Self-cleaning rotary viewing hole and centrifugal machine provided with said rotary viewing hole

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fluid treatment chamber with a self-cleaning rotary sight window. The proposed rotary sight window includes a stationary frame (10); a transparent stationary panel (11) attached to the stationary frame by a leak-tight joint (41); a rotary frame (20) connected to the stationary frame (10) by a rotary joint (40); a transparent rotary panel (21) attached to the rotary frame (20) by a joint, the transparent rotary panel (21) being arranged opposite and spaced apart from the transparent stationary panel (11) by an intermediate chamber (1); and a motor (30) connected to the transparent rotary panel (21) or to the rotary frame (20), wherein the joint between the transparent rotary panel (21) and the rotary frame (20) is an interference joint (43) attached by a dimensional interference fit.

Claims

1. A fluid treatment chamber with a self-cleaning rotary sight window, the self-cleaning rotary sight window including: a stationary frame attached to a casing of the fluid treatment chamber by a first leak-tight joint; a rotary frame connected to the stationary frame by a rotary joint; a transparent stationary panel attached to the stationary frame by a second leak-tight joint; a transparent rotary panel, arranged opposite and spaced apart from the transparent stationary panel by an intermediate chamber, fitted into the rotary frame by a third leak-tight joint and in contact with the inside of the fluid treatment chamber, the intermediate chamber containing a modified atmosphere at a positive pressure above the pressure of the fluid treatment chamber, assuring a modified atmosphere leakage towards the fluid treatment chamber through the rotary joint; a modified atmosphere supply device connected to the intermediate chamber to provide and maintain the modified atmosphere at the positive pressure; a motor connected to the transparent rotary panel or to the rotary frame to cause the rotation thereof with respect to the stationary frame about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the transparent rotary panel.

2. The fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 1, wherein the transparent rotary panel is circular.

3. The fluid treatment chamber according to claim 1 wherein the transparent rotary panel is shrink-fitted into the rotary frame, the rotary frame is pre-loaded around the transparent rotary panel, and the transparent rotary panel compressed by the rotary frame, providing the third leak-tight joint in a secure and leak-tight adhesive free manner between a perimetral face of the transparent rotary panel and a coupling face of the rotary frame facing the perimetral face of the transparent rotary panel.

4. The fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 3, wherein the transparent rotary panel perimetral face and the rotary frame coupling face are both cylindrical and concentric with the axis of rotation.

5. The rotary fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 3, wherein the transparent rotary panel perimetral face and the rotary frame coupling face are faces rectified to precise dimensions within established tolerances.

6. The fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 1, wherein the rotary joint is a labyrinth seal.

7. The fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 1, wherein the fluid treatment chamber is configured for treating fluid solvents.

8. The fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 1, wherein the fluid treatment chamber further contains the modified atmosphere supplied by the modified atmosphere supply device connected to the fluid treatment chamber.

9. The fluid treatment chamber with rotary sight window according to claim 8, wherein the modified atmosphere contained in the intermediate chamber is at a pressure greater than the pressure of the modified atmosphere contained in the fluid treatment chamber.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other advantages and features will be better understood based on the following detailed description of an embodiment in reference to the attached drawings which must be interpreted in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the proposed rotary sight window, seen from the side of its transparent stationary panel, and anchored to a casing portion of a centrifugal machine, shown herein in a simplified manner in the form of a ring;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the rotary sight window shown in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross-section along the axis of the rotary sight window, said sight window being connected to the casing of a centrifugal machine provided with a fluid treatment chamber schematically shown in a simplified manner;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a zoomed view of the cross-section shown in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

(6) The attached drawings show an illustrative and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

(7) According to that embodiment, the proposed self-cleaning rotary sight window for a centrifugal machine consists of a stationary frame 10 formed by a first annular stationary frame 10a and a second annular stationary frame 10b superimposed on one another.

(8) The first annular stationary frame 10a is intended for being fixed around an opening in the casing 50 of a centrifugal machine provided with a fluid treatment chamber 51 by means of a first leak-tight joint 44, for example, in the form of one or two elastic rings pressed between said first stationary frame 10 and the casing 50 of the centrifugal machine, the first stationary frame 10a being fixed by means of screws. Preferably, the screws will be placed outside the area demarcated by said elastic rings, thereby assuring that the screws do not lead to the first leak-tight joint 44 breaking.

(9) The second stationary frame 10b consists of two halves which, when attached, define an annular channel in which the perimeter of a circular transparent stationary panel 11 is fitted. The attachment between the transparent stationary panel 11 and the second stationary frame 10b also consists of a second leak-tight joint 41, for example, in the form of one or two elastic rings pressed between said second stationary frame 10b and the transparent stationary panel 11. Several screws fix said second stationary frame 10b to the first stationary frame 10a in a leak-tight manner by means of a second leak-tight joint 41 in the form of an elastic ring.

(10) Each of said first and second leak-tight joints 44 and 41 will preferably include said elastic ring inserted into an annular groove provided for such purpose.

(11) The rotary sight window further includes an annular rotary frame 20 connected to said first annular stationary frame 10a through a rotary joint 40.

(12) Said rotary joint 40 consists of a labyrinth 42, in the form of a plurality of lubrication-free circular channels in which a plurality of circular flanges are fitted, thereby guiding a rotational movement of the rotary frame 20 while at the same time making the passage of fluids and gases through said rotary joint 40 difficult as a result of the labyrinthine configuration of the labyrinth seal 42.

(13) The rotary frame 20 is in turn connected to a flat, circular transparent rotary panel 21 through third leak-tight joint 43. Said third leak-tight joint 43 is made up of a circular stepped recess in the entire inner perimeter of the rotary frame, defining a cylindrical-shaped rotary frame coupling face 23, said rotary frame coupling face 23 being arranged opposite an also cylindrical transparent rotary panel perimetral face 22.

(14) The transparent rotary panel 21 and the rotary frame 20 have been rectified by means of cutting and/or polishing tools until the outer diameter of the transparent rotary panel 21, defined by said transparent rotary panel perimetral face 22, is slightly greater than the inner diameter of the cavity defined by the rotary frame coupling face 23 before coupling and at room temperature. The rotary frame 20 is then heated, causing it to expand, and the transparent rotary panel 21 is cooled, causing it to shrink, thereby allowing the transparent rotary panel 21 to be loosely inserted into the cavity defined by the rotary frame coupling face 23. The subsequent thermal equalization will cause the rotary frame 20 to shrink and the transparent rotary panel 21 to expand, the transparent rotary panel 21 thus being fitted into and pressed by the rotary frame 20, producing hermetic sealing between both without requiring the use of any kind of adhesives.

(15) The transparent rotary panel 21 and the transparent stationary panel 11 are arranged parallel to and spaced apart from one another by an intermediate chamber 1.

(16) To cause the rotation of the transparent rotary panel 21, it is proposed to include a motor 30, for example, a pneumatic motor, connected to said transparent rotary panel 21. In the present embodiment, the motor 30 is arranged at least partially outside the intermediate chamber 1, and going through the transparent stationary panel 11 through a circular central opening by means of a stationary connector 31, with a leak-tight joint such as those first and second leak-tight joints 44 and 41 described above formed by annular elastic joints, said motor being fixed to said circular central opening.

(17) In this embodiment, said stationary connector 31 consists of a first stationary connector 31a arranged inside the intermediate chamber 1 and linked to the first stationary frame 10a by means of two radial arms 32, and a second stationary connector 31b screwed on the first stationary connector 31a from outside the intermediate chamber 1 through said central opening of the transparent stationary panel 11, the motor 30 being supported and centered by means of said stationary connector 31.

(18) A rotor shaft which is connected to the center of the transparent rotary panel 21 projects from the end of the motor 30, such that the operation of the motor 30 causes rotation of its rotor shaft and the resulting rotation of the transparent rotary panel 21 together with its corresponding rotary frame 20. It is proposed for said connection with the transparent rotary panel 21 to be done by means of a rotary connector 33, with a leak-tight joint such as those first and second leak-tight joints 44 and 41 described above formed by annular elastic joints, being fixed to a circular central opening of the transparent rotary panel 21. Said rotary connector 33 can consist of a first rotary connector 33a arranged inside the intermediate chamber 1 and centered with respect to the circular central opening, attached to a second rotary connector 33b arranged on the opposite side of the transparent rotary panel 21 and attached to the first rotary connector 33a through said central opening of the transparent rotary panel 21, for example, by means of a thread. In such case, the direction of rotation of the transparent rotary panel and the direction for loosening said threaded attachment will be opposite directions.

(19) It is further proposed to include a conduit 60 in connection with a modified atmosphere supply device and with said intermediate chamber 1, such that it allows introducing a modified atmosphere inside the intermediate chamber 1, preferably an inert atmosphere, such as a pressurized nitrogen atmosphere, to prevent the entry of oxygen and any other product from the outside which may cause an explosion.

(20) The proposed rotary sight window is anchored to the casing 50 of a centrifugal machine provided with a fluid treatment chamber 51, in this case a centrifugation treatment chamber. Said fluid treatment chamber 51 will also contain a modified atmosphere supplied through ducts from said modified atmosphere supply device, preferably at a pressure less than the pressure of the modified atmosphere contained in the intermediate chamber of the rotary sight window.

(21) The modified atmosphere contained inside the intermediate chamber will leak little by little through the labyrinth 42 into the fluid treatment chamber 51, preventing the fluid treatment chamber 51 from contaminating the inside of the intermediate chamber 1.