Method of forming shaped insulation materials

Claim 1

A METHOD OF CONTINUOUSLY FORMING LENGTHS OF HYDROUS CALCIUM SILICATE PIPE COVERING WHICH COMPRISES: PROVIDING A LIME-SILICA SLURRY, WHEREIN THE MOLR RATIO OF LIME TO SILICA IS IN THE RANGE OF FROM APPROXIMATELY 0.65:1 TO 1:1, AND WHEREIN THE WATER TO SOLIDS WEIGHT RATIO IS WITHIN THE RANGE OF FROM APPROXIMATELY 1:1 TO 9:1; PARTIALLY REACTING SAID SLURRY OF LIME AND SILICA UNDER THE ACTIVATING INFLUENCE OF SUPERATMOSPHERIC STEAM FOR A LENGTH OF TIME SUFFICIENT TO PRODUCE A SELF-SUPPORTING PUTTYLIKE MASS OF CHEMCIALLY COMBINED CALCIUM SILICATE MATERIAL; SHREDDING SAID MASS TO PRODUCE INDIVIDUAL LUMPS THEREOF; FEEDING SUCCESSIVE CHARGES OF SAID LUMPS INTO AN OPEN END OF AN AXIALLY ELONGATED ANNULAR EXTRUSION CHAMBER; SUCCESSIVELY AND REPEATEDLY AXIALLY IMPACTING EACH SAID SUCCESSIVE CHARGE AGAINST A PRECEEDING CHARGE WITHIN SAID EXTRUSION CHAMBER, THEREBY INDIVIDUALLY SHAPING EACH SUCH CHARGE AND FORMING AND CONCURRENTLY EXTRUDING A CONTINUOUS TUBULAR FORMATION FROM THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CHAMBER; SEVERING SAID TUBULAR EXTRUSION INTO SEPARATE LENGTHS; AND HEATING SAID LENGTHS TO COMPLETE THE REACTION OF THE PARTIALLY REACTED CALCIUM SILICATE MATERIAL.