Jacques
30/08/2006, 15h57
Bonjour,
Je viens de trouver sur internet une "invention" primée aux USA et qui pourrait présenter de nombreux avantages. Contrairement à ce que l'histoire des trois petits cochons laisse entendre, la paille pourrait avoir de l'avenir dans la construction...
Je joins l'article en anglais, au risque de me faire "fusiller" par les puristes.
http://www.history.com/exhibits/invent/?page=winner_ward
The History Channel and Invent Now congratulate Mr. David R. Ward, the 2006 Modern Marvel of the Year for his ingenious invention, the Strawjet.
About the Inventor and Invention
STRAWJET About the Inventor
Name: Mr. David R. Ward
Occupation: Inventor
Hometown: Ashland, OR
Age: 54
The Invention
The Strawjet is a farm implement that processes straw (wheat, flax, sunflower, tobacco, hemp, etc.) in the field (after the plant has been harvested) into a mat, similar to a large bamboo window blind. This is used to construct composite building panels in much the same way as fiberglass or carbon fiber; however, the Strawjet uses a binder made from paper pulp, clay and cement rather than plastic resin.
The History
While working as a construction supervisor, David Ward became seriously ill from chemicals he came in contact with on the job. As a result, he started investigating options for "green" or natural home building technologies. However, Ward became frustrated that the "green" material available didn't compare well against the more traditional construction material. That event served as the catalyst for Ward's search for comparable natural building technology, resulting in Strawjet's creation.
Road to Development
Ward's concept for the Strawjet evolved out of thousands of conversations with friends and family. He claims his first daydream of the invention occurred while driving a tractor and harvesting crops on a farm. The image haunted him for years before he could figure out how to implement his vision and use his acquired construction and mechanical skills to create a prototype.
After ten years of research and head scratching, he designed the first prototype of a harvester that could bind straw into a cable. Ward drew from an unlikely source for inspiration - the Middle East. He wanted to create a building system that would be strong enough to withstand an earthquake in Afghanistan, where the houses collapsed due to poor infrastructure. Additionally, Ward wanted to make sure that the Strawjet would work using either straw or clay, since those materials are abundant in the Middle East. He tried to make his invention economical, again keeping in mind the people in poorer regions.
In late 2001, with the success of the first prototype, Ward began constructing the current Strawjet, all while gathering the human resources to form the Ashland School of Environmental Technology.
A challenge for Ward and his colleagues was that his invention was an entirely new concept - a cross breed of sewing machine and massive harvesting equipment. This unique combination made it extremely difficult to find parts for the Strawjet and forced Ward to manufacture his own. The lack of prior technology to incorporate into his invention resulted in an extremely long trial and error process to get the Strawjet to its current form.
Funds received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their Small Business Innovation Research program allowed Ward to build a full-scale Strawjet that produced sample wall sections for testing purposes.
By December of 2002, the Strawjet had been completed and field-tested at the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, and ASET had been established as a non-profit corporation.
Ward's next step is to wait for further funding to build a demonstration house entirely out of straw. His vision is to change the way shelter is generated and eliminate the need for deforestation to create building material. Ward looks forward to helping emerging cities in places like China build affordable housing for their expected surge in building construction and also help rebuild Iraq after the devastation from the war.
The History of Straw Usage in Construction and the Concept of the Technology
Straw has been a component of construction for thousands of years. It is not only used as a roof covering, but also woven into mats, used for insulation and floor coverings, and as filler in making bricks. In the last decade or so, attempts have been made to use straw as a replacement for wood in engineered wood products such as particle board.
Je viens de trouver sur internet une "invention" primée aux USA et qui pourrait présenter de nombreux avantages. Contrairement à ce que l'histoire des trois petits cochons laisse entendre, la paille pourrait avoir de l'avenir dans la construction...
Je joins l'article en anglais, au risque de me faire "fusiller" par les puristes.
http://www.history.com/exhibits/invent/?page=winner_ward
The History Channel and Invent Now congratulate Mr. David R. Ward, the 2006 Modern Marvel of the Year for his ingenious invention, the Strawjet.
About the Inventor and Invention
STRAWJET About the Inventor
Name: Mr. David R. Ward
Occupation: Inventor
Hometown: Ashland, OR
Age: 54
The Invention
The Strawjet is a farm implement that processes straw (wheat, flax, sunflower, tobacco, hemp, etc.) in the field (after the plant has been harvested) into a mat, similar to a large bamboo window blind. This is used to construct composite building panels in much the same way as fiberglass or carbon fiber; however, the Strawjet uses a binder made from paper pulp, clay and cement rather than plastic resin.
The History
While working as a construction supervisor, David Ward became seriously ill from chemicals he came in contact with on the job. As a result, he started investigating options for "green" or natural home building technologies. However, Ward became frustrated that the "green" material available didn't compare well against the more traditional construction material. That event served as the catalyst for Ward's search for comparable natural building technology, resulting in Strawjet's creation.
Road to Development
Ward's concept for the Strawjet evolved out of thousands of conversations with friends and family. He claims his first daydream of the invention occurred while driving a tractor and harvesting crops on a farm. The image haunted him for years before he could figure out how to implement his vision and use his acquired construction and mechanical skills to create a prototype.
After ten years of research and head scratching, he designed the first prototype of a harvester that could bind straw into a cable. Ward drew from an unlikely source for inspiration - the Middle East. He wanted to create a building system that would be strong enough to withstand an earthquake in Afghanistan, where the houses collapsed due to poor infrastructure. Additionally, Ward wanted to make sure that the Strawjet would work using either straw or clay, since those materials are abundant in the Middle East. He tried to make his invention economical, again keeping in mind the people in poorer regions.
In late 2001, with the success of the first prototype, Ward began constructing the current Strawjet, all while gathering the human resources to form the Ashland School of Environmental Technology.
A challenge for Ward and his colleagues was that his invention was an entirely new concept - a cross breed of sewing machine and massive harvesting equipment. This unique combination made it extremely difficult to find parts for the Strawjet and forced Ward to manufacture his own. The lack of prior technology to incorporate into his invention resulted in an extremely long trial and error process to get the Strawjet to its current form.
Funds received from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through their Small Business Innovation Research program allowed Ward to build a full-scale Strawjet that produced sample wall sections for testing purposes.
By December of 2002, the Strawjet had been completed and field-tested at the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, and ASET had been established as a non-profit corporation.
Ward's next step is to wait for further funding to build a demonstration house entirely out of straw. His vision is to change the way shelter is generated and eliminate the need for deforestation to create building material. Ward looks forward to helping emerging cities in places like China build affordable housing for their expected surge in building construction and also help rebuild Iraq after the devastation from the war.
The History of Straw Usage in Construction and the Concept of the Technology
Straw has been a component of construction for thousands of years. It is not only used as a roof covering, but also woven into mats, used for insulation and floor coverings, and as filler in making bricks. In the last decade or so, attempts have been made to use straw as a replacement for wood in engineered wood products such as particle board.
