Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

permaculture - [permaculture] straw-jet machine

permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: permaculture

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Keith Johnson <keithdj@mindspring.com>
  • To: Permaculture ibiblio <permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: [permaculture] straw-jet machine
  • Date: Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:06:41 -0400

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



  • [permaculture] straw-jet machine, Keith Johnson, 10/07/2007

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page