Volcanic material and method for producing the same

Abstract

A system and method for manufacturing building materials made of volcanic material includes gathering of molten volcanic material that is collected by catching the molten volcanic material after the molten volcanic material flows off an edge of land, cooling the volcanic material by immersing the mold containing the volcanic material into a body of ocean water, and shaping the volcanic material into shapes that may be used in construction.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing building materials, the method comprising: collecting molten volcanic material, wherein the molten volcanic material is collected by catching the molten volcanic material after the molten volcanic material flows off an edge of land; directing the molten volcanic material into a mold; conveying the mold into a body of ocean water; immersing the mold containing the volcanic material into the body of ocean water; allowing the molten volcanic material within the mold to be cooled by the body of ocean water to produce solid volcanic material; and removing the solid volcanic material from the mold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting the volcanic material includes: scooping the molten volcanic material from a flow of molten volcanic material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the molten volcanic material into a mold includes situating the mold beneath the molten volcanic material and catching the molten volcanic material in the mold.

4. The method of claim 1, conveying the mold into the body of water includes moving the mold along a conveyor belt.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein a weight of the molten volcanic material is used to move the mold along the conveyor belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Objects and features of the presently disclosed system and method will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when descriptions of various embodiments thereof are read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system for manufacturing building materials, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the method for manufacturing building materials, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(4) Further details and aspects of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are described in more detail below with reference to the appended figures. Any of the above aspects and embodiments of the disclosure may be combined without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described more fully below (e.g., with reference to the accompanying drawings). Like reference numerals may refer to like elements throughout the specification and drawings.

(6) Referring to FIG. 1, the system 100 for manufacturing building materials includes an output 110 being configured to allow the molten volcanic material 10 to flow into one or more molds 104. Additionally, the system 100 may include one or more molds 104 disposed on a conveyor belt 102 to receive the molten volcanic material 10 from the output 110. Further, the molten volcanic material in the mold 116 may be cooled by conveying the mold 104 into a body of water 20 by moving the mold 104 along a conveyor belt 102. A weight of the molten volcanic material may be disposed on the mold 104 to move said mold 104 along the conveyor belt 102. Lastly, cooling the molten volcanic material within the mold 116 in the body of water 20 to produce solid volcanic material 108, then removing the solid volcanic material 108 from the mold 104, allows the solid volcanic material 108 to be shaped by the molds 104 into formations that may include bricks, building blocks which may have a shape like a Lego, pillars and other similar structures.

(7) According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, collecting the volcanic material 10 includes receiving the molten volcanic material 10. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the molten volcanic material 10 may be collected by catching the molten volcanic material 10 after the molten volcanic material 10 flows off an edge of land.

(8) In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the system 100 may include a crane configured to use a bucket to scoop the molten volcanic material 10 from a flow of molten volcanic material 10 and deposit the molten volcanic material 10 into one or more molds 104.

(9) In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the molten volcanic material 10 may be directed into a mold 104. Accordingly, the mold 104 may be situated beneath the molten volcanic material 10 and thereby catch the molten volcanic material 10 in the mold 104.

(10) According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the system 100 includes conveying the mold 104 into the body of water 20 by moving the mold 104 along a conveyor belt 102.

(11) According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the conveyor belt 102 may be driven by at least two sprocket wheels 106 in engagement therewith. The conveyor belt 102 may be driven by said sprocket wheels 106, being supported on a stationary frame, in a substantially continuous fashion along a closed loop path. The stationary frame has at least two spaced axles supported thereon, said axles carrying at least one sprocket wheel 106 for rotation relative to said frame, linked together to form an endless conveyor belt 102, said conveyor belt 102 being engaged by at least two sprocket wheels 106.

(12) In various embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of the sprocket wheels 106 may be positioned above the body of water 20. At least one sprocket wheel 106 may be positioned below the body of water 20.

(13) According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a weight of the molten volcanic material may be used to move the mold 104 along the conveyor belt 102.

(14) According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a conveyor 102 may be coupled to the one or more molds 104 and configured to convey the one or more molds 104 into a body of water 20 to be cooled. Cooling the one or more molds 104 produces solid volcanic material 108.

(15) In various embodiments of the present disclosure, solid volcanic material 108 may be removed from the one or more molds 104. The solid volcanic material 108 may be shaped by the molds 104 into formations that may be used, for example, in construction. Desirable formations may include bricks, building blocks which may have a shape like a Lego, pillars and other similar structures.

(16) With reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a method 200 of manufacturing building materials. In various embodiments, the method of FIG. 2 can be performed by the system 100 of manufacturing building materials. The following description will refer to the system 100, but it will be understood that such description is exemplary and does not limit the scope and applicability of the present disclosure.

(17) Initially, at step 202, the system 100 collects the molten volcanic material 10. Collecting the volcanic material 10 includes catching the molten volcanic material 10 after the molten volcanic material 10 flows off an edge of land. Additionally, collecting the volcanic material 10 may include scooping the molten volcanic material 10 from a flow of molten volcanic material 10.

(18) Further, at step 202, the system 100 may include a crane configured to use a bucket to scoop the molten volcanic material 10 from a flow of molten volcanic material 10 and deposit the molten volcanic material 10 into one or more molds 104.

(19) Next, at step 204, the system 100 may direct the molten volcanic material 10 into a mold 104. Further, the system 100 may direct the molten volcanic material 10 into the mold 104. Accordingly, the mold 104 may be situated beneath the molten volcanic material 10 and thereby catch the molten volcanic material 10 in the mold 104.

(20) In step 206, the system 100 may include conveying the mold 104 into a body of water 20 by moving the mold 104 along a conveyor belt 102. A weight of the molten volcanic material may be used to move the mold 104 along the conveyor belt 102. The conveyor belt 102 may be driven by at least two sprocket wheels 106 in engagement therewith. The conveyor belt 102 may be driven by said sprocket wheels 106, being supported on a stationary frame, in a substantially continuous fashion along a closed loop path. The stationary frame has at least two spaced axles supported thereon, said axles carrying at least one sprocket wheel 106 for rotation relative to said frame, linked together to form an endless conveyor belt 102, said conveyor belt 102 being engaged by at least two sprocket wheels 106. Accordingly, at least one of the sprocket wheels 106 may be positioned above the body of water 20. At least one sprocket wheel 106 may be positioned below the body of water 20.

(21) At step 208, the system 100 may allow molten volcanic material within the mold 116 to be cooled by the body of water 20 to produce solid volcanic material 108.

(22) At step 210, the system 100 may remove the solid volcanic material 108 that may be shaped by the mold 104, from said mold 104 shaped into formations that may be used, for example, in construction. Desirable formations may include bricks, building blocks which may have a shape like a Lego, pillars and other similar structures.

(23) Although embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings for the purpose of illustration and description, it is to be understood that the inventive processes and apparatus are not to be construed as limited thereby. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications to the foregoing embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.