EP0277500B1 - Method for continuously manufacturing a fibrous insulation web, and apparatus for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

In customary processes for the continuous manufacture of a length of fibrous insulating material, made in particular of mineral fibres, a primary web which comes from a collecting chamber and has been impregnated with binders and impregnants is compacted and passed into an oven for curing the binders and impregnants. <??>To devise a process which with a minimum of complication makes possible a systematic arrangement of fibres having particular surface properties or of properties of the fibrous insulating material within said material, it is proposed that upstream of the curing oven the primary web be divided into two or more subsidiary webs, one subsidiary be lifted off, strongly compressed with alignment of fibres and then be brought back together with the other subsidiary web(s) and all the webs together then be cured in the curing oven. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a process for the continuous production of a mineral fiber insulation web for thermal and acoustic insulation of buildings or industrial products, the loose mineral fibers being provided with a binder and being collected in a collecting chamber to form a primary nonwoven, the primary nonwoven then being continuously conveyed and pre-compressed and in the area between the collecting chamber and a hardening furnace is split into two or more partial webs by one or more horizontal cuts, at least one partial web also being lifted off and strongly compressed by aligning the fibers by pressure perpendicular to the large web surface areas, and the compressed partial web of the or fed to the other partial webs and cured together with them in the hardening furnace.

Fiber insulation webs are usually produced in practice in such a way that a primary fleece coming from a collecting chamber and provided with binding agents and impregnating agents in the collecting chamber is subsequently compacted overall and fed to a hardening furnace for curing the binding agents and impregnating agents. Seen across their cross-section, these fiber insulation webs are largely homogeneous, ie they have the same spatial density and strength properties everywhere, which, however, depend on the degree of compaction, fiber flow, binder content and the like. Like. Dependent and can be different. This homogeneity is particularly evident in the case of insulation materials made from artificial, glassy solidified mineral fibers, and the surfaces of the fiber insulation webs have no properties that fundamentally differ from the internal structure. The surface strength and / or the flexibility of the surface layers To improve, it is known to laminate the previously explained homogeneous fiber insulation webs with other substances, for. B. with higher-density fiber insulation, glass nonwovens, glass and textile fabrics, metal fabrics, foils or the like. Or to change the fiber insulation webs by mechanical action. To carry out these known measures, the basic prerequisite is that the homogeneous fiber insulation web is first passed through a hardening furnace, where the binder and impregnating agent contained is hardened. Only then are the surface layers applied. Apart from the separate manufacturing processes for the surface layers, this subsequent application requires a relatively large manufacturing effort, especially if the fiber insulation web hardened in the hardening furnace is first divided into layers or sections and then the coating has to be carried out.

Materials are known from other fields, the outstanding properties of which result from the changing structure of different layers with different structures and compositions. As examples, only the surface finish of steel or the Damascus technique are mentioned here. B. a Damascus steel can be made with different hardness, which is characterized by high strength and elasticity.

However, a method specified at the beginning is also known from CA-A-1057183. This is followed by a division of the primary nonwoven into two or more partial webs, specifically the cuts are provided parallel to the large surfaces of the primary nonwoven. At least one partial web is compressed in order to obtain a higher density therein. Then when the partial webs are then guided together and cured in a common curing oven, an end product is created that consists of several layers with different densities consists. In terms of material, the end product consists exclusively of mineral fibers and a binder, which is contained in an extremely finely divided form, namely in very small droplets between the mineral fibers. Amounts of binder of about 1.5 percent by weight, at most 3 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the end product, are usually used. This end product made of differently compacted layers has different mechanical properties than a fiber insulation web, which is largely homogeneous across its cross-section. For example, the compressed layer has greater compressive strength. Since the compressed and uncompressed partial webs only contain the aforementioned small, evenly distributed amounts of binder, which are still uncured on the way to the curing oven, there is a risk that the compacted layer or partial web will expand again, but above all the small amount of binder is usually not sufficient to keep the differently compressed partial webs in the end product together. It can therefore happen that during the subsequent processing of the end product they separate from one another or over a large area and even form undulating surfaces.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a method by means of which a mineral fiber insulating material web can be produced with little production effort and which has specific mechanical properties depending on the area of application.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that the loose mineral fibers in the collecting chamber are additionally provided with an impregnating agent, that in the area between the collecting chamber and the hardening furnace, the partial web lifted off by means of additional reinforcing means, such as optionally a viscous binder in order to prevent springing back into the partial web pressed in continuously or a moisture-impermeable blocking agent is applied to the inner surface of the compressed partial web, or air-permeable and thermally stable reinforcing agents, in particular thin nonwovens, fabrics or braids, are applied to the outer and / or inner surface of the compressed partial web or to the outer and / or inner surface of the compressed partial web with inorganic binders, in particular water glass and its derivatives or silicic acid esters of colloidal silica, metal or ceramic fibers and particles are sprayed on, so reinforced that the partial webs have different strength properties, and that the rejoined partial webs under pressure on the large surfaces through the hardening furnace.

The main advantage is that a targeted treatment of the primary nonwoven can be carried out within the normal production process, so that a finished fiber insulation web is already available at the exit from the curing oven, which is not homogeneous, but specifically special surface properties and / or special properties within the Has fiber insulation web.

As a rule, it is advantageous to continuously convey the primary fleece in a horizontal position and to split it into partial webs by means of one or more horizontal cuts. In the case of larger layer thicknesses, i.e. if the different structures are to have a mass ratio of 1: 1, i.e. the partial web to be compressed to a great extent initially has the same layer thickness as the rest of the primary fleece, it is procedurally more favorable that the loose mineral fibers in the collecting chamber also have one Impregnating agents are provided that the horizontal primary fleece is split into two or more partial webs by one or more vertical cuts, that at least one partial web after the different compression of the partial webs by means of a additional reinforcing agents, such as a viscous binder being pressed continuously into the partial web in order to prevent springback, or a moisture-impermeable blocking agent is applied to the inner surface of the compressed partial web or air-permeable and thermally stable reinforcing agents, in particular thin ones, on the outer and / or inner surface of the compressed partial web Nonwovens, fabrics or braids are applied or sprayed onto the outer and / or inner surface of the compressed partial web with inorganic binders, in particular water glass and its derivatives or silicic acid esters of colloidal silicic acid, provided with metal or ceramic fibers and particles, that the partial webs have different strength properties, that the partial webs are guided horizontally one above the other and interconnected partial webs under pressure on the large surfaces by the hardening furnace g be led.

The subclaims 3 to 16 relate to advantageous refinements of the method according to the invention.

Another proposal according to the invention is that each lifted, compressed partial web is treated by means of treatment devices, such as a microwave generator, hot air stream or surface emitters, so that the additional reinforcing agents are cured at least in some areas.

If the heavily compressed partial webs with additional reinforcing agents form one or, alternatively, both surface layers in the end product, the compacted surface has increased mechanical strength, which enables insulation holders to be held securely on walls, glued roof sealing sheets and, above all, with partial bonding. The fiber insulation materials treated in this way release fewer components, ie there is practically no abrasion. The fiber insulation web as the end product is therefore easy to use and resistant to wind attacks, especially if the fiber insulation webs are attached to clad the outer walls of buildings or the like.

It is further proposed that the outer surface of the respectively compressed partial web be treated with additional paints and / or impregnating agents until it can be sanded. In this way, natural stone-like surfaces can be produced.

It is also expedient that the outer surface of the respectively compressed partial web is treated or coated with materials which are highly thermally resistant up to about 1000 ° C., in particular materials which fail in the known sol-gel process. In this way, the fiber insulation webs produced according to the invention can be used in thermally highly stressed application areas.

By applying a moisture-impermeable barrier agent, the penetration of moisture, e.g. B. plaster moisture can be prevented in the less densely compressed part of the fiber insulation web.

In the continuous production process, an air-permeable and thermally stable reinforcing agent, advantageously in the form of thin non-wovens, woven fabrics or braids, can be applied to the outer and / or inner surface of the respectively compressed partial web without major technical effort. This primarily serves to increase the tear resistance of the respective surface.

Instead, it is also possible to use inorganic binders, in particular water glass and its derivatives, or on the outer and / or inner surface of the compressed partial web Silica esters of colloidal silica, provided metal or ceramic fibers and particles can be sprayed on. This also results in a substantial hardening and mechanical resilience of the surfaces.

Alternatively, it is proposed that reflective substances, in particular metal powder, metal mesh and mesh or ceramic materials such as mica, be introduced into the partial web to be compressed in such a way that these substances are embedded after compression. This structure, especially due to the surfaces that strongly reflect heat rays, significantly reduces the thermal conductivity of the fiber insulation material, especially at high temperatures.

In the case of single or multiple horizontal splitting or separation of the primary fleece, a plurality of laminar structures or different layers extending through the cross section can be created. The reflective substances can then be introduced in one or more layers. It is particularly advantageous that these reflective layers are introduced at distances of less than 20 mm from the outer surfaces of the fiber insulation web.

The above-mentioned methods result in several fundamental advantages. With a suitable choice of the ratio of the layer thickness and the bulk density between the respective surface layer or the highly compressed partial web on the one hand and the core of the material, that is to say the other less compressed primary nonwoven layer on the other hand, flexible but nevertheless equipped with a hard surface insulating materials can be produced continuously, so e.g. B. for pipe jackets, for apparatus construction or similar applications. When using wire meshes for reinforcement, wire mesh mats can be produced in which the wire mesh is completely in the surface of the Mat or sheet is integrated. As a result, the perforation of the insulation material during subsequent quilting, as was previously the case, is avoided. The outer fiber layer also prevents direct contact from z. B. galvanized wire mesh with sheathing z. B. made of aluminum. It is also advantageous that flexible, yet inherently solid fiber insulation materials can be produced by the previously explained method, which can be z. B. are ideal for insulating flexible roof shells and at the same time bridging profiles such. B. of trapezoidal sheets, ensure in roof structures.

It is also proposed that foam-forming substances be introduced into the partial web to be compressed in order to increase the fire resistance duration. This is particularly recommended if fiber insulation is used in components that are exposed to high temperatures, e.g. B. may be exposed to a fire.

Another teaching according to the invention is to form the primary nonwoven by unfolding a thin continuous nonwoven layer and to apply reinforcing agents to the nonwoven layers before unfolding. In this way, a certain structural effect can be achieved in the primary nonwoven, especially a high compressive strength perpendicular to the surface of the primary nonwoven. Then the described splitting into partial webs, an additional special treatment of at least one partial web and finally the common curing in the hardening furnace can then be carried out again. The basic structural effect of the unfolding can be supplemented and improved, namely by using different feed speeds between parts of the transport system on the way in front of and in the hardening furnace. As reinforcing agents, which are applied before the nonwoven layer is unfolded, can be with fibers or metal particles reinforced inorganic or organic binders can be selected. Alternatively, nonwovens, glass braids or fabrics or metal braids or fabrics can also be selected as reinforcing agents. In any case, the internal cohesion of the fiber insulation material is improved considerably.

Loose fibers and a binder can alternatively be selected as reinforcing agents for the nonwoven layer before it is unfolded, and are simultaneously sprayed onto the thin nonwoven layer. It is advisable to use thermally stable fibers. While the area of application, particularly of stone fiber insulation materials, has hitherto been below 750 ° C., the measures according to the invention can significantly increase the area of application to approximately 1000 ° C.

In combination with the highly compressed or compressed zones or layers (partial webs) described above, the result is fiber insulation materials with completely new properties, especially with high shear and tear resistance, so that these z. B. for the direct approach as facade cladding on buildings and the like. At the same time, the springing back of fiber-containing materials with a low binding agent content can be reduced.

Regarding the unfolding of the thin nonwoven layer to the described primary nonwoven, the following different suggestions are made depending on the field of application.

On the one hand, it is possible to unfold the thin nonwoven layer in such a way that the folds run essentially vertically or perpendicularly to the large areas of the primary nonwoven. In this case there is a very high compressive strength perpendicular to the large areas of the primary fleece and thus later in the end product. Alternatively, the thin nonwoven layer can be unfolded in this way be that the folds are gradually horizontally or obliquely inclined at an angle less than 90 ° to the large areas of the primary nonwoven. This allows the strength properties desired for the respective application to be adjusted.

The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the above-described method, starting from CA-A-1057183, with a collecting chamber, the loose mineral fibers being collected in the collecting chamber with simultaneous spraying on of binders into a primary nonwoven and conveyed continuously by means of a conveyor is further arranged in the area between the collecting chamber and a hardening furnace separating devices for splitting the primary nonwoven into two or more partial webs and in connection with the separating devices guides for lifting off at least one partial web are provided, with downstream pressure rollers or belts for compressing each partial web being lifted off and guides are arranged for returning each lifted partial web to the rest of the primary nonwoven and for passing it through the hardening furnace together.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that a device for the additional spraying of impregnating agents or lubricants is provided in the collecting chamber, and in the area between the collecting chamber and the hardening furnace there are treatment devices for introducing or applying additional reinforcing agents in or on at least one partial web are.

Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the invention result from subclaims 18 to 24.

• Fig. 1 eine Prinzipzeichnung einer Vorrichtung, wobei eine Teilbahn von dem Primärvlies abgetrennt, abgehoben und separat weiter behandelt wird und wobei der Trennschnitt waagerecht verläuft,
• Fig. 2 eine Teildraufsicht auf eine Sammelkammer und ein Primärvlies mit einer Trennvorrichtung für einen vertikalen Schnitt,
• Fig. 3 eine Seitenansicht auf das Primärvlies gemäß Fig. 2 mit Darstellung einer unterschiedlichen Behandlung der Teilbahnen,
• Fig. 4 Seitenansicht auf ein Teilstück einer fertigen Faserdämmstoffbahn,
• Fig. 5 Seitenansicht auf ein anderes Teilstück einer fertigen Faserdämmstoffbahn,
• Figur 6 wiederum eine Seitenansicht auf ein Teilstück einer anderen Faserdämmstoffbahn,
• Figur 7 eine weitere Seitenansicht auf ein Teilstück einer anderen Faserdämmstoffbahn,
• Figur 8 eine Seitenansicht auf ein Teilstück einer weiteren Faserdämmstoffbahn,
• Figur 9 eine Stirnansicht auf eine Rohrleitungsdämmung und
• Figur 10 eine Prinzipzeichnung einer anderen Vorrichtung in Seitenansicht.

In the drawing, embodiments of the device according to the invention are shown in the diagram, namely show

• 1 shows a basic drawing of a device, a partial web being separated from the primary fleece, being lifted off and treated separately, and the separating cut being horizontal,
• 2 is a partial plan view of a collecting chamber and a primary fleece with a separating device for a vertical cut,
• 3 shows a side view of the primary fleece according to FIG. 2 with a different treatment of the partial webs,
• 4 side view of a section of a finished fiber insulation web,
• Fig. 5 side view of another section of a manufacture fiber insulation web,
• FIG. 6, in turn, a side view of a section of another fiber insulation web,
• FIG. 7 shows a further side view of a section of another fiber insulation web,
• FIG. 8 shows a side view of a section of a further fiber insulation web,
• Figure 9 is an end view of a pipe insulation and
• Figure 10 is a schematic drawing of another device in side view.

Figure 1 illustrates purely schematically an embodiment of the device according to the invention. In a known, schematically indicated collecting chamber 1, the fibers produced to form a fiber insulation web, in particular mineral fibers, are collected while simultaneously spraying binders and impregnating agents into a continuous primary fleece moved in the direction of arrow 3. The primary fleece is then compressed in a known manner between rollers 4 or belts on the top and bottom of the primary fleece and then continuously conveyed to a hardening furnace 5 for hardening the binding and impregnating agents. The device according to the invention has, in the area between the collecting chamber 1 and the hardening furnace 5, separation devices 6 for splitting the primary fleece 2 into two or more partial webs. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the division into two partial webs 7 and 8 takes place. While the lower partial web 7 of the primary nonwoven is conveyed further in the pre-compressed state to the hardening furnace 5 without further treatment, the other partial web 8 is lifted off. For this purpose, following the separating device 6 not shown guides, such as sliding surfaces, rollers or belts provided. For better clarification, the partial web 8 in FIG. 7 is drawn at a steep angle to the partial web 7. In practice, the mutual course of the two partial webs can be made much flatter. After lifting off, the partial web 8 is strongly compressed by pressure rollers 9 and 10 or suitable pressure belts. Following the pressure rollers or belts, such treatment devices are connected downstream that the partial web 8 in compressed form is fed back to the rest of the primary fleece 7 and is passed together with it through the hardening furnace 5. Exemplary embodiments of the treatment devices are explained in more detail below.

The separating devices are advantageously designed as band saws, which are optionally arranged for horizontal or vertical cuts. In the embodiment of Figure 1, a band saw is available for a horizontal cut. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2, a separating device 11 with a drive 12 is provided for a vertical cut.

In the area of the pressure rollers 9, 10 or tapes, a gluing roller 13 is advantageously arranged, which serves to apply a glue, but in particular to press in a viscous binder. In the illustrated embodiment, the gluing roller is located between two pairs of pressure rollers 9, 10. A further pressure roller 14 presses the partial web 8 onto the gluing roller.

Following the compression device formed from pressure rollers or belts, a further treatment device 15 is advantageously provided for the compressed partial web 8. For this purpose, a microwave generator or a surface radiator or a device for generating a hot air stream can optionally be provided on one side or expediently on both sides. Through this treatment facility the binders contained and / or additionally applied in the lifted partial web 8 are at least partially cured. In this way, springing up of the compressed partial web is prevented, so that additional pressing devices on the way to the curing oven 5 are unnecessary, and secondly, the partial web can be given mechanical and thermal properties which are desired for the surface layer of the end product.

If the partial web 8 is to be further consolidated and reinforced, it is expedient to arrange further spraying devices 16 on the outside or, if appropriate, also on both sides of the lifted partial web, by means of which the reinforcing means recorded above can be applied before the partial web is combined with the partial web 7 of the rest Primary fleece and the common final curing takes place in the curing oven 5. For further reinforcement and in particular for an improved connection between the two partial webs 7 and 8, an additional feed device 17 can advantageously be arranged in the area between the partial web 7 of the primary fleece and the lifted partial web 8. This feed device 17 is shown in simplified form in FIG. 1 as a roll or winding roller. The feed device 17 is used to feed air-permeable and thermally stable reinforcing agents, in particular thin polyester nonwovens, fabrics or braids. Glass fleeces, fiberglass mesh and metal mesh or meshes may also be mentioned. At the entrance to the hardening furnace 5 and inside the hardening furnace there are further pressure rollers 18 or suitable pressure belts. In the exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 shows only a raised partial web 8 and a remaining partial web 7 of the primary fleece. Instead, however, a further partial web can also be split off from the underside of the primary nonwoven, lifted off and treated in accordance with partial web 8. When it comes down to it To give the end product different properties, in particular strength properties, seen across the cross section, the primary nonwoven can also be split into a correspondingly larger number of partial webs, which then alternate, as described above for partial web 8, treated or how partial web 7 is not treated cured binders are left.

Figures 2 and 3 show another embodiment of a device according to the invention, which is recommended if the split webs of the primary nonwoven should initially have approximately the same thickness. For manufacturing reasons, it is then easier to provide a separating device 11 with a drive 12 which carries out a vertical cut, that is to say a cut perpendicular to the primary fleece 2. If a multiple layering is desired, several cuts are carried out side by side. In each case one partial web 19 is then continued like the partial web 7 (FIG. 1) with uncured binder up to the curing oven 5, while the other partial web 20 is compressed and further treated in accordance with the partial web 8. The pressing device, which at the same time aligns the partial web 20, is provided with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. Otherwise, the explanations for FIG. 1 also apply to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3. It is common and important in all cases that the compression and treatment processes take place continuously and in the distance between the collecting chamber and the hardening furnace.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of a section of a finished web as it leaves the hardening furnace, namely with a relatively low-density core 21, which corresponds to the partial web 7 (FIG. 1), and with a highly compressed and treated surface layer 22 with a predominantly laminar one Structure of the fibers, ie the fibers are oriented essentially horizontally or parallel to the large areas of the web. FIG. 5 shows a side view corresponding to FIG. 4, but with alternating, slightly compressed layers 23, 24 and 25 and highly compressed and treated thin layers 26, 27, 28 and 29, layers 26 and 29 forming the two surface layers. FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a finished product with two highly compressed and treated outer surface layers 30 and 31 and a less compressed middle layer 32, this layer 32 having been split into partial webs in the previous manufacturing process. Reinforcement means 33, such as metal powder, metal mesh and other reinforcement means explained above, are embedded between these partial webs.

FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment which essentially corresponds to that of FIG. 4, but here, for example, a wire mesh 34 is embedded in the highly compressed surface layer 22. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment with a less compressed layer 35, which has a weight of 30 kg / m ³ , for example. By contrast, the highly compressed surface layer 36 has a weight of, for example, 120 kg / m ³ , which is also laminated with a film 37 or a thin sheet. Such a fiber insulation web is particularly suitable for the insulation of pipelines 38 according to FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows another component device in the diagram, which can also be used in the context of the overall device according to the invention explained above. In this case, the uncured primary fleece coming from a collecting chamber is fed vertically from above with a smaller web thickness to a pressing device 40, which essentially corresponds to the pressing device according to FIG. 1 and which at the same time serves to align the primary fleece 39. The primary nonwoven web 39 comes in the compressed state to a pendulum device 41, which advantageously consists of two circulating endless belts and oscillates back and forth in the direction of arrow 42, so that the primary fleece is deposited in a meandering manner on a conveying device to form a relatively thick fleece layer 43 which is then conveyed continuously in the direction of arrow 44 . It goes without saying that the conveying speed is selected such that the meandering fleece layers 45, which are shown in simplified form, lie close together. Before being deposited to the fleece layer 43, the primary fleece 39 can also be covered with air-permeable and temperature-resistant reinforcing material 46, which is supplied by a winding roll 47. Furthermore, a spray device 48 or a feed device for reinforcing agents can be arranged at a suitable location. The above explanations for FIG. 1, specifically with regard to the treatment device 15, the spray device 16 and the feed device 17, apply here analogously. With the aid of the device according to FIG. 10, a nonwoven layer 43 can be formed which has a very high compressive strength, especially in the direction perpendicular to the two large surfaces of the fiber insulation web. Due to the action of the reinforcement, the strength properties in all other directions are also very good. The fibers within the nonwoven layer 43 run essentially perpendicular to the large surfaces. The placement and the conveying speed can also be chosen so that the fleece layers 45 and thus most of the fibers are inclined or oblique to the large surfaces. The fleece layer 43 is further treated in this embodiment, similar to the primary fleece 2 (Figure 1); ie splitting can again take place here by separating devices 49, so that again one or more partial webs are formed which can be treated further as described for FIG. 1 or FIGS. 2 and 3. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 10, only two partial webs 50 and 51 are shown, but multiple splitting and treatment can also be carried out here.

According to the exemplary embodiments explained above, the partial webs are treated essentially in relation to the large horizontal surfaces, e.g. compressed etc. or the partial webs were given a fold or a meandering nonwoven layer. According to a further advantageous method according to the invention, at least one of the partial webs can be compressed or compressed in the conveying direction and / or transverse direction. This can e.g. in that the conveyor belts for the partial webs are driven at different conveying speeds, so that at least one of the partial webs is compressed or compressed in the conveying direction in relation to other partial webs. In terms of the device, lateral pressing members can also be provided for at least one partial web, so that the partial web in question can be compressed or compressed in the transverse direction to the conveying direction. This upsetting or compressing can optionally be carried out at the most varied of locations between the splitting point on the one hand and the hardening furnace on the other.

In this way there is the essential advantage that the fibers do not run parallel to the large surfaces within the partial web in question, but rather more or less obliquely thereto or with a directional component which is oriented perpendicular to the large surfaces. This orientation of the fibers results in greater strength properties, in particular greater compressive strength perpendicular to the surfaces.

Claims (24)

1. Method for continuously manufacturing a mineral fibre insulation web for the thermal and sound insulation of buildings or industrial products, the loose mineral fibres being provided with a binding agent and collected in a collecting chamber (1) to form a primary fleece (2), the primary fleece then being conveyed further in a continuous manner and pre-compressed and in the region between the collecting chamber (1) and a hardening oven (5) being split into two or more partial webs (7, 8) by one or more horizontal cuts, furthermore at least one partial web (8) being raised and with alignment of the fibres being compressed considerably due to pressure (9, 10) at right angles to the major surfaces of the web and the compressed partial web (8) being returned to the remaining partial web(s) (7) and together with the latter hardened in the hardening oven (5), characterised in that in the collecting chamber (1), the loose mineral fibres are additionally provided with an impregnating agent, that in the region between the collecting chamber (1) and the hardening oven (5), the raised partial web (8) is reinforced by means of an additional reinforcing agent, such as optionally for the purpose of preventing spring-back resilience in the partial web (8), a viscous binding agent is forced in continuously or a sealing agent which is impermeable to moisture is applied to the inner surface of the compressed partial web (8) or a thermally stable reinforcing agent which is permeable to air, in particular thin fleeces, fabrics or meshes are applied to the outer and/or inner surface of the compressed partial web (8), or metal or ceramic fibres and particles provided with inorganic binders, in particular water glass and its derivatives or silicic acid esters of colloidal silicic acid are sprayed onto the outer and/or inner surface of the compressed partial web so that the partial webs (7, 8) have different physical properties and that the recombined partial webs (7, 8) are guided through the hardening oven (5) with pressure (18) applied to the major surfaces.
2. Method for continuously manufacturing a mineral fibre insulation web for the thermal and sound insulation of buildings or industrial products, the loose mineral fibres being provided with a binding agent and collected in a collecting chamber (1) to form a primary fleece (2), the primary fleece then being conveyed further in a continuous manner and pre-compressed, in the region between the collecting chamber (1) and the hardening oven (5) it being split into two or more partial webs (19, 20) by one or more cuts, furthermore at least one partial web (20) being raised and with alignment of the fibres being compressed considerably due to pressure (9, 10) at right angles to the major web surfaces, and the compressed partial web (20) being returned to the remaining partial web(s) (19) and together with the latter being hardened in the hardening oven (5), characterised in that in the collecting chamber (1), the loose mineral fibres are additionally provided with an impregnating agent, that the splitting of the horizontally guided primary fleece into two or more partial webs (19, 20) is carried out by one or more vertical cuts (11), that after the different compression of the partial webs (19, 20), at least one partial web (20) is reinforced by means of an additional reinforcing agent, such as optionally for the purpose of preventing spring-back resilience in the partial web (20), a viscous binding agent is forced in continuously or a sealing agent impermeable to moisture is applied to the inner surface of the compressed partial web (20) or a thermally stable reinforcing agent which is impermeable to air, in particular thin fleeces, fabrics or meshes are applied to the outer and/or inner surface of the compressed partial web (20) or metal or ceramic fibres and particles provided with inorganic binders, in particular water glass and its derivatives or silicic acid esters of colloidal silicic acid are sprayed onto the outer and/or inner surface of the compressed partial web so that the partial webs (19, 20) have different physical properties, that the partial webs (19, 20) are guided horizontally one above the other and are connected to each other and that the re-connected partial webs (19, 20) are guided through the hardening oven (5) with pressure (18) applied to the major surfaces.
3. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that each raised, compressed partial web (8) is treated by means of treatment devices (15, 16), such as a microwave generator, hot air stream or surface radiators, so that the additional reinforcing agents are hardened at least in partial regions.
4. Method according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the outer surface of the compressed partial web (8, 20) is treated with additional colouring and/or impregnating agents until it is capable of being ground.
5. Method according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that the outer surface of the compressed partial web (8, 20) is treated or coated with materials which are thermally resistant up to approximately 1000°C, as reinforcing agents, in particular materials, which precipitate by the known sol-gel method.
6. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that reflective materials, in particular metal powders, wire gauzes and braids or ceramic materials, such as mica are introduced into the partial web (8, 20) to be compressed so that these materials are embedded after the compression.
7. Method according to Claim 6, characterised in that the reflective materials are introduced into one or more layers.
8. Method according to Claim 7, characterised in that the layers are introduced at distances of less than 20 mm from the surfaces.
9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterised in that foam-forming materials are introduced into the partial web (8, 20) to be compressed, for the purpose of increasing the duration of resistance to fire.
10. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the primary fleece (43) is formed by folding up a thin continuous fleece layer (39) and that reinforcing means (46, 47, 48) are applied to the fleece layer (39) before the folding-up.
11. Method according to Claim 10, characterised in that inorganic or organic binders reinforced with fibres or metal particles are chosen as the reinforcing means.
12. Method according to Claim 10, characterised in that glass fleeces, glass meshes or glass fabrics or metal braids or gauzes are chosen as the reinforcing means.
13. Method according to Claim 10, characterised in that loose fibres and a binder are chosen as the reinforcing means, which are sprayed simultaneously onto the thin fleece layer.
14. Method according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the folding-up of the thin fleece layer (39) is undertaken so that the folds (45) extend substantially vertically or perpendicularly to the major surfaces of the primary fleece (43).
15. Method according to one of Claims 10 to 13, characterised in that the folding-up of the thin fleece layer (39) is undertaken so that the folds lie one on the other stepwise horizontally or inclined obliquely at an angle of less than 90° with respect to the major surfaces of the primary fleece.
16. Method according to one of the preceding Claims, characterised in that at least one of the partial webs (7, 8, 19, 20, 50, 51) is compressed in the conveying direction and/or transverse direction thereto, so that the fibres within this partial web are oriented with a directional component perpendicular to the major surfaces.
17. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to Claim 1 or 2, with a collecting chamber (1), the loose mineral fibres being collected to form a primary fleece (2) in the collecting chamber (1) with simultaneous spraying of binding agents and the primary fleece (2) being conveyed further in a continuous manner by means of a conveyor, furthermore in the region between the collecting chamber (1) and a hardening oven (5), separating devices (6) being provided for splitting the primary fleece (2) into two or more partial webs (7, 8) and provided adjoining the separating devices are guides for raising at least one partial web (8), following the latter pressing rollers (9, 10) or belts are provided for compressing each raised partial web and guides being provided for returning each raised partial web to the remaining primary fleece and for passing jointly through the hardening oven (5), characterised in that provided in the collecting chamber is a device for the additional spraying of impregnating agents or lubricants and that provided in the region between the collecting chamber (1) and the hardening oven (5) are treatment devices (15, 16; 17; 13, 14; 48) for introducing or applying additional reinforcing agents into or onto at least one partial web (8, 20, 39, 51).
18. Apparatus according to Claim 17, characterised in that provided in the region of the pressing rollers (9, 10) or belts is at least one gluing roller (13) for forcing in a viscous binder.
19. Apparatus according to Claim 17 or 18, characterised in that the treatment devices (15, 16) optionally comprise a microwave generator, a surface radiator or a device for producing a hot air stream so that the reinforcing agents contained in and/or additionally applied to the raised partial web (8, 20, 51) harden at least partly.
20. Apparatus according to one of Claims 17 to 19, characterised by additional feeding devices (17) for reinforcing means which are thermally stable and permeable to air, in particular thin polyester fleeces, fabrics or meshes.
21. Apparatus according to one of Claims 17 to 20, characterised by additional spray devices (48) for applying reinforcing agents.
22. Apparatus according to one of Claims 17 to 21, characterised by a swinging device (41, 42) for forming a primary fleece (43) from a pre-treated, thin continuous fleece layer (39) by folding-up.
23. Apparatus according to one of Claims 17 to 22, characterised in that the conveyor belts for the partial webs are driven at different conveying speeds, so that at least one of the partial webs is compressed in the conveying direction in relation to other partial webs.
24. Apparatus according to one of Claims 17 to 23, characterised in that lateral pressing members are provided for at least one partial web, so that the partial web can be compacted or compressed in the transverse direction with respect to the conveying direction.

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