NL2011332C2 - Dirt and/or gas removal device. - Google Patents

Description

DIRT AND/OR GAS REMOVAL DEVICE

The present invention relates to a dirt and/or gas removal device, but at least a removal device arranged to remove at least gas from a liquid in a conduit system.

Removal devices are common and many examples thereof exist in prior art. Notwithstanding the multitude of exemplary prior art disclosures, there is still a need to more effectively combine separate functions in relation to the more basic needs of a conduit system, such as a central heating system, to support the more basic needs thereof. For instance, separate removal devices are often employed for removing dirt, residues or other particles from of flow of liquid from such a conduit system, which would require additional connecting, and for degassing the liquids circulating within the flow of liquid in the conduit system.

Moreover, such separate removal devices on their own exhibit a degree of efficiency, but further improved functionality of preferably combined support functions for such a conduit system is desired, whereas no disclosure in the prior art actually provides the skilled person with a necessary information to achieve this goal.

The inventors have set out to alleviate or even mitigate the disadvantages of the prior art, or more simply put to provide an improved removal device in which more functions are combined to support the basic function of the conduit system and preferably also functionality and efficiency in relation to each or at least some of the support functions is improved. To this end, the removal device is provided exhibiting the features of the single appended independent claim.

Further, preferred or simply alternative embodiments are presented and defined in the appended dependent claims, to which reference is made here for the sake of brevity. Within the framework of a description of possible and potentially preferred embodiments below with respect to the appended drawing, advantages, solutions and the like of features defined in the appended dependent claims will present themselves. As a conseguence, for detailed discussion of features in each appended dependent claim, reference is made here to the below more detailed description of embodiments, that are shown in the appended drawing .

Following the above more general indications of embodiments of removal devices according to the present invention, a more detailed description of specific embodiments will follow on the basis of the appended drawing, exhibiting preferred embodiments, which are presented exclusively by way of example, and should by no means be interpreted as limiting upon the scope of protection according to the appended claims. In the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers may be employed to indicate the same or similar elements, components, or other aspects. In the drawing: figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a removal device in an embodiment; figure 2 shows a cutaway detail of the embodiment of figure 1; figure 3 shows a perspective view along arrow III in figure 2; figure 4 shows a sub assembly of components for the embodiment of for example figure 1 in a schematic perspective view, corresponding in orientation with the representation in figure 2; figure 5 shows the subassembly of figure 4 within the context of the representation in figure 2, as viewed along arrow V therein; figure 6 shows a mode of operation of an embodiment in a schematic frontal, partly cutaway in the direction of arrow VI in figure 2.

In figure 1, an embodiment is shown of a removal device 1. The removal device 1 is arranged to remove at least gas from a liquid in a conduit system, which is not represented in any of the figures. However, the removal device 1 is shown in figure 1 to comprise a housing 2, defining a chamber 3 in the interior of housing 2. The housing 2 and/or the chamber 3 has a supply 4 and an exit 5 each arranged for connection with the conduit system. This is schematically represented by arrow A to symbolize an inflow of liquid from the conduit system, whilst arrow B at exit 5 symbolizes a return flow of liquid to the conduit system. The supply 4 comprises the tube 6 with a flange 7 allowing connection to appropriately embodied components or elements of the conduit system. Likewise, exit 5 comprises a tube 8 and a flange 9, also enabling the device 1 to be connected to the conduit system, which conduit system is in itself not represented in the figures, though.

Further, removal device 1 comprises a vent 10, which extends through the housing 2 to allow gas to leave the chamber 3. Vent 10 may comprise a float vent, which allows gas to escape above a certain, preferably predetermined threshold pressure and in any case blocks liquid from escaping out of chamber 3.

Supply 4 our and exit 5 are oriented with an offset relative to a longitudinal axis D of housing 2. Thereby, a cyclone generator is formed to cause a violent swirl E in the liquid, entering into chamber 3 through supply 4. As the liquid entering through supplied for is pressed against the inner walls of housing 2, at the centre of chamber 3 are relatively low pressure is induced. Thereby, small bubbles or pockets of gas, in particular a, will cluster to form larger bubbles or pockets, which will more easily rise towards vent 10, to be expelled from chamber 3 through vent 10. Heavier particles, for instance dirt floating around in the liquid originating from the conduit system, may be accelerated at the outside of the swirl near the inner wall of housing 2 to an extent where such dirt particles are propelled towards a lower end 13 of housing 2, where a discharge 14 is arranged. Dirt particles in the centre of the swirl E can sink down towards the lower end 13 of housing 2 more easily in view of the pressure drop at the centre of chamber 3, and will deposit on filter 11 to be described below or the lower end 13 of housing 2. Further, dirt particles in the brunt of the swirl E will smash into that filter 11, to be described below, and thereby be isolated from the outgoing flow in direction of arrow B through exit 5.

Figure 2 shows that removal device 1 further comprises a filter 11 at exit 5. Filter 11 is arranged to capture particles in the liquid, in particular from the flow of liquid in the direction of arrow B heading out of the exit 5. Filter 11 more in particular extends between exit 5 and an axially opposing capped tube 12. Consequently, no fluid can escape through exit 5 without having to pass through filter 11, as a consequence of which dirt particles are isolated and removed from the liquid flow passing out of the exit 5 .

Discharge 14 may comprise a valve, to be opened selectively, for example cyclically or based on a necessity. For this letter mentioned option of opening discharge 14 based on necessity, removal device 1 may further be equipped with pressure sensors (not shown) in or in association with exit 5 and/or in or in association with supply 4. When a pressure differential between measurements from a sensor in supply 4 relative to measurements from a sensor in exit 5 exceeds a predetermined threshold, this may provide an indication that dirt is cluttering filter 11 and hampering a free outflow of liquid from chamber of 3 through exit 5. Alternatively, discharge 14 may be opened at regular intervals. A control (not shown) can be arranged to accept manual instructions for opening discharge 14, calculate intervals for opening discharge 14, and/or accept measurements from sensors to determine a necessity for opening discharge 14 and subsequently actually opening discharge 14 if a need has arisen.

Figure 2 further exemplifies an embodiment of filter 11 to comprise a drum 15, which extends at least into the chamber from one end, which end of drum 15 is associated with exit 5. This is to say, that drum 15 forming filter 11 does not necessarily extend all the way up to and/or into capped tube 12, but could alternatively be a cupped shaped drum (not shown) covering at least exit 5. However, notwithstanding this possible alternative embodiment, in the embodiment of figure 2 drum 15 extends through entirely through chamber 3.

The drum 15 is rotatably arranged in chamber 3. To this end, drum 15 is enclosed between a bearing ring 18 to be accommodated in exit 5, as shown in figures 3 and 4, and a watertight bearing 16. Drum 15 is connected to a crankshaft 17 through watertight bearing 16 via a crossbar 22 to transfer the driving force on the crankshaft 17 into rotation of the drum 15 around the longitudinal axis thereof. Crankshaft 17 can be operated manually, using a key or the like, or can be connected to a motor 21 in figure 5 or the like, of which operation can be controlled using an aforementioned control. Regardless of the manner of operating the crankshaft 17, when crankshaft 17 is turned or rotated, filter 11 in the form of drum 15 is correspondingly turned or rotated around its longitudinal axis. As shown in figures 2 and 6 most in particular, whereas figure 4 shows a disassembled configuration, a brush 19 is provided in the interior of chamber 3. When the drum 15, forming filter 11, is turned or rotated around its longitudinal axis, for instance in the direction of arrow F in figure 6, dirt 20 or other particles clinging to the outside surface of drum 15 are released from drum 15. Motor 21 can thus form a drive for rotation of drum 15. Brush 19 is associated with the filter 11, formed by drum 15. It should be anticipated that brush 19 will be subjected to wear and tear, when drum 15 is rotated. Such wear and tear can affect the orientation of brush 19, as indicated in figure 6, which is to say that hairs of such a brush can lean over to one side, as shown in figure 6. Especially to combat any decrease in efficiency of brush 19 as a result of such an effect, resulting from wear and tear, motor 21 in figure 5 can be embodied as a reversible drive for motor. Consequently, drum 15 can be made to rotate in a direction of arrow G, said the rotational direction of arrow F. This causes drum 15 to rotate against a caused orientation of brush 19, to even increase efficiency of the process of cleaning the outside surface of drum 15 with the brush 19. Likewise, in an embodiment where the brush is moved relative to the drum, the direction of movement is preferably reversible.

Brush 19 is preferably arranged in chamber 3 in a replaceable manner. In the embodiment of figure 4, brush 19 is accommodated between brackets 23, 24, which are designed to engage tube portions 25 in figure 2. When a brush 19 needs to be replaced, capped tube 12 can be opened, after which filter 11 can be taken out, followed by brush 19, either with or without the brackets 23, 24. Any alternative embodiment will suffice in relation to an option to replace brush 19.

It is to be noted here, that the relative movement of the drum 15 and brush 19 in relation to one another can be reversed in the sense that the brush 19 can be made to move around the drum 15 instead of the other way around, as described above. In yet other alternative embodiments, the filter may be embodied as a circular rather than a tubular element and for instance be arranged in an orientation transversal to the longitudinal axis D of the housing 2, wherein such a circular filter would need to be above exit 5 in figure 1 in order to comply with the requirement that the filter must capture dirt or other particles that would otherwise escape through exit 5. Moreover, in such an embodiment, the discharge and a corresponding valve, if any, would need to be repositioned to also be above such a circular filter to comply with the requirement that the discharge must be perceived the exit relative to the filter. From these simple considerations alone, if it is abundantly clear that the present application is by no means restricted to the specific embodiments of the appended drawing as described herein above. Only the terms and definitions of the appended claims and in particular only of the single independent claim can act as a limitation on the scope of protection, whereas alternative embodiments relative to the features, components and aspects as described above should be considered to lie within precisely that scope of protection, unless such alternative embodiments contravene or contradict the normal meaning of the features, aspects and components of the appended independent claim.

Claims (13)

A removal device which is adapted to remove at least gas from a liquid in a pipe system, which device comprises: - a housing which defines a chamber and comprises a supply and an outlet, each of which is configured for connection to the pipe systems; - a vent which extends through the housing to release gas from the chamber; - a filter at the exit, which is adapted to capture particles from the liquid; - an emission opposite the output, relative to the filter. The removal device of claim 1, further comprising a cyclone generator associated with the chamber and adapted to generate a cyclone fluid in the chamber. 3. Removal device according to claim 2, wherein the cyclone is not defined by the chamber and the orientation of the feed and the outlet with respect to each other and with respect to the shape of the chamber. Removal device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the filter comprises a drum that extends into the chamber from a first end, which end of the drum is associated with the outlet. Removal device according to claim 4, wherein the drum extends entirely through the chamber. 6. Removal device according to claim four or five, wherein the bread bin is honorably arranged in the chamber. The removal device of claim six, further comprising a drive for rotating the drum. A removal device according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a brush associated with the filter. The removal device of claim 8, further comprising a drive for driven movement of the brush relative to the filter. 10. Removal device according to claims 7 and 9, comprising a unitary drive for selective drive of one of the filter and the brush relative to the other of the filter and the brush. Removal device according to claim 7 or 9, wherein the drive is reversible. 12. Removal device according to at least claim eight, wherein the brush is arranged replaceably in the chamber. A removal device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the discharge comprises a valve for selective opening thereof, which is adapted to flush out at least particles that have been isolated from the liquid in the chamber.