AN INSULATION MATERIAL

[0001] The present invention relates to an insulation material that provides sound and heat insulation.

[0002] In the state of the art, embodiments that relate to adding various additives in bitumen in order to improve the features like strength, density etc. of the bitumen material are present.

[0003] A state of the art embodiment is explained in the Chinese Patent

Application No. CN 101249664. In the said application, the production of a fly ash-fiber composite to which bitumen is applied is described. In this embodiment, bitumen is added into a solvent and is dissolved by being subjected to heat. The fiber composite comprising fly ash is heated and the prepared bitumen solution is applied on the composite by spraying. Afterwards, the material to which hot-press is applied is dried and cooled, and thus the bitumen modified fly ash fiber composite is produced. In this embodiment, it is claimed that adding bitumen increases the impact strength, compressive strength and tensile strength of the material.

However, since the used fly ash is the waste product of another process, the size of the particles is not controllable and their surfaces do not allow application of coating.

[0004] Another state of the art embodiment is explained in the European Patent No EP0244615. In this embodiment, a bitumen or bitumen-plastic mixture is explained that contains porous fillers and hollow bodied clay substances in order to achieve weight reduction.

[0005] In dishwashers, the impact of the wash water to the washing tub during washing results in noise. Moreover, the undampened vibrations on the tub play a significant role in the sound power level of the dishwasher.

Generally insulation material made of bitumen material is applied on the outer surface of the washing tub in order to decrease noise and to dampen vibrations.

[0006] In the dishwasher explained in the state of the art German Patent

Application No. DE19858002, a thermal insulation material is formed between the bitumen material and the washing tub in order to improve the insulative properties of bitumen. The said thermal insulation material is composed of foam glass granulate or clay foam material.

[0007] In the dishwasher explained in the state of the art German Patent

Application No. DE102005061805, different heat and sound insulating layers arranged one after another are used for the insulation of the washing tub. Bitumen and stone dust or other filler materials having high specific density are used as the sound insulating material.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is the realization of an insulation material that provides effective sound and heat insulation.

[0009] The insulation material realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, is manufactured by mixing bitumen with hollow and equally sized ceramic microspheres. Thus, the vibration dampening and heat insulative properties of the bitumen material are improved, and the heat moving away from the washing tub and the noise and the vibration transferred to the outside surrounding are minimized. The microspheres being of ceramic material and the sphere shape facilitates adding thereof into bitumen. Furthermore, the spheres being microsphere shaped provide their radiation reflecting properties to be at the desired level.

[0010] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the microspheres are mixed into bitumen after being coated with a metal oxide such as T1O2, SnO2, CeO2, etc., suitable for reflecting the rays in the desired radiation wavelength. Accordingly, the ray reflecting property of the microspheres and hence the thermal insulation capability of the insulation material are increased.

[001 1] In an embodiment of the present invention, the microspheres are mixed into bitumen after being coated by a compatibilizer material such as a polymer containing siloxane, an amine group, etc.

[0012] The microspheres mixed into bitumen are in the ratio of 20 to 50,

preferably 30 percent by weight. The dimensions of the microspheres are in between 50 to 300 micrometers.

[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulation

material is used in a dishwasher. The dishwasher comprises an insulation material that at least partially surrounds the outer surface of the washing tub. The cover comprises a plate that faces the inside and an outer cover that faces the outside of the washing tub. The plate is produced from metal material. The outer cover is secured onto the plate and forms the portion of the cover that the user can view from the outside.

[0014] In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material is

disposed between the outer cover and the plate. Thus, the transition of heat and noise to the outside surrounding is minimized.

[0015] The model embodiments relating to the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0016] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the insulation material.

[0017] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of a dishwasher wherein the insulation material is used.

[0018] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Insulation material

2. Bitumen

3. Microsphere

4. Dishwasher

5. Washing tub

6. Cover

7. Plate

8. Outer cover

[0019] The insulation material (1) is formed by mixing bitumen (2) with hollow and equally dimensioned ceramic microspheres (3). Accordingly, an insulation material (1 ) is obtained that provides high sound and heat insulation that is low in cost and easy to manufacture.

[0020] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insulation

material (1 ) is composed by mixing the microspheres (3) coated by a metal oxide suitable for reflecting the rays in the desired radiation wavelength into bitumen (2). Thus, the heat insulation capability of the microspheres (3) is provided to be increased. In the different embodiments of the present invention, the microspheres (3) are coated with a metal oxide such as T1O2 , SnO ₂ , CeO ₂ , etc.

[0021] In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material (1 ) is composed by mixing the microspheres (3) coated by the compatibilizer material into bitumen (2). Accordingly, the insulation material (1 ) is provided to be easily adhered on the desired application surface. A polymer containing preferably siloxane or amine group is used as the compatibilizer material.

[0022] The microspheres (3) mixed into bitumen (2) are in the ratio of 20 to 50 preferably 30 percent by weight.

[0023] The dimensions of the microspheres (3) are in between 50 to 300

micrometers. The dimensions of microspheres (3) to be used are selected to be suitable for reflecting the rays in the desired radiation wavelength.

[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material (1 ) is used in a dishwasher (4). The dishwasher (4) comprises a box shaped washing tub (5) with the front open, produced from metal and a cover (6) that closes the front face of the washing tub (5) and provides access therein. In this embodiment, the insulation material (1 ) at least partially surrounds the outer surface of the washing tub (5) (Figure 2). Thus, improvement in the sound and heat insulation of the dishwasher (4) is provided.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover (6) comprises a plate (7) produced from metal, facing the inner surface of the washing tub (5) and an outer cover (8) secured to the outer surface of the plate (7) and forming the portion viewed by the user from the outside. In an embodiment of the present invention, the insulation material (1 ) is also disposed between the outer cover (8) and the plate (7). Accordingly, the heat loss through the cover (6) is provided to be minimized.

[0026] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited by the

embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.