INTERLOCKING COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION BLOCK IMPROVEMENTS
20230287679 · 2023-09-14
Inventors
Cpc classification
E04B2/18
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E04B2/08
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
Embodiments relate to an enhanced method for building walls by primarily reducing the time for assembly. The designs are for molded multi-segment plastic composite construction blocks that interlock horizontally, vertically and orthogonally with a clearance-fit, do not require mortar for structural integrity and are self-aligning. The blocks are molded out of natural-fiber reinforced recycled thermoplastic composites and are stronger and lighter than CMU's.
Claims
1. A segmented plastic composite construction block with each segment length equal to segment width allowing for assembly of walls with blocks that can interlock horizontally, vertically and orthogonally with lips and insets that have a clearance-fit and are located around the perimeter of each segment; wherein each block has more than one adjoining equal dimension segment; wherein each segment has a male lip that fits into the female inset on the block segment above or below it; and wherein the lip thickness is equal to the inset dimension.
2. The block in claim 1 wherein each segment has holes in the male and female interlocking parts that align horizontally allowing the passage of conduit, wiring, pipe, bolts, fasteners, rebar or other reinforcements.
3. The block in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 25 to 50 weight % hemp fiber.
4. The block in claim 1 wherein there are indications for drilling holes through the lips and insets.
5. The block in claim 1 wherein a metal wire or synthetic fiber mesh is molded into the exterior surface of the block.
6. The block in claim 1 wherein the horizontal mating surfaces of each segment are inclined about 5 to 30 degrees.
7. Block in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 5 to 20 weight % glass cenospheres.
8. The block in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 5 to 15 weight % silica.
9. The block in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 0.5 to 5 weight % thermoplastic elastomer.
10. The block in claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises up to about 4 weight % un-melted thermoplastic film components.
11. A molded, hollow, segmented thermoplastic plastic composite construction block with each segment length equal to segment width allowing for assembly of walls with blocks that can interlock horizontally, vertically and orthogonally with a web on the top face that has male pins around the perimeter of each segment at a regular spacing; a matrix of pins offset at this same spacing towards the center of the web of each segment and corresponding cavities located around the perimeter of the bottom, female face have a clearance fit with the corresponding pins.
12. The block in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 25 to 50 weight percent hemp fiber.
13. The block in claim 11 wherein a metal wire or synthetic fiber mesh is molded into the exterior surface of the block.
14. Block in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 5 to 20 weight % glass cenospheres.
15. The block in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 5 to 15 weight % silica.
16. The block in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises about 0.5 to 5 weight % thermoplastic elastomer.
17. The block in claim 11 wherein the thermoplastic composite comprises up to about 4 weight % un-melted thermoplastic film components.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION (CONTINUATION IN PART)
[0065] The blocks disclosed in paragraphs 20-42 above and in
[0066] Design limitations of the construction blocks disclosed in
[0067] The blocks in
[0068] Molding a thick part such as the interior walls of the construction block described above in paragraphs 20-42 can be costly due to the time required to cool quickly enough to prevent burning or to not deform during de-molding or cooling. One solution would be to have ribs on all or some of the interior walls. This would provide additional surface area for cooling while maintaining the wall stiffness.
[0069] A common problem with synthetic building materials is their inability to ‘breathe’. Temperature and moisture differences between wall, roof, ceiling or floor layers can result in condensation and over time contribute to biodegradation of building components. A breathable material is often desirable such as in Tyvek house wrap that is impermeable to liquid water but permeable to water vapor. Synthetic construction blocks with low moisture permeability such as those described in paragraphs 20-42 may inhibit vapor transmission through walls and contribute to condensation inside walls, especially if the joints are sealed or the fit is tight and there are humidity and temperature differences between the sides of a wall. A solution to this problem can be holes drilled in the block walls at an inclination so that water-vapor can diffuse but liquid water won't flow into the block.
[0070] One difference between a concrete block like that disclosed by Moroschan in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/569,954 is that the block inset and lip are not the same thickness. Most all the existing technologies using concrete make it difficult to have a thin lip on the exterior of the block due to the brittleness of concrete. The materials disclosed herein permit the molding of blocks with interior lip thickness (1203) and exterior lip thickness (1204) the same thickness. With the interior and exterior lip thicknesses being the same they are each, by default, half the block body wall thickness (1205).
[0071] To initiate or terminate a wall made from the blocks described in paragraphs 20-42 and
[0072] While the thermoplastic composite blocks described in paragraphs 20-42 above have the ability to sustain large loads, even more than concrete with some formulations, they can creep or deform if the load is maintained over long periods of time and with high temperatures. As an alternative to cross-linking or using an expensive engineering resin, a woven or non-woven mesh can be molded into the block. Using insert molding or other similar techniques a woven or non-woven mesh of synthetic or natural fibers such as PET, glass, Kevlar, basalt, nylon, jute, hemp, kenaf, flax, cotton or alternatively a plastic or metal sheet can be molded onto the outside surface of the block by placing the mesh or sheet in the mold before the material charge and upon compression the mesh will be embedded in the surface of the block. The mesh can be molded into the inside or outside surface.
[0073] Blocks with a mesh as described above and shown in
[0074] To improve impact performance, a synthetic or natural fiber woven or non-woven mesh may be molded into the head-lap or exposure of a composite roofing product such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,571 and help achieve a UL2218 impact rating at between 1 and 5% of the head-lap or exposure weight by terminating surface crack propagation. Natural fibers such as cotton, hemp, jute, or kenaf and synthetic fibers such as Kevlar, Nylon or PET, are examples of these fibers.
[0075] To improve flame spread, a glass, basalt or any other fire-resistant woven or non-woven fiber mesh can be molded onto the exposed surface of a block as described above and shown in
[0076] If a similar mesh is molded onto a surface of a composite roofing panel like that described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,571 (
[0077] Wind-driven or heavy rain may cause water to move through the block-to-block junctions in a wall assembled with the blocks described above in paragraphs 20-42 and shown in
[0078] Limitations of current material technologies for the natural fiber composite construction blocks described above in paragraphs 20-42 as well as natural fiber composite roofing products like in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,571 and the railroad ties disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,408,182 include high material cost, high product weight, poor fire performance, low impact performance and objectionable odor.
[0079] Laminated thermoplastic films are difficult to recycle or process and therefore normally landfilled or incinerated and are often free and can significantly lower the cost of natural fiber thermoplastic composite materials. These films can completely replace the thermoplastic content in certain thermoplastic composite formulations with the thermoplastics completely melted in processing or with the PET and Nylon un-melted resulting in a non-homogeneous mixture. The typical thermoplastic content is between 30 and 40% of a natural fiber thermoplastic composite suitable for the applications described herein. The non-thermoplastic coatings of a film such as paper, foil, SiO2 also will not melt and contribute to the non-homogeneity of the mixture. The un-melted foils, paper, nylon, and PET components can be up to 10% of the thermoplastic film composition and up to 4 weight % of the thermoplastic composite formulation. The non-melting films and coatings contribute to the impact strength of these products by terminating crack propagation. Also, because the blocks described above in paragraphs 20-42 and the roofing panel described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,571 only require adequate compression strength even source materials with poor properties can suffice, especially if the part thickness is increased to compensate for the poor properties.
[0080] Barrier films that will work as part of the thermoplastic component in many non-aesthetic applications include:
[0081] any combination of thermoplastic film including: [0082] bi-axially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), cast polypropylene(CPP), mono-oriented polypropylene (MOPP), oriented polypropylene (OPP), nylon, vacuum metallized polyethylene terephthalate (VMET) or any other metallized polyester, metalized oriented polypropylene (MOPP), Saran®, polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
[0083] combined with: [0084] PET, and PE, metalized Barrier MET, high density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE);
[0085] along with any combination of tie layer including: [0086] Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), Ethylene-methyl acrylate (EMA), Ethylene-acrylic acid (EAA), Ethylene-grafted-maleic anhydride (AMP), polypropylene grafted maleic anhydride, HDPE, LDPE, PP, PS, PVDC, nylon, PET Ionomers, EVOH, Cellulose;
[0087] and any combination of the following coatings including: [0088] aluminum, paper, LDPE, PE, PET, Nylon, EVOH, EAA, PA, EVA, SiO.sub.2.
[0089] Because most roofing products such as shingles, shakes, tile and slate have head-laps that are not visible, these films can be used as part of the thermoplastic content in the formulation for these applications without detriment. For example,
[0090] In addition to roofing products, these films can be used as all or part of the thermoplastic content in formulations used in construction blocks because construction blocks may be painted, covered with siding or stucco or be obscured with soil.
[0091] Molded railroad ties like those described in U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/408,182 may also benefit from the use of these films due to their low aesthetic requirements.
[0092] In addition to films with tie-layers and metallic coatings, plastic parts with thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and silicone or rubber flexible coatings for handles and other housewares can be difficult to recycle and are often landfilled or incinerated as well. TPE's can include thermoplastic vulcanizates, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic rubber and styrenic based elastomers. While difficult to recycle, they can be a valuable addition to a head-lap formulation due to their ability to bind or couple different types of plastics, including un-melted nylons and PET. These TPE's at a level up to 10 weight percent of a composite roofing product head-lap, construction block or railroad tie formulation, will not only improve the commercial feasibility because of the low cost but because they can substitute for MAPE (maleic acid grafted polyethylene) coupling agent in a formulation and improve mechanical performance.
[0093] In addition to TPE's, thermoset elastomers such as silicone, latex or vulcanized rubber, can be part of a recycle stream and can be part of a formulation without detrimental affect up to about 10% of a composite block or roofing head-lap formulation providing a suitable coupling agent is used in the formulation as well.
[0094] One low-cost option for improving fire resistance and biodegradation resistance in natural fiber composites is Silica (SiO.sub.2). A silica content of between 5 and 15 weight % in a natural fiber thermoplastic composite formulation can provide substantial fire resistance and help achieve a low flame spread. The silica can preferably be adhered to or embedded in the natural fibers but is also effective if distributed in the plastic matrix. The silica can be mined, sourced from natural materials or be synthetic fumed silica.
[0095] In addition to silica for fire resistance, natural or synthetic hollow, porous or low density spheres or particles can aid in the fire resistance of natural fiber thermoplastic composite formulations as well as reducing the density and weight of a natural fiber composite roofing product, construction block or railroad tie. In addition, these hollow spheres or particles will improve the insulating properties. Glass cenospheres or natural pumice (which is primarily silica) are two examples of these types of materials that can be added at between 5 and 20% to improve performance. The glass cenospheres preferably would have compression strengths greater than the molding pressure of typically >1500 psi.
[0096] Low cost recycled thermoplastics, especially post-consumer, can be contaminated with food or other waste and if not washed adequately can have an objectionable odor. For products that are installed in proximity to humans or even displayed in stores this may not be acceptable. Heating the product at an elevated temperature for a period of time can be used drive off volatile organic compounds responsible for the odors. Also, the addition and dispersion of activated carbon in a composite block or roofing formulation at between 1 and 5% can be an effective way of reducing objectionable odors if contaminated thermoplastics are used in the formulation.
[0097] Molding the segmented block described in paragraphs 20-42 and shown in
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[0099] The block shown in
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[0101] Because there are a plurality of discrete pins and receptacles (
[0102] The pins and cavities shown in
[0103] Analagous to the cap and base disclosed in
[0104] In addition to blocks that interlock as disclosed herein, a simple CMU as shown in
[0105] To summarize, the laminated films described herein can be used in formulations for all of the block manifestations described herein as well as roofing panel head-lap formulations at about 20-70 weight %. If contaminated films are used in a block formulation, activated carbon can be used at between 1 and 5% of the formulation to help with odor control. Natural or synthetic fiber meshes can be used to improve impact resistance of blocks and roofing panels (on the underside of the exposure) at about 1-5% of the formulation. Fire resistant fiber meshes can be used to improve flame spread of natural fiber thermoplastic composite construction blocks and railroad ties and the burning brand performance of roofing panels at between 1 and 5% of the formulation. Glass cenospheres or pumice can be used to improve the fire resistance of the thermoplastic composite construction blocks described herein at between 5 and 20% of a formulation. Silica can also be used to improve the fire resistance of the thermoplastic composite construction blocks described herein or roofing panels referenced herein at between 5 and 15% of a formulation. Also, TPE's can be used as a substitute coupling agent for natural fiber composites made with recycled plastics at up to about 10% of the formulation.
[0106] An exemplary formulation for a block or roofing panel head-lap that does not have aesthetic requirements because it is painted or covered with siding is 5% Aluminum hydroxide, 1.5% maleic acid grafted polyethylene, 63% natural fibers or particles, 0.05% phenolic antioxidant, 0.05% organic phosphite antioxidant, and 30.3% thermoplastic blend where the thermoplastic film blend is comprised of: 2% un-melted nylon 6 film, 0.2% tie layer and 97.8% 50/50 LDPE/LLDPE blend.
[0107] An exemplary formulation for a block that is exposed to the elements and has aesthetic requirements is 5% Aluminum hydroxide, 1.5% maleic acid grafted polyethylene, 49% lignocellulosic natural fibers or particles, 10% SiO.sub.2, 0.1% HALS light stabilizer, 0.05% phosphite antioxidant, 0.05% organic phosphite antioxidant, 4% Fe.sub.2O.sub.3/Fe.sub.3O.sub.4 pigment blend, and 30.4% thermoplastic blend where the thermoplastic blend is comprised of HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE.
[0108] An exemplary formulation for lightweight block or roofing panel head-lap that does not have aesthetic requirements because it is painted or covered with siding is 5% Aluminum hydroxide, 1.5% maleic acid grafted polyethylene, 63% natural fibers or particles, 0.05% phenolic antioxidant, 0.05% organic phosphite antioxidant, and 30.3% thermoplastic blend where the thermoplastic film blend is comprised of: 2% un-melted nylon 6 film, 0.2% tie layer and 97.8% 50/50 LDPE/LLDPE blend.
[0109] An exemplary formulation for a block that does not have aesthetic requirements because it is painted or covered with siding is 5% Aluminum hydroxide, 1.5% maleic acid grafted polyethylene, 60% natural fibers or particles, 0.05% phenolic antioxidant, 0.05% organic phosphite antioxidant, 3% activated carbon, and 30.3% contaminated thermoplastic film where the thermoplastic film blend is comprised of: 2% un-melted nylon 6 film, 0.2% tie layer and 97.8% 50/50 LDPE/LLDPE blend.
[0110] An exemplary formulation for a block that has high mechanical properties and can be molded with thinner walls and is not exposed to the elements is 7% Aluminum hydroxide, 1.5% maleic acid grafted polyethylene, 50% hemp bast fiber, 0.05% phenolic antioxidant, 0.05% organic phosphite antioxidant, and 41.4% recycled high density polyethylene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS (CONTINUATION IN PART)
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