A machine for distributing insulation material from a package of compressed insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive the package of compressed insulation material. The chute further has a removable hose hub configured for wrapping with a distribution hose. The removable hose hub is further configured for engagement with opposing flange assemblies such that rotation of the hose hub results in rotation of the flange assemblies. A lower unit is configured to receive the compressed insulation material exiting the outlet end of the chute. The lower unit includes a plurality of shredders and a discharge mechanism. The discharge mechanism is configured to discharge conditioned insulation material into an airstream.

A system for processing material has a power supply and a machine having a hopper for receiving and passing material to an auger. The auger has a shaft with an axis about which it rotates, a helical flighting mounted to the shaft, pins mounted to the helical flighting, and paddles mounted to the shaft. The radial outer edge of the helical flighting is crenelated with periodic notches that form rectangular blades on the helical flighting. The pins are rotationally and angularly aligned with leading edges of the rectangular blades. The system may include a vehicle, such as a trailer, having first and second compartments separated by a partition. The power supply is located in the first compartment and has a power supply member extending though the partition. The machine is located in the second compartment and coupled to the power supply member.

A machine for distributing insulation material from a package of compressed insulation material has a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end configured to receive compressed insulation material. A lower unit has a shredding chamber configured to receive the insulation material from the outlet end of the chute. The shredding chamber includes shredders and at least one agitator configured to condition the insulation material, thereby forming conditioned insulation material. A discharge mechanism receives the conditioned insulation material exiting the shredding chamber and distributes the conditioned insulation material into a distribution airstream. A blower is configured to provide the distribution airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism, the blower driven by a blower motor. A flow rate of the distribution airstream can be varied by control the rotational speed of the blower motor, thereby varying the density, coverage and thermal insulative value of the distributed insulation material.

A building component manufacturing method may include providing an insulated structural component of a building. The insulated structural component may include a frame comprising a plurality of outer components coupled together to define an outer periphery of one or more sections. At least one of the sections may include a cavity. The method may include applying a pour-in-place insulation material within the cavity to insulate the component. The pour-in-place insulation material may transition from a liquid state to a solid state to form a first layer of insulation within the cavity. The method may include monitoring a fill level within the cavity while applying the pour-in-place insulation material. The method may include controlling a flow rate of the pour-in-place insulation material based on the monitoring of the fill level within the cavity.

A machine for distributing loosefill insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive compressed loosefill insulation material. A lower unit has a shredding chamber configured to receive the compressed loosefill insulation material from the outlet end of the chute. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to shred, pick apart and condition the loosefill insulation material. The shredders include a shredder shaft and a plurality of vane assemblies. The vane assemblies are oriented such that adjacent vane assemblies are offset from each other by an angle in a range of from about 45 to about 75. A discharge mechanism is mounted to receive conditioned loosefill insulation material exiting the shredding chamber. The discharge mechanism is configured to distribute the conditioned loosefill insulation material into an airstream. A blower is configured to provide the airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism.

A machine for distributing loosefill insulation material. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive loosefill insulation material. The chute has a first portion in fluid communication with a second portion and forms an angle with the second portion. A shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to shred, pick apart and condition the loosefill insulation material. A discharge mechanism is mounted to receive the loosefill insulation material exiting the shredding chamber. The discharge mechanism is configured to distribute the loosefill insulation material into an airstream. A blower is configured to provide the airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism. The angle between the first portion of the chute and the second portion of the chute is configured to control the descent of the loosefill insulation material into the shredding chamber.

A system for processing material has a power supply and a machine having a hopper for receiving and passing material to an auger. The auger has a shaft with an axis about which it rotates, a helical flighting mounted to the shaft, pins mounted to the helical flighting, and paddles mounted to the shaft. The radial outer edge of the helical flighting is crenelated with periodic notches that form rectangular blades on the helical flighting. The pins are rotationally and angularly aligned with leading edges of the rectangular blades. The system may include a vehicle, such as a trailer, having first and second compartments separated by a partition. The power supply is located in the first compartment and has a power supply member extending though the partition. The machine is located in the second compartment and coupled to the power supply member.

A building component manufacturing method may include providing an insulated structural component of a building. The insulated structural component may include a frame comprising a plurality of outer components coupled together to define an outer periphery of one or more sections. At least one of the sections may include a cavity. The method may include applying a pour-in-place insulation material within the cavity to insulate the component. The pour-in-place insulation material may transition from a liquid state to a solid state to form a first layer of insulation within the cavity. The method may include monitoring a fill level within the cavity while applying the pour-in-place insulation material. The method may include controlling a flow rate of the pour-in-place insulation material based on the monitoring of the fill level within the cavity.

A system for processing insulation material is disclosed. The system includes a hopper having an opening for receiving insulation material and an outlet; at least one chopping blade disposed in the hopper for reducing the size of insulation material; an auger disposed in the hopper for conducting insulation material received in the opening to the outlet of the hopper; and a blower having an inlet coupled to the outlet of the hopper and an outlet. The system also includes a plate operatively disposed between the outlet of the hopper and the inlet of the blower. The plate defining a plurality of apertures, where the plate is configured to preferentially admit insulation material below a threshold size into the blower and preferentially reject insulation material above the threshold size for reintroduction to the hopper and contact with at least one of the chopping blades.

A method for preparing an insulating product based on wool includes an aeration step inside a device, the device including a chamber and at least one structure capable of generating a turbulent gaseous flow, during the aeration step. A stream of carrier gas is introduced into the chamber and a wool in the form of nodules or flakes is subjected to the turbulent flow of this carrier gas with entrainment in one sense in a direction A and in the opposite sense in a direction B that is the opposite to the direction A so that within the chamber there is at least in one plane perpendicular to the direction A in which the wool entrained in the direction A crosses the wool entrained in the direction B.