Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6241650
-
Patent Number
6,241,650
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, February 16, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 5, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 494 11
- 494 12
- 494 13
- 494 14
- 494 16
- 494 20
- 494 31
- 494 33
- 494 35
- 494 36
- 494 60
- 494 61
- 494 84
- 422 72
-
International Classifications
- B04B502
- B04B906
- B04B1502
- B04B1508
-
Abstract
This centrifuge includes a chamber (5), a rotor (6) arranged therein, and a device (8) for driving the rotation of the rotor. The device (8) for driving the rotation of the rotor is a pneumatic drive device. The centrifuge includes a circuit for supplying the pneumatic drive device with pressurized gas intended to be connected to a source (49) of pressurized gas. The centrifuge further includes a gas-purification unit (10), one inlet of this unit being connected to an outlet (64) for drawing gas from the chamber and one outlet of this unit being connected to a suction device (21) controlled by the pressurized gas supplied to the pneumatic device (8) for driving the rotor. Application is to the centrifuging of products liable to release dangerous substances, for example toxic or explosive substances.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a centrifuge comprising a chamber, a rotor arranged therein, and means for driving the rotation of the rotor.
The invention applies in particular to the centrifuging of products liable to release dangerous substances, for example toxic or explosive substances.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hitherto, such products have been placed in leak-tight containers which are arranged in housings, themselves leak-tight, in the rotor. The leak-tightness of the containers and of the housings is ensured, in particular, using seals.
It is thus possible to limit the risks of emission of dangerous substances from the chamber of the centrifuge.
However, these precautions do not make it possible to eliminate the risks of such emissions if, for example, the housings and/or the containers are not closed correctly or if their seals are worn.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing a centrifuge capable of centrifuging, under improved conditions of safety, products liable to release dangerous substances.
To this end, the subject of the invention is a centrifuge comprising a chamber, a rotor arranged therein, and means for driving the rotation of the rotor, characterized in that the means for driving the rotation of the rotor are pneumatic drive means, the centrifuge comprising a circuit for supplying the said pneumatic drive means with pressurized gas, which supply circuit is intended to be connected to a source of pressurized gas, and in that the centrifuge comprises a gas-purification unit, one inlet of this unit being connected to an outlet for drawing gas from the chamber, and one outlet of this unit being connected to a suction device controlled by the pressurized gas supplied to the pneumatic means for driving the rotation of the rotor.
According to particular embodiments of the invention, the centrifuge may comprise one or more of the following features, taken in isolation or in any technically feasible combination:
the pneumatic means for driving the rotation of the rotor comprise a turbine,
the said outlet of the purification unit is connected to the circuit for supplying pressurized gas to the pneumatic means for driving the rotation of the rotor,
the suction device comprises a venturi injection system including an injector of entraining fluid intended to be connected to the said source of pressurized gas, an inlet for entrained fluid connected to the said outlet of the purification unit, and an outlet for entraining fluid and entrained fluid which is connected to the pneumatic means for driving the rotor,
the centrifuge comprises means for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber,
the means for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber comprise means for introducing a cooling gas into the chamber,
the means for introducing a cooling gas into the chamber comprise an outlet for cooling gas arranged under the rotor to direct the cooling gas towards the latter,
the means for introducing a cooling gas comprise a Ranque vortex tube, a cold outlet of which is connected to one inlet of the chamber,
one inlet of the said Ranque vortex tube is connected to the said pressurized-gas supply circuit,
the centrifuge comprises a source of decontamination gas connected to one inlet of the chamber,
the purification unit comprises at least one filter,
the purification unit comprises at least one device for the chemical treatment of gas,
the chamber is leak-tight,
the centrifuge comprises a pneumatic device for braking the rotor connected to the said pressurized-gas supply circuit,
the pressurized-gas supply circuit comprises a timer-controlled valve,
the centrifuge comprises a door which can move between an open position for access to the inside of the chamber and a closed position, the centrifuge further comprises a pneumatic device for locking the door in its closed position, and the locking device is connected to the pressurized-gas supply circuit,
the locking device comprises a first lock which can move between a position for locking and a position for unlocking the door, the first lock being secured to the rod of a first pneumatic ram connected via at least one individual pipe to the said pressurized-gas supply circuit, and the locking device comprises a valve for selectively switching the individual pipe or pipes to the pressurized-gas supply circuit,
the supply circuit comprises an automatic-locking valve which itself includes a shut-off member which can move between a position for opening and a position for closing the automatic-locking valve, one outlet of this locking valve is connected to the said switching valve, and the said shut-off member of the automatic-locking valve is in the open position when the door of the centrifuge is in the closed position, and in the closed position when the door is in the open position, and the said switching valve, when at rest, places the said outlet of the automatic-locking valve and the first ram in communication so that the first lock is driven towards its locking position,
the automatic-locking valve is intended to be permanently connected to the said source of pressurized gas,
the said timer-controlled valve is connected to one outlet of the said automatic-locking valve,
the locking device comprises a second lock which can move between a position of immobilizing the first lock in its locking position and a position of releasing the first lock, and the second lock is secured to the rod of a second pneumatic ram permanently connected to one outlet of the said timer-controlled valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood from reading the description which will follow which is given merely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a diagrammatic side view, partially in section, of a centrifuge according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged diagrammatic view from above of the pneumatic brake of the centrifuge of
FIG. 1
;
FIGS. 3
to
5
are enlarged diagrammatic views, in section, illustrating the structure and operation of the device for locking the door of the centrifuge of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 6
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
illustrating another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
diagrammatically depicts a centrifuge
1
which essentially comprises:
a lagged tank
3
borne by a stand (not depicted) and fitted with a door
4
, the tank
3
and the door
4
forming a chamber
5
,
a rotor
6
arranged in the chamber
5
and equipped with housings
7
for holding containers for products to be centrifuged,
pneumatic means
8
for driving the rotation of the rotor
6
,
a unit
10
for purifying gas drawn from the chamber
5
, and
means
11
for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber
5
.
The door
4
is hinged at
13
to the tank
3
so that it can move between a closed position, as depicted in
FIG. 1
, and an open position, not depicted, for access to the inside of the chamber
5
.
When the door
4
is in the closed position, the chamber
5
is rendered leak-tight with respect to the outside, particularly by virtue of a seal
14
which is compressed between the door
4
and the tank
3
.
In the open position, the door
4
is raised with respect to its closed position.
The centrifuge
1
further comprises a pneumatic device
16
(in dotted line) for locking the door
4
in the closed position. This device will be described later on with reference to FIG.
3
.
The drive means
8
comprise a shaft
18
secured to the rotor
6
and a turbine
19
, the blades
20
of which are depicted diagrammatically in FIG.
1
. This turbine
19
is secured to the shaft
18
.
The drive means
8
also comprise a venturi injection system
21
which itself includes:
an injector
22
of entraining fluid,
a divergent nozzle
23
, the inlet of which is spaced slightly away from the outlet of the injector
22
and which opens near to the blades
20
, and
an inlet
24
for entrained fluid, communicating with the space
240
separating the inlet of the nozzle
23
from the outlet of the injector
22
.
The centrifuge
1
also comprises a pneumatic brake
25
which comprises (
FIG. 2
) two jaws
26
articulated to a shaft
27
and arranged one on each side of the shaft
18
that drives the rotor
6
.
These jaws
26
can move transversely to the shaft
18
between a close-together braking position (not depicted), in which they clamp the shaft
18
, and a spaced-apart position, in which the shaft
18
turns freely between the jaws
26
as depicted in FIG.
2
.
The brake
25
further comprises a spring
28
for returning the jaws
26
to their close-together position and a single-acting pneumatic ram
29
arranged between the jaws
23
. When the pneumatic ram
29
is supplied with pressurized gas, as depicted diagrammatically in grey in
FIG. 2
, the jaws
26
are in the spaced-apart position. When the ram
29
is not supplied with pressurized gas, the jaws
26
are in the close-together position.
The gas-purification unit
10
comprises, for example, a filter of the HEPA type.
The means
11
for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber
5
comprise a Ranque vortex tube
30
. This conventional device comprises a vortex-flow generator
31
to which are connected one inlet
32
for supplying pressurized gas, a cold outlet
33
and a hot outlet
34
for gas.
As illustrated in
FIG. 3
, the locking device
16
comprises a keeper
36
secured to the door
4
, a first lock
37
and a second lock
38
.
The first lock
37
can slide between a position for locking the door
4
(FIG.
3
), in which the first lock is engaged in the keeper
36
, and a position for unlocking the door (FIG.
5
), in which the lock
37
is withdrawn from the keeper
36
.
The second lock
38
can slide at right angles to the first lock between a position of immobilizing the first lock
37
in its locking position (FIG.
3
), and a position of releasing the first lock
37
(FIG.
5
).
In its immobilizing position, the second lock
38
is engaged in a recess
39
made in the first lock
37
.
The first lock consists of the rod of a first double-acting pneumatic ram
40
, and the second lock
38
consists of the rod of a second single-acting pneumatic ram
41
.
The pneumatic locking device
16
also comprises:
a three-way two-position automatic-locking valve
44
, the shut-off member
45
of which is held in the open position, against the effect of a spring
450
, by the keeper
36
of the door
4
when the latter is in the closed position, and
a five-way, two-position switching valve
46
, the shut-off member
47
of which can be operated manually.
The shut-off member
47
can slide between a position for unlocking the door
4
, in which it compresses a spring
470
, and a position for locking the door
4
, or position of rest, in which the spring
470
is not compressed.
The centrifuge further comprises a silencer
48
, a source
49
of pressurized air and a source
50
of decontamination gas, for example formal. The air of the source
49
is, for example, at a pressure of between 3 and 6 bar.
The structure of the fluid circuit connecting the various elements of the centrifuge
1
will become clearly apparent during the description of the operation of this centrifuge
1
, which will be given, to start with, on the basis of
FIGS. 1 and 3
.
In
FIG. 3
, as in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, the inside of the pipes containing pressurized air is depicted in grey.
With the door
4
in the closed position, pressurized air from the source
49
passes through the automatic-locking valve
44
, which is in the open position, and is then split into two streams.
The first of these streams is conveyed by a pipe
51
to the switching valve
46
. As the shut-off member
47
is at rest, that is to say in the position for locking the door
4
, this first stream is then conveyed by an individual pipe
52
to a first part
53
of the chamber
54
of the first ram
40
.
This first stream pushes back the piston
55
of the first ram
40
to the left in
FIG. 3
, so that the first lock
37
is pushed into its position for locking the door
4
.
It will be noted that when the shut-off member
47
is at rest, the first part
53
of the chamber
54
of the first ram
40
is automatically placed in communication with an outlet of the valve
44
and therefore with the source
49
, so that locking of the door
4
is automatic.
The second stream from the automatic-locking valve
44
passes through a valve
57
which is timer-controlled by a control unit
58
which keeps it open during centrifuging. The control unit
58
is, for example, a pneumatic or mechanical unit.
This second stream is itself split into two streams as it leaves the valve
57
.
The first of these streams is sent, via a pipe
59
, to the chamber
60
of the second ram
41
so as to push the piston
61
of this ram upwards in
FIG. 3
, so that the second lock
38
is pushed into its position for immobilizing the first lock
37
.
Thus, throughout centrifuging, that is to say as long as the valve
57
is open, the second lock
38
is in a position of immobilizing the first lock
37
, and it is therefore impossible to unlock the door
4
.
The second stream of pressurized air from the valve
57
is conveyed by a pipe
62
and is then supplied to (FIG.
1
):
the inlet
32
of the Ranque vortex tube
30
, via a manual valve
63
,
the ram
29
of the pneumatic brake
25
, constantly, and
the injector
22
of the venturi injection system
21
, constantly.
Thus, throughout centrifuging, the pneumatic ram
29
of the brake
25
is supplied with pressurized air so that the jaws
26
are in the spaced-apart position and allow the shaft
18
to turn freely.
The injection of pressurized air by the injector
22
creates a depression at the periphery of the space
240
and therefore at the inlet
24
of the venturi injection system. Gas is thus drawn via an outlet
64
of the chamber
5
, then filtered in the filter
10
. This drawn-off and filtered gas is then sucked into the venturi injection system
21
through the inlet
24
, then ejected from the nozzle
23
with the pressurized air from the injector
22
, driving the turbine
19
, the shaft
18
and the rotor
6
.
Having driven the turbine
19
, this flow of fluid is then removed to outside the centrifuge
1
via the silencer
48
.
The pressure-reduced air from the hot outlet
34
of the Ranque vortex tube is also removed to outside the centrifuge
1
via the silencer
48
.
The low-temperature, for example −10° C., pressure-reduced air from the cold outlet
33
of the Ranque vortex tube is conveyed by a pipe
65
to an inlet
66
of the chamber
5
. The cold air is ejected from this inlet
66
under and towards the rotor
6
, therefore cooling the atmosphere of the chamber
5
.
It is possible, by opening a manual valve
67
, to cause the decontamination gas to flow from the source
50
into the pipe
65
then into the chamber
5
and thus sweep the atmosphere of the chamber
5
, of the filter
10
, of the turbine
19
and of the silencer
48
with this decontamination gas.
At the end of the centrifuging cycle, the valve
57
is automatically closed by the control unit
58
. As the pneumatic ram
29
of the brake
25
is no longer supplied with pressurized air, the jaws
26
will automatically position themselves in the close-together position for braking the rotor
6
.
As illustrated by
FIG. 4
, the pressurized air contained in the chamber
60
of the second ram
41
is removed by the pipe
59
then by the pipe
62
to the silencer
48
, and the piston
61
of the second ram
41
is pushed back by a spring
68
. Thus, the second lock
38
is returned to its position of releasing the first lock
37
.
By manually bringing the shut-off member
47
of the switching valve
46
into its unlocking position, the pipe
51
is therefore placed in communication, via an individual pipe
69
, with a second part
70
of the chamber
54
of the first double-acting ram
40
. Thus, this second part
70
of the chamber
54
is supplied with pressurized air because the automatic-locking valve
44
is in the open position.
At the same time, the first part
53
of the chamber
54
is vented, via a pipe
71
(
FIGS. 1 and 4
) then via the silencer
48
.
Thus, the piston
55
of the first ram is pushed back to the right in FIG.
1
and the first lock
37
is returned to its unlocking position.
When the first lock
37
is in the unlocking position, it is possible to open the door
4
.
When the door
4
leaves its closed position (FIG.
5
), the shut-off member
45
of the valve
44
is returned by the spring
450
to its position of closing the valve
44
.
Now that the shut-off member
47
of the switching valve
46
has been returned to its position of rest by the spring
470
, the pressurized air present in the second part
70
of the chamber
54
of the first ram
40
has been removed by, in succession, a pipe
72
, the pipe
71
and the silencer
48
.
The centrifuge
1
contains no electrical devices. This characteristic is particularly advantageous for the centrifuging of products liable to release explosive substances.
Moreover, the combination of the pneumatic means
8
for driving the rotor
6
and the unit
10
for purifying the gas drawn from the chamber
5
, in which the circulation of drawn-off gas is brought about by the pressurized air driving the turbine
19
, makes it possible simultaneously to drive the rotor
6
and to filter the atmosphere of the chamber
5
. Thus, the centrifuge
1
is suited to the centrifuging of dangerous products by limiting the risks of these substances being emitted to outside the centrifuge
1
.
It is to be noted that the use of the venturi injection system
21
delivering, at output, a flow rate of gas which is greater than that with which the injector
22
is supplied, allows the turbine
19
and therefore the rotor
6
to be driven at relatively high speeds.
Furthermore, the possibility of decontaminating the atmosphere of the chamber further limits the risks associated with the centrifuging of such products.
The use of an injection of cold gas, particularly one obtained using a Ranque vortex tube, allows satisfactory cooling of the atmosphere of the chamber
5
, with good efficiency and limiting the emissions of heat to outside the chamber
5
. What is more, the use of the Ranque vortex tube makes it possible to limit the size of the means
11
for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber
5
.
It will also be noted that the use of a turbine
19
for driving the rotor
6
makes it possible to limit the emissions of heat to outside the chamber
5
.
According to an alternative form which has not been depicted, the gas-purification unit
10
comprises a device for the chemical treatment of gases drawn from the chamber
5
, which allows the dangerous substances likely to be released by the products being centrifuged to be neutralized.
FIG. 6
illustrates a simplified embodiment of a centrifuge
1
.
In this embodiment, for which the pneumatic locking device
16
has not been depicted for reasons of greater clarity, the centrifuge comprises no Ranque vortex tube. The inlet
66
to the chamber
5
is then connected by a pipe
73
to the source
50
of decontamination gas which may also act as cooling gas.
According to an alternative form which has not been depicted, the pipe
73
is equipped with a switching valve allowing the inlet
66
of the chamber
5
to be connected selectively either to the external atmosphere or to the source
50
of decontamination gas.
Claims
- 1. Centrifuge comprising:a chamber, a rotor arranged therein, and means for driving the rotation of the rotor, wherein the means for driving the rotation of the rotor are pneumatic drive means, a circuit for supplying said pneumatic drive means with pressurized gas, which said supply circuit is intended to be connected to a source of pressurized gas, and a gas-purification unit, one inlet of this unit being connected to an outlet for drawing gas from the chamber, and one outlet of this unit being connected to a suction device controlled by the pressurized gas supplied to the pneumatic drive means for driving the rotation of the rotor.
- 2. Centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic drive means for driving the rotation of the rotor comprise a turbine.
- 3. Centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein said outlet of the purification unit is connected to the circuit for supplying pressurized gas to the pneumatic drive means for driving the rotation of the rotor.
- 4. Centrifuge according to claim 3, wherein the suction device comprises a venturi injection system including an injector of entraining fluid intended to be connected to said source of pressurized gas, an inlet for entrained fluid connected to said outlet of the purification unit, and an outlet for entraining fluid and entrained fluid which is connected to the pneumatic drive means for driving the rotor.
- 5. Centrifuge according to claim 1, further comprising means for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber.
- 6. Centrifuge according to claim 5, wherein the means for cooling the atmosphere of the chamber comprise means for introducing a cooling gas into the chamber.
- 7. Centrifuge according to claim 6, wherein the means for introducing a cooling gas into the chamber comprise an outlet for cooling gas arranged under the rotor to direct the cooling gas towards the rotor.
- 8. Centrifuge according to claim 6, wherein the means for introducing a cooling gas comprise a Ranque vortex tube, a cold outlet of which is connected to one inlet of the chamber.
- 9. Centrifuge according to claim 8, wherein one inlet of said Ranque vortex tube is connected to said pressurized-gas supply circuit.
- 10. Centrifuge according to claim 1, further comprising a source of decontamination gas connected to one inlet of the chamber.
- 11. Centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the purification unit comprises at least one filter.
- 12. Centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the purification unit comprises at least one device for the chemical treatment of gas.
- 13. Centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is leak-tight.
- 14. Centrifuge according to claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic device for braking the rotor connected to said pressurized-gas supply circuit.
- 15. Centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the pressurized-gas supply circuit comprises a timer-controlled valve.
- 16. Centrifuge according to claim 1, further comprising a door which can move between an open position for access to the inside of the chamber and a closed position, and a pneumatic device for locking the door in the closed position, and wherein the pneumatic locking device is connected to the pressurized-gas supply circuit.
- 17. Centrifuge according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatic locking device comprises a first lock which can move between a position for locking and a position for unlocking the door, the first lock being secured to a rod of a first pneumatic ram connected via at least one individual pipe to said pressurized-gas supply circuit, and wherein the pneumatic locking device comprises a valve for selectively switching the at least one individual pipe to the pressurized-gas supply circuit.
- 18. Centrifuge according to claim 17, wherein the supply circuit comprises an automatic-locking valve which includes a shut-off member which can move between a position for opening and a position for closing the automatic-locking valve, one outlet of this locking valve being connected to said switching valve, wherein said shut-off member of the automatic-locking valve is in the open position when the door of the centrifuge is in the closed position, and in the closed position when the door is in the open position, and wherein said switching valve, when at rest, places said outlet of the automatic-locking valve and the first ram in communication so that the first lock is driven towards the locking position thereof.
- 19. Centrifuge according to claim 18, wherein the automatic-locking valve is intended to be permanently connected to said source of pressurized gas.
- 20. Centrifuge according to claim 18, wherein the pressurized-gas supply circuit comprises a timer-controlled valve which is connected to one outlet of said automatic-locking valve.
- 21. Centrifuge according to claim 17, wherein the pressurized-gas supply circuit comprises a timer-controlled valve, wherein the locking device comprises a second lock which can move between a position of immobilizing the first lock in the locking position thereof and a position of releasing the first lock, and wherein the second lock is secured to the rod of a second pneumatic ram permanently connected to one outlet of said timer-controlled valve.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99 02 511 |
Mar 1999 |
FR |
|
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
648 769 |
Apr 1985 |
CH |
10 34 550 |
Jul 1958 |
DE |