The Technology: Scalping Augers
As an insulator, one of the difficulties faced with various machines is the consistent flow of material. How many times, sitting in an attic, will some insulation machines produce air with no material, then to have a large wad of material shoot out the end like a canon. It is frustrating. Cool Machines provide an answer that other manufactures have not. It is called “scalping augers.” These are based on decades of engineering knowledge, experience in the field, and a deep family heritage of insulation manufacturing.
Cool Machines Introduction of New Technology
Insulators want a machine that provides a fast, clog-free, consistent, smooth blowing experience without bridging of material. A common nuisance among many machines is the necessity to push the material down because a void (bridging) has been created. Bridging is greatly reduced with a Cool Machine because of the scalping augers.
Old Technology: Beating, not conditioning the material
The insulation machine industry has been stuck in a rut. Since the 1950s, manufacturers have been using either a flailing arm or carousel beater system to break up the cellulose, fiberglass and rockwool bales. This relies on gravity. However, the arms defy gravity by throwing material back out of the hopper, thus creating a void called bridging. Not to mention, these flailing arms are dangerous and throw dust back into the operator’s face. The standard practice is for the operator to break up the bridging effect by sticking a broom handle into the machine.
The carousel is not much better. It still beats the material, although it spins at the bottom of the hopper. Again, the prongs on the carousel will grab material and relies on gravity to bring down the material into the airlock. This causes time loss as a bridge can be undetected for minutes.
The New Technology: Forcing and Shredding the Material
The diagram above shows how our auger/shredding system works. The augers force the material toward the shredders which feed the hopper. This does two things: 1) no more bridging since the airlock is no longer relying on a gravity fed system; 2) finely shredded material that is properly conditioned for better coverage.
How it works!
The scalping augers, pictured below, are lined up on two shafts. You will notice that the full-flighted augers (B) move the material into the scalping augers (D) which fully agitate and pulverize the material. Fingers (C) interlacing the scapling augers prevent a buildup of material. This is especially helpful with fiberglass which wants to bunch up. By the time the material enters the airlock opening (A) the material is conditioned very well. Each auger is easily greased with accessible heavy duty, triple sealed bearings (E).
What can you expect from our proprietary designed auger system?
- Pulverize the densely packed material into a consistent mash.
- Drastically reduce the amount of bridging of material.
- Constantly move the material over the airlock.
- Causes the material to break up into a fine mash that drops into the airlock where it is further conditioned to create a constant, smooth, uniform blow of material.
- Fiberglass cannot accumulate on the augers because of the scraping fingers.
These scalping augers handle cellulose with a breeze and they also do well with even the toughest of fiberglass materials on the market!
See The Auger/Shredder in Action
Original, Short Video
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New, Enhanced Video