[permaculture] straw-jet machine

Keith Johnson keithdj at mindspring.com
Sun Oct 7 17:06:41 EDT 2007


http://www.sunnyjohn.com/photos/devices_tools/dt_wards_strawjet/index.htm

*


      INTRODUCTION

*

    *Modern thought about energy conversation in buildings promotes the
    application of large amounts of insulation. This practice is at odds
    with another building trend that promotes non-toxic interior
    environment because the least expensive and therefore the most
    commonly used insulation is a major contributor to poor indoor air
    quality. Imagine if there were a new insulation that was cheaper
    still, made from natural materials, and had no toxic emissions. Now
    imagine that this new insulation was also strong enough to replace
    the studs in the walls, the rafters in the roof, and the joists in
    the floor. Now imagine that this insulation was made from a material
    that is available in virtually limitless supply, environmentally
    friendly, and simple enough to manufacture in the most
    underdeveloped countries. *

*


      COMPOSITE STRAW CONSTRUCTION

*

    *We are designing a construction system where buildings would be
    built out of panels made of straw composite. This material is
    similar to fiberglass composite except that it is made of braids of
    straw bonded together with adobe rather than grass fibers and
    plastic resin. The braids are made of uncrushed straw shafts, and
    the adobe is reinforced with recycled paper pulp. This arrangement
    of materials allows the compression and tensile strength of the
    individual stalks of straw to be combined to form a panel of
    significant strength. The design results in a material that is 100
    times stronger than straw bale construction as well as twice the
    volume for a given amount of straw. *

*


      A NEW TYPE OF STRAW BALE

*

    *Our straw harvester cuts and gathers uncrushed stalks of straw and
    forms them into a continuous braid. This process takes place after
    the grain has been harvested. The process for making panels is
    intended to be suitable for developing countries, and is not unlike
    traditional mud brick construction methods. During construction the
    panels key together and are held in place with fiber adobe, and
    stitched with bailing twine. Spaces can be left for doors and
    windows or the required openings can be cut out with a saw after the
    mortar is dry. Floors can be made by forming panels that span the
    width of the desired floor. Sufficient strength can be achieved by
    following prescribed formula for additives, number of layers, and
    stitching. *

    *A variety of architectural members such as arches; columns, and
    door jams can be made by placing braids and adobe in a jig then
    wrapping the bundle with twine. This harvesting system is designed
    to cut straw and bundle it into a continuous braid. The machine that
    accomplishes this is composed of a shear, followed by three
    converging conveyor belts. These conveyor belts feed the straw into
    a series of concave rollers that compress the straw into a tight
    cylinder. When the straw exits the last rollers it is wrapped with
    continuous filament polyester thread. The thread is applied by a
    spinning wheel with two spools of thread on it. This device applies
    two applications of thread at the same time.
    *


-- 
Keith Johnson
"Be fruitful and mulch apply."
Permaculture Activist Magazine
PO Box 5516, Bloomington, IN 47408
(812) 335-0383
http://www.permacultureactivist.net
Impeachment: It's not just for blowjobs anymore.
Switch to Solar Power the Easy Way
http://www.jointhesolution.com/KeithJ-SunPower
http://www.PowUr.com/KeithJ-SunPower
Blog: http://kjpermaculture.blogspot.com/
also Patterns for Abundance Design & Consulting
http://www.permacultureactivist.net/design/Designconsult.html
also Association for Regenerative Culture
also APPLE-Bloomington (Alliance for a Post-Petroleum Local Economy) It's a small world after oil.
http://www.relocalize.net/groups/applebloomington
also Bloomington Permaculture Guild



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