MELTING APPARATUS FOR METERED MELTING OF PARAFFIN

Abstract

The invention relates to a melting apparatus (100) for melting paraffin (1), having: a melting container (110) for receiving paraffin (1) to be melted; a storage container (190) for storing molten paraffin (4); having a melting container heating device (120) for heating the melting container (110), having a storage container heating device (191) for heating the storage container (190), having a fluid connection (113) fluidically connecting the melting container (110) and the storage container; the melting container (110), the storage container (190), and the fluid connection (113) being arranged so that molten paraffin (4) flows out of the melting container (110) into the storage container (190).

Claims

1. A laboratory device having a melting apparatus (100, 200) for melting paraffin (1), the melting apparatus (100, 200) comprising: a melting container (110, 210) for receiving paraffin (1) to be melted; a storage container (190) for storing molten paraffin (4); a melting container heating device (120) for heating the melting container (110, 210); a storage container heating device (191) for heating the storage container (190); a fluid connection (113) fluidically connecting the melting container (110, 210) and the storage container; wherein the melting container (110, 210), the storage container (190), and the fluid connection (113) are arranged so that molten paraffin (4) flows out of the melting container (110, 210) into the storage container (190); and wherein the storage container (190) includes a measuring device (192, 320) for measuring the weight or volume of the molten paraffin (4) in the storage container (190).

2. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the melting container (110, 210) comprising an outflow (112) from which the fluid connection (113) proceeds.

3. The laboratory device according to claim 2, the outflow (112) comprising a valve (230).

4. The laboratory device according to claim 2, the melting container (110, 210) comprising a floor (111) that slopes downward toward the outflow (112).

5. The laboratory device according to claim 4, the floor (111) comprising a funnel-shaped portion.

6. The laboratory device according to claim 1, wherein the laboratory device is configured to keep a predefinable quantity of molten paraffin on hand in the storage container (190).

7. The laboratory device according to claim 1, further comprising a withdrawal pump (193) and/or an outflow for withdrawing molten paraffin (4) from the storage container (190).

8. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the melting container (110, 210) comprising a measuring device for measuring the weight and/or volume of the paraffin to be melted.

9. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the melting container heating device (120, 220) comprising an inductor for inducing eddy currents in a floor and/or a wall of the melting container (110, 210).

10. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the melting container heating device (120, 220) comprising an inductor for inducing eddy currents in metallic bodies (2) received in the melting container (110, 210).

11. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the melting container heating device (120, 220) comprising a resistance heating element.

12. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the storage container heating device (191, 310) comprising an inductor for inducing eddy currents in a floor and/or a wall of the storage container (190, 300).

13. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the storage container heating device (191, 310) comprising an inductor for inducing eddy currents in metallic bodies (2) received in the storage container (190, 300).

14. The laboratory device according to claim 1, the storage container heating device (191, 310) comprising a resistance heating element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING VIEWS

[0025] FIG. 1 very schematically shows an embodiment in principle of a melting apparatus according to the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 very schematically shows a further preferred embodiment of a melting apparatus according to the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 3 very schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a melting container for a preferred embodiment of a melting apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] FIG. 1 very schematically shows an embodiment of a melting apparatus according to the present invention, which is labeled 100 in its entirety.

[0029] Melting apparatus 100 comprises a melting container 110 for the reception of paraffin 1 to be melted, and a storage container 190 for storing molten paraffin 4. The paraffin can be introduced or poured into melting container 110, for example, in the form of blocks or plates, pieces, beads, pellets, flakes, etc.

[0030] Melting container 110 comprises a floor having a funnel-shaped portion 111 that slopes downward toward an outflow 112. A sieve 130 for retaining solid paraffin 1 is arranged at the outflow. A valve for blocking a fluid connection 113 between melting container 110 and storage container 190 can also be provided.

[0031] With this embodiment it would also be conceivable to use funnel-shaped paraffin blocks.

[0032] Melting container 110 is heated by a melting container heating device, configured here as a resistance heating element, in the region around outflow 112. Paraffin melting on the heated portion 111 can thus flow downward (in the Figure) to outflow 112, and from there to storage container 190.

[0033] An alternative embodiment of a melting container 110 is depicted in FIG. 3. Metallic bodies 4 are arranged in melting container 110 together with paraffin 1 to be melted. The metallic bodies can in particular be embedded as metallic particles in paraffin 1 to be melted, and/or they can be mounted in melting container 110, for example in the form of an arrangement 4 of lined-up or skewered spheres or the like.

[0034] In order to induce eddy currents in metallic bodies 4, the melting apparatus comprises at least one inductor 120 that can be embodied in particular in the form of a flat induction coil. Inductor 120 is arranged below a floor of melting container 110.

[0035] For withdrawal or release of the molten paraffin into storage container 190, melting container 110 comprises an opening having an optional valve 130.

[0036] Storage container 190 is heated by a storage container heating device 191 that is embodied, for example, as an inductor or induction coil that heats a metallic floor and/or metallic walls of storage container 190, and/or metallic bodies arranged inside storage container 190. Storage container heating device 191 can also comprise at least one resistance heating element.

[0037] A weighing device 192 (W) is provided in order to measure the weight of molten paraffin 4 in storage container 190.

[0038] Weighing device 192 can be in communication with a control device 195 that is embodied to control melting container heating device 120 and/or a valve preferably arranged between melting container 110 and storage container 190. When control device 195 recognizes that the quantity or mass of molten paraffin 4 has reached or fallen below a predefinable threshold value, control device 195 can preferably be configured to activate melting container heating device 120 and/or to open a valve (e.g. 130 in FIG. 3) that is present. When control device 195 recognizes that the quantity of molten paraffin 4 has reached or exceeded a predefinable upper threshold, control device 195 can preferably be configured to deactivate melting container heating device 120 and/or to close the valve.

[0039] A pump 193 (P) is provided for withdrawing molten paraffin 4 from storage container 190.

[0040] FIG. 2 very schematically depicts a further preferred embodiment of a melting apparatus 200 according to the present invention. Melting apparatus 200 comprises a melting container 210 in which paraffin 1 to be melted, and metallic bodies 2, are arranged. Melting apparatus 200 furthermore comprises inductors, embodied as coil windings 220, which are arranged behind a side wall of melting container 210. The coil windings can be guided, for example, around melting container 210 as a cylindrical coil, or can be arranged as flat coils next to, for example, planar side walls.

[0041] In the illustration depicted, melting container 210 comprises an oblique floor 211 that is tilted toward an outflow having a valve 230. This configuration serves to allow very easy withdrawal of the molten paraffin from melting container 210 by opening a valve 230.

[0042] Arranged downstream from the valve is a storage container 300 for molten paraffin, which is also heated, for example by means of conventional resistance heating elements 310. A fill level sensor 320 of storage container 300 serves to detect the fill level of the molten paraffin and, for example, can interact with valve 230 in such a way that valve 230 opens as soon as the fill level of the molten paraffin in storage container 300 reaches or falls below a predefinable lower threshold value, and/or closes as soon as the fill level of the molten paraffin in storage container 300 reaches or exceeds a predefinable upper threshold value.

[0043] Melting container 210 comprises a separation apparatus embodied as a detachable sieve 250, so that loose metallic particles 2 can be withdrawn from melting container 210. An oblique intermediate floor 211 serves to guide the loose metallic bodies 2 into separation apparatus 250, which can have a trough shape for collection of the loose metallic bodies. Intermediate floor 211 can be permeable to the paraffin.

[0044] A sensor 260 for determining the quantity of loose metallic bodies 2 can be provided in order to ensure timely withdrawal of the metallic bodies.

[0045] Melting apparatus 200 furthermore comprises a reservoir container 400 for paraffin 1 that is to be melted and has embedded metallic bodies 2, from which container paraffin 1 that is to be melted and has embedded metallic bodies 2 can be conveyed via a feeder, e.g. a screw conveyor system 410, into melting container 210.

[0046] Metallic bodies 2 are embodied, for example, as ferromagnetic particles that are embedded into the fragmented, in particular spherical or substantially spherical, paraffin. The size of metallic particles 2 is preferably in a range from 2 to 3 mm.sup.3.

[0047] Ferromagnetic metallic bodies can be heated more easily by induction than non-ferromagnetic ones, and in particular can also be collected and disposed of, after melting, using a magnet.