Refrigeration – Article moving means – Continuous longitudinal-type conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-05
2001-10-09
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Article moving means
Continuous longitudinal-type conveyor
C062S063000, C062S065000, C062S331000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298686
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a cooling apparatus, and more particularly to a multi-stage indexing cooler for cooling pipe insulation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fibrous insulation is composed of many fine fibres that give the fibrous insulation a very large surface area relative to the volume it occupies. Each fibre traps a boundary layer of air, thereby providing the insulation function of the fibrous insulation. Rigid fibre insulations are typically set or cured by applying heat to a thermoset resin that binds the fibres into a rigid matrix. Heat is applied using high velocity heated air. Once cured or set, the insulation must be cooled. This requires a cooling fluid flow to be directed through the insulation, and can take a considerable amount of time.
Prior art cooling units have been devised to cool fibrous insulation. Generally, such cooling units include a high power fan that blows cooling air through the fibrous insulation at a high velocity. This high velocity cooling air is subsequently filtered by a filter system and then discharged into the atmosphere. Filtering is required as the cooling process strips not only the entrapped air and heat from the insulation, but also the smokes and fumes and other pollutants produced as a result of the high temperature curing of the thermoset resin.
Prior cooling units are often energy inefficient, and may also constitute a significant source of environmental pollution. Specifically, a lot of energy is consumed in producing high velocity air. Much of the energy required to impart this velocity to the air is lost, as the high velocity air is eventually discharged into the atmosphere after being blown through the fibrous insulation. Discharging heated high velocity air into the atmosphere also wastes the heat energy that has been stripped from the insulation product, and is, in addition, environmentally problematic, as pollutants from the insulation product may be discharged into the atmosphere.
Accordingly, a cooling unit that reduces the velocity requirements of the cooling fluid used to cool the insulation product, and that recovers heat from the cooling fluid after cooling, is desirable from an energy conservation perspective. From an environmental perspective, an improved cooling unit that facilitates the removal of pollutants before the cooling fluid is discharged into the atmosphere is also desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of an aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved cooling apparatus.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for cooling an insulation product. The apparatus includes an in-line series of cooling stations, transport means, and cooling fluids supply means. The in-line series of cooling stations includes a first cooling station for receiving the insulation product into the in-line series of cooling stations, and a last cooling station for discharging the cooled insulation product from the in-line series of cooling stations. Each cooling station in the series of cooling stations except for the first cooling station has an associated previous cooling station. Each cooling station in the series of cooling stations except for the last cooling station has an associated next cooling station. The transfer means is for moving the insulation product through each station in the series of stations. For each cooling station in the series of cooling stations except for the first cooling station, the transport means is operable to move the insulation product into the cooling station from the associated previous cooling station. For each cooling station in the series of cooling stations except for the last cooling station, the transport means is operable to move the insulation product from the cooling station to the associated next cooling station. The cooling fluids supply means is operable to supply cooling fluid to each station in the series of stations to cool the insulation product.
Conveniently, the apparatus further comprises station connection control means for selectably connecting and disconnecting different station in the series of stations.
Preferably, the fluid supply means comprises fluid connection means for directing fluid through the series of cooling stations. The fluid connection means is operable to direct cooling fluid into the last cooling station, and then from each cooling station, except for the first cooling station, into the associated previous cooling station, and into each station, except for the last cooling station, from the associated next cooling station, and finally, from the first cooling station into a hot fluid receiving means.
In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for cooling an insulation product and for heating a fluid supplied to the insulation product. The apparatus includes a first end, a second end opposite to the first end, a transport means for moving the insulation product through the apparatus in a first direction from the first end to the second end, a fluid supply means for supplying fluid to the insulation product and for moving the fluid in a second direction through the apparatus from the second end to the first end; and a fluid receiving means for receiving heated fluid from the first end of the apparatus.
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Dinesh Agarwal, P.C.
Doerrler William
Fibrex Insulations, Inc.
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