance of repeated reference to the losses that through the Zwischenlageryng and the multiple handling of the It is necessary to obtain the basic wool, to understand it better to visualize the special consistency and characteristics of this material. This is also for better understanding the advantages achieved by the invention required.

Even if basic wool has been manufactured by the best of the known optical fiber production process, it does present a Filzmasse of randomly oriented widely fibers during the manufacturing process with 5-25 wt -% of a combined heat-curable bonding material.. Such a material mostly contains thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde or similar resins in the uncured state. This is usually called in the specialist sector

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"B-stage" denotes what is meant to indicate a state in which a thermosetting, viscous, sticky liquid is finely dispersed over the fibers / This fibrous mat is originally made with an average density of 0.016 g / cm or less deposited or deposited. Appropriately, it is then on for better handling Compressed a density of 0.024-0.048 g / cm. However, neither the fibers nor the binding material are completely uniform distributed. As a result, there are scatter in the order of + 15% to -15% compared to the average density, when a 0.72 square meter piece of basic wool is cut into eight individual test pieces, each about 0.09 square meters in size.

Accordingly, when the felt mass is subjected to tensile or compressive forces, it is locally and unevenly stretched or compressed. The areas with low density are naturally weaker and much more susceptible to this. These differences in density can be attributed to the length and orientation of the fibers. These differences are exacerbated by variations in the distribution and the adhesiveness or lubricity of the uncured binding material. The adhesiveness and lubricity depend on the amount and extent of conversion of the originally aqueous binder resins to the "B-stage" and are even influenced by the atmospheric conditions prevailing during storage and subsequent processing of the base wool into the final pipe covering . It may therefore be necessary for the felt mass to be conditioned, ie to be kept at the correct temperature and humidity . Taking accoun of all these circumstances, it is easy to understand that the size of a single piece basic wool, which can handle a worker, there are limits. Using the procedures according to

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the. U.S. Patent 2,684,107 is intended to expand these narrow limits However, in practice, these processes themselves result in further restrictions with regard to processing and handling, namely due to the "accordion" effect of the length sections, which consist of multiple corrugations with a small amplitude. If these limits are exceeded, there is a risk that the base wool will be deformed, stretched, torn or otherwise is damaged by, for example, leaving deep finger impressions or indentations. In the same way, a repeated draws Handling a piece of basic wool results in cumulative impairment or damage, which is then reflected in the finished product Product expresses.

For the same reasons it is due to its nature, consistency and Changeability of the basic wool impossible to apply such methods or devices that were previously used with a view to folding Sheets of paper or the forming of metal sheets into corrugated or corrugated pieces have been developed. This is because these are in comparison thin, high-density and practically isotropic materials of greater tensile strength and uniformity compared to the base wool Flexural strength. Base wool does not have these special characteristics. Due to the stickiness on the surface and the abrasion properties of the fibrous mat provide a designer with a facility for the continuous manufacture of pipeline covers imposed further restrictions.

The invention is therefore based on the object of a method and To create a device of the type mentioned above, by means of which the serious restrictions in the previously known processes are reduced or eliminated and, in particular, the restrictions

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gene eliminated in the prior art molding methods and devices will.

The characteristics of the method created to solve this problem and the device result from the claims.

By means of the automated method and apparatus of the present invention for making a molded pipeline cover it is possible to achieve an output that corresponds to that of modern fiber optic production processes and systems. In comparison to previously known methods are the requirements with regard to the amount of work extremely reduced. Continuous lengths of insulating pipeline cover can be used shape and cut to any desired length, regardless of past limitations due to length, The width and design of the molding tools resulted.

The invention has shown that one in a suitable manner dimensioned base wool, starting from the uncured felt mass and parallel to the direction in which the mat is moved forward, can be automatically and continuously curled or folded with sufficient accuracy. The invention has continued demonstrated that this is the key to a fully automated process which includes the steps described below. However, these other procedural steps are suitable for automation only when the process step according to the invention, the basic wool to fold lengthways is performed.

Appropriately spaced tools such as Notched disks or notch wheels, rollers or the like

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Press in the surface of the felt mass in order to form indentations or lines of weakness, ie fold lines, in this mat. The application of a compressive force, preferably across the felt mat, then causes the mat to deform. During the deformation, the felt mat forms a corrugation which projects from the plane of the mat, whereby the deformation about this line of weakness around, so that at any other SteUe _s, and the line of weakness in the interior of the corrugation is arranged. The corrugations or corrugations extend in the longitudinal direction and parallel to the path along which the felt mass is transported.

The method according to the invention, namely the surface of the mat to be pressed in locally to create indentations or lines of weakness in the Creating felt mass successfully results in the creation of folds or undulations of such number and accuracy as required is to achieve a corresponding adaptation to the configurations of the forms. In addition, with the inventive Process to a greater extent than was previously possible, corrugations of uniform height and wool weight (i.e. within special, precisely defined tolerances) with a felt mat of greater width. There is therefore an essential practical one Advantage Furthermore, it is no longer necessary to make sections of length to be introduced by hand from base wool in two-die presses. It is therefore possible to achieve higher production speeds, by using, for example, a felt mat of greater width than previously possible. Through the method and the device according to the invention will therefore be a perfect match the production speeds in processing basic wool into a felt mat of infinite length, if this allows Base wool, as is known per se, in a continuous fiber production process will be produced.

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Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention is concerned with an automated process for making a prefabricated molded pipe cover, wherein a soft, pliable Felt mass is transported along a path and the felt mass is of infinite length, generally arranged in one plane and contains a thermosensitive binding material in an uncured state; the method according to the invention includes method steps to the effect that a surface of the felt mass is locally pressed in around one parallel to the transport path extending weakening line to form that the felt mass from this Plane is deformed out to produce a longitudinally extending corrugation, wherein the deformation is only around the line of weakness around, and at no other point, results, thereby locating this line of weakness within the corrugation; it is also provided that successive sections the corrugated felt mass are compressed while this mass is subjected to heating to harden to effect the binding material and to give the corrugated felt mass strength and spatial stability. The spatially stabilized, corrugated, matted mass finally has a density at the end which are preferably on the order of about 0.056-0.16 g / cm (3.5-10 pounds per cubic foot). The spatially stabilized felt mass is preferably cooled and evaporated and then in the longitudinal direction cut to create mating pieces of the molded pipe cover. The matted mass or mat is deformed in that a compressive force is exerted laterally on it, in order to deform the mat out of that plane cause in which the felt mass is transported. Preferably the pressure force is exerted laterally and transversely to the jointing compound.

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In a preferred embodiment of the described automated Method according to the invention, the felt mass is deformed in that on the mass while it is along a transport path is moved forward, forces are continuously exerted on opposite surfaces of the felt mass along a A plurality of lines extending parallel to the transport path are applied and in planes perpendicular to the plane of the felt mass act, whereby the forces applied in adjacent planes are exerted in opposite directions, whereby the felt mass is deformed by means of laterally acting and transverse forces, namely into at least one longitudinally extending one Curl.

According to the invention is also an automated device for Implementation of the procedure described provided. This automated device for making a pre-made molded Cover for a line of chosen specific cross-section will be a foldable felt mat made of an insulating material, which has an infinite Has a length and a density of about 0.016-0.032 g / cm, the felt mat being a heat-sensitive binding material contains in the uncured state; the device has a conveyor by means of which the felt mat along a Transport path is movable forward, wherein the felt mat is generally arranged in one plane. The conveyor is Associated with a pressing device, by means of which a surface of the felt mat can be pressed in locally, specifically along a Line that extends parallel to the transport path of the mat. The locally exerted pressure causes that along this parallel Lines. Notches or lines of weakness are formed.

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The automated device also has a deforming device which can be brought into engagement with the felt mat to move the mat in at least one of the plane of the transport path to deform the protruding corrugation of the mat, the deformation occurring around the line of weakness and the line of weakness placed inside the corrugation, a section of the corrugated Felt mat is then subjected to pressure and heating in a corrugated shape. The shape is the same as for the pipe cover required, appropriately flared cross-sectional training and acts to the effect that they the felt mat compresses uniformly and the binding material hardens. There can be a number of different heat sensitive binding materials weraen applied, but advantageously a thermosetting Phenol-formaldehyde-amine copolymer composition is used. The hardening of the binding material imparts the corresponding part of the corrugated mat strength and spatial stability, this mat part formed and on at the same time a density preferably in the size range of about 0.056-0.16 g / cm has been densified. The spatially stabilized (hardened) corrugated felt mat is released from the mold and fed to a cutting device, which cuts the felt mat so that elongated, correspondingly mating parts of the molded pipeline cover are formed. Cutting off to the desired length can be performed before or after the lengthwise cutting takes place.

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The pressing device, which causes the deformation of the felt mat, can be provided in the form of two opposing rollers or drums, the axes of which are perpendicular run to the level of the mat. The drums usually have a roughened outer surface so that the felt mass can be reached laterally to exert a force and to generate friction so that the Füzmasse is transported forward. For this purpose can also An auxiliary conveyor device can be provided to feed the feed to support the felt mass. Stationary guide surfaces can still be used be provided, whose training is held in such a way, that they exert pressure forces laterally on the Füzmasse in order to thereby to support the deformation of the Füzmasse out of its plane.

The invention offers a large number of improvements over this such well-known methods and apparatus previously used in the manufacture of pipeline covers a.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. This shows in:

1 shows, in perspective and schematically, a folding device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the felt mat in cross section along line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

2A shows a section through the felt mat along line 2A-2A in FIG Fig. 1;

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FIG. 2B shows a section along line 2B-2B in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 2C shows a section along line 2C-2C in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 2D shows a section along line 2D-2D in FIG

FIG. 2E shows a section along line 2E-2E in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 2F shows a section along line 2F-2F in FIG. 3; FIG.

FIG. 2G shows a section along line 2G-2G in FIG. 3; FIG.

Fig. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the invention in plan view and

4 in side view;

5 shows a further modified embodiment in plan view and

6 in side view;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the inlet part of a used in a preferred embodiment of the invention Hardening press or mold;

8 shows, in perspective and schematically, a part of a preferred one Embodiment of the invention, approximately at an angle seen from 180 ° to the illustration according to FIG. 7;

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9 schematically shows some features of the device according to ^{and 10} FIGS. 7 and 8;

11 shows a flow chart for the operational sequence of the device according to FIGS. 1-10;

Fig. 12 shows the electrical circuit for the device according to Figures 1'-10;

13 schematically, with the omission of the plant part A according to FIG. 1, the installation of the longitudinal folding or corrugating device 1 in aligned connection with the basic wool manufacturing device in plan view and

14 in side view.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 of a corrugation or deformation device 10 is insulating material in the form of a Fusing compound or mat 12 is drawn off from a bearing roll 14 or directly from the manufacturing plant according to FIGS. 13 and 14. The camp wrap 14 is rotatably mounted in a trigger stand, not shown, so that it can be refilled or replaced when the Felt mat 12 is used up. The felt mat 12 made of insulating material on the roll 14 is preferably made of glass fibers, however, according to the invention, other similar insulating materials can also be used, such as mineral wool, asbestos or the like. Can be used. The felt mat 12 is usually made from the output of a process manufactured a variety of continuous, known per se fiberizing process. The material produced by such processes is often, as already explained ^ as basic wool or "basic wool" designated. As a supply source for the felt mat 12, one or

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several bearing rolls 14 of insulating material can be used, whatever the desired width and thickness of the at a particular time pipe cover to be produced depends.

The felt mat 12 is usually at least initially in one Level, moved forward along a transport path and passed between two rollers 16, which the felt mass 12 as required compress and compress. This contributes to a uniform consistency and thickness of the felt mass or mat 12. In order to support the transport of the felt mass 12 through the corrugating device, appropriate devices are provided, for example in the form of an endless belt conveyor 18 or the like. The belt conveyor 18 is by means of a suitable known, not here drive system shown in more detail. This funding facility 18 is not necessary, for example, if the distance between the felts with a small width is being treated Notched disks 20 and the pulling rollers 34 is small.

From Fig. 1, the upper row of a plurality of upper and lower notch disks, notch rollers, 20, 21 or the like. Can be seen. These rollers 20, 21 are usually provided in a corresponding working position with respect to the conveying device 18 and can expediently be driven by means of the same drive system used to drive the conveying device 18. As can be seen in particular from Fig. 2, the notched disks are fixed 2Q ₉ 21 respectively on an upper transverse shaft 22 as well as on a lower Querwell® 24, and preferably, though m-rotatably connected with the shafts 22, 24. The shafts 22 _S 24 are normally in synchronism driven by the conveyor device '18 and can be changed in their position, so that the vertical distance between the ICesbplatten 20, 21 can be varied. In this way the

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Kerbselieiben 20, 21 held in engagement with the felt mass 12, and although also damij if the thickness of the felt mass 12, for example from one bearing roll 14 to the other, changes. These changes in position depend on the change in thickness of the pipe cover to be produced.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the notched disks 20, 21 are in engagement along lines 32 with the felt material or mat 12. These lines 32 run parallel to the advancement of the felt mat 12 in the direction of arrow 26. Each set of notch washers 20 is in engagement with the felt mat 12 along its top 28 or along its bottom 30 and acts on these in such a way that the insulating material , from which the mass 12 is made, is locally pressed and displaced. The individual _{notched disks 20 s} 21 are in adjacent ·, s ^ wife ^ uein ^ levels

arranged. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the upper and lower practice Notched disks 20, 21 on the upper side 28 and on the underside 30 of the felt compound 12 exert compressive forces. The neighboring ones Forces acting on planes run in opposite directions when complementary sets of notch washers 20, 21 come into use.

The local indentation of the insulating material by means of each notch disc 20 or 21 has the effect that there is a depression in the surface 28, 3Θ pressed in by the respective notch washer 20, 21 or weakening line 32 forms, as can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2A to 2E. Each line of weakness 32 also extends parallel to the feed direction 26 of the felt mat 12. Preferably is both a series of top notch wheels 20 and iron Heike from lower ICerbräderis 21 provided dis total how.

can be seen from Fig. 2, offset from one another, are. The guys 20, 21 are normally equally spaced from one another in each row, especially when a pipeline cover is to be manufactured with a circular, oval or square cross-section.

The notch wheels 20, 21 are typically provided as upper and lower rows of cooperating wheels. Instead of it is also possible to provide only either an upper row or only a lower row alone. Furthermore, the distance is usually kept the same size between the wheels 20, 21 of each row, but this can of course also be modified if necessary.

In order to deform the felt mass 12, which now has at least one, but usually has a plurality of lines of weakness 32 or depressions, a device is provided by means of which a pressure force is exerted laterally on the felt mass 12. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, this device consists of Drawing rollers or rollers 34. Each drawing roller 34 is mounted on a drive shaft 36 and in relation to the not yet deformed mass of felt 12 arranged within the lateral longitudinal edge. Therefore, the distance between the drawing rollers 34 is smaller than the original one Width of the felt mass 12, which is sufficient to deform the felt mass 12 out of the plane in which it is moved forward. When the felt mass 12 is deformed out of its plane, it undulates or folds around the line of weakness 32, and although exclusively around this line 32, whereby a corrugation 38 is formed. By folding at least one, usually however, a plurality of corrugations 38 are formed which consist of

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the plane of the felt mass 12 protrude, each line of weakness 32 is arranged within a corrugation 38. The corrugations D of the folds 38 extend longitudinally, coaxially to the weakening lines 32, which is why they run parallel to the feed direction 26 of the felt mass 12. Horizontal, not shown Rollers prevent the felt mat 12 from throwing or rearing in the vertical direction.

Each drive shaft 36 of the drawing rollers 34 is synchronized with the conveyor 18 driven, often also by means of a common drive system. The drawing rollers 34 are therefore As can be seen from FIG. 1, rotated in the direction of the wedges 40. The drums or rollers 34 act as drawing rollers, which with the Felt mass 12 come into engagement, they deform and also cause the felt mass to be pulled forward and thereby become a Hardening press is transported. The drawing rollers 34 are each rotated in opposite directions to thereby the deformed felt mass 12 to exert a tractive force. The friction can be achieved by, if necessary, the outer surface each drawing roller 34 roughened or by attaching a ring or a sleeve to each drawing roller 34, which in turn is a roughened one Owns outer surface.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an automated one Apparatus 50 for the production of shaped pipeline covers is provided in which the corrugating or folding device 10 according to FIG. 1 is used to guide the corrugated felt mat 12 to a hardening press or mold 52. In minor Modification of the corrugating device 10 according to FIG. 1 has the corresponding corrugating device according to FIGS. 3 and 4 in FIG

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lateral spacing from one another provided guide plates 54, which support the drawing rollers 34 in the gradual deformation of the felt mat 12. Due to the particularly evident from FIG converging arrangement of the guide plates 54, these exert a laterally acting pressure force on the felt mat 12 moving forward. .

When the corrugated mass of felt 12 has passed through the drawing rollers 34, it slides or otherwise moves over support means 56 so that it is spread out and ultimately inserted into the mold. The mold 52 usually has an upper and a lower press member 58, 60. The two press members 58, 60 have a corrugated cross-sectional shape which corresponds to the corrugated configuration of the shaped pipe cover to be produced at this point in time. To facilitate insertion of the corrugated felt mat 12 into the mold 52, an inlet guide 62 is provided. This has parts of an inclined conical shape which spread the corrugations of the felt mat 12 apart. That downstream? located end of each of these parts of the inlet guide 62 corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the press members 58 _? 6 (L

Each press link 58 _S 60 has a cross-sectional design _? which corresponds to the corrugated and desired shape of the duct cover to be produced. To the Ie the felt mat IS entbaltesie wifemeempfindücfie, wlrmeausMrfljare binding material hard wm kösmem, - fet the lower Bressemglied 60 with a Emlaßieittmg 64 T @ 3pbn83id: ice, ctoeli weieli © feta $ urdhi a hot gaseous Msdmsa to the Huh ^ tepresse §2 whom M di © Merim contained "FEzmatt © 12 © ia» directed wfccL Zw? Ewmwgm ^ aes SieisssE gaseous Msdmms

eiss 3k © iExr © sati®ia © ll @ © Blower odat ^ © Sa

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come to use, which is connected to a suitable heating device. The hot gaseous medium often consists of hot air or a mixture of combustion gases with air. The upper Pressenglie.d 58 is supported at its corners by means of columns or pillars 66 and can be moved up and down in the vertical direction. These columns 66 are slidably attached to a support (not shown) in suitable bearings. One of the hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies similar to the embodiment of FIG. 7 can be selectively actuated to move the upper press member 58 toward or away from the lower press member 60.

The upper press member 58 has a combined with an exhaust pipe Extractor hood 68 on. The inlet conduit 64 has a throttle valve which is selectively movable or actuatable around the conduit 64 either open or close. The throttle valve is preferably controlled automatically. It can therefore be the electricity of the hot gaseous medium are regulated so that the heat required for curing the binder contained in the felt mat 12 is supplied. As already mentioned * is the binding material preferably a thermosetting phenol-formaldehyde-amine copolymer composition.

Beyond the hardening press or mold 52 is a cooling un "2 Enißunsiiingssysiem .1% to which a Einiaßleitisüg 12 is connected," piping has sin blower or a _fan-on? umgeaasEsMS in the system, f © s®. see. Biese IFmigesisissisft shows ew & much more festive temperature than dm aunmslir a ^ sgeMrfet © Fill-HiSESS 12 asf. Until middle fMgebisigsMfi wirdl © ei? SL · §m riesiiii

only the felt mass 12, but also acts as a purge air flow, the each residual vapor or residual gases from the spaces in the cured and spatially stabilized corrugated felt mat 12 drives out or flushes out. As already mentioned, the felt mat 12 is now rigid or firm and also has a zur.Quefschnittsausbildung the press members 58, 60 have an identical shape.

The ambient air used as the scavenging air is flushed out together with the air Fume gases through an outlet line 74 to a cleaning system such as a scrubber or the like., discharged.

A pair of upper and lower drive rollers 76, 78 are arranged in the area of the cooling and evaporation system 70. These are mounted on shafts that can be set in rotation by means of a drive system (not shown). Preferably, the drive rollers 76, 78 are driven at a speed that is slightly greater than the speed of the conveyor 18 of the curling device 10. The drive rollers 76, 78 periodically transport the felt mass 12 forwards, depending on the actuation of a curing cycle -Timer, which the hardening press 52 is assigned. As can be seen from FIG. 3, a cutting saw is attached outside of the cooling and evaporation system 70 near it. This is, for example, a circular saw 80, which transversely over the transport path on which the felt mass 12 is moved forward. is floating. As already explained, the saw 80 serves to cut the stabilized corrugated felt mass 12 into appropriate length sections as required. A discharge conveyor belt 82 successively conveys the sections 84 of the corrugated and now cross-cut felt mat 12 through a slotting saw 86.

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by. This cuts the sections 84 of the Füzmatte 12 in the longitudinal direction and horizontally to this in corresponding sections 88 and 90 of the shaped pipeline cover. Training and function of both of the circular saw 80 and the slitting saw 86 are known per se.

The design and function of the automated device 50 are described below with reference to the preferred embodiment according to FIG. 8 and 9 explained in more detail.

After the felt mass 12 has been conveyed into the press 52, the press member 58 is moved downwards in order to put the Füzmasse 12 under pressure. This pressure causes the Füzmatte 12 compacted, up to a density which is preferably in the size range of about 0.056-0.16 g / cm. Furthermore causes the pressure exerted by the press members 58, 60 that the corrugated felt mass 12 in the finally desired configuration is molded from the wide variety normally used for commercial Application required training has been selected.

The upper and lower press members 58, 60 are provided with openings or perforations to allow hot air or other hot air Gaseous medium is blown through the Füzmatte 12 and the heat-sensitive binding material contained in the Füzmatte 12 can be exposed to heat. Those in the hot gaseous medium The heat contained in it causes the heat-sensitive binding material to harden. When this occurs, the Füzmatte 12 rigid and firm and receives one of the cross-sectional design of the press links 58, 60 correspondingly adapted spatial stability.

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COPY

If necessary, can be done in a corresponding manner on the outer walls the press 52 stop members may be provided. These act on the spatially stabilized felt mass 12 in a downward direction Pressure from when the press member 58 is moved away from the press member 60, this pressure the cured mat 12 from upper press member 58 freed. When this pressure is no longer exerted, the spatially stabilized felt mat 12 can move Move forward into the cooling and evaporation system 70. If required, Means may also be provided for engaging the underside of the felt mat 12 when the two press members 58, 60 are separated from each other in order to ensure that the underside of the felt mat 12 from the lower press member 60 is exempt.

The ambient air used as cooling air is stabilized by the Corrugated felt mat 12 passed, whereby the felt mass 12 is cooled and at the same time those vapor gases that are caused by the heating of the heat-sensitive binding material generated, are washed away. The stabilized corrugated felt mat 12 is after the cooling and evaporation to the saws 80, 88 transported which the felt mat 12 cut both in length sections and in the longitudinal direction in order to thereby match corresponding To create parts of the molded pipeline cover. The cutting saw 80 can be arranged to be adjustable, so that it is in the longitudinal direction can be moved with respect to the felt mat 12 in order to be able to cut the felt mat 12 to any desired length. the desired length does not have to correspond to the length of 91.4 cm has been commonly used heretofore in the past. In fact, the invention has the decisive advantage. that corresponding matching parts 88, 90 of the

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Molded pipe cover can be created that repeats can be cut to any desired length, for example into segments of 61, 122, 244 or even 366 cm in length, as is the case when it comes to boards or panels in construction.

As can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4, the automated device is suitable 50 for intermittent operation. Such an operation, which would be performed on an intermittent basis, would the felt mat 12 are periodically moved forward in a step movement, the step movement expediently by means of a Clock is controlled, which is in operative connection with the control circuit of the drive system to drive the various Individual parts of the corrugating device 10 is available.

Various heat-sensitive binding materials commonly used in this field in the manufacture of molded pipeline covers may also require different curing times. In some cases, a higher temperature results of the gaseous medium results in a shorter cure time, a factor to consider when considering the passage of time for the automatic operation of the device 50 is stopped. In other cases, a thicker floor mat 12 can also be longer Require curing time, which is also the case when setting up the timing must be considered.

In the modified embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the illustrated automated device 100 'corresponds to basically the embodiment according to Fig. 1-4. The insulation material, from which the molded pipe cover is cut

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is to be taken, is withdrawn from two storage rolls 114, which are provided at a lateral distance from each other. Through this a felt mat 112 of double width results at a point exactly in front of the entry into a curing oven 130. Every storage wrap 114 is arranged on a conventional trigger stand, from which the felt mat between guide rollers and then passed between upper and lower rows of notch disks or rollers 118,120. These Notched washers 118, 120 function in the same way as the notched washers 20, 21 according to FIGS. 1 and 2, namely to the effect that that they locally compress the top and bottom of the felt mat. This local compression leads to depressions 122 or lines of weakness in the felt mat 112. Beyond the notch disks 118, 120, the felt mat 112 runs between each other cooperating pairs of pull rollers 124, 126 by. These drawing rollers 124, 126 are mounted on shafts, not shown, which can optionally be driven in the same way as in the embodiment of FIG. The drawing rollers 124, 126 are of course on opposite sides of the felt mat branch webs and in a corresponding arrangement with respect to each other a storage table or conveyor system, not shown, is provided over which the felt mat 112 moves forward and fed into the curing oven 130.

In contrast to the device according to FIGS. 1 to 4, in which one moved forward intermittently and periodically in steps Movement is present, in the automated device 100 according to FIGS. 5 and 6, the felt mat 112 is continuously through the Curing furnace 130 passed through. Accordingly, the pull rolls 124, 126 transport the two branch webs of the formed felt mat 112 between them to a converging inlet 128 (FIG. 6)

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upper and lower mold sections or press members 132, 134 designed as conveyor belts or the like and movable, Although the felt mat 112 is initially transported in a straight path, it will deflect at the point of curl. After the deflection, the felt mat 112 is placed in the curing oven 130 and inserted between the mold sections 132, 134. The movable mold sections 132, 134 are longitudinally moved by means of a conveyor system, the drive of which is synchronous with that of the corrugating section and the drawing rollers 124, 126 connected is. The shape sections 132, 134 have the shape of mutually matched multiple pairs of shape segments. Exactly As in the other embodiments, the heat-sensitive binding material contained in the felt material 112 is thereby also hereby formed cured that the felt mass 112 is exposed to a hot gaseous medium, for example hot air. The hot gaseous Medium is introduced into the curing oven 130 and into the felt mat 112 by means of a line system 136 and is continuous blown through this. When the corrugated felt mat 112 passes through the curing oven 130, the felt mat 112 compacted and in the cross-sectional design of the mold sections 132, 134 formed, which in turn correspond in their design to that of the desired pipeline cover.

Beyond the curing oven 130, the now rigid and three-dimensional stabilized felt mat 112 through a cooling and evaporation system 138 headed. This works in the same way as the system 70 according to FIG. 4. Beyond the cooling and evaporation system 138, the felt mass 112 is cut transversely at 140 into segments 144 to the desired length. The segments 144 become then conveyed to a slotting saw 142. This works in the usual way by making the double-wide segments 144 of the

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Felt mat 112 cuts through lengthways, creating matching Parts 146, 148 of the molded pipeline cover are formed. These mating parts 146, 148 can then transported to another location or facility for additional surface treatment, inspection and packaging is carried out.

More details on how an automated device works 200 and a method are described in connection with the preferred embodiment according to FIGS. 7 to 12. It is assumed here that the felt mat is deformed in some way has already been used in connection with the corrugation or folding device 10 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 and in particular in connection with the arrangement according to FIGS. 5 and 6 has been. One, preferably two branch tracks of the felt mat are moved through between the notch disks, which Press the top and bottom of the mat locally and there indentations form. As the felt mat is pulled or moved forward by the pull rollers 202 and 204 (Fig. 7), it becomes at the same time deformed by transversely applied compressive forces and takes on a longitudinally corrugated shape, whereupon it then into a Hardening press or mold 206 is introduced.

The mold 206 has an upper and a lower mold member 208 and 210, respectively, which are movably held in press holders. Here 7, the upper press holder 212 can be seen, while the lower press holder for reasons of clarity has been omitted. The press holders are known per se with regard to their training and mode of operation. Just like the ones before Embodiments described corresponds to the cross-sectional design of the molded members 208, 210 of the desired cross-sectional

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union training of the pipeline cover to be created. These press members 208, 210 can, however, if a different design the pipeline cover is desired to be replaced by other press members, which is why they are also interchangeable on the Press holders are attached.

The upper and lower press holders are mounted in a main frame 214, as can be seen from FIGS. A number of Cross members 216 are used to support pillars 218 which are connected to the upper press holder 212 near the corners of the latter. The pillars 218 are arranged in guides to permit reciprocating movement of the upper press haler in the vertical direction 212 as well as the molded part 208 contained therein. Approximately in the middle of the upper press holder 212 is on this a solenoid-controlled and hydraulically operated piston-cylinder unit 220 as shown in FIG. The piston-cylinder unit 220 can be operated by means of a solenoid operated valve which in turn is controlled by means of the electrical circuit shown in FIG. This has the consequence that the upper press member 208 is periodically moved downwards in order, together with the lower press member 210, to form an apparent from FIG Compress or compress segment of the corrugated felt mat 222. The felt mat is therefore set to a density in the size of about 0.056 g - 0.16 g per cm compressed, for comparison, the initial density of the felt mat when it was on the storage rolls was 0.016-0.048 g per ecm was.

A hot gaseous medium, which is preferably hot air, is produced by means of a combined incineration-incinerator generated. The hot air is made using a suitable network

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Line parts 226, as can be seen from FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, forwarded. The hot gaseous medium generated in furnace 224 has a temperature on the order of 871 ° C and is passed through a mixing container 228 (FIG. 8) by means of a suitable circulating fan 230. The air and the gases that at a temperature of about 204 C via a discharge line 231 from the hardening press 206 are returned to the 871 C hot air mixed in such a ratio that a gas flow is created from the mixing container 228 with a discharge temperature of about 371 ° C emerges. This discharge temperature is regulated by means of a temperature control device 232 (Figs. 9 and 10), which regulates the position of a throttle valve D "(Fig. 9 and 10), to vary the volume of high temperature air introduced into the mixing vessel 228.

The hot gaseous medium experiences a certain loss of heat while it is supplied via a supply line containing a throttle valve D. 233 is passed to the hardening press or mold 206. However, the temperature is still quite high, namely on the order of magnitude from about 260 - 288 ° C, if the compressed felt mat is this gaseous Medium is exposed. The heat absorbed by the binding material causes the binding material to set, whereby the corrugated felt mat 222 is given rigidity and spatial stability. The curing time within which the felt mat 222 dem exposed to hot gaseous medium can be in the order of magnitude of up to move for about 120 seconds. The hardening time is preferably in the larger range of about 10-60 seconds. This hardening time can vary however change, depending on the binder composition used and the thickness of the felt mat from which the pipeline cover is to be made.

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As already explained, the hot gaseous medium, which causes the hardening of the binder material, is returned in the circuit. As can be seen from Fig. 9 and 10, a throttle valve D _{3 is} provided in a return line 234. The throttle valve D "is controlled in its respective position in such a way that it controls the volume of the hot gaseous medium which is branched off from the main flow line and directed to the furnace 224, with smoke gases and other impurities being burned in the furnace 224.

In a supply line 236, a throttle valve D _{4 is also} provided, which controls the volume flow rate of the hot gaseous medium to be conducted through the hardening press 206. The press 206, in particular the lower or fixed press part 210, is also assigned a throttle valve Df. For the fresh air inlet. This throttle valve D ₁ . is controlled by means of the circuit according to FIG. 12 in such a way that it is opened for about 1-3 seconds at the end of the hardening cycle, namely after the throttle valve D. has been closed. Under these conditions, the suction fan 230 draws fresh air into the system through the lower press member 210 in order to expel the hot gaseous medium from the corrugated felt mat 222 which has now cured. At the same time, the lower press member 210 is cooled, which prevents the next segment of the felt mat 212 from being singed and pre-cured as it is inserted into the curing press 206. It also prevents haze gases and the like from escaping into the ambient air, thereby eliminating a possible source of environmental pollution.

After hardening, the spatially stabilized felt mat 222 is transported out of the hardening press or mold 206. There are therefore in a storage stand 242, which is located exactly beyond the power supply

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downstream side of the mold 206 is arranged with each other cooperating pairs of rotatable drive rollers 238, 240 mounted in a suitable manner. The drive rollers 238, 240 are adjustable in the vertical direction and work in such a way that they grip the stabilized felt mat 222 between them. The drive rollers 238, 240 are provided with a suitable drive, not shown connected, which works in conjunction with the drawing rollers 202, 204, around the felt mat 222 through the device 200 through to transport. Preferably, the drive rollers 238, 240 are driven at a speed that is slightly greater than the speed of the pulling rollers 202, 204 thereby on the "slack" uncured felt mat 222 in front of the curing press 206 to exert a pulling force. As can be seen from FIGS. 11 and 12, the drive rollers 238, 240 are in accordance with one of the drawing rollers 202, 204 adapted timing operable.

The drive rollers 238, 240 are adjustably arranged so that they can be adapted to different sizes and cross-sectional designs of the pipeline cover. In addition, are the rollers 240 are movable in the vertical direction to the forward movement of the felt mat 222 by reducing the amount of contact and friction between the felt mat 222 and the lower mold part 210 is reduced. The drive rollers 240 are also movable to ensure that the hardened Felt mat 222 can be freed from the upper molding 208 if « the latter is moved up at the end of the curing cycle. Instead, an ejector rod attached to the frame 214 can also be used or some other means may be provided to cause the hardened felt mat 222 to peel off.

It goes without saying that the embodiment described here

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form after the drive rollers 238, 240 both a transversely movable cutting saw and a slotting saw are arranged, the drive rollers 238, 240 the spatially stabilized felt mat 222 to these Transporting saws. The transversely movable cutting saw cuts the felt mat 222 to its desired length, while the slotting saw cuts through the felt mat 222 in the longitudinal direction in order in this way to produce mating halves of the shaped pipe cover, as already described in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 3-6. One of the saws, preferably however, both saws are electrically connected to the control circuit of FIG. Although therefore only shown in Fig. 12, that the transversely movable cutting saw is connected to the control circuit, the slotting saw can of course also be connected in the same way Way to be connected to the control circuit. When the transversely movable cutting saw is connected to the control circuit shown in FIG is, the spatially stabilized felt mat 222 is cut into segments of predetermined length before the felt mat 222 is transported to the slotting saw. It can therefore be visual Inadequate felt mat segments are inspected and, if necessary, sorted out before the proper segments mate with one another in the longitudinal direction Halves or parts of the molded pipe cover get cut. Situations can therefore actually arise in which it is not necessary to use the slotting saw to be connected to the control circuit according to FIG.

Operation of the device

In the following, in connection with the preferred embodiment according to FIGS. 7-12, the mode of operation and the sequence the individual process steps in the application of the invention explained. Of course, these explanations apply in

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the same way for the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-4 and according to FIGS. 5 and 6.

The production line for applying the invention is thereby put in readiness that of a storage reel or felt mat is fed directly from the base wool production line, between the interacting ones Rows of notch wheels through it, creating lines of weakness or depressions in the top and bottom of this felt mat. The depressions are formed in that the top and bottom of the felt mat is locally provided with a sieve or pressed in will. The felt mat is then deformed by passing it through a fold, corrugation or deformation zone, in which applied pressure forces to the side of the mat and corrugations generated from both. the plane of the mat protrude as well as extend in the longitudinal direction of the mat. A beginning part The corrugated felt mat is introduced into a molding press and inserted between the upper and lower press parts. if the automated device 200 is actuated for the first time or when the storage roll from which the felt mat is peeled off is empty and has been replaced with a new storage roll, the drive system for the previously described corrugating device according to FIG. 1 optionally operated separately. The optional separate manual operation of the drive mechanism or system of the corrugating device can, as can be seen from Fig. 1.2, in a separate manual manner be done by depressing the "index" button, which causes the felt mat to move step by step moved forward. Of course, the movable upper press part is in the raised position, while the felt mat is gradually transported into the hardening press. Purpose-

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The manual operation of the device 200 is moderate

which is still retained, and it is now / the lower press part actuating button is depressed, which then energizes a relay R8, whereby the movable upper press part moves downwards. When this has moved all the way down and has compressed the felt mat to the desired extent, it closes Press the normally open limit switch LS2. At this point it is appropriate to set the device 200 to automatic To switch operation, at this point in time after the closing of the limit switch LS2, the following steps are carried out.

Closing the limit switch LS2 sets a curing cycle timer operated, which in turn energizes relays R7 and Rl. By energizing the relay Rl is the normally open relay contact Rl closed, creating a solenoid valve and a pneumatic piston-cylinder arrangement can be actuated and the throttle valve D is thereby brought into the open position will. Through the open throttle valve D., hot air can enter the hardening press or mold and up through the unhardened one Flow through felt mat 222.

Closing the limit switch LS2 also makes the transversely movable Actuated cutting saw, which cuts the previously cured felt mat to a predetermined length. This length can as is common nowadays, the normal standard length of 91.4 cm, but it can also correspond to any other, particularly desired length.

The timer for the press hardening cycle can be used to set a hardening time that can last up to 2 minutes (i.e. 120 seconds). and preferably 1.0-60 seconds, which depends on the

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Thickness of the felt mat, the temperature at which the hot gaseous medium is fed to the hardening press and the volume flow rate of the hot gaseous medium flowing through the felt mat. When the timer at the end of the curing time has expired, the felt mat has reached its spatial strength and rigidity, including the thermosetting contained therein Binder is cured and has solidified.

When the press heating cycle has expired and the control circuit is open, the previously energized relays Rl and R7 are now de-energized, resulting in the following steps:

As a result of the de-energization of the relay R1, the normally open relay contact R1 opens again, whereby the normally closed relay contact R2 actuates the solenoid valve and the pneumatic switching arrangement which brings the throttle valve D. back into the closed position. This interrupts the flow of the hot gaseous medium through the press and through the felt mat. As can be seen from Fig. 12, a relay R5 was energized when the automatic operation of the device was initially set by depressing the "start cycle" button. As a result, the normally open relay contact Rl was closed, through which the time delay relay TDl was excited via the normally closed limit switch LS3. By actuating the time delay relay TD1, a solenoid valve and an associated pneumatic piston-cylinder unit were energized, whereby a normally closed throttle valve D _{5 associated} with the lower press part 210 was opened for fresh air. The suction fan 230 now sucks in ambient air into the hardening press. This ambient air cools the lower press part 210 and also causes the now hardened

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Felt mass is evaporated within the hardening press. The time delay relay TDl is adjustable in such a way that the flushing flow of the cool ambient air through the hardening press is over gives a period of time from 3 to about 10 seconds.

After this period (3-10 seconds) has elapsed, the actuated time delay relay TDl itself transmits energy for closing a normally open time delay relay contact TDl, which in turn causes a "press lifting" movement of the movable Press part 208 starts up. The movement of the upper press part 208 is of course made by the hydraulic piston-cylinder unit 220 of FIG. 7 which has been actuated by a solenoid operated valve. This valve, in turn, was energized when the relay contact TDl was closed. The hardened one and now spatially stabilized felt mat adheres to the upper press part 208, due to the suction force or the negative pressure state in the line system leading away from the upper press part 208 for a short period of time prevails. For this purpose, a stop roller or some other stop device can be used to move the felt mat to separate from the upper press part 208 before it has fully retracted. Instead, it can also turn out that the porosity of the cured felt mat is so great, that after a short period of time a sufficient amount of air has penetrated through the felt mat and, as a result, that before prevailing vacuum condition is eliminated, so that the cured felt mat under the action of gravity or due to their own weight on the lower press part 210, can fall.

uureh the 'rregi-h ^ of the time delay relay TDl can also be

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which also cause the upward movement of the drive roller 240 (Fig. 8), by actuating a solenoid-operated Valve and the pneumatic switching unit, in order to thereby lift the cured felt mat and from the lower press part 210 to expose. Therefore, during the stepping period, the friction between the lower press part 210 and the felt mat becomes greatly reduced.

When the upper press part 208 has fully reached its retracted or raised position, the limit switch LSI is actuated. As can be seen from FIG. 12, this limit switch LSI has mechanically coupled contacts, of which one is normally closed and the other is open. By actuating this limit switch LSI, the normally closed contact is opened and the upward movement of the press part 208 is interrupted; in contrast, the normally open limit switch contact closes, whereby the drive mechanism for the indexing conveyor and the drive rollers 238, 240 are energized. By energizing the motor M4 shown in FIG. 12, the conveying device 18 of the corrugating device 10 according to FIG. 3 is actuated and the throttle valve D _r for the fresh air inlet is also closed by the solenoid valve and the associated pneumatic switching arrangement being de-energized.

After the felt mat has been moved a distance, which is the same size as or smaller than the length of the felt mat that has just been cured during a pressing process, this felt mat pulls additional uncured felt mat into the hardness - tung press for the next press or hardening cycle, Wemi die'hardened felt nut downstream with respect to a transversely movable cutting saw over the (-a predetermined length

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a cured pipeline cover section moved away a normally open limit switch LS4 is closed, which starts the following processes:

By closing the normally open limit switch LS4, the conveying device 18 of the corrugating device 10 according to FIG Fig. 1 and the drive movement of the drive rollers 238, 240 according to FIG. 8 stopped. By stopping the solenoid-operated Valve and the associated pneumatic switching arrangement, the drive roller 240 is also lowered, whereby the uncured Felt mat is deposited on the lower press part 210.

By closing the normally open limit switch LS4 also causes the relay R8 to energize and the normally open relay contact R8 closes so that the hydraulic Piston-cylinder unit 220 is operated by means of a solenoid operated valve. The downward movement of the upper part of the press 208 takes place until the uncured felt mass contained in the curing press has been compressed to the desired thickness and the press member 208 has reached the maximum extent of the downward stroke. When the upper press link 208 has reached the bottom dead center of the stroke, the normally open limit switch LS2 closes, whereby the hardening cycle timer is operated. The process described above is then repeated.

Although not shown in the circuit diagram of FIG. 12, a thermocouple is normally arranged in line 233. For safety reasons, this thermocouple should be sensitive to the detection of an extreme temperature condition, such as in the event of a fire outbreak in the hardening press

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be, in which case the thermocouple causes

1. that the main gas supply to furnace 224 is interrupted,

2. that the feed to the press hardening cycle is interrupted,

3. that the press parts 208, 210 are separated from each other and

4. That both the motor or the motors that make up the drive mechanism of the corrugating device 10 according to FIG. 1, and the drive rollers 238, 240 according to FIG. 8 are also stopped.

As can be seen from Fig. 12, the security In the event of a disturbance, the main switch “ON-OFF” can be actuated in order to thereby cut off all energy supply to the device 200 to interrupt.

The description so far has mainly related to arrangements in which intermediate storage laps of base wool are used as a source for supplying wool to the longitudinal curling device according to the invention. However, extremely significant advantages can be achieved with the invention if the invention is applied in such a way that the base wool is obtained directly from a base wool production plant arranged in line with the entire conveyor line. This means that this basic production installation can be used in such a way that it is arranged in alignment with the longitudinal corrugation device and with the other devices in question here, as can be seen from FIGS. 13 and 14.

Here, a conventional furnace in conjunction with a fiber production device 300 produces elongated fibers made of glass, minerals or other such insulating material. The fibers are on a collection and formation conveyor 304 enclosed in a suction cup assembly 302 in which they are described as

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Felt mat or mass can be collected from ground wool. The respective Operation and design of these facilities is known per se. It is therefore sufficient to state at this point that the base wool is produced and transported forward on a continuous basis.

The base wool can along its side edges, if necessary, trimmed to size by means of a slitter 306 or the like. From here the felt mass is made from base wool transported forward between a pair of pressure or nip rollers 308. These rollers 308 press the felt mat slightly together. The compressed felt mat then passes through a guillotine which is normally in the rest position 310, which can optionally be actuated when Samples are required to check the quality, weight, etc. or when a change of work or shift, etc. takes place.

Beyond the guillotine device 310, the felt mass enters a Collecting section 312. Here, the base wool mat is guided over a number of rollers 314 arranged in the collecting section 312 are. The rollers 314 are movable to and fro in the vertical direction, so that they either receive or store felt mat or deliver this felt mat to the downstream system can while at the same time more felt mat from the wool making device 300, 302 record.

The device according to FIGS. 13 and 14 can be used to continuously transfer the felt mat to be processed to the longitudinal corrugating device 10 according to FIG. 1 and from there to be transported to an oven or a press by the hardening being carried out will. The device according to FIGS. 13 and 14 can therefore

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replace the section A having the storage coil 14 according to FIG. 1. Here, the collecting section 312 takes the continuously produced felt mat during periods in which the hardening takes place. During this period, the forward movement the felt mat is normally shut down, at least downstream with respect to the collecting section 312.

The speed at which the felt mat advances through the corrugator and the downstream facilities associated therewith depends on at least two factors. The one factor here is the storage capacity of the collecting section 312. The other factor is the production capacity of the base wool manufacturing plant 300, 302. These two factors are usually balanced against each other or in equilibrium held in order to avoid, on the one hand, an excessive jam in the collecting section 312 and that on the other hand, the im Collecting section 312 contained base wool runs out. The feed speed also depends on other factors, such as for example on the thickness of the felt mat to be produced. This in turn depends on the thickness of the pipe insulation that becomes a special time is to be produced in each case. Other factors that must also be taken into account are the curing times, the amount of heat or temperatures used, the characteristics of the particular binder composition, etc.

Overall, however, the operating parameters of the corrugating devices adjust the curing oven to the production capacity of the basic wool production plant or vice versa.

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Claims (8)

Claims ί 1. J Process for producing a molded product, for example pipe insulation, made of a material that has a low density and in the form of an anisotropic mass is present, the material being fed with a finite width and an indefinite length, along an initially straight line Transported way in one plane, folded to form corrugations or corrugations, cut into pieces, then to harden or solidification of the corrugations thermoset and finally cut into insulating half-shells, characterized in that that the anisotropic material mass is locally pressed in at least on one of its surfaces and thereby in the surface one or more depressions are formed, each extending in the longitudinal direction parallel to the transport path, and that then, by applying a force to the side, the material is deformed and a corrugation is formed around each depression, which protrudes from the plane of the material. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material by continuous engagement of rotatable disks or Wheels are indented with the surface of the material. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the corrugated material is thermoset arranged in its longitudinal direction and then cut to the desired length. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that that the anisotropic material mass simultaneously with the 6446 409847/1063 lateral application of a force deforming the material moved forward will. 5. Device for performing the method according to one of claims 1 to 4, with a device for supplying the one finite width as well as material having an infinite length, a device for transporting the material along a transport path in a plane, means for deforming the material and forming corrugations therein, means for cutting the corrugated material into pieces and having means for thermosetting the sections from the corrugated material Material, characterized in that the device (10) has a device (20, 21) by means of the at least one surface (28, 30) of the material (12) is locally indentable in order to form one or more depressions (32) therein which, respectively extend in the longitudinal direction of the transport path, and that the device (34) for deforming and forming depressions in the Material interacts with the material in such a way that a force can be applied to the material transversely to the transport path and around a deformation (38) can be formed around each recess (32). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that a guide device is provided near the longitudinal edges of the material that engages the side edges of the material stands and causes an initial deformation of the anisotropic material mass. 7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the device for local indentation of the material surface (28, 30) has wheels or disks (20, 21) which are rotatably mounted and continuously with the material surface (28,30) in Engagement stand. A 0 9 8 A 7/1 06 3 6446. 8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that that the corrugated material (12) can be transported into a hardening press (60) which has ends open on both sides and by means of which successive parts of the continuous anisotropic material mass can be thermoset one after the other » 409847/1063 6446