Patent Application
20250033060
The invention relates to a media column for distributing media such as gaseous and liquid media, vacuum, power and communication, in a laboratory, and to an assembly for workbenches comprising such a media column for a laboratory or an office, according to the preamble of claims 1 and 8.
In building technology, for fitting out research laboratories such as for chemistry of physics research, it is known that ceiling constructions are used in which the supply lines for exhaust air, supply air, the technical gases, liquids, power and data lines required in the laboratory, etc. are fastened directly to the associated building ceiling, inside the ceilings, with the aid of suitable fastening means, by means of dowels. Since in this case the laying of the lines is generally carried out successively by different staff, the difficulty arises that the route of the lines is sometimes not only criss-cross and alternately in a plurality of planes, but rather in addition the individual mounting of the fastening devices means that spatial changes to an existing laboratory arrangement can be undertaken retrospectively only with great effort.
A ceiling construction for a laboratory room is known from EP 1 934 414 B1, in which the gaseous and liquid media and also electricity are conducted in an ordered manner in main supply lines, extending in parallel with one another, in the region of the laboratory ceiling, which lines are received in a carrier frame composed of profile supports. The different media are conducted from the main supply lines, via flexible branch lines which can be connected to the supply lines via quick couplings, to the respective suspended media columns, which are received above the laboratory benches, at the corresponding workplaces, on the underside of the carrier frame.
Although the above-described ceiling construction offers a plurality of advantages compared with conventional laboratory ceilings having disordered guidance of the media lines, the problem arises in this case that the supply of the respective workplaces takes place exclusively via the suspended media columns, and the supply of the media to the fixtures on the laboratory benches is carried out not via the bench itself but rather merely via the lines hanging down from the media columns.
DE 1857988 U1 describes an assembly for supplying laboratory workplaces with various media, comprising a fixedly arranged narrow wall element, which is arranged between vertical profiles. In the wall element the respective media, which are supplied to the wall element, within the profiles, from the ceiling of the laboratory, are conducted in horizontal lines that are arranged one above the other in parallel and from which stitch pipelines extend to the taps for the media which are located above the respective laboratory benches and which are arranged between the respective vertically extending support profiles in boxes on the back of the wall elements. On account of the construction, the described assembly is laborious to mount and has little flexibility in view of retrospective positioning of the fittings and taps for outputting the media, on the wall element.
An assembly for supplying gaseous and liquid media, vacuum, power and communication to the workplaces, arranged in rows, in a laboratory, is known from DE 10 2019 119 116, which assembly comprises at least one stationary modular wall element to which the media are supplied, from the main supply lines extending in the region of the ceiling of the laboratory, via vertical supply lines. The wall element, along which the workplaces are arranged in one row or also in two rows back-to-back, and which can be of a width of e.g. 100 mm or 200 mm and a height of e.g. 90 cm, and a length of for example 90, 120, 150 and 180 cm, comprises a back on its upper side, on which back one or also more media boxes can be arranged, which each comprise different extraction fittings for the various media, via which said media can be output for use in the laboratory.
In the case of the described assemblies for media supply in laboratories, the problem arises that said assemblies can be positioned at different locations in the laboratory only with great effort, since the media columns and media boxes have to be mechanically detached from the respective holding devices, these have to be shifted to the desired new position, while simultaneously also guiding the supply lines, and, upon completion, the media boxes or media columns have to be mechanically fixed again to the respective holding device, in the new position. In this case, the fact that, during relocation, the media columns sometimes also have to be raised over the laboratory benches, constitutes a further difficulty.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a media column for distributing media in a laboratory, which can be positioned flexibly, within a very short time, at different positions along a row of workbenches in a laboratory.
This object is achieved according to the invention by a media column having the features of claim 1.
A further object of the invention consists in providing an assembly of workbenches in a laboratory which allows flexible positioning, without tools, of the media, required within a laboratory, in the region of the workbenches.
This object is achieved according to the invention by an assembly having the features of claim 8.
Further features of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
According to the invention, a media column for distributing media, in particular gaseous and liquid media such as technical gases, water and coolant, vacuum, power and communication in a laboratory, which preferably contains a plurality of workbenches arranged in rows which in each case have a worktop having a rear longitudinal edge, a carrier body which extends in the vertical direction and on the front side of which at least one module element is detachably fastened, to which the gaseous and/or liquid media can be supplied via supply lines, and which has a housing having a front side in which at least one extraction fitting is received, via which the media can be output. The invention is likewise intended to cover the situation where the module elements can contain interfaces for data processing devices, e.g. modems, routers or switches, which can be connected to the respective EDP devices via data sockets arranged on the front side or the side walls of the housing of the module elements, and which are primarily connected via a wireless network for data communication.
The media column according to the invention is characterised in that the carrier body is a flat, inherently rigid profile which is elongated in the vertical direction, in particular a metal profile, e.g. an aluminium hollow profile having a rectangular cross-section or outside cross-section. It is likewise possible for the carrier body to comprise two such profiles, which can be interconnected for example via struts or the like. The elongated profile, which can be for example of a length of 2.3 m, a depth of 20-50 mm and a width of 150 mm, is fastened by its first lower end, in a standing manner, on the upper side of a standing platform, which preferably has a rectangular cross-section and can be configured for example as a flat metal plate or as a metal hollow profile, which is deposited on the floor of the laboratory and forms the base, as it were, of the media column according to the invention.
The standing platform can for example be of a depth of 200 mm to 300 mm, and be additionally loaded with weights, in order to ensure secure standing of the media column. Viewed in cross-section from the side, the standing platform protrudes at right-angles from the elongated profile fastened thereon. In this case, the depth of the elongated profile and the depth of the standing platform, and also the position at which the lowest module element is fastened on the profile are selected, depending on the height of the workbench, which is typically 65 to 95 cm from the floor to the upper side of the worktop, in such a way that the underside of the housing of the lowest extraction module is located at a small spacing of e.g. 10 mm, or also more, above the worktop of the workbench(es), which are preferably arranged one behind the other along rows in the laboratory. In this case, the housing of the lowest extraction module, and also the further module elements optionally arranged thereabove, which for example have a depth of 160 mm, protrudes beyond the worktop in the region of its rear longitudinal edge, such that the media column, formed in this way, surrounds the worktop in the region of the rear longitudinal edge, viewed from the side, and the media column can be positioned at a desired position along the rear longitudinal edge.
In order to supply the extraction fittings in the module elements with the desired media, according to the invention the supply lines for the media comprise flexible line portions which are preferably guided, from the second upper end of the inherently rigid profile, in a convex curve on its upper side, to a ceiling-side supply point of the laboratory for the media. From here, the media, in particular the gaseous and liquid media, as well as a vacuum, are supplied to the respective workplaces, preferably via flexible metal lines.
The invention results in the advantage that the adjustment of the supply of the workplaces with the necessary media, in the case of a reconfiguration of a workplace in a laboratory, can take place significantly more flexibly, without experienced technicians and fitters, and lifting equipment, being required, which have to mechanically detach the media column from the retainers, transfer it, and fasten it again, as is required in the case of known media columns, which are received suspended on the building ceiling or a ceiling grid of a laboratory.
The invention will be described in the following, with reference to the drawings and on the basis of preferred embodiments. In the drawings:
As shown in
Each of the modules 10 has a housing 12 comprising a front side 12f, in which at least one extraction fitting 14 or a plug or a data interface, e.g. an ethernet network plug, is received, via which media can be output.
As is shown in detail in
As is further shown in the illustrations of
As can be seen most clearly in
As can furthermore be seen from the illustration of
In order to in this case allow a movement path of for example 1 to 3 m along the rear longitudinal edges 112r of the workbenches 110, without having to change the length of the supply lines 120 for the media in a complex manner by shortening or by inserting adapter parts, it is provided, according to the invention, for the supply lines 120 for the media to comprise flexible line portions 120a which can be guided from the second upper end 20 of the inherently rigid profile 2, in a curved manner, to a ceiling-side supply point 122 for the gaseous and/or liquid media.
Although the module elements 10 are preferably arranged above the worktops 112 of the workbenches 110, according to an embodiment that is not shown in greater detail it can also be provided that additionally one or more modules are received under the worktops 112 on the inherently rigid profile 2, in order to supply laboratory equipment (not shown) with the required media. In this case, the supply lines to the module elements 10 arranged under the worktops 112 preferably extend over the front side 2f of the inherently rigid profile 2, which can, for this purpose, be covered in this region with a flat covering.
In order to further facilitate the relocation of the media columns 1 in the case of a rearrangement of a workplace, it is provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention that the standing platform 2 comprises rollers 8 on its underside, as shown in the drawings, the axes of rotation of which rollers are fixedly arranged on the standing platform 6, such that the rotation planes of the rollers 8 extend in parallel with the front side 2f of the inherently rigid profile 2. This results in the advantage that the relevant media column 1 can always move along the rear longitudinal edge 112r of a workbench 110 in a straight line and with little force outlay, without having to raise the standing platform 6, as is necessary in the case of a simplified embodiment in which the underside of the standing platform 6 is planar and does not comprise any rollers.
Although in the embodiment of the media column 1 shown in the drawings the rollers 8 are configured as rollers which are screwed directly onto the underside of the standing platform 6, according to a further alternative embodiment of the invention it is particularly advantageous for the standing platform 6 to be thicker and to preferably comprise four rollers, which are configured having a smaller diameter and are received sunk into corresponding recesses, in the underside of the standing platform 6, such that the underside of the rollers protrudes beyond the standing platform 6 only slightly, for example by 1 mm. This integral arrangement of the rollers 8 in associated recesses on the underside of the standing platform 6 results in a particularly elegant design of the media column 1 in conjunction with increased structural stability. In this embodiment, it may also be advantageous for the recesses to be made in the corner regions of the standing platform 6 and for the rollers to extend, with their peripheral surfaces, only laterally by e.g. 1-2 mm beyond the edges of the platform, such that the peripheral surfaces of the rollers 8 come into contact with the floor only by slight lateral tilting of the media columns 1 by e.g. 20°, and the media columns 1 can be shifted. The structural stability of the media columns 1 can be further improved thereby.
According to a further concept on which the invention is based, the elongated, flat, inherently rigid profile 2 is fastened to the rear side 6r of the standing platform 6, such that the rear side of the inherently rigid profile 2 preferably extends flush with the rear edge of the standing platform 6. This results in the advantage that the front portion 6f of the standing platform 6 opposite the rear side 6r thereof can be arranged under the worktop 112 of a workbench 110 when the front side 2f of the elongated, inherently rigid profile 2 is resting on the rear longitudinal edge 112r of the worktop 112 in question. As a result, an optimal use of space of the free space 119 provided under the rear longitudinal edge 112r of the worktops 112 is achieved, and the additional space requirement is reduced, by the media column 1 according to the invention, merely to the depth of the inherently rigid, vertical profile plus a safety distance of for example 5 to 10 mm, which ensures that the front side 2f of the inherently rigid profile 2 does not contact the rear longitudinal edge 112r of a workbench 110 when the media column 1 is used, and is not damaged thereby.
It can furthermore be provided that, in a further embodiment of the invention, the elongated, inherently rigid profile 2 comprises grooves (not shown in further detail in the drawings) in the region of its front side, which grooves extend in the longitudinal direction of the profile 2, and that complementary engagement elements, in particular protrusions or latching lugs, are formed on the housing 12, by means of which the housing 12 can preferably be latched into the grooves without tools. This results in the advantage that the module elements 10 can be moved, in a very short time, to a desired position, in the longitudinal direction of the elongated, inherently rigid profile 2, in order, for example in the case of a workbench 110 having a worktop 112 that can be adjusted in a variable manner in height, to be able to adjust the distance between the underside 12u of the housing 12 of the lowest module element 10.1, in a very short time and without tools, to a new working height.
For this purpose, the housings 12 of the module elements 10 consist of an inherently rigid but reversibly deformable material, e.g. aluminium or stainless steel, and preferably have a U-shaped cross-section, which surrounds the front side 2f of the inherently rigid, elongated profile 2, forming a peripherally closed cavity, in the interior of which the supply lines 120 for the media are guided from the second upper end 20 of the carrier body to the extraction fittings 14 of the respective module elements 10. By pressing together the two free limbs of the U-shaped housing, the rear longitudinal edges thereof can be inserted into the grooves on the front side 2f of the profile 2, in which they are fixed by a frictional connection, after release of the pressure on the outsides of the two limbs, by the restoring forces.
As has already been stated above, preferably two or more module elements 10.1, 10.2 for the same or also for different media and/or for electricity and data are detachably received, positioned one above the other, on the elongated, inherently rigid profile 2, the housings 12 of which module elements, as shown in
In order to further improve the visual appearance, optimised in this way, of the media column according to the invention, a blind module 10.3 is arranged above the uppermost module element 10.2, which contains an extraction fitting 14, which blind module has a housing that is likewise U-shaped in cross-section and which, in cross-sectional shape, preferably substantially corresponds to the shape of the U-shaped housing 12 of the remaining module elements 10. Said blind module 10.3 extends, as shown for example in
According to a further concept on which the invention is based, it can furthermore be provided for at least one flexible supply line 120 for the media, but preferably a plurality of supply lines 120, to be guided from the second upper end 20 of the inherently rigid, elongated profile 2, in a curved manner, to the ceiling-side supply point 122, which is preferably arranged on the top of the supply air channels 310, as is shown in the illustration of
According to a further concept of the invention, an assembly 102 of workbenches 110 in a laboratory 100 comprising at least one workbench 110 which has a worktop 112 having a rear longitudinal edge 112r, is characterised in that said assembly comprises at least one media column 1 as described above which is arranged having the front side 2f of the inherently rigid, elongated profile 2 close to the rear longitudinal edge 112r of the worktop 112 of the workbench 110, in such a way that the housing 12 of the lowest module element 10u extends above the upper side of the worktop 112 and the media column 1 can be moved to different positions, in the lateral direction along the rear longitudinal edge 112r of the worktop 112 of the associated workbench 110.
As can be seen in this case from the illustration of
As has already been described above, the workbenches 110, which are preferably all configured identically in a laboratory room 100, comprise a framework 114 having in each case 2 rear bench legs 116 and a worktop 112, which extends, in the horizontal direction, beyond the imaginary connecting line 118 between the two rear bench legs 116, such that a free space 119 results under the rear longitudinal edge 112r of each workbench 110, in which free space the standing platform 6 can be moved in a collision-free manner when the media column 1 is displaced along the rear longitudinal edge 112r. In the case of workbenches 110 arranged along rows, it can also be provided in this case that, instead of a workbench 110, a large item of equipment is arranged between two neighbouring adjoining benches 110.
As has further been acknowledged by the applicant, it is a particular advantage here if the free space 119 provided under the worktop 112 between the rear longitudinal edge 112r of a workbench 110 and the two rear bench legs 116 is configured to receive an item of laboratory equipment or an item of furniture, preferably of a standard width of 60 cm, in order to use the free space 119 and to close it in the lateral direction by the inserted laboratory equipment or item of furniture (not shown), in particular when the two workbenches 110 are positioned back-to-back, according to the embodiment of
As a result of the above-described clear distance D between the rear longitudinal edges 112r of the workbenches 110 arranged back-to-back in parallel rows, or the distance or gap, provided by the depth of the inherently rigid profile 2, between thee benches 110 and an adjacent wall of the laboratory 100, laboratory equipment, arranged under the bench, can be supplied from above the benchtop 112, with the respective media from the media columns 1 according to the invention. This preferably takes place in that the flexible supply and removal lines for the respective media to the laboratory equipment or also EDP devices arranged under the workbenches 110 and also on said benches are advantageously supplied via hoses and/or cables laid in a tubular manner, which are guided through the gap. In this case, the curved or tubular guidance of the supply and removal lines through the gap formed along the longitudinal edges 112r makes it possible to provide a line reservoir, as it were, which further facilitates the lateral displacement of the media columns 1 according to the invention. Thus, for example by providing a loop which is guided to the floor and up again to the corresponding media module of the media column 1, through the gap, a sufficiently large supply line clearance can be achieved, which makes it possible that the relevant workbench 110, together with an item of laboratory equipment located thereon, can be pulled forward out of the row of benches and into the aisle region, without separating the supply and removal lines. This allows for simple access to the rear of the laboratory equipment for maintenance or repair work, for which sometimes heavy equipment otherwise has to be completely separated from the supply lines and raised from the benches 110 via corresponding lifting devices.
Since in this case the media lines extend, in a manner bundled straight to the rear, downwards via the rear longitudinal edges 112r of the workbenches 110, said lines no longer rest loosely on the worktops 112 of the benches as loops, behind the devices. This ensures neatness and allows for easier cleaning of the bench surfaces.
In order to provide a particularly reliable, efficient and pleasant airflow within the laboratory 100 in the region of the workbenches 110, in conjunction with the ventilation assembly 300 shown in
Furthermore, as shown in
As is furthermore shown in
In the case of the last-described embodiment of the invention, it can furthermore be provided that the media columns 1 are arranged, also back-to-back in pairs, on workbenches 110 arranged opposite one another and back-to-back, and are screwed together or interconnected in a form-fitting manner by clamping devices or clasps I order to increase the stability. In this way, if required mobile shelf assemblies can be created in a very short time, using the media columns 1 according to the invention, comprising shelves 150 which are displaceable along the longitudinal edges 112r of the workbenches 110 and offer increased stability against falling over.
According to a further concept on which the invention is based, the laboratory 100 or the assembly 102 of workbenches 110 contained therein comprises a ventilation assembly 300 that is arranged above the workbenches 110 and comprises a central combined supply air channel/air outlet 310, which is also referred to in the following as a central supply air channel, and an exhaust air channel 330 arranged thereabove. The central supply air channel 310 and the exhaust air channel arranged thereabove, which is indicated merely schematically in
As was acknowledged by the applicant, this advantageous design, which is S-shaped in a wing-like or lever-like manner, of the air guiding panels 340 arranged on both sides of the central supply air channel 310, in conjunction with the gap defined between the rear longitudinal edges to 112r of the workbenches 110 by the depth of the inherently rigid profile, results in a flow of heated air that is directed in the upwards direction. This is indicated in
According to a further embodiment, the air guiding panels 340, which can alternatively also be used without an above-described displaceable media column 1, in a laboratory 100, which comprises an assembly 102 of workbenches 110 having worktops 112, the rear longitudinal edges 112a of which are separated from one another or from an adjacent vertical wall by a gap, advantageously consist of a foamed, sound-absorbing plastics material. As a result, the otherwise disruptive reverberation times of sound, which propagates in conventional laboratories with little damping, on account of the large number of hard surfaces of the workbenches and other laboratory installations, can advantageously be significantly reduced.
Furthermore, in the case of the last-described embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the air guiding panels 340 are preferably foldable downwards, with their angled, outer ends, about pivot axes 342 merely indicated in
In order to fix the air guiding panels 340 in their horizontal working positions, shown in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2021 131 228.0 | Nov 2021 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/083604 | 11/29/2022 | WO |
