DE20208950U1 - Material serving for insulation, combustion, filling, packaging and for mixing with other materials is derived from fallen leaves by various agglomeration processes - Google Patents

Abstract

The material serving for purposes of insulation, combustion, filling, packaging and mixing with other materials, in bonded or granular form, is derived from fallen leaves by various agglomeration processes. An independent claim is also included for a shaped element, in particular, for insulation purposes consisting of the proposed material.

Description

PATENT AND LAWYERS MEINKE ₁ DABRINGHAUS UND PARTNER GbR

ADMISSIONED BY THE EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE EUROPEAN PATENT AND TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS*

PATENT ATTORNEYS'

JULIUS MEINKE, dipl-ing. WALTER DABRINGHAUS, dipl-ing. JOCHEN MEINKE, dipl-ing.

LAWYER

THOMAS MEINKE

ROSA-LUXEMBURG-STRASSE 44141 DORTMUND

TELEPHONE (0231)58 41 90 TELEPHONE (0231) 14 76 70 info® patent-recht.de

PO BOX 10 46 45

44046 Dortmund, 06 June 2

DRESDNER BANK AG DTMD, Account No. 1 148 047 (bank code 440 800 50) POSTBANK DORTMUND, Account No. 542 02-463 (bank code 440 100 46)

FILE NO. 1/17127 TM/P/Hb

Applicant: 1. Ingrid Bienert, Bleer Straße 131, 40789 Monheim

2. Harald Pohl, Ulmenweg 1, 40789 Monheim VNR. ; 264 784

"Insulating/fill material"

"Insulating/fill material"

The invention relates to an insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material made from renewable raw materials.

Insulating materials such as mineral wool, polystyrene and polyurethane foams have been used to date, particularly for thermal insulation of buildings, but also for sound insulation, for example in motor vehicles. These are increasingly being considered from an ecological point of view. Considerable pollutants are produced during production, processing, use and disposal, and their production is usually associated with high energy consumption. In some cases, particularly with mineral wool, health concerns are also raised. Natural materials such as perlite, cork, flax, cotton or sheep's wool, recycled paper and the like are also sometimes uneconomical or ecologically questionable. Renewable, organic raw materials are therefore increasingly being used.

The solution according to the German utility model DE 299 16 973 provides for loose-fill insulation for buildings made from the stem pulp of hemp or flax plants (scabbage) with a coating of a material consisting largely of loam or clay, whereby the scabbage can be partially, extensively or completely

are permanently covered. This solution is complex and expensive.

The German patent DE 199 54 574 Cl provides for an insulating material made from biogenic raw materials as rubble, mat and panel insulation for the interior construction of buildings by using dried seaweed that has been cleaned of foreign matter and dusted. For this purpose, the seaweed must be processed as seaweed chips for use as loose-fill insulation in a length of 5-30 mm.

According to the further German patent specification DE 44 01 983 C2, an insulating material for walls, supports, ceilings and other components as well as for vehicles is proposed, which consists of ground, pressed and possibly broken straw flour pellets and alkali metal silicates in a certain weight ratio.

The German patent application DE 198 10 666 Al describes a pourable and blown-in insulating and lightweight aggregate made from renewable raw materials, which is improved in terms of bulk density and insulating effect through mechanical measures. Additives also improve the setting behavior. A material made from components of low-density renewable raw materials is to be mechanically processed to increase its slenderness, reduce its bulk density and have its surfaces fibered, and can be used for this purpose in particular.

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especially on the surface by cutting, shearing, rubbing, and shredding mechanical processes in mill-like machines.

The applicants' own German patent application DE 100 18 726.9 discloses a process for producing a wood substitute from plant-based raw materials, comprising the following steps: dry sifting of the raw materials to remove unsuitable raw components, wet sifting in a foam bed sifter to remove unsuitable fine components and dirt, discharging from the foam bed sifter and crushing in a wet state, drying in a dryer and kneading with a biodegradable binding agent, as well as shaping and curing. The aim is to create a wood substitute that is highly environmentally friendly and essentially uses readily available plant-based raw materials.

The object of the present invention is to form an insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material from renewable raw materials.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the material is formed from shredded leaves/leaf fall by agglomeration, press agglomeration, build-up agglomeration, roll agglomeration, extrusion and/or pelletization.

Using autumn leaves as a raw material does not require any special cultivation areas, plant care, special harvesting machines, seeds or fertilizers, etc.

The agglomeration of shredded leaves, for example the large amounts of autumn leaves that accumulate every year and are collected by the general street cleaners, can be carried out by so-called press agglomeration, in which cylindrical shaped bodies are obtained using pelletizing machines. Such pelletizing machines work according to the principle of hole presses, in which rollers or roller-like structures with a smooth or toothed surface press the previously prepared autumn leaves through holes, whereby the resulting granules (pellets) are cylindrical in shape. A build-up agglomeration is also possible, in which spherical granules are produced by rolling agglomeration, for example in granulating drums, plates or mixers. Other agglomeration technology machines that produce sufficiently large agglomerates can also be used. Extrusion technology can also be used. A material according to the invention can be used for heat and sound insulation as well as a basic material for the production of molded parts.

Alternatively, it is intended that the respective material from

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Strips of cut leaves/foliage. This simplifies production and is sufficient for some purposes.

It is advantageous if an insulating material according to the invention is designed to be blown in. This makes it particularly easy to insert into buildings or building shells, but also, for example, into camper van bodies or the like. Experience has shown that appropriately designed, good thermal insulation can result in savings of up to 75% in heating energy. An insulating material according to the invention in pellet form can be brought in using silo or tank wagons and introduced directly into the building to be constructed using appropriate blowing devices. Conversely, if a building is demolished, the insulating material can also be disposed of and reused elsewhere if necessary, i.e. blown into appropriate wall gaps or cavities again. For smaller heat and/or sound insulation measures, the very light material can also be brought in in sacks or the like. There is no waste with the insulating material according to the invention.

The insulating material according to the invention is expediently equipped with a biodegradable fire retardant. This means that the insulating material can meet the necessary fire protection requirements, including higher fire resistance classes such as B2 and Bl, while remaining fully biodegradable.

Calcium chloride can be used in conjunction with other biodegradable fire retardants for fire protection equipment; sodium and/or calcium carbonate can also be used as a biodegradable fire retardant.

In order to retain the biological properties, it is also intended that the corresponding insulation, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil binding and/or bulk material contains a biodegradable binder. The use of a biodegradable binder also ensures a high level of environmental compatibility and, if necessary, compostability of the material that is no longer required.

Methyl or carboxymethyl cellulose may be used as a binding agent.

A fuel created in this way can also be burned without any concerns and can therefore replace so-called wood pellets, for example. This further improves the so-called sustainability in the energy industry. Just like wood pellets, leaf pellets according to the invention also burn in a particularly environmentally friendly and carbon dioxide-neutral way. The corresponding leaf pellets are easy to transport and store without any problems. In addition, leaf pellets are considerably cheaper to produce than wood pellets, which are already cheaper than other fossil fuels, such as oil and

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Gas are.

The corresponding pellets or granules can also be used as litter for pets, especially cat litter trays and the like. They have a high absorbency and are also easy to compost. The material can also be used in riding halls and stables, and due to its good absorbency properties it can even be used as an oil binding agent on land and on water.

The corresponding insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil binding and/or bulk materials can also contain lime. This serves to lower the pH value and to destroy or minimize any biological pests that may be present. The shredded fallen leaves can also be preserved using radiation and/or thermal stress. In any case, fallen leaves are only slightly susceptible to insect damage or fungal attack without the influence of rotting factors, as they consist almost entirely of cellulose and lignin before they fall. Sugar and protein are broken down before the leaves fall. The metabolic changes include a decrease in the chlorophyll content, an increase in anthocyanins and the removal of minerals. Autumn leaves can therefore be stored and preserved well and for a long time in a dry state without any additional rotting protection.

The invention also provides a molded body, in particular an insulating body, which is made from a fully biological material according to the invention, formed by agglomeration from renewable raw materials. This can be used to form insulating boards or mats, for example, but also packaging materials or fillers for a wide variety of applications, preferably in a dry environment.

A fully biodegradable furniture material can also be made from the agglomerated leaves/leaf fall by pressing the leaf pellets together in appropriate shapes. The resulting molded parts can be processed by sawing, drilling, milling, planing, etc., as is usual in the furniture industry.

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

Fig. 1 a leaf pallet according to the invention,

Fig. 2 a cross-section through a building masonry
with insulation and cladding.

Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material made from renewable raw materials according to the invention, generally designated 1, can, for example,

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ff · ··· t ff ·

as a cylindrical shaped body 2 by using a pelletizing machine. This works according to the principle of hole presses, in which rollers or roller-like structures with a smooth or toothed surface press the material formed by agglomeration from shredded leaves/leaf fall through holes. The resulting granules 2, also called pellets, preferably have a cylindrical shape. The ratio of thickness "d" to length "1" should be 5 to 8, preferably a thickness "d" of 6 mm is aimed for. If the desired ratio of thickness "d" to length "1" is maintained, a bulk density of about 75% of the material density of the agglomerate in the installation position shown in Figure 2 can be achieved. This figure shows the usual structure of an external building wall 3, consisting of the (inner) masonry 4, an insulating layer 5, an intermediate film or paper 6 and an external cladding 7. The leaf agglomerate 2 is introduced into the insulating layer 5 by pouring or blowing it in. The same can be done with fallen leaves cut into strips, without this being shown separately.

The granules can also have a spherical appearance, this is also not shown separately. Such granules are created by rolling agglomeration, e.g. in granulating drums, plates or mixers. Rolling agglomeration is a case of build-up agglomeration,

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- 11 -

whereas pelletizing is a press agglomeration. Materials according to the invention can also be formed by extrusion.

In addition to the pure, shredded or stripped leaves, both biodegradable fire protection and binding agents can be used, and lime can also be used as an additive. Finally, a fully biodegradable and recyclable molded body, in particular an insulating body, can be formed from the material according to the invention by appropriate pressing and bonding. In particular, the leaf pallets according to the invention can be surrounded with an adhesive in a wetting device and then compacted in a pressing device in order to obtain the desired consistency of the molded body, in particular an insulating body. These can be sawn, cut, broken or the like as required in order to meet the respective installation situation.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. Further embodiments are possible without departing from the basic idea.

Claims (11)

1. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material made from renewable raw materials, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) is formed from shredded foliage/leaf fall by agglomeration, press agglomeration, build-up agglomeration, roll agglomeration, extrusion and/or pelletizing. 2. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material made from renewable raw materials, characterized in that it is made from fallen leaves cut into strips. 3. Insulating material according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) is blown in. 4. Insulating material according to claim 1, 2 and/or 3, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) contains a biodegradable fire retardant. 5. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material according to at least one of claims 1-4, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) contains a biodegradable binder. 6. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material according to at least one of claims 1-5, characterized in that it contains methyl or carboxymethyl cellulose as a binder. 7. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material according to claim 1 and/or at least one of the following, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) contains lime. 8. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material according to claim 1 and/or at least one of the following, characterized in that the shredded leaves/leaf fall is preserved by means of radiation and/or thermal stress. 9. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material according to claim 1 and/or at least one of the following, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) contains calcium chloride in combination with other biodegradable fire retardants. 10. Insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material according to claim 1 and/or at least one of the following, characterized in that this material ( 2 ) contains sodium and/or potassium carbonate as a biodegradable fire retardant. 11. Shaped body, in particular insulating body, characterized in that this shaped body is formed from an insulating, fuel, filling, packing, lightweight aggregate, oil-binding and/or bulk material ( 2 ) according to claim 1 and/or at least one of the following.