Basalt continuous filament insulating and fire-resistant material and sleeves and methods of construction thereof

Abstract

An fire-retardant insulating material and method of construction thereof has a textile fabric fabricated of continuous basalt filaments. The continuous basalt filaments are preferably texturized or twisted. The insulating material may be arranged in any configuration, such as a sheet, panel or sleeve, and may be knit, woven or braided.

1 . A fire-retardant insulating material, comprising:
 at least one layer of textile fabric constructed at least in part from a plurality of continuous basalt yarn filaments interlaced in a configuration such that continuous basalt filaments form a unitary construction.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating material of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration is a tubular sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The insulating material of  claim 2 , wherein said tubular sleeve has a tubular inner wall surrounded by a tubular outer wall. 
     
     
         4 . The insulating material of  claim 3  wherein said inner wall is fabricated of either a woven, knitted or braided fabric and said outer wall is fabricated of either a woven, knitted or braided fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating material of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration is a woven fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating material of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration is a knit fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The insulating material of  claim 1 , wherein said configuration is a braided fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The insulating material of  claim 1 , including at least another layer of material. 
     
     
         9 . The insulating material of  claim 1  wherein said continuous basalt yarn filaments are texturized. 
     
     
         10 . The insulating material of  claim 1  wherein said continuous basalt yarn filaments are twisted. 
     
     
         11 . The insulating material of  claim 1  further comprising an intumescent coating adhered to said at least one layer of textile fabric. 
     
     
         12 . The insulating material of  claim 1  further comprising a coating of silicone-rubber adhered to said at least one layer of textile fabric. 
     
     
         13 . A method of fabricating a fire-retardant insulating material, comprising:
 interlacing a plurality of continuous basalt yarn filaments with one another to form a textile fabric.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further including performing said interlacing in a knitting process. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further including performing said interlacing in a weaving process. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further including performing said interlacing in a braiding process. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further including fabricating said textile fabric as a tubular sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further including constructing said tubular sleeve having a continuous closed circumferential wall. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further including constructing said tubular sleeve having wall with overlapping edges extending along the length of the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further including adhering an intumescent coating to said textile fabric. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  further including adhering a coating of silicone-rubber to said textile fabric. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  further including texturizing said plurality of continuous basalt yarn filaments. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further including twisting said plurality of continuous basalt yarn filaments after said texturizing. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13  further including twisting said plurality of continuous basalt yarn filaments.