[0001] The present invention relates to a mineral wool insulation panel for thermal and/or
acoustic insulation of household appliances, for example electrical appliances, particularly
ovens.
[0002] Heat generating household appliances or heat requiring household appliances commonly
comprise double walls defining a space between them which is generally filled with
insulation material. Mineral wool is often a preferred insulation material for such
applications thanks to its thermal insulation properties, its resistance to relatively
high temperature exposure and its good fire resistance. Any organic binders used in
the mineral wool product tend to decompose when first subjected to high temperatures
and to generate unpleasant or undesired gas emissions; consequently the insulation
mineral fibre material for such applications preferably contains only low levels of
organic binders and, more preferable, does not include any organic binders. The insulation
material is intended to: reduce loss of energy to the surroundings, thus reducing
energy consumption of the appliance; and/or shield elements of the relevant appliances,
for example wiring and electrical motors, and/or adjacent spaces or furniture from
high temperature exposure; and/or reduce noise emission.
[0003] To facilitate assembly of the insulation material with the appliance, for example
a domestic oven, it is desirable to provide the insulation material in the form of
a pre-cut mat of mineral wool and to apply such pre-cut mat around the appliance by
folding it along an edge of the relevant appliance, around at least two sides of the
appliance, preferably three or four or even five sides thereof, the front side generally
being provided with a door and control means. Traditionally, homogenous fibre mats
have been used to insulate such domestic appliances.
[0004] In the case of household ovens, different types and models of oven exist, classified
in different energy classes, having individual configurations which differ for example
in the position of their heating elements, the type of heating elements, the position
and type of fans, the provision of a high temperature or pyrolitic cleaning function
and whether they are designed to be self-standing or incorporated in to a kitchen
unit. Similar variations in configuration exist for other types of domestic appliances.
[0005] Different sides of an oven, for example, may require different levels of thermal
insulation. For example, the upper face of an oven may require a higher level of thermal
insulation than the lateral sides. The bottom side may require yet a different level
of thermal insulation, depending on the presence or absence of heating elements and
other characteristics. Increasing the thickness of the insulation material all over
is not desirable as that is likely to increase the outer dimensions of the oven (which
would be particularly problematic for fitted ovens) or to reduce the inner dimensions
of the oven (which would reduce the usable volume inside the oven).
[0006] Producers of such appliances also emphasize the energy efficiency of their devices
and demand improved insulation at low cost.
[0007] There is thus a need to optimise the insulating characteristics of the insulation
material in order to improve the thermal and/or acoustic insulation while maintaining
or even increasing the useable space of the relevant household appliance.
[0008] According to one aspect, the present invention provides a unitary household appliance
mineral wool insulation panel as defined in claim 1. Other aspects are defined in
the other independent claims. The dependent claims define preferred and/or alternative
embodiments.
[0009] The provision of a unitary panel, that is to say a panel which is a continuous extension
which can be handled and manipulated as a single unit (as opposed to a collection
of two or more freely separable individual pieces of mineral wool) facilitates assembly
of the panel as part of an appliance. For example, with reference again to the example
of an oven in respect of which five sides generally require insulation (the sixth
side of a generally cubic oven being provided by a door), providing a series of individual
mineral wool panels each corresponding to a single side of the oven and each having
different thicknesses and/or fibre density and which require assembly together, is
cumbersome, entails handling problems, risks creating multiple thermal bridges at
joints between panels and is prone to assembling errors which may ultimately lead
to malfunction of the device.
[0010] The thermal insulation performance of a mineral wool insulation panel depends, inter
alia, upon the panel's thickness and density. The thicker the insulation material,
the higher its insulation or thermal resistance. As far as density is concerned, thermal
resistance will increase with density up to a certain optimum; further increase of
density then leads to excess contact between individual fibres and hence to reduced
insulation characteristics, and reduced performance of the insulation material. Insulation
performance will thus depend on the balance between thickness and density.
[0011] The at least two bands of the insulation mat may be substantially parallel; all of
the bands may be parallel. The bands may be adjacent; they may be arranged across
the width of the insulation mat or panel, for example so that the width of the mat
or panel is made up of the sum of the widths of each band.
[0012] The density and/or orientation of the mineral wool fibres may be non-homogeneous
across the thickness of a part of or the entire mineral wool panel. At one surface
of the panel, the mineral wool may have a greater density, notably a density that
may be greater by at least 10 kg/m
3 than at the other surface of the mineral wool panel. Alternatively or additionally,
at one surface of the panel the mineral wool fibres may generally lie substantially
parallel to the surface of the panel whilst at the other face of the panel the mineral
wool fibres may lie substantially perpendicular to the surface of the panel. This
may be achieved by arranging for a greater intensity of needling at one surface of
the mineral wool with respect to the needling, if any, at the other surface, for example
by (a) needling from only one side of the panel or by (b) needling more from one side
of the panel than from the other, for example by varying the type and/or density and/or
speed of needling from one side of the panel with respect to the other side. Part
or all of one, more than one or all bands of the mineral wool panel may have such
configurations.
[0013] The unitary mineral wool insulation panel may be used to cover at least two sides
of a household appliance, each band of the mat corresponding to a side of the household
appliance; this may provide a differential in the thermal resistance or insulating
power of the mat at at least two sides of the appliance and thus facilitate optimisation
of insulation and useable inner space for the appliance. In the case of a household
oven, such a unitary mineral wool insulation panel may cover two or more sides of
the oven with different insulation requirements on each side, thereby liberating an
optimum space inside the oven. Different insulation characteristics may be obtained
by varying the thickness and/or the density on the relevant parts of the panel that
insulates the relevant sides of the oven.
[0014] In one embodiment, the unitary insulation panel may have a first band having a width
corresponding to the height of an appliance it is intended to insulate, and a second
band having a width corresponding to the width of the appliance, and a length corresponding
to the depth of the appliance; such an insulation panel may be arranged to cover one
lateral side and a bottom side or a lateral side and the top side of the appliance,
e.g. a household oven. In another embodiment, the unitary insulation panel may have
one band having a width corresponding to the height of the appliance, a second band
having a width corresponding to the width of the appliance and a third band having
a width corresponding to the height of the device, and a length corresponding to the
depth of the appliance; such an insulation panel may be arranged to cover and insulate
one lateral side and the bottom or top side and the other lateral side of the appliance,
e.g. an oven. The remaining faces of an oven may then be covered by an element cut
out of a two band panel such as to cover the top or bottom side and the back side
of the appliance.
[0015] The density and thickness of the insulation panel and/or of one or more bands of
the insulation panel may be obtained by needling. Needling is a process in which a
plurality of needles are punched in and out of the mineral wool insulation mat thus
leading to a rearrangement of the fibres in the mat and generally to an increase of
fibre density concomitant with a reduction in thickness. Needling of different bands
may be performed with different numbers of needles per surface area, with different
types of needles, from the bottom and/or the top in order to obtain the effect sought.
At least one of the bands may have areas of different densities obtained by differential
needling of the mineral wool insulation. Needling of the insulation mat is preferably
carried out on line, for example prior to cutting the panel from the mineral wool
blanket. Alternatively, or additionally, needling may be carried out off-line. A lubricant,
typically an oil, may be provided at the mineral wool to facilitate needling; where
this is the case, any such organic lubricant or oil is preferably removed subsequent
to needling, for example by heating and/or decomposition.
[0016] The insulation panel may comprise at least three adjacent bands, each band having
dimensions corresponding to adjacent sides of a household appliance. The insulation
panel may be folded around the appliance, for example folded at about 90° around one
at least of edge of the appliance.
[0017] Where different bands of a mineral wool panel have different thicknesses, the difference
in the weighted thickness between different bands may be at least 5 mm, at least 8mm
or at least 10 mm; it may be no more than 30 mm or no more than 25mm. The weighted
thickness of each band is calculated as:

where t
1, t
2, ..., t
n represents the thickness of each respective surface area A
1, A
2, ...., A
n lying within the periphery of a band and having a different thickness and A
total represents the total surface area of the band (i.e. A
1 +A
2, ...+. A
n).
[0018] Where different bands of a mineral wool panel have different densities, the difference
in weighted density between different bands may be at least 10 kg/m
3, at 20 kg/m
3 or at least 30 kg/m
3; it may be not more than 60 kg/m
3, not more than 50 kg/m
3 or not more than 40 kg/m
3. The weighted density of each band is calculated as:

where d
1, d
2, ...., d
n represents the density of each respective surface area A
1, A
2, ...., A
n lying within the periphery of a band and having a different density and A
total represents the total surface area of the band (i.e. A
1 + A
2, .... + A
n).
[0019] The insulation mat or panel may comprise between two and six bands, notably two,
three or four bands.
[0020] The width of each band is at least 20 cm and may be at least 40 cm, at least 50 cm
or at least 60 cm; it may be no more than 150 cm, no more than 120 cm or no more than
100 cm.
[0021] The length of the mineral wool panel may be at least 40 cm, at least 50 cm or at
least 60 cm; it may be no more than 150 cm, no more than 120 cm or no more than 100
cm. The width of the mineral panel may be at least 80 cm, at least 100 cm or at least
120 cm; it may be no more than 300 cm, no more than 280 cm or no more than 260 cm.
The length of the mineral wool panel may correspond to the depth of the appliance
it is intended to insulate.
[0022] The mineral wool insulation panel may comprise less than 6% by weight of an organic
binder, preferably less than 4% by weight and more preferably less than 2% by weight
as determined by loss on ignition (LOI). In preferred embodiments the mineral wool
insulation panel may comprises less that 0.5% by weight binder or more preferable
is free of or at least substantially free of organic binder. This reduces undesired
off gassing of the mineral wool upon first heating.
[0023] The insulation panel may comprise cut outs; these may be convenient for the arrangement
of cable ducts or tubing, such as water connections or similar, or for the arrangement
of electrical fans or other equipment elements. Further cut outs or notches may be
provided to facilitate connection of two adjacent insulation panels. Yet further cut
outs or notches may be provided in order to adapt the insulation panel to the design
requirements of the household appliance it is intended to insulate.
[0024] An embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail, by way of example
only, with reference to the attached drawings of which:
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a unitary, three band insulation panel for an oven;
- Fig. 2a is a plan view of a unitary, two band insulation panel for an oven;
- Fig. 2b is a side view of the panel of Fig 2a;
- Fig. 2c is a cross section along line 2-2' of Fig 2a;
- Fig. 3a is a side view of a variable compression roller;
- Fig 3b is a side view of an alternative variable compression roller arrangement;
- Fig. 4 is a side view of a production line; and
- Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of a production line.
[0025] Fig. 1 illustrates a mineral fibre insulation panel 10 having a width w and a length
I and adapted to cover three sides of a household oven, more particularly the top
and two lateral sides of the oven. It thus comprises three bands, 3, 5 and 7. A mineral
fibre insulation panel adapted to cover the back side and the bottom side of the oven
may be similar to that represented in Figure 2. The sixth side of the oven comprises
an oven door, for example a full side glass door.
[0026] As can be seen in Fig. 1, the three bands 3, 5 and 7 are arranged across the width
of the mineral fibre insulation panel 10. The first band 3 is arranged at one side
edge of the insulation panel 10, the second band 5 is arranged next to the first band
across the width of the insulation panel 10 with respect to the first band 3 and the
third band 7 is arranged next to the second band 5 further across the width of the
insulation panel 10.
[0027] The central band 5 of the three band panel 10 is intended to cover the top side of
the oven and has a greater thickness than the peripheral bands 3, 7 which are intended
to cover the lateral sides of the oven.
[0028] An insulation panel 10 as shown in Fig 1 may be cut from a continuous mineral wool
blanket having three bands 3, 5 and 7 of different thickness and/or density.
[0029] The thickness t of each band of the insulation panel 10 may be modulated as follows.
In a process for producing binder-free stone wool insulation panels, a primary insulation
wool blanket 42 is provided having a substantially uniform weight per unit area across
its width w. The primary insulation wool blanket 42 may be deposited using a pendulum
(not shown) which distributes a blanket of mineral wool across the width of an advancing
conveyor belt 43; this may be used to facilitate provision of a blanket having substantially
uniform weight per unit area across its width w and/or influence orientation of fibres
in the blanket.
[0030] As illustrated in Fig 4, the primary insulation wool blanket 42 passes through a
series of compression rollers 44 which reduce its thickness and increase its density
prior to stripping off of a top layer 48 of the blanket using a horizontal knife blade
45 extending over the whole width w of the blanket 41.
[0031] As illustrated in Fig 3a, the last compresson roller 46 in the series of compression
rollers 44, when seen in the direction in which the blanket 42 advances along the
production line, comprises three coaxial portions 461, 462, 463. The second (in this
case central) coaxial portion 462 has a radius which is greater that the radius of
the first and third (in this case peripheral) coaxial portions 461, 463. Consequently,
when the primary blanket 42 is compressed between this compression roller 46 and the
conveyer belt 43, a central band across the width of the primary blanket is compressed
more than the peripheral bands. After removal of the top layer 48 of the blanket in
its compressed state, this central band thus expands more than the peripheral bands
thus creating a secondary blanket 49 having a central band 492 that has a greater
thickness than the peripheral bands 491,493.
[0032] The weighted radius at each portion of the compression roller 46 is calculated as:

where r
1, r
2, ...., r
n represents the radius of each respective surface area A
1, A
2, ...., A
n lying within the portion of the compression roller having different radii and A
total represents the total surface area of the portion of the (i.e. A
1 + A
2, ....+ A
n).
[0033] In an alternative differential compression arrangement 47 illustrated in Fig 3b,
each band is created by an individual roller 471, 472, 473 whose height with respect
to the conveyer 43 may be individually adjusted.
[0034] Following differential compression across its width and removal of its top layer,
the blanket 49 passes through an on-line needling station 47 at which it is needled
preferably from above and below to rearrange the orientation of some of the fibres
in the blanket and provide integrity to the blanket. Needling generally results in
an increase in density and a decrease in thickness. The configuration of the needling
(e.g. types of needles and/or density of needles) may be different at individual bands
of the blanket. Subsequent to the needling operation, where appropriate the blanket
passes through an oven to decompose and remove any lubricating needling oil that has
been used.
[0035] A panel 10 is then die cut from the secondary blanket 49. Die cutting provides the
outer peripheral edge 11 of the panel 10 and may also provide cut-outs 12,13, for
example for arranging tubing or cable duct, and/or notches 14,15 adapted to the design
of the domestic appliance which the panel 10 is intended to insulate and/or adapted
to facilitate assembly of two adjacent panels.
[0036] Figure 2 illustrates a two band panel 20. A first band 21 of the two band panel 20
corresponds in its dimension to and is intended to insulate the bottom side of a household
oven; a second band 22 of the two band panel 20 corresponds in its dimension to and
is intended to insulate the back side of the oven. Preferably, the first 21 and second
22 bands of this two band panel 20 have different thickness and/or densities; this
facilitates optimisation of the panel for a particular oven. The possible presence
of one or more embossing 23 and/or protrusion 24 of the mineral wool at one or more
bands is illustrated in Figs 2a, 2b and 2c. These may be created by providing corresponding
protrusions and/or embossing (not shown) at the compression roller 46.
[0037] Whilst the invention relates particularly to ovens, more particularly household or
domestic ovens including gas oven and electric ovens, it may also find application
in other appliances, including dish washers, steam cookers and storage heaters.
1. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel comprising a mineral wool
insulation mat
characterized in that, prior to installation in a household appliance, the mineral wool insulation mat
comprises at least two bands, each band having a width of at least 20cm, and in which:
a) the said bands have a difference in weighted thickness of at least 5mm; and/or
b) the said bands have a difference in weighted density of at least 10 kg/m3.
2. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel in accordance with claim
1, in which the mineral wool insulation panel is a needled mineral wool insulation
panel which is substantially free of binder.
3. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel in accordance with any
preceding claim, in which the mineral wool insulation mat consists essentially of
stone wool fibres.
4. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel in accordance with any
preceding claim, in which the mineral wool insulation panel comprises at least three
substantially parallel bands, each band having a width of at least 20cm, in which
each of the three bands has
a) a difference in weighted thickness of at least 5mm; and/or
b) a difference in weighted density of at least 10 kg/m3;
which respect to at least one of the other bands.
5. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel in accordance with any
preceding claim, in which bands are substantially parallel.
6. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel in accordance with any
preceding claim, in which the bands are adjacent bands arranged across the width of
the insulation panel.
7. A unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel in accordance with any
preceding claim, in which the mineral wool insulation mat comprises cutouts and/or
notches.
8. A household appliance comprising a unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation
panel in accordance with any preceding claim, in which the width of each band of the
mineral wool insulation panel corresponds to a dimension of a side of the household
appliance, notably in which the mineral wool insulation panel further comprises one
of more portions of increased or reduced cross-section which cooperate with embossments
or auxiliary equipment of the household appliance.
9. A household appliance in accordance with claim 8, in which the household appliance
is a domestic oven, notably a domestic oven having a pyrolytic cleaning function.
10. A method of manufacturing a unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel
in accordance with any of claims 1 to 7 comprising:
a) providing a primary mineral wool insulation blanket having substantially constant
weight per area across its width;
b) creating a secondary mineral wool insulation blanket from the primary mineral wool
insulation blanket so as to create the at least two substantially parallel bands across
the width of the secondary mineral wool insulation blanket; and
c) cutting the secondary mineral wool insulation blanket to create the unitary household
appliance mineral wool insulation panel.
11. A method in accordance with claim 10, in which creating the at least two bands across
the width of the secondary mineral wool insulation blanket comprises compressing the
primary mineral wool insulation blanket to create at least two bands subjected to
different amounts of compression and removing material from a surface of the thus
compressed primary mineral wool insulation blanket.
12. A method in accordance with claim 11, in which compressing the primary mineral wool
insulation blanket to create at least two bands subjected to different amounts of
compression comprises contacting the primary mineral wool insulation blanket with:
a) a compression roller having at least first and second coaxial portions, each of
which extends for at least 20 cm along the axis of the roller and in which the difference
in the weighted radius at the first portion with respect to the weighted radius at
the second portion is at least 5 mm; or
b) at least two compression rollers, each roller having a length along its axis of
at least 20 cm, and each of the said at least two rollers being arranged such as to
create a difference in weighted height of at least 5mm between the at least two rollers
with respect to the primary mineral wool insulation blanket;
and notably in which at least one compression roller comprises embossments and/or
protrusions.
13. A method in accordance with any of claims 11 to 12, in which removing material from
a surface of the thus compressed primary mineral wool insulation blanket comprises
removing a substantially horizontal surface layer of the thus compressed primary mineral
wool insulation blanket over the entire width of the primary mineral wool insulation
blanket.
14. A method in accordance with any of claims 10 to 13, comprising needling the secondary
mineral wool insulation blanket.
15. A method in accordance with any of claims 10 to 14, in which cutting the secondary
mineral wool insulation blanket to create the unitary household appliance mineral
wool insulation panel comprises pressing a die in to the secondary mineral wool insulation
blanket such that a cutting blade of the die creates a continuous incision in the
secondary mineral wool insulation blanket corresponding to the peripheral edge of
the unitary household appliance mineral wool insulation panel.
1. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte, umfassend eine Mineralwolleisolationsmatte,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass, vor der Installation in einem Haushaltsgerät, die Mineralwolleisolationsmatte mindestens
zwei Bänder umfasst, wobei jedes Band eine Breite von mindestens 20 cm aufweist, und
wobei:
a) die Bänder einen Unterschied in gewichteter Dicke von mindestens 5 mm aufweisen;
und/oder
b) die Bänder einen Unterschied in gewichteter Dichte von mindestens 10 kg/m3 aufweisen.
2. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte nach Anspruch 1, wobei die
Mineralwolleisolationsplatte eine vernadelte Mineralwolleisolationsplatte ist, welche
im wesentlichen frei von Bindemittel ist.
3. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, wobei die Mineralwolleisolationsmatte im wesentlichen aus Steinwollefasern
besteht.
4. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, wobei die Mineralwolleisolationsplatte mindestens drei im wesentlichen
parallele Bänder umfasst, wobei jedes Band eine Breite von mindestens 20 cm aufweist,
wobei jedes der drei Bänder
a) einen Unterschied in gewichteter Dicke von mindestens 5 mm, und/oder
b) einen Unterschied in gewichteter Dichte von mindestens 10 kg/m3, bezogen auf mindestens eines der anderen Bänder, aufweist.
5. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwollesisolationsplatte nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, wobei Bänder im wesentlichen parallel vorliegen.
6. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwollesisolationsplatte nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, wobei die Bänder benachbarte Bänder sind, welche entlang der Breite der
Isolationsplatte angeordnet sind.
7. Einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte nach einem der vorhergehenden
Ansprüche, wobei die Mineralwolleisolationsmatte Ausschnitte und/oder Einschnitte
umfasst.
8. Haushaltsgerät, umfassend eine einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwollesisolationsplatte
nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Breite von jedem Band der Mineralwollesisolationsplatte
einer Dimension einer Seite des Haushaltsgeräts entspricht, insbesondere wobei die
Mineralwolleisolationsplatte weiter ein oder mehrere Bereiche von vergrössertem oder
verkleinertem Querschnitt umfasst, welche mit Erhebungen oder Zusatzausrüstung des
Haushaltsgeräts zusammenwirken.
9. Haushaltsgerät nach Anspruch 8, wobei das Haushaltsgerät ein Heimofen ist, insbesondere
ein Heimofen mit einer pyrolytischen Reinigungsfunktion.
10. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer einheitlichen Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte
nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, umfassend:
a) Bereitstellen eines primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches, welches im wesentlichen
ein konstantes Gewicht pro Bereich entlang seiner Breite aufweist,
b) Erzeugen eines sekundären Mineralwolleisolationstuches aus dem primären Mineralwolleisolationstuch,
um die mindestens zwei im wesentlichen parallelen Bänder entlang der Breite des sekundären
Mineralwolleisolationstuches zu erzeugen, und
c) Schneiden des sekundären Mineralwolleisolationstuches, um die einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte
zu erzeugen.
11. Verfahren nach Anspruch 10, wobei das Erzeugen der mindestens zwei Bänder entlang
der Breite des sekundären Mineralwolleisolationstuches das Komprimieren des primären
Mineralwolleisolationstuches, um mindestens zwei Bänder zu erzeugen, welche verschiedenen
Mengen an Kompression unterzogen wurden, und das Entfernen von Material von einer
Oberfläche des derart komprimierten primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches, umfasst.
12. Verfahren nach Anspruch 11, wobei das Komprimieren des primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches,
um mindestens zwei Bänder zu erzeugen, welche verschiedene Mengen an Kompression ausgesetzt
wurden, das Inkontaktbringen des primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches mit:
a) Einer Kompressionswalze, welche mindestens erste und zweite koaxiale Bereiche aufweist,
von welchen jeder um mindestens 20 cm entlang der Achse der Walze hervorsteht und
wobei der Unterschied im gewichteten Radius des ersten Bereichs bezogen auf den gewichteten
Radius des zweiten Bereichs mindestens 5 mm beträgt, oder
b) mindestens zwei Kompressionswalzen, wobei jede Walze eine Länge entlang ihrer Achse
von mindestens 20 cm aufweist und jede der mindestens zwei Walzen derart angeordnet
ist, um einen Unterschied in der gewichteten Höhe von mindestens 5 mm zwischen den
mindestens zwei Walzen, bezogen auf das primäre Mineralwolleisolationstuch, zu erzeugen,
umfasst,
und wobei insbesondere mindestens eine Kompressionswalze Erhebungen und/oder Vorsprünge
umfasst.
13. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 12, wobei das Entfernen von Material von
einer Oberfläche des derart komprimierten primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches das
Entfernen einer im wesentlichen horizontalen Oberflächenschicht des derart komprimierten
primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches über die gesamte Breite des primären Mineralwolleisolationstuches
umfasst.
14. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 13, umfassend das Vernadeln des sekundären
Mineralwollesisolationstuches.
15. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 10 bis 14, wobei das Schneiden des sekundären Mineralwolleisolationstuches,
um die einheitliche Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolleisolationsplatte zu erzeugen, das
Pressen eines Schneidwerkzeugs in das sekundäre Mineralwolleisolationstuch umfasst,
so dass eine Schneidklinge des Schneidewerkzeugs einen kontinuierlichen Einschnitt
in das sekundäre Mineralwolleisolationstuch erzeugt, welcher der äußeren Kante der
einheitlichen Haushaltsgeräte-Mineralwolle-isolationsplatte entspricht.
1. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager comprenant
un matelas d'isolation de laine minérale
caractérisé en ce que, avant l'installation dans un équipement électroménager, le matelas d'isolation de
laine minérale comprend au moins deux bandes, chaque bande ayant une largeur d'au
moins 20 cm, et dans lequel :
a) lesdites bandes ont une différence d'épaisseur pondérée d'au moins 5 mm ; et/ou
b) lesdites bandes ont une différence de densité pondéré d'au moins 10 kg/m3.
2. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager selon
la revendication 1, dans lequel le panneau d'isolation de laine minérale est un panneau
d'isolation de laine minérale aiguilleté qui est substantiellement dépourvu de résine.
3. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le matelas d'isolation
de laine minérale consiste essentiellement de fibres de laine de roche.
4. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le panneau d'isolation
de laine minérale comprend au moins trois bandes substantiellement parallèles, chaque
bande ayant une largeur d'au moins 20 cm, et dans lequel chacune des trois bandes
a:
a) une différence d'épaisseur pondérée d'au moins 5 mm ; et/ou
b) une différence de densité pondéré d'au moins 10 kg/m3 ;
par rapport à au moins une des autres bandes.
5. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les bandes sont substantiellement
parallèles.
6. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les bandes sont des bandes
adjacentes disposées en travers de la largeur du panneau d'isolation.
7. Un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager selon
l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le matelas d'isolation
de laine minérale comprend des découpes et/ou des entailles.
8. Un équipement électroménager comprenant un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale
selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la largeur de chaque
bande du panneau d'isolation de laine minérale correspond à une dimension d'un côté
de l'équipement électroménager, notamment dans lequel le panneau d'isolation de laine
minérale comprend en outre une ou plusieurs parties augmentée ou réduite de coupe
transversale qui coopèrent avec des bosselages ou des équipements auxiliaires de l'équipement
électroménager.
9. Un équipement électroménager selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l'équipement électroménager
est un four domestique, notamment un four domestique ayant une fonction de nettoyage
par pyrolyse.
10. Procédé de fabrication d'un panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement
électroménager selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7 comprenant :
a) mettre à disposition une nappe d'isolation de laine minérale primaire ayant un
poids surfacique substantiellement constant en travers de sa largeur ;
b) créer une nappe d'isolation de laine minérale secondaire à partir de la nappe d'isolation
de laine minérale primaire de telle sorte à créer les au moins deux bandes substantiellement
parallèles en travers de l'épaisseur de la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale secondaire
; et
c) découper la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale secondaire afin de créer le panneau
unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement électroménager.
11. Procédé selon la revendication 10, dans lequel créer les au moins deux bandes en travers
de la largeur de la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale secondaire comprend comprimer
la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale primaire pour créer au moins deux bandes soumises
à différents taux de compression et enlever de la matière d'une surface de la ainsi
comprimée nappe d'isolation de laine minérale primaire.
12. Procédé selon la revendication 11, dans lequel comprimer la nappe d'isolation de laine
minérale primaire pour créer au moins deux bandes soumises à différents taux de compression
comprend mettre en contact la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale primaire avec :
a) un rouleau de compression ayant au moins une première et une seconde parties coaxiales,
chacune d'elle s'étend sur au moins 20 cm le long de l'axe du rouleau et dans lequel
la différence dans le rayon pondéré à la première partie par rapport au rayon pondéré
à la seconde partie est d'au moins 5 mm ; ou
b) au moins deux rouleaux de compression, chaque rouleau ayant une longueur le long
de son axe d'au moins 20 cm, et chaque rouleau desdits au moins deux rouleaux étant
disposé de telle sorte de créer une différence de hauteur pondérée d'au moins 5 mm
entre les au moins deux rouleaux par rapport à la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale
primaire ;
et notamment dans lequel au moins un rouleau de compression comprend des bosselages
et/ou des saillis.
13. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 11 à 12, dans lequel enlever de la matière
d'une surface de la ainsi comprimée nappe d'isolation de laine minérale primaire comprend
enlever une couche de surface substantiellement horizontale de la ainsi comprimée
nappe d'isolation de laine minérale primaire sur toute la largeur de la nappe d'isolation
de laine minérale primaire.
14. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 10 à 13, comprenant aiguilleter la nappe d'isolation
de laine minérale secondaire.
15. Procédé selon l'une des revendications 10 à 14, dans lequel découper la nappe d'isolation
de laine minérale secondaire pour créer le panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale
d'équipement électroménager comprend presser une matrice dans la nappe d'isolation
de laine minérale secondaire de telle sorte qu'une lame de découpe de la matrice crée
une incision continue dans la nappe d'isolation de laine minérale secondaire correspondant
au bord périphérique du panneau unitaire d'isolation de laine minérale d'équipement
électroménager.