Abstract: An improved unbonded loosefill insulation material having a multiplicity of tufts and a plurality of voids between the tufts is provided. The tufts have an average major tuft dimension. The average major tuft dimension of the tufts of the improved unbonded loosefill insulation material is shorter than an average major tuft dimension of tufts of conventional unbonded loosefill insulation material, thereby providing the improved unbonded loosefill insulation material with a higher insulative value than conventional unbonded loosefill insulation material.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing unbonded loosefill insulation material configured for distribution in a blowing insulation machine is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing apparatus configured for making fibrous materials, the apparatus including structures configured to provide molten materials to fiberizing apparatus and collection apparatus configured to collect the formed fibrous materials, determining whether the formed fibrous material will be further processed as loosefill insulation material or other fibrous products, and formulating a composition of the molten material in response to the determination of whether the formed fibrous material will be further processed as loosefill insulation material or other fibrous products.

Abstract: An unbonded loosefill insulation material including a multiplicity of discrete, individual tufts formed from a plurality of insulative fibers and a plurality of conductive fibers mixed with the insulative fibers is provided. The conductive fibers are configured to dissipate static electrical charges.

Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end configured to receive the bag of compressed blowing wool. A shredding chamber is positioned downstream from the chute and configured to shred and pick apart the blowing wool. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured for rotation. Each shredder includes a plurality of paddle assemblies mounted to a shredder shaft. Each paddle assembly has a plurality of paddles. The paddles have a hardness within the range of 60 A to 70 A Durometer to better grip the blowing wool for shredding and prevent jamming of the blowing wool within the shredder.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing unbonded loosefill insulation material configured for distribution in a blowing insulation machine is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing apparatus configured for making fibrous materials, the apparatus including structures configured to provide molten materials to fiberizing apparatus and collection apparatus configured to collect the formed fibrous materials, determining whether the formed fibrous material will be further processed as loosefill insulation material or other fibrous products, and formulating a composition of the molten material in response to the determination of whether the formed fibrous material will be further processed as loosefill insulation material or other fibrous products.

Abstract: A combination including unbonded loosefill insulation material compressed in a package and a blowing insulation machine is provided. The unbonded loosefill insulation material has insulative characteristics. The blowing insulation machine is configured to receive the compressed unbonded loosefill insulation material from the package. The blowing insulation machine has a plurality of shredders configured to condition unbonded loosefill insulation material to a desired density. The blowing insulation machine is further configured to distribute the conditioned unbonded loosefill insulation material into an airstream. The blowing insulation machine has pre-set, fixed operating parameters tuned to the unbonded loosefill insulation material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting and forming loose fill fiber material from an ail stream includes introducing a combined fiber and air stream onto a surface of a rotatable drum. The rotatable drum allows the air to flow through the surface of the drum while collecting the fiber material on the surface of the drum. The collected fiber material is then removed from the drum surface by a blow off header that is internal to the drum.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end configured to receive the loosefill insulation. A lower unit is associated with the chute and includes a shredder configured to shred the loosefill insulation and an agitator configured to finely condition the loosefill insulation. The lower unit includes a shredder guide shell positioned partially around the shredder and an agitator guide shell positioned partially around the agitator. A discharge mechanism is positioned in the lower unit. The discharge mechanism has a top inlet positioned below the agitator such that loosefill insulation exiting the agitator is allowed to fall in a substantially vertical direction from the agitator into the top inlet of the discharge mechanism. The position of the shredder guide shell at a passageway is offset in a vertical direction from the position of the agitator guide shell at the passageway.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing unbonded loosefill insulation material configured for distribution in a blowing insulation machine is provided. The method includes the steps of establishing apparatus configured for making fibrous materials, the apparatus including structures configured to provide molten materials to fiberizing apparatus and collection apparatus configured to collect the formed fibrous materials, determining whether the formed fibrous material will be further processed as loosefill insulation material or other fibrous products, and formulating a composition of the molten material in response to the determination of whether the formed fibrous material will be further processed as loosefill insulation material or other fibrous products.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation is provided. The machine includes a shredding chamber having an outlet end. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to shred and pick apart the loosefill insulation. A discharge mechanism is mounted at the outlet end of the shredding chamber. The discharge mechanism is configured for distributing the loosefill insulation into an airstream. The discharge mechanism includes a shaft mounted for rotation within a housing. The shaft includes a plurality of vanes extending radially from the shaft. A plurality of seals is mounted to the shaft and to the vanes. The seals are configured to seal against the housing as the shaft rotates. A blower is configured to provide the airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism. The shaft and the vanes are a one-piece structure.

Abstract: A combination including unbonded loosefill insulation material compressed in a package and a blowing insulation machine is provided. The unbonded loosefill insulation material has insulative characteristics. The blowing insulation machine is configured to receive the compressed unbonded loosefill insulation material from the package. The blowing insulation machine has a plurality of shredders configured to condition unbonded loosefill insulation material to a desired density. The blowing insulation machine is further configured to distribute the conditioned unbonded loosefill insulation material into an airstream. The blowing insulation machine has pre-set, fixed operating parameters tuned to the unbonded loosefill insulation material.

Abstract: An unbonded loosefill insulation material formed from a glass batch is provided. The glass batch comprises, in weight percent: 62.0-69.0% of SiO2, 0.0-4.0% of Al2O3, 7.0-12.0% of CaO, 0.0-5.0% of MgO, 3.0-14.0% of B2O3, 13.0-18.0% of Na2O and 0.0-3.0% of K2O. The unbonded loosefill insulation material is configured for distribution in a blowing insulation machine.

Abstract: An unbonded loosefill insulation system configured to provide blown loosefill insulation material is provided. The system includes a blowing insulation machine configured to condition and distribute loosefill insulation from a package of compressed loosefill insulation. The blowing insulation machine is further configured to have pre-set and fixed operating parameters. An unbonded loosefill insulation material is configured for use with the blowing insulation machine. The pre-set and fixed operating parameters of the blowing insulation machine are tuned to combine with the unbonded loosefill insulation materials to provide blown loosefill insulation material having specific insulative values.

Abstract: A rotary forming apparatus is provided. The rotary forming apparatus includes a separator configured to receive a gas flow having entrained fibrous material and further configured to separate the fibrous material from the gas flow. The fibrous material forms mini-blankets having a length along a longitudinal axis. A milling apparatus is positioned adjacent the separator and configured to receive mini-blankets exiting the separator. The milling apparatus is further configured to grind the mini-blankets into fibers having desired lengths. The milling apparatus is configured to grind the mini-blankets along the lengths of the mini-blankets.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation from sources of compressed loosefill insulation is provided. The machine includes a shredding chamber having an outlet end and a plurality of shredders configured to condition the loosefill insulation. The plurality of shredders is configured to operate at variable rotational speeds. A discharge mechanism is mounted at the outlet end of the shredding chamber. The discharge mechanism is configured for distributing the conditioned loosefill insulation into an airstream provided by a blower. The blower is configured to operate at variable rotational speeds. The plurality of shredders, the discharge mechanism and the blower are configured to operate on a single 15 ampere, 110 volt a.c. power supply. The variable rotational speeds of the plurality of shredders are configured to provide variable flow rates of the loosefill insulation and the variable rotational speeds of the blower are configured to provide variable flow rates of the airstream.

Abstract: An unbonded loosefill insulation material formed from a glass batch is provided. The glass batch comprises, in weight percent: 62.0-69.0% of SiO2, 0.0-4.0% of Al2O3, 7.0-12.0% of CaO, 0.0-5.0% of MgO, 3.0-14.0% of B2O3, 13.0-18.0% of Na2O and 0.0-3.0% of K2O. The unbonded loosefill insulation material is configured for distribution in a blowing insulation machine.

Abstract: A machine for distributing insulation from a bag of insulation having a cross-sectional shape is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is oriented in a substantially vertical plane and is configured to receive the bag of insulation. The inlet end has opposing longitudinal sides configured to be substantially horizontal in orientation. The inlet end also has opposing lateral sides connected to the longitudinal sides. The opposing lateral sides are configured to be shorter than the opposing longitudinal sides and further configured to be substantially vertical in orientation. A plurality of shredders is mounted at the outlet end of the chute and is configured to shred and pick apart the insulation. A discharge mechanism is provided for distributing the insulation into an airstream. The chute has a cross-sectional shape that approximates the cross-sectional shape of the bag of insulation.

Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing wool from a bag of compressed blowing wool is provided. The machine includes a shredding chamber configured to shred and pick apart the blowing wool. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders and an agitator. The plurality of shredders and the agitator are configured for rotation. The plurality of shredders and the agitator are configured to rotate at different speeds.

Abstract: A machine for distributing insulation from a bag of insulation is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The chute is configured to receive the bag of insulation. The inlet end of the chute has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially vertical and the outlet end of the chute has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially horizontal. A plurality of shredders is mounted at the outlet end of the chute and is configured to shred and pick apart the insulation. The machine further includes a discharge mechanism for distributing the insulation into an airstream. The plurality of shredders and the discharge mechanism are positioned beneath the outlet end of the chute, such that the insulation feeds in a substantially vertical direction into the plurality of shredders.

Abstract: A rotary forming apparatus is provided. The rotary forming apparatus includes a separator configured to receive a gas flow having entrained fibrous material and further configured to separate the fibrous material from the gas flow. The fibrous material forms mini-blankets having a length along a longitudinal axis. A milling apparatus is positioned adjacent the separator and configured to receive mini-blankets exiting the separator. The milling apparatus is further configured to grind the mini-blankets into fibers having desired lengths. The milling apparatus is configured to grind the mini-blankets along the lengths of the mini-blankets.