Pipe insulation and method of and system for making same
Methods of and systems for forming pipe insulation are disclosed. The pipe insulation has properties that are non-homogenous through its thickness.
1. A pipe insulation comprising:
an elongated hollow cylinder of insulation material comprising a plurality of fibers, the insulation material having a thickness oft inches extending from an inner surface of the cylinder to an outer surface of the cylinder,
wherein a property of the insulation material in a first region of the cylinder differs from the property of the insulation material in a second region of the cylinder,
wherein the first region of the cylinder comprises a plurality of adjacent first layers of the insulation material, each of the first layers having the same property,
wherein the second region of the cylinder comprises a plurality of adjacent second layers of the insulation material, each of the second layers having the same property,
wherein the first region of the cylinder has a thickness of (t−x) inches,
wherein the second region of the cylinder has a thickness of (t−y) inches, and
wherein x+y=t.
2. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein the elongated hollow cylinder has an inner cavity with a diameter in the range of 0.5 inches to 18 inches.
3. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein the thickness t is within the range of 0.125 inches to 6 inches.
4. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein the property of the insulation material is its color.
5. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein the property of the insulation material is its R-value.
6. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein the property of the insulation material is its density.
7. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , further comprising a jacket affixed to the outer surface of the cylinder.
8. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein x≠y.
9. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein a slit extends though the thickness t of the elongated hollow cylinder along a length of the cylinder.
10. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein each of the first layers is a nonwoven fiberglass mat.
11. The pipe insulation of claim 10 , wherein each of the first layers has a thickness less than 0.5 inches.
12. The pipe insulation of claim 10 , wherein each of the first layers has the same thickness.
13. The pipe insulation of claim 10 , wherein each of the first layers has an area weight of less than 0.08 lb/ft 2 .
14. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein each of the second layers is a nonwoven fiberglass mat.
15. The pipe insulation of claim 14 , wherein each of the second layers has a thickness less than 0.5 inches.
16. The pipe insulation of claim 14 , wherein each of the second layers has the same thickness.
17. The pipe insulation of claim 14 , wherein each of the second layers has an area weight of less than 0.08 lb/ft 2 .
18. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein each of the first layers has the same thickness.
19. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein a number of the first layers is equal to a number of the second layers.
20. The pipe insulation of claim 1 , wherein a total number of the first layers and the second layers is in the range of 4 to 16.