APPLICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT PATENT TITLE: Acoustic Plumbing Pipe Insulation Applicants and Inventors in Common: William James Donnelly Suite 2/97 Hawdon Street Heidelberg, 3084 Victoria AUSTRALIA (Mob: 0433 056 356) And Christopher James Lander 120 Mont Albert Road Canterbury 3126 Victoria AUSTRALIA (Mob: 0411 603 742) I ACOUSTIC PLUMBING PIPE INSULATION Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to the field of acoustic insulation of drainage and waste plumbing pipes and pipe fittings installed in commercial and residential working and living spaces. The purpose of applying acoustic insulation in these circumstances is to reduce, or preferably eliminate, the intermittent or continuous sound effects of waste or drainage water as it passes through the pipe-work and associated pipe fittings 10 creating impact and resonance noise during passage. In multi-level construction, the motion velocity of drainage and waste water being expelled by gravity can reach significant degrees causing annoying noise and vibration well within the human sound perception range. 15 Background of the Invention Some years ago it became apparent that flowing fluid sounds (noise), emanating from waste and drainage systems installed in multi-level working and living spaces, was annoying and/or unpleasant within the human auditory range. As buildings 20 became larger and higher, Building Codes and/or Construction Standards regimes in many countries imposed regulations to have acoustic insulation fitted to pipe-work in various classes of construction as a remedy. Generally, the applied building codes and standards define the maximum decibel levels, emanating from pipe systems, so acoustically insulated within any governed area. Additionally, results may be tested, 25 using a range of applied scientific measurement devices, for audit or complaint reasons after construction. In addition to achieving the above-mentioned premises, materials used for this purpose must also comply with fire prevention codes and in some cases the acoustic insulation means may not comprise materials deemed harmful to the environment or 30 more particularly, the inhabitants. A large range of alternatively branded, although similar, materials are available in commercial quantities to suit this application. None are labelled with applicable patent information. The particular style of most, if not all, of these materials comprises a flexible dense material of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) generally loaded with a range of heavy mineral additives, laminated on the outside 2 surface with aluminium film (or an aluminium laminate with paper or polymer material). The inside surface is further laminated with a thick layer of flexible polymer foam material to create separation from the pipe system surface. The heavy PVC 5 material is generally the means of securing the sound within the pipe-work, the layer of polymer foam material providing space and some sound energy absorption and the aluminium laminated outer cover providing flame protection. The general means of trade deployment is to purchase this multi substrate material in sheet forms of varying sizes. In application, the sheets are cut to size and shape, suitable for attachment to 10 pipe-work with trade specific aluminium backed adhesive tape. The physical characteristics are a flexible, thick (20-30mm), heavy industrial insulation-blanket means. Further in these circumstances, patents and/or claims attaching to various means of auditory protection means and/or sound proofing means, having particular 15 relevance in this field, are difficult to cite. Summary of the Invention It is therefore one object of this invention to more precisely provide a means of 20 securing sound suppression in waste and drainage plumbing pipe systems with researched solutions to the laborious and time-consuming means at hand. It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved and more enduring acoustic outcome. The invention is a semi-circular means of assembled portions of identical or mirror image shell components to provide acoustic sound protection, provided for 25 fitment in two halves, for easy installation to pipe-work, with custom provided fixings, prior, during or after the pipe-work is installed in buildings. The invention encompasses a novel acoustic insulation means for plumbing pipe systems comprising a series (to suit a wide variety of pipe sizes and pipe fittings) of semi-circular shaped portions of a semi-flexible polymer material, provided with 30 suitable additives to perform as the primary sound and auditory protection means including a series of internally provided radial compartment portions to contain and retain a series of polymer foam strip portions. The polymer foam strip portions provide sound-reflective qualities and/or additional sound absorption. Further, an 3 outer surface cover portion comprising aluminium film or aluminium laminate substrate is provided as flame impingement protection. The semi-circular polymer material comprising the primary acoustic barrier (the 'shell portion', designed to externally cover a half circular portion of a pipe or pipe 5 fitting) is generally chemically engineered to provide structural integrity such that after the additional portions of the outer layer of aluminium and the internally fitted polymer foam strip portions are fitted, a duplicate (or mirror image duplicate) may be coopted to complete full circular entrapment of generated sound within the pipe system means. 10 The shell portion, comprising a polymer base (PVC or other suitable plastic polymer) and a series of suitable additives providing a degree of flexibility and weighting to meet acoustic design criteria may be fashioned to the semi-circular shape by common and known means of manufacture, for example, plastics extrusion means, plastics injection moulding means, plastics vacuum forming moulding means etc. In 15 all of the cited manufacturing means, complexity in the form of including radial compartment portions can be imparted by providing suitable inclusions in moulding or extrusion tools customised for the purpose. The included radial compartment portions of the shell portion comprise a series of linear parallel inwardly radial wall partitions (radial wall portions) such that a 20 series of linear compartment formations (compartment portions) occur. Ideally, the outer circular dimension (radius) of the shell portion is 20mm, or more, than the radius of the pipe-work to which it will attach. In these circumstances, the radial wall portions emanate (in linear format) from the inside wall surface of the semi-circular shell wall towards the hypothetical centrepoint of the specified pipe to which it will 25 attach. As such, the radial length of the radial wall portion is defined by the inside diameter of the semi-circular shell wall and a toleranced gap portion before meeting the outer diameter of the pipe. The reasoning for the gap portion will be described further below. The positioning of the radial wall portions for purposes of mass production are 30 ideally placed at equal spacings circumferentially about the inner wall of the semi circular portion of the shell portion, resulting in identical compartment portions, further allowing the later insertion of identical purpose-produced polymer foam strip portion inserts (polymer foam strip portions). In many instances, particularly as the pipe diameter decreases, two (2) opposite placed radial wall portions, at the 4 extremities of the half shell portion may be sufficient to contain a single appropriately designed polymer foam strip portion. To further assist in mass production, contribute to ease of installation and compliance with fire-rating codes, two (2) of the radial wall portions are preferably 5 placed at the opposite ends of the semi-circular wall of the shell portion. Thus placed, the sequentially applied aluminium outer covering means may be provided with a suitable adhesive and a measure of width exceeding the circumferential measurement of the semi-circular shell portion allowing a measure at each end of the aluminium outer covering means to form and adhere also, to a suitable measure of the outer 10 facing wall of the opposite positioned wall portions. In these circumstances, two similar (or mirror-imaged) completed and assembled half-shell acoustic insulation assemblies may be positioned and fitted about a pipe or pipe-fitting without risk of polymer material directly facing incoming flame impingement. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art of manufacture that the 15 radial wall portions may be attached to the semi-circular wall of the shell portion separately by automated or manual manufacturing means. Further in the art of manufacturing structural polymer-based products or parts to assemble products, a range of commonly and simply available criteria is available to include appendages, recesses, protrusions and similar additions to assist the process of 20 assembly and installation including complimentary allowance to attach various styles of fixings. Ideally, the invention so described, includes means, portions and fixings to eliminate the need to apply adhesive tapes of any kind, as some adhesive tapes have proven to be a common cause of acoustic pipe insulation failure over time. Similarly, a wide range of known means are available, including manual, 25 automated and semi-automated, to apply the outside laminate of aluminium or laminated aluminium to the various straight and shaped shell portions. Generally, laminating substrates are commercially available as pre-manufactures in roll form of considerable length and may be continuously affixed with applied adhesives to the straight sections of shell portions provided for linear sections of round pipe. In the 30 case of shell portions designed for fitment to pipe fittings, pipe bends, pipe 'T' and 'Y' junctions, etc, simple and known means of providing pre-cut shaped laminates designed for covering irregular shapes are available. Examples include automated and semi-automated means of pattern cutting, customised to each particular shell portion, 5 combined with robotic or other means of applying adhesives and robotic, semi automated or manual means of affixing the laminate to the shell portion. The compartment portions are provided to house and retain expanded polymer flexible foam portions (polymer foam strip portions) that in this invention impart two 5 (2) benefits. On receiving sound energy, the polymer foam strip portions are shaped to reflect and return a percentage of the energy to the sound source emanating from the liquid motion resonating within the pipe system. Secondly, sound energy (and noise) is forced to penetrate the structure of the foam portions to reach the outer shell portion. In these circumstances, sound energy considerably diminishes as passage 10 progresses through the membrane walls of each divided gas space within (expanded) polymer foam structures, causing vibration and consequently decaying the effect. Ideally, the foam portions are produced employing chemical engineering skills to maximise the particulars of this application of polymer foams. Those skilled in this particular art have well known means to blend and prepare combinations of resins, 15 additives and gases, to impart defined outcomes. The preferred provision of polymer foam strip portions is strip material presented as extruded flat or shaped continuous profiles. The radial compartment portions provided for housing the foam portions that have, as a naturally forming attribute, the general shape of an open-faced non equilateral rectangle. 20 The rear wall, comprising the outer shell wall, is bounded at each side by the radial wall portions having a narrower width at the point of entry to the compartment means. As such, a strip of foam material having an outwardly elastic force inherent in its design will be entrapped, when placed within the compartment portions. The polymer foam strip portion is generally provided with dimensions such that when 25 mildly compressed to fit and restrain within the compartment portion, a hollow semi circular space is provided to receive and partially reflect sound energy. Further, by retaining a gap portion between the termination point of the compartment sidewall portions and the pipe-work so being acoustically insulated, a measure of contact compression for ease of installation fitment and long-term 30 vibration protection may be provided by an extending measure of the width of the polymer foam strip portion provided as the contact point with the pipe-work. Alternatively, reliable performance of the invention so described will also be imparted by employing a polymer foam strip portion that does not employ an energy reflective foam portion semi-circular hollow space portion. Satisfactory sound 6 protection levels have been achieved by deploying both full and partial polymer-foam faced substrates to pipe surfaces in conjunction with heavy or loaded outer surfacing substrates. Solid shapes of foam portions with suitable outwardly expanding elastic properties may be simply inserted within the compartment portions such that 5 significant surface contact with the pipe system surface during installation occurs. The gap portions and an extra measure of width (depth) to the foam portion may be similarly employed in this described variation to provide resilient attachment with two assembled shell portions to the pipe means. Compressive resilience is a naturally occurring feature of many flexible polymer foam materials. 10 Brief Description of the Drawing-s Drawing I is an expanded sectional depiction of the complimentary bill of portions employed to produce semi-circular shell portions of the invention so described. 15 Drawing 2 is an isometric depiction of complimentary completed shell portions designed for fitment to an included pipe section. Drawing 3 is a cross sectional pair of semi-circular completed shell assemblies 20 depicted as attached to a straight pipe section. Drawing 4 is an isometric set of mirror imaged semi-circular shell portions depicted approaching a 90 degree pipe bend including a detached polymer foam strip portion. 25 Drawing 5 is an expanded sectional view of semi-circular shell portions having a single polymer foam strip portion entrapped by two opposed radial wall portions particularly suited to small pipe and pipe fitting sizes. Embodiments of the Invention 30 Drawing 1 depicts the various assembly portions of a pipe shell acoustic half circular means according to the invention wherein (Ia) is a strip of aluminium or aluminium substrate. Portion (I b) is the flat substrate of (I a) depicted as fitted to the outside surface of shell portion (2) including the underside (2a) of horizontally 7 opposite radial wall portions (3) provided to prevent flame-impingement. Portion (2) depicts an extruded section of a semi-circular shell portion including a series of radial wall portions (3). Portion (4) depicts an extruded polymer foam strip portion designed to compressively fit between radial wall portions (3) at radial compartment portions 5 (3a). It will be noted that radial wall portions (3) form a natural entrapping enclosure where the entry points (3c) to radial compartment portions (3a) is significantly smaller than the rear wall extremity at (3b). Polymer foam strip portions (4) may be compressed to enter the radial compartment portions (3a) at entry portions (3c) and expand as progress terminates at (3b). In these circumstances, polymer foam strip 10 portion (4) is compressively entrapped within radial compartment (3a). Drawing 2 depicts partly assembled shell portion (6) and fully assembled shell portion (7). In partly assembled shell portion (6), aluminium substrate portion (lb) is fitted to shell portion (2) with applied adhesive and three polymer foam strip portions (4) are contained in radial compartment portions (3a). Polymer foam strip portion (4a) 15 is identical but separated from its location at (3a) empty radial compartment portion. Complimentary fully assembled shell portion (7) is depicted approaching plumbing pipe (5) where extending portions (8) of polymer foam strip portions (4) marginally encroach on the outside diameter of plumbing pipe (5) such that when two similar half-circular shell assemblies (7) form full circular attachment, a degree of 20 compressive resistance occurs as fitment is secured with additional fixing means (not shown). Hollow portion (4a) within polymer foam strip portion (4) is provided to allow a degree of sound reflection back to the pipe surface prior to entering the polymer foam strip portion (4) and onwards to the shell portion (2) further designed to resist penetration of sound and noise. 25 Drawing 3 depicts a sectional view of two complimentary assembled semi circular shell portions (7) fully surrounding plumbing pipe (5) firmly held to plumbing pipe (5) with suitable fixings (not shown). The two assembled semi-circular shell portions (7) meet at opposite placed radial wall portions (3). Extending portions (8) of polymer foam strip portions (4) provide a degree of compressive attachment to 30 the pipe (5) such that securing fixings (not shown) require suitable extra resilience to overcome the natural or engineered resilience of the polymer foam strip portions (4). Further in this installed depiction of the fully assembled shell portions, hollow portions (4a) of polymer foam strip portions (4) are provided as a series of spaces where noise and sound may set up energy absorbing reflective sound interchange 8 between the pipe wall of (5) and the polymer foam strip portions (4) prior to progressing through the foam to the shell portion (2). Alternatively, polymer foam strip portion (4) may comprise a solid structure without hollow portion (4a) to provide direct and full surface coverage of the plumbing pipe (5) (or fitting). In ideal 5 circumstances where polymer foam strip portion (4) comprises a solid shape, extending portion (8) is further ideally included to maintain a resilient connection to pipe means (5). Drawing 4 depicts the concepts of the invention applied to similar or mirror image shell portions (10) applicable to plumbing pipe fittings, in this case, pipe bend 10 (12). Shell portion (10) may be moulded or fabricated of similar material to shell material (2) of drawing 1. Further, the style of moulding shell portion (10) may be applied to a wide range of plumbing pipe fittings such as pipe bends, T and Y junctions, U bends, inspection pipe fittings etc. Ideally, the shell portions (10) include a series of radial wall portions (11) 15 partially enclosing a series (including at least I per shell portion) of compartment portions to contain and restrain a series of polymer foam strip portions (14). The exterior wall (15) of the shell portion (10) may be provided with a flame-impingement portion (not shown) of an aluminium substrate or laminated aluminium substrate by means of a suitable pattern shape, produced by automated or fabrication means. The 20 pattern shape of exterior substrate portions may be affixed to the outer surface of the shell portions with suitably applied adhesives. Drawing 5 depicts a cross sectional view of an alternative simple perspective of the invention so described being more particularly directed to small pipe sizes where semi-circular shell portion (16) is provided with only two radial wall portions (21). 25 Ideally in these circumstances, radial wall portions (21) are located at the extremities of the half-circular shell portion (16) allowing parallel abutment when coopted with a second half-circular portion (16) to complete encirclement of pipe means (18). Stand alone polymer foam portion (19) may ideally be designed and shaped to mildly compress, fit and self restrain within the single compartment formation (17). 30 Extending portions (22) of polymer foam portion (19) may again be employed to provide resilient fitment to pipe means (18). The outer surface of shell portion (20), in circumstances to meet fire prevention codes, may be provided with an aluminium substrate or aluminium laminate substrate (not shown) portion, applied with a suitable adhesive to act as flame impingement protection. Further and ideally, a measure of 9 extra width of aluminium substrate is provided to allow continuing attachment to the outer facing radial wall surface of radial walls (21). 5