DISTRIBUTOR DEVICE FOR SOLIDS-CONTAINING LIQUIDS

Abstract

A distributor device for solids-containing liquids includes a distribution chamber with an inlet opening which leads to a chamber interior space of the distribution chamber, wherein the distribution chamber has a first end wall with several connection ports and a first side wall arranged laterally to the end wall. The distributor device also includes a connecting part connecting the rotor and the blade drive shaft, which connecting part is detachably connected to the rotor and/or to the blade drive shaft, wherein a movement of the rotor is guided by the connecting part relative to the first perforated blade disk. The distribution chamber has at least one closable opening which is located in the first side wall, wherein the opening is designed at least so large that the rotor is removable from the distribution chamber through the opening.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A distributor device for solids-containing liquids, comprising: a distribution chamber with an inlet opening which leads to a chamber interior space of the distribution chamber, wherein the distribution chamber has a first end wall with a plurality of first connection ports and a first side wall arranged laterally to the end wall; a first perforated blade disc with a plurality of first outlet openings that connect the chamber interior space to the plurality of first connection ports; a blade drive shaft rotatably mounted about a drive shaft axis; a rotor coupled to the blade drive shaft for transmitting a torque about the blade drive shaft; a first cutting blade connected to the rotor and having at least one cutting edge which rests against the first perforated blade disc and is movable relative to the perforated blade disc by means of the rotor; a clamping device adapted to effect a contact force between the first cutting blade and the first perforated blade disc connected to the rotor; a connecting part connecting the rotor and the blade drive shaft, which connecting part is detachably connected to the rotor and/or to the blade drive shaft, wherein a movement of the rotor is guided by the connecting part relative to the first perforated blade disc; and at least one closable opening located in the first side wall, wherein the opening is designed at least so large that the rotor is removable from the distribution chamber through the opening.

24. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the clamping device is adjustable between a clamping state and a release state, such that in the clamping state there is a first contact force between the cutting blade and the perforated blade disc and in the release state there is a second contact force between the perforated blade disc and the cutting blade, wherein the second contact force is less than the first contact force.

25. The distributor device according to claim 24, wherein the second contact force is zero.

26. The distributor device according to claim 23, further comprising a pressure element that in the release state is positively connected to a locking element and is thereby held in the release state.

27. The distributor device according to claim 26, wherein: the pressure element is coupled to a rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable shaft is connected to a bracket and has an interface for rotating the rotatable shaft.

28. The distributor device according to claim 23, further comprising: a second perforated blade disc with a plurality of second outlet openings that connect the chamber interior space to a plurality of second connection ports; and a second cutting blade connected to the rotor and having at least one cutting edge which rests against the second perforated blade disc and is movable relative to this perforated blade disc by means of the rotor; wherein the rotor is arranged between the first and the second perforated blade disk, and the distribution chamber has a second end wall on which the plurality of second connection ports are arranged.

29. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the rotor is mounted such that the first cutting blade is movable in rotation on a movement path about the drive shaft axis.

30. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the rotor and the cutting blade are mounted such that a rotational movement of the cutting blade is superimposed on the movement of the rotor on the movement path.

31. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the connecting part for transmitting a torque is connected to the blade drive shaft and/or to the rotor by means of at least one screw connection.

32. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the blade drive shaft is connected to the connecting part in a torque-resistant manner with respect to the drive shaft axis by means of a shaft-hub connection, and the connecting part is connected to the rotor.

33. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: a width of the opening in the direction of the drive shaft axis is at least as large as the sum of the length of the rotor and the length of the first cutting blade; and a height of the opening, in the direction perpendicular to the drive shaft axis, is at least as great as the minimum height of the rotor projected perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of the opening.

34. The distributor device according to claim 33, wherein the height of the opening is at least as great as the diameter of the perforated blade disc about the drive shaft axis

35. The distributor device according to claim 23, further comprising: a mounting device which is detachably connectable to the side wall of the distribution chamber proximate an edge of the opening on at least one point; wherein the mounting device comprises a holding device which is releasably connected to the rotor for securing the rotor to the mounting device.

36. The distributor device according to claim 35, wherein: the connecting part is removable from the distribution chamber through the opening.

37. The distributor device according to claim 35, wherein: the holding device is fixable with the rotor for mounting the rotor on a position of the movement path.

38. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the first end wall of the distribution chamber is connected to the side wall by a material bond comprising any of a welded joint, a form-fit, and/or force-fit.

39. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the first end wall of the distribution chamber is fixed to the side wall with a plurality of screw connections.

40. The distributor device according to claim 23, further comprising: an O-ring for sealing the distribution chamber arranged between the first end wall and the side wall.

41. The distributor device according to claim 23, wherein: the first cutting blade has a shape with a plurality of rounded corners; the distance between at least one point on the outer contour of the cutting blade and the center of the cutting blade is at least as great as the distance between the center of the perforated blade disk and the outer edge of one of the plurality of first outlet openings; and the distance between at least one point on the outer contour of the cutting blade and the center of the cutting blade is at least as small as the distance between the center of the perforated blade disk and the inner edge of one of the plurality of first outlet openings.

42. A method for maintaining a distributor device for solids-containing liquids, wherein the maintenance method comprises the steps of: disconnecting a connection between a rotor and a drive shaft, which are coupled in a distribution chamber for transmitting a torque, so that the rotor is movable in a chamber interior space of the distribution chamber; and radial removal of the rotor from the distribution chamber through an opening located in a side wall of the distribution chamber.

43. The maintenance method according to claim 42, wherein the maintenance method further comprises the steps of: loosening the connection between a perforated blade disc and the chamber interior space; removal of the perforated blade disc from the distribution chamber through the opening.

44. The maintenance method according to claim 42, wherein the maintenance method further comprises the step of: connecting a manufacturing aid to the distribution chamber, wherein the manufacturing aid has a stop for mounting an end wall.

45. The maintenance method according to claim 44, wherein the maintenance method further comprises the step of: attaching an end wall to the distribution chamber so that the end wall touches the manufacturing aid and is aligned in a plane that is arranged perpendicular to a drive shaft axis.

46. The maintenance method according to claim 42, wherein the maintenance method further comprises the step of: tightening a plurality of connections to close the distribution chamber, wherein a defined torque or a defined angle of rotation is applied to each of the screw connections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the accompanying figures. It shows:

[0059] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cut side view of a preferred embodiment of a distributor device according to the invention;

[0060] FIG. 2a is a three-dimensional view of the distributor device with the connecting part removed and the rotor semi-extended;

[0061] FIG. 2b is a three-dimensional view of the distributor device with the connecting part removed, the rotor removed, and the perforated blade disks removed;

[0062] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first preferred embodiment showing a holding device along line III-III in FIG. 1;

[0063] FIG. 4a is a detailed view of an installed clamping device in the release state;

[0064] FIG. 4b is a top view of the clamping device;

[0065] FIG. 4c is a detailed view of the clamping device with schematically shown contact force; and

[0066] FIGS. 4d and 4e are two views of a section of the clamping device with functionality of a cotter pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0067] In FIG. 1, a distributor device 1 is shown which has a substantially cylindrical shape and has a distribution chamber 11 which has a first end wall 12 and a second end wall 13, as well as an opening 15 in a side wall, which, in particular, can also be seen in FIG. 2b. The end walls 12, 13 are arranged laterally to the side wall. At the edge of the opening 15 there is a mounting hole 14 for mounting a mounting device (not shown) or for mounting a cover (not shown) for closing the opening. Attached to the distribution chamber 11 is an inlet port 80 which has an inlet opening 90 through which the solids-containing liquid is introduced into the distribution chamber 11.

[0068] The blade drive shaft 220 is connected to a drive motor 200 by means of a screw 72, so that torque is transmitted from the drive motor 200 to the blade drive shaft 220 via a shaft-hub connection. The screw 72 fixes the rotor in its axial position. The blade drive shaft 220 performs a rotation about the drive shaft axis 100 and is supported by a bearing 210. A connecting part 70 is connected to the blade drive shaft 220 via the screw 72. The torque from the blade drive shaft 220 is transmitted to the connecting part 70 by means of a shaft-hub connection, preferably a form-fit connection, for example, designed as a spline 230. The connecting part transmits the torque to a rotor 20 and is connected to the rotor by three screws 71a, 71b, 71c.

[0069] The rotor 20 thus performs a rotational movement about the drive shaft axis 100. In this case, the drive shaft axis 100 is not arranged centrally in the distribution chamber, but is positioned somewhat elevated so that larger solid parts, for example, stones, can be collected and accumulated under the rotor in the lower part of the distribution chamber. The rotor is connected to a first cutting blade 30 with the cutting edge 40, wherein the cutting edge 40 rests against the first perforated blade disc 50, with outlet openings 51 located therein. The shearing action between the cutting edge 40 and the perforated blade disc 50 causes the solids to be broken up. The solids-containing liquid then flows from the distribution chamber 11 through the outlet openings of the perforated blade disc 51 further through a plurality of connection ports 61a, 61b, . . . and 62a, . . . , wherein the connection ports are arranged in a circular shape on the first end wall 12, and the length of the connection ports is designed alternately shorter and longer to facilitate a connection of hoses to the connection ports.

[0070] On the opposite side of the rotor 20, the rotor 20 is connected to a second cutting blade 31 with the cutting edge 41, wherein the cutting edge 41 rests against the second perforated blade disc 52, with outlet openings 53 located therein. In this case, the shearing action between the cutting edge 41 and the perforated blade disc 52 also causes the solids to be broken up. The solids-containing liquid then flows from the distribution chamber 11 through the outlet openings 53 of the perforated blade disc 52 further through a plurality of connection ports 63a, 63b, . . . and 64a, . . . , wherein the connection ports are arranged in a circular shape on the second end wall 13 and also here the length of the connection ports is designed alternately shorter and longer to facilitate a connection of hoses to the connection ports.

[0071] In addition to the connection ports, air inlet ports 95a, 95b, . . . are arranged in a circular shape on the first end wall 12. Air inlet openings 96a, 96b, . . . in the air inlet ports allow ambient air to enter the air-conducting space 97 which is located between the rotor 20 and the first end wall 12. The ambient air is thus directed through the air inlet ports 95a, 95b, . . . into the air-conducting space 97 and then through the outlet openings in the first perforated blade disc 51 further through the connection ports 61a, 61b, . . . and 62a, . . . . In addition, the air is directed through a cavity in the rotor 98 to the opposite side so that the ambient air is passed from the air-conducting space 99 through the outlet openings in the second perforated blade disc 53 further through the connection ports 63a, 63b, . . . and 64a, 64b, . . . . The air-conducting chamber 99 is sealed from the chamber interior space by means of a seal carrier 19 and a seal 18 between the seal carrier 19 and the second end wall 13, so that the liquid located in the distribution chamber cannot enter the air-conducting space 99.

[0072] In FIG. 2a, the distributor device with the connecting part 70 removed and the rotor 20 half-extended is shown. To remove the rotor 20, first the screw 72 that connects the connecting part 70 to the blade drive shaft 220 is loosened. Then the screws 71a, 71b, 71c connecting the connecting part 70 to the rotor 20 are loosened. Then the screws 72 as well as 71a, 71b, 71c and the connecting part 70 can be moved out of the distribution chamber 11 through the opening 15 in the side wall. Subsequently, and after the clamping device 500 (further discussed below) has been set in the release state, the rotor 20 can be moved radially and thus guided radially through the opening 15 in the side wall. In FIG. 2b, the rotor 20 with the cutting blades 30, 31 are already removed and the perforated blade discs 50 and 52 can also be removed radially from the distribution chamber through the opening 15 in the side wall.

[0073] In FIG. 3 a cross-sectional view of the distributor device is shown, wherein a holding device 410 is connected to the side wall 16. The holding device 410 holds the rotor 20 with the cutting blade 30 located thereon in a position in which the connecting part with the rotor 20 and the blade drive shaft 220 can be mounted or demounted. The rotor 20 can, for example, together with the holding device 410, be brought into the desired position by inserting (see arrow 400) through the opening 15 in the side wall into the distribution chamber 11 so that the cutting edge 41 rests against the perforated blade disk 50. The holding device 410 is thereby connected to the side wall 16 of the distribution chamber 11 by means of a screw connection 311b. Furthermore, the holding device 410 is connected to a cover 320 which closes a second opening in the second side wall 17 by means of a screw connection 321a, 321b. When the rotor 20 is held in the desired position by the holding device 410, the connecting part 70 can be connected to the rotor 20 and the blade drive shaft 220 and can be connected to the blade drive shaft 220 by the screw 72 and to the rotor 20 by the screws 71a, . . . . After the connecting part has been connected to the rotor 20 and the blade drive shaft 220, the holding device 410 can be removed through the opening 15 from the distribution chamber 11. The opening can now be closed with a cover (not shown), which is fastened to the side wall 16 of the distribution chamber 11 by means of a screw connection 311a, 311b.

[0074] Analogously to the existing cover 320, which closes the opening in the side wall 17, wherein the cover is fixed with the screws 321a, 321b, the opening 15 of the side wall 16 can also be closed with such a cover, wherein the cover is fixed with the screws 311a, 311b. In this exemplary embodiment, therefore, openings are present in both side walls, each of which are closeable by means of a cover.

[0075] In FIGS. 4a-e, several views of the clamping device 500 are shown. In FIG. 4a, the clamping device is shown in the installed state on the rotor 20 in the release state. Thereby, the clamping device 500 comprises fastening screws 530 and 531 which are located in holes 535 in the bracket 501. The fastening screws thus connect the clamping device 500 to the rotor 20. Thereby, the clamping device 500 has pressure elements 520 and 521, each of which is rotatably coupled on a shaft about the axes 600 and 601. Thereby, the shafts are each connected by two brackets 501 and 502, which may be separate components or an integral component. The shafts each have an interface 510 and 511 designed as an internal hexagon, with which the shaft and thus the pressure elements can be rotated to the desired position, for example, by means of a hexagon socket wrench. The clamping device 500 has several torsion springs 540, 541, 542 and 543, wherein the torsion springs each being connected to an eccentrically rotatably mounted pressure element 520, 521 and a holder, brackets 501, 502, for transmitting a torque. In the clamping state, the pressure elements 520, 521 are then connected to the cutting blades 30, 31 and exert a force on them. This results in a contact force between the cutting edges 40, 41 and the perforated blade discs 50, 52. By means of an eccentrically rotatable movability of the pressure element, it can be achieved that the contact force is kept constant in the clamping state, even if the cutting blades 30, 31 wear and the cutting edges 40, 41 become smaller due to abrasion.

[0076] In the release state, the pressure elements 520, 521 are held in a defined position by guiding cotter pins 590, 591 each through a hole 525 in the pressure element 520 and a hole in the holder 501. When the cotter pins 590, 591 are removed from the clamping device 500, the pressure elements cause a contact force between the pressure elements 520, 521 and the cutting blade 30 in contact therewith due to the applied torque M1. This then existing clamping state is shown in FIG. 4c. FIG. 4d schematically shows a turning back of the shaft and thus of the pressure element by applying a moment M2 by a tool. The pressure element can thus be rotated to a position in which the release state prevails and this position can subsequently be fixed with a cotter pin 590. In the release state, there is no contact force between the cutting edges 40, 41 and the perforated blade discs 50, so that the rotor 20 with the cutting blades 30, 31 connected thereto can be moved radially, provided that the connecting part is loosened and removed. In the clamping state, there is a contact force between the cutting edges 40, 41 and the perforated blade discs 50, so that when the rotor 20 and the cutting knives rotate, a shearing motion acts between the cutting edges 40, 41 and the perforated blade disc. Due to the shearing action the solids that are contained in the liquid are broken up, and the solids-containing liquid can be discharged via the hoses connected to the distributor device without clogging the hoses due to too large solid parts.