Patent Application
20240350954
The invention concerns a coalescing filter insert for installation in a pressure vessel of a liquid separator, comprising at least one hollow cylinder-shaped separator element configured for separating liquid and/or aerosol from a gas flow by means of the coalescence principle; an annular disk-shaped flange arranged at an end face at the separator element and arrangeable exchangeably between a cover of the pressure vessel and a cylinder-shaped body of the pressure vessel, wherein the flange comprises a support surface at least at its radially outer rim which is configured to be supported on an upper support region of the body of the pressure vessel facing the cover; and at least one seal element arranged in such a way at the support surface of the flange that, in position of use of the coalescing filter insert, it seals a hollow-cylindrical interior of the pressure vessel, configured for accommodating the coalescing filter insert, in relation to the ambient pressure.
The invention concerns furthermore a pressure vessel comprising a housing opening, a cylinder-shaped body configured to accommodate a coalescing filter insert, and an in particular annular disk-shaped cover with a central clean air outlet for closing the housing opening, and comprising at least one seal element cutout in which the seal element is arrangeable seal-tightly between the housing body and the cover.
The invention concerns also a liquid separator with an aforementioned pressure vessel and an aforementioned coalescing filter insert, as well as a method for exchanging a coalescing filter insert of the aforementioned kind mountable in an aforementioned pressure vessel.
Liquid separators, for example, air/oil separator elements for separating oil aerosol from air, can be used, for example, for removing oil from compressed air in compressed air systems which are supplied by an oil-lubricated connection element, for example, a compressor or a vacuum pump. Such a liquid separator comprises a filter insert configured for separating oil from air and a pressure vessel or pressure-resistant vessel of the connection element.
The air laden with oil flows through a raw air inlet into the pressure vessel in order to subsequently flow through the filter insert, which comprises at least one filter element or separation element configured for separation of oil from raw air, for example, a main separator and a post separator, and, finally, exit from the housing in the purified state through the clean air outlet.
The filter insert functions according to the coalescence principle. The at least one hollow-cylindrically configured separator element is configured as a hollow cylindrical coalescing device which coalesces the fine oil droplets to larger oil drops which, due to the force of gravity, precipitate in downward direction in the air/oil separator element and downstream thereof. The precipitating oil drops are drained through at least one drainage conduit or at least one drainage pipe.
DE 10 2014 002 719 A1 discloses a coalescing filter insert of the aforementioned kind as well as a pressure vessel of the aforementioned kind. In this coalescing filter insert, the seal element is of an L-shaped configuration and is attached to the radially outer rim of the flange. Furthermore, a coalescing filter insert with a U-shaped or V-shaped seal element fastened to the radially outer rim of the flange is described in the publication WO 2011/088290 A1. In the position of use of these coalescing filter inserts, the seal element is accommodated in the housing of the pressure vessel, respectively. From the exterior side of the pressure vessel, the seal element thus cannot be seen (compare FIGS. 3 to 6 of DE 10 2014 002 719 A1 as well as FIGS. 6 and 7 of WO 2011/088290 A1).
In prescribed servicing intervals, the coalescing filter insert is to be exchanged. In this context, the length of the servicing intervals depends on the design of the separator element or on the design of the liquid separator.
It is an object of the invention to further develop a coalescing filter insert of the aforementioned kind, a pressure vessel of the aforementioned kind as well as a seal element of the aforementioned kind in such a way that the coalescing filter insert is mountable simply and without errors in the pressure vessel as well as removable from the pressure vessel. In particular, mounting and demounting of the coalescing filter insert in the pressure vessel are to be simplified.
This object is solved by a coalescing filter insert characterized in that the seal element comprises at least one radially outwardly extending seal element extension which extends away from the support surface and is arrangeable between the cover and the cylinder-shaped body of the pressure vessel and is configured such that the seal element extension, in position of use of the coalescing filter insert, projects through the pressure vessel.
The object is further solved by a pressure vessel characterized in that the seal element cutout comprises at least one radial cutout region which extends from a pressure vessel inner side facing the interior of the pressure vessel all the way to a radially outwardly arranged pressure vessel outer side facing away from the interior of the pressure vessel and loaded by the ambient pressure.
The object is further solved by a seal element as disclosed.
Advantageous embodiments and expedient further developments of the present invention are characterized in the respective dependent claims.
The present invention is based on the seal element comprising at least one seal element extension extending radially outwardly away from the flange which can be arranged between the cover and the cylinder-shaped body of the pressure vessel and is configured such that the seal element extension, in the position of use of the coalescing filter insert, projects through the pressure vessel, in particular through a housing wall of the cylinder-shaped body and/or through the cover.
In other words, the seal element extension is configured such that, in the position of use of the coalescing filter insert, it extends from a pressure vessel inner side facing the interior of the pressure vessel all the way to a radially outwardly arranged pressure vessel outer side facing away from the interior of the pressure vessel and exposed to the ambient pressure.
The seal element extension projecting in the position of use of the coalescing filter insert through the pressure vessel, for example, through the body and/or through the cover of the pressure vessel, has the advantage that the seal element extension is visible from the exterior of the pressure vessel. This makes it possible to detect, when a pressure vessel is closed, whether a filter insert is arranged or not in the pressure vessel. In this way, the safety when operating the liquid separator is increased.
Preferably, the seal element comprises a seal body, which surrounds the outer rim of the flange and which is in particular configured of an annular shape, and at least one seal element extension which extends radially outwardly away from the seal body. Seal body and seal element extension are preferably of a one-piece configuration and, further preferred, are monolithically embodied. Seal body and seal element extension are preferably manufactured as one piece by a shaping manufacturing process, in particular casting process, preferably injection molding process, preferably produced in a single casting step. A preferred material for the seal element is at least one elastic, in particular rubber-elastic, material, for example, at least one elastomer such as rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer.
Preferably, the seal element extension, at its radially outer rim, comprises at least one radially outer end surface, in particular visible surface, which is configured for applying at least one marking or at least one code. This radially outer end surface can be arranged at an angle in relation to the radius of the flange. For example, the seal element extension can be configured L-shaped or substantially L-shaped and comprise a first stay which extends through the pressure vessel as well as a second stay which is embodied perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly in relation to the first stay, wherein the second stay is associated with the radially outer end surface.
At least one marking embodied for identification of the seal element and/or of the filter insert, for example, at least one code embodied for identification of the seal element and/or of the filter insert, for example, at least one bar code, code of stripes, code of lines, barcode, quick response code, or at least one code embodied for identification by means of electromagnetic waves, for example, a so-called R [adio] F [requency] ID [entification] code, can be arranged on this radially outer end surface. This makes it possible, when the pressure vessel is closed, to identify the seal element or the filter insert from the exterior. In this way, when servicing the liquid separator, it can be checked already prior to opening of the pressure vessel whether the correct replacement part for exchange of the coalescing filter insert is available. Since after the pressure vessel has been opened, the latter usually cannot be seal-tightly closed by the originally installed coalescing filter insert, the liquid separator usually cannot be further operated after opening of the pressure vessel if no matching replacement part for exchanging the coalescing filter insert is present. The possibility of identifying the seal element and/or the coalescing filter insert thus significantly facilitates servicing of the liquid separator.
In case an RFID code is arranged on the radially outer end surface of the seal element, it can be electronically read out. The RFID code can comprise as information, for example, the manufacturing date of the coalescing filter insert, a parts number of the coalescing filter insert, information in regard to the operating manual of the filter insert, or the date of last servicing of the filter insert.
The marking or the code can be glued to the radially outer end surface or can be integrated as a component into the radially outer end surface.
A further advantage of the present invention is that by means of the seal element extension it can be ensured that the coalescing filter insert can be operated only in a respective matching pressure vessel. In order to be able to arrange the seal element extension seal-tightly between cover and body of the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel comprises a seal element cutout with at least one cutout region extending through the cover and/or the body of the pressure vessel and embodied, for example, like a stay. This cutout region extends from a pressure vessel inner side to a pressure vessel outer side, i.e., through at least one housing wall of the pressure vessel, and is configured to seal-tightly accommodate the seal element extension. In this context, the cutout region for accommodating the seal element extension can be arranged in the body and/or in the cover of the pressure vessel.
The seal element cutout, in particular the radial cutout region, of the pressure vessel is advantageously embodied so as to correspond to the geometry of the seal element, in particular of the seal element extension. This makes it possible to match a filter insert and pressure vessel to each other. In this way, it can be identified by means of the geometry of the seal element whether the coalescing filter insert is designed for installation in the pressure vessel.
By means of the geometry of the seal element extension, the coalescing filter insert can thus be designed such that it can be seal-tightly used only in a pressure vessel which corresponds to the seal element.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the seal element extension facilitates demounting of the filter insert. Thus, after opening of the cover of the pressure vessel, the coalescing filter insert can be released in a leverage-type action from the body of the pressure vessel by lifting the seal element extension, which is, for example, tab-shaped. The at least one seal element extension facilitates thus gripping and lifting of the coalescing filter insert when being demounted from the pressure vessel.
The seal element can comprise one or a plurality of seal element extensions extending radially outwardly away from the flange. It is particularly advantageous for removal of the coalescing filter insert when the seal element comprises at least two seal element extensions which are arranged symmetrically at the seal element.
For stability reasons, the seal element extension is advantageously embodied as one piece together with the seal element.
Independent thereof or in combination therewith, the seal element comprises in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention a seal body, which surrounds the outer rim of the flange and which is embodied in particular in an annular shape, and at least one grip element which extends away from the flange radially inwardly and connects at least two spaced apart regions of the annular seal body to each other. This grip element facilitates handling of the coalescing filter insert during its installation in the pressure vessel or removal from the pressure vessel. In addition, the grip element reduces the risk of injury when gripping the coalescing filter insert because it facilitates handling of the coalescing filter insert, in particular because the grip element is arranged at the level of the seal element. Seal body and grip element are preferably of a one-piece configuration and further preferred are monolithically configured. Seal body and grip element are preferably manufactured as one piece by a shaping manufacturing process, in particular casting process, preferably injection molding process, preferably produced in a single casting step. A preferred material for seal element and grip element is at least one elastic, in particular rubber-elastic material, for example, at least one elastomer such as rubber or a thermoplastic elastomer.
A preferred material for the grip element is at least one elastic, may be rubber-elastic, material, for example, at least one elastomer such as rubber. Light coalescing filter inserts can be handled with a grip element of elastic material. In case of coalescing filter inserts which make it necessary with respect to weight and contour, a core of a strong material, for example, of metal such as sheet metal, of wood, or of plastic material, can be added to the grip element.
The present invention concerns furthermore a liquid separator comprising a pressure vessel according to the invention as well as a coalescing filter insert according to the invention arranged in the pressure vessel. The liquid separator may be characterized in that the radial cutout region of the pressure vessel is embodied corresponding to the geometry of the seal element, in that the radial cutout region may be configured corresponding to the geometry of the seal element extension.
The present invention concerns finally a method for exchanging a coalescing filter insert of the aforementioned kind installed in a pressure vessel of the aforementioned kind, wherein, for removal of the coalescing filter insert from the housing, at least one seal element extension extending radially outwardly away from the flange is lifted and/or the seal element is lifted by means of at least one grip element of the seal element extending radially inwardly away from the flange.
There are different possibilities in regard to embodying and further developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention will be explained in the following in more detail inter alia with the aid of the embodiments illustrated in
Same or similar embodiments, elements or features are provided in the
The following explanations with respect to the configurations, features, and advantages of the present invention (if nothing else is indicated) relate to the first embodiment illustrated in
The liquid separator 200 illustrated in
According to the method of the present invention, the coalescing filter insert 100 is exchangeably arranged in a hollow cylindrical interior of a pressure vessel, embodied according to the present invention, of a liquid separator 200 embodied according to the present invention.
As illustrated in
In the embodiment of the pressure vessel illustrated in
The body 40 of the pressure vessel has advantageously a tangentially arranged raw air inlet 90 which is connected to a connection element, for example, with a compressor screw. When presently tangential, radial, axial, coaxial or circumferential or the like is mentioned, this relates to the longitudinal axis of the liquid separator 200, if nothing else is indicated.
Through the raw air inlet 90, compressed air laden with oil aerosol enters the interior of the pressure vessel and then flows spirally through an annular gap arranged between the pressure vessel body 40 and the separation element 10 prior to flowing into the separation element 10 of the coalescing filter insert 100 at a lower region which is facing away from the cover 30 and then flows through the latter in radial direction from the exterior to the interior.
The purified clean air flows in axial direction out of the cover 30 of the pressure vessel. For discharging the clean air, the cover 30 comprises a central clean air outlet 32. The flange 20 is arranged coaxially to the clean air outlet 32 of the liquid separator 200.
As illustrated in
For sealing the hollow-cylindrical interior of the pressure vessel in relation to the ambient pressure, a seal element 50; 52; 54 is arranged at the support surface 22 of the flange 20.
As shown in
The seal body has advantageously
In order to provide a particularly material-saving sealing action, the first seal surface 70 and the further seal surface 72 are advantageously arranged relative to each other in an L-shape or substantially an L-shape. As an alternative, the two seal surfaces 70, 72 can also be arranged in a V-shape or U-shape relative to each other however.
Independent thereof or in combination therewith, the seal element is advantageously captively held at the separation element, thus a component of the separation element and no individual part. This has the advantage that, when exchanging the separation element in the prescribed servicing intervals, the seal element is also reliably exchanged. In the prior art, in which the seal element is not captively arranged at the separation element, the seal element may be forgotten so that the function of the liquid separator is impaired or not fulfilled.
For attaching the seal element 50; 52; 54 to the flange 20, it comprises advantageously at least one holding projection 74. Depending on the size of the seal element 50; 52; 54, it can comprise, for example, 3, 6, 9, or 12 holding projections 74 which are preferably symmetrically arranged at the seal element. The holding projection 74 can be configured, for example, as a nose-type holding element. Advantageously, the holding projection 74 is configured such that it
As shown in
According to the invention, the seal element 50 comprises at least one seal element extension 60 extending radially outwardly away from the flange 20, in particular a stay or an arm. As is illustrated in
A marking 64, in particular a code, for example, a so-called RFID code, on a radially outer end surface 62 of the seal element extension 60 which is visible when the pressure vessel is closed enables the identification of a seal element 50, 52, 54 arranged in the pressure vessel when the pressure vessel is closed.
The radially outer end surface 62 of the seal element extension 60 can be configured like a tab which extends at an angle in relation to the seal element extension 60, for example, is arranged perpendicularly to the seal element extension 60, and is arranged at the outer side of the body 40, in particular of the collar 48, of the pressure vessel.
The seal element extension 60 extends through a radial cutout region 82 of a seal element cutout 80 of the body 40 of the pressure vessel. This radial cutout region 82 shows the seal element extension 60 like a viewing window. The seal element 50; 52; 54 is thus visible even after its installation in the pressure vessel.
The seal elements 50; 52; 54 illustrated in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102022100406.6 | Jan 2022 | DE | national |
This application is a continuation application of international application No. PCT/EP2022/082395 having an international filing date of Nov. 18, 2022, and designating the United States, the international application claiming a priority date of Jan. 10, 2022, based on prior filed German patent application No. 10 2022 100 406.6, the entire contents of the aforesaid international application and the aforesaid German patent application being incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/EP2022/082395 | Nov 2022 | WO |
| Child | 18763272 | US |
