Patent Application
20090184620
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is in the field of electrical discharge reactors.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrical discharge reactors are used in ozone generators, UV disinfection devices, and pollution control devices. An example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,132,692, which is not admitted to being prior art by its mention in this Background section. Some of the different types of electrical discharges include glow, corona, and dielectric barrier discharge.
Some of the common parts of dielectric barrier discharge reactors include a high voltage electrode, which is usually a wire or thin rod. This is disposed inside a tube that is typically made of glass or fused quartz. The tube forms the dielectric barrier. The inside of the tube may be filled with a gas, air, or a vacuum.
Reactors are made by providing a plurality of tube and electrode assemblies physically and electrically connected to plates. In the past, the electrode assemblies were capped with a metal cap on one end and secured to the plate with an extension and a screw. The electrode wire sticks out the end of the cap, and can be secured by welding.
This configuration has several disadvantages. First, centering the electrode assembly is not assured, and misalignment is possible. It is also difficult to secure the screws if there are many electrode assemblies close together. The electrode must make a sharp bend, which may damage it. Furthermore, the sharp end of the wire and corners of the cap might generate corona, which must be avoided. The tube seal is also susceptible to damage from vibration and rough handling. Finally, the old configuration does not allow for thermal expansion. These disadvantages tend to cause breakage and failure of the electrode.
What is needed, therefore, is an electrode cap for an electrical discharge reactor that is easy to install, assures proper alignment, inhibits corona, provides some cushion to avoid damages, and permits thermal expansion.
The invention is an apparatus that satisfies the need for an electrode cap for an electrical discharge reactor that is easy to install, assures proper alignment, inhibits corona, provides some cushion to avoid damages, and permits thermal expansion. The invention is an electrode cap comprising a horseshoe-shaped conductor clip comprising an opening at a closed end for receiving an electrode, the conductor clip adapted to fit over a tube crimp; a substantially cylindrical base cap comprising an elongated bump at one end of the base cap parallel to the axis of the base cap; and a substantially cylindrical top cap closed on one end, having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the base cap; and a spring means for pressing a plate against the base cap. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings.
The invention is an electrode cap comprising a horseshoe-shaped conductor clip comprising an opening at a closed end for receiving an electrode, the conductor clip adapted to fit over a tube crimp; a substantially cylindrical base cap comprising an elongated bump at one end of the base cap parallel to the axis of the base cap; and a substantially cylindrical top cap closed on one end, having an inside diameter larger than the outside diameter of the base cap; and a spring means for pressing a plate against the base cap.
Turning to
An electrode cap assembly 100 is provided, that is made up of several parts. The parts are preferably made of an electrically conductive material, like stainless steel. First, a conductor clip 108 is secured to the crimp 118. The conductor clip is horseshoe shaped in cross section. The closed end of the conductor clip 108 has an opening for receiving the electrode. The conductor clip 108 is sized to fit over the crimp 118.
A base cap 104 is provided. It is substantially cylindrical in that it has two sections of different diameters. The smaller diameter is sized to just slide over the outside diameter of the tube 114. The smaller diameter also has one or more elongated bumps 124a, 124b parallel to the axis of the base cap 104. These bumps are for locking the electrode assembly 100 into a plate 112.
A substantially cylindrical top cap 102 is also provided. The top cap is closed on one end and open on the other. The inside diameter of the top cap 102 is sized to have a sliding fit with the outside diameter of the base cap 104 to provide an electrical connection and inhibit contamination. Preferably, the junction of the top cap 102 cylinder and closed end is rounded, as is shown in
A helical compression cap spring 106 can be provided that has an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the base cap 104. The cap spring 106 provides electrical connection and compression between the conductor clip 108 and top cap 102. One can also use a conical helical spring with the point of the cone contacting the conductor clip 108, or other types of springs that are known in the art.
A spring means 110 is placed over the base cap 104. The spring means 110 is preferably a wave spring, such as those conforming to DIN 137, although other springs could be used. Other spring means could be used, such as a helical spring, conical washer, or Belleville washer.
The spring means 110 keeps the electrode assembly 100 secure in the plate 112 after being inserted and twisted to lock it in place. A typical plate that would be used in this application is 12 gauge stainless steel. In
In this view, details of the base cap flap 120b and window 122a are shown. Since the flap extends through the top cap 102, the top cap is locked while under compression. The top cap can be released by compressing the top cap and pressing in the flap so that it clears the window. Other mechanisms that are known in the art can be used to secure the top cap 102.
In operation, the electrode assembly is installed by placing a horseshoe-shaped conductor clip 108 over the crimp 118; securing the electrode 116 to the conductor clip 108; placing a substantially cylindrical base cap 104 over the tube 114 at the crimp end, the base cap 104 having an elongated bump 124 at one end of the base cap 104 parallel to the axis of the base cap, and having an external flap 120 extending toward the bump 124. Then one places a helical compression cap spring 106 inside the base cap 104 and in contact with the conductor clip 108. Next, one assembles the top cap 102 so that the base cap flap 120 engages the top cap window 122 and locks. The next step is assembling a spring means 110 over the base cap 104. Assembling to a plate 112 is completed by inserting the electrode assembly 100 into the plate 112 having a hole to receive the base cap 104 and a groove to receive the bump 124 and twisting the electrode assembly to lock it in place.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
