Filter Device, Air Conducting Hose with Filter Element, Tunnel, and Use of the Filter Device

Abstract

A filter device for ambient air filtration has a blower housing with air inlet and air outlet. A device for generating an air flow is arranged in the blower housing and generates an air flow in operation from air inlet to air outlet. A flexible air conducting hose is provided with a first open end connected to the air outlet of the blower housing and with a second closed end. The flexible air conducting hose has openings arranged between first open end and second closed end. Filter elements are arranged in the openings, respectively. The filter elements separate a raw side inside the air conducting hose from a clean side downstream of the filter element. The air conducting hose is inflated in operation of the device by the air flow. The flexible air conducting hose has a reduced air permeability compared to the air permeability of the filter elements.

Claims

1. A filter device for ambient air filtration, the filter device comprising: a blower housing comprising an air inlet and an air outlet; a device configured to generate an air flow arranged in the blower housing, wherein the device configured to generate an air flow generates in operation an air flow from the air inlet to the air outlet; a flexible air conducting hose comprising a first open end configured to be connected to the air outlet of the blower housing and further comprising a second closed end; wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises one or more openings arranged between the first open end and the second closed end; one or more filter elements, each filter element arranged in one of the openings, respectively, and separating a raw side inside the flexible air conducting hose from a clean side downstream of the filter element; wherein the flexible air conducting hose is configured to be inflated by the air flow generated in operation of the device configured to generate an air flow; and wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises a reduced air permeability in comparison to an air permeability of the filter elements.

2. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose is air-impermeable.

3. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises an air-impermeable material or is comprised of an air-impermeable material.

4. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein an inner cross-sectional area of the flexible air conducting hose decreases from the first open end toward the second closed end.

5. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more openings each comprise a rim region surrounding the opening, wherein the one or more filter elements are fluid-tightly connected to the rim region, respectively.

6. The filter device according to claim 5, wherein the one or more filter elements are fluid-tightly connected by welding, gluing and/or pressing.

7. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises two of the openings and two of the filter elements.

8. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises three of the openings and three of the filter elements.

9. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises a plurality of the openings, wherein the plurality of the openings are spaced apart from each other in a length direction of the flexible air conducting hose or the plurality of the openings are arranged oppositely positioned to each other.

10. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises a plurality of the openings, wherein the plurality of the openings are spaced apart from each other in a length direction of the flexible air conducting hose and are arranged oppositely positioned to each other.

11. The filter device according to claim 1, further comprising a support device supporting the flexible air conducting hose at least partially along a length extension the flexible air conducting hose.

12. The filter device according to claim 11, wherein the support device comprises an inner support frame extending inside of the flexible air conducting hose, wherein the inner support frame is connected to the blower housing at least in a region of the first open end of the flexible air conducting hose.

13. The filter device according to claim 11, wherein the support device comprises an outer support frame extending outside of the flexible air conducting hose, wherein the outer support frame surrounds the flexible air conducting hose.

14. The filter device according to claim 13, wherein the flexible air conducting hose is fastened at least with the second closed end to the outer support frame.

15. The filter device according to claim 14, wherein the flexible air conducting hose is fastened to the outer support frame by a rope or a wire.

16. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the filter elements each comprise a polygonal shape and each comprise at least one folded bellows of a filter medium.

17. The filter device according to claim 16, wherein the filter medium comprises at least one adsorber selected from the group consisting of active carbon and zeolite.

18. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the blower housing comprises two of said air outlet and two of said flexible air conducting hose, respectively, wherein the two air outlets are arranged at sides of the blower housing that are facing away from each other.

19. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the air conducting hose is connected by a detachable hose interface to the air outlet of the blower housing.

20. The filter device according to claim 19, wherein the detachable hose interface comprises a first interface part arranged at the blower housing and a second interface part arranged at the first open end of the flexible air conducting hose.

22. The filter device according to claim 19, wherein the detachable hose interface comprises at least one thread and/or bayonet connecting element comprising a predetermined key-lock code.

23. The filter device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible air conducting hose comprises a flow guiding structure arranged in an interior of the flexible air conducting hose.

24. The filter device according to claim 23, wherein the flow guiding structure is comprised of a single-layer or multilayer fabric and/or film material.

25. The filter device according to claim 23, wherein the flow guiding structure forms at least two compartments in the interior of the flexible air conducting hose and the at least two compartments are at least partially closed off relative to each other.

26. An air conducting hose for a filter device, the air conducting hose comprising: a first open end configured to be connected to an air outlet of a blower housing of the filter device and further comprising a second closed end; one or more openings arranged between the first open end and the second closed end; one or more filter elements, each filter element arranged in one of the openings, respectively, and separating a raw side inside the air conducting hose from a clean side downstream of the filter element; wherein the air conducting hose is flexible and comprises a reduced air permeability in comparison to an air permeability of the filter elements.

27. The air conducting hose according to claim 26, further comprising an interface part of a hose interface at the first open end.

28. The air conducting hose according to claim 27, wherein the interface part comprises at least one thread and/or bayonet connecting element comprising a predetermined lock-key code.

29. A tunnel comprising a tunnel floor, a tunnel ceiling, and at least one tunnel wall, wherein the tunnel wall has a curved cross section shape, wherein at or in the at least one curved tunnel wall a filter device according to claim 1 is arranged.

30. A method of filtering ambient air in a tunnel, the method comprising: arranging a filter device according to claim 1 in the tunnel and passing the ambient air through the filter device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Further advantages result from the following drawing description. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The drawings, description, and claims contain numerous features in combination. A person of skill in the art will consider the features expediently also individually and combine them to expedient further combinations.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a front view of the filter device according to the invention according to a first embodiment.

[0055] FIG. 2a shows a side view of the filter device according to the invention according to the first embodiment.

[0056] FIG. 2b shows a side view according to FIG. 2a with flow arrows.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows a front view of the filter device according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the filter device according to the invention according to the second embodiment.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a front view of the filter device according to the invention according to a third embodiment.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section view of the filter device according to the invention according to the third embodiment.

[0061] FIG. 7a shows a front view of the filter device according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment.

[0062] FIG. 7b shows a longitudinal section view of the filter device according to the invention according to the fourth embodiment.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal section view of an air conducting hose according to the invention according to a first embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 9 shows a longitudinal section view of an air conducting hose according to the invention according to a second embodiment.

[0065] FIG. 10 shows a longitudinal section view of the filter device according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0066] In the Figures, same or same type components are identified with same reference characters. The Figures show only examples and are not to be understood as limiting.

[0067] The filter device 10 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 in a front view in a first embodiment. It comprises a blower housing 1 that has an air inlet in the form of an air inlet opening 11 and an air outlet in the form of an outlet opening 12. Between the air inlet opening 11 and the air outlet opening 12, a flow path is formed in which, downstream of the air inlet opening 11 and upstream of the air outlet opening 12, a device 4 for generating an air flow is present, preferably a blower, in particular radial blower. The device 4 for generating an air flow sucks in air through the air inlet opening 11 in operation and blows it under pressure out of the air outlet opening 12. An air conducting hose 2 with its first open end 21 is fastened in fluid communication to a rim of the blower housing 1 surrounding the air outlet opening 12 or to an air outlet socket (not illustrated) so that air which is blown out of the air outlet opening 12 is guided into an interior of the air conducting hose 2. At a second end 22 of the air conducting hose 2 which is facing away from the first end 21, the air conducting hose 2 is of a closed configuration. The air conducting hose 2 is embodied of a flexible material, for example, a single-layer or multilayer film and/or fabric material, and can be inflated in an operating state by means of the blower 4. When the blower 4 is not operating, the air conducting hose 2 collapses due to its minimal own stiffness. Measures in order to avoid this collapse will be disclosed in connection with FIG. 3 ff as well as in the general portion of the description as well as in the claims.

[0068] In the air conducting hose 2, three openings 23 are provided into which a filter element 3 is inserted, respectively. The filter elements 3 are each connected to a rim of the opening, i.e., connected to the material of the air conducting hose 2. The filter element 3 can be connected to the air conducting hose 2, for example, by gluing, welding, sewing. The filter elements 3 each have at least one filter medium that is configured to filter certain particles and/or pollutant gases out of the air. The filter medium can be present in particular folded to a folded bellows or in a flat shape. Also, a prefilter element can be provided that is arranged upstream of the (main) filter element in flow direction.

[0069] In FIG. 2a, the filter device 10 is shown in a side view wherein it can be seen that a cross-sectional area of the air conducting hose 2 tapers in flow direction, i.e., from the first end 21 to the second end 22, so that A.sub.1>A.sub.2>A.sub.3 applies. This has the effect that in this way the flow through the individual filter elements 3 is made more uniform so that a dirt load is distributed uniformly onto all filter elements 3 and all have approximately the same service life. Moreover, such a configuration provides for material savings for the air conducting hose 2 because the surface area is smaller, for which reason the air conducting hose 2 can be produced more cost-efficiently.

[0070] A flow through the filter device 10 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 2b. The air flows from the environment U into the air inlet opening 11 of the blower housing 1, through the device 4 for generating the air flow, to the outlet opening 12 of the blower housing 1, and from there into the interior of the air guiding hose 2, where the raw side RS is present, before it is guided through the individual filter elements 3 to the clean side CS and thus back into the environment U.

[0071] The filter device 10 according to the invention is not only particularly flexible and adaptable easily to complex, in particular curved and/or otherwise ragged, installation spaces, but also permits a surprisingly clean servicing action (=exchange of the air conducting hose). In the servicing situation, the detachable attachment of the first open end 21 of the air conducting hose 2 is detached from the air outlet opening 12 or the air outlet socket of the blower housing 1 whereupon the air conducting hose 2 can be folded substantially like a bag, wherein separated particles that are located at the raw side are retained in the interior of the air conducting hose 2.

[0072] In the simplest case, the attachment of the air conducting hose 2 at the air outlet opening 12 or at the air outlet socket of the blower housing 1 can be realized by a hose clamp which surrounds the air outlet socket with compression of the air conducting hose 2. Alternatively, a detachable hose interface can be provided that comprises a first interface part at the blower housing and a second interface part at the first end of the air conducting hose 2. This is however not illustrated in the drawings.

[0073] In FIG. 3, a filter device 10 according to a second embodiment is shown in a front view. Regarding the basic configuration, it corresponds to the first embodiment for which purpose only the differences will be explained here. In order to avoid the already described “collapse” of the air conducting hose 2 in the non-operative state of the blower 4, the filter device 10 is provided with a support device in the form of an outer support frame 5. The air conducting hose 2 is connected, at least in the region of its second end 22, to the outer support frame 5, for example, by means of a rope or wire. For attachment of the rope or wire at the air conducting hose 2, at least one reinforcement eye can be inserted into the material of the air conducting hose 2. Optionally, the air conducting hose 2 can be fastened also at additional locations to the outer frame support 5, which however is not illustrated in the drawing. The outer support frame 5 comprises four support segments 51-54 which each are formed as a parallelepipedal frame. The individual support device segments 51-54 are connected to each other respectively by at least one hinge or joint 50 which has a rotational degree of freedom. The individual support device segments 51-54 can therefore be tilted relative to each other which is illustrated in FIG. 4. The axes of rotation of the joints 50 are all parallel to each other here. In an embodiment not illustrated in the drawing, the axes of rotation of the joints 50 can however also be positioned at an angle to each other.

[0074] Such a tilting action of the support device segments 51-54 enables an adaptation of the filter device 10 to a curved installation space, for example, in a tunnel wall; the air conducting hose 2 adapts to any tilting action of the support device segments 51-54 because it is embodied in accordance with the invention from a flexible (film) material.

[0075] In FIG. 5, a further (third) embodiment of the filter device 10 according to the invention is illustrated. It differs from the second embodiment by an air permeable grid 6 which covers the air inlet opening 11. The grid 6 prevents entry of foreign matter and limits, for safety aspects, access to the interior of the blower housing 1. FIG. 6 shows this third embodiment in a longitudinal section view.

[0076] FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b show a filter device 10 according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment. It differs from the herein afore described variants in that the blower housing 1 comprises two air outlet openings 12, each having connected thereto an air conducting hose 2. The two air outlet openings 12 are supplied with air originating from a common air inlet opening 11. The air outlet openings 12 are located at sides of the blower housing 1 which are facing away from each other. Of course, this embodiment can be combined arbitrarily with features of further embodiments; in this way, in particular also in regard to this embodiment, a support device (inside or outside) can be provided that supports the air conducting hose 2 in the non-operative state of the blower 4. The filter device 10 according to the fourth embodiment has the advantage that filtered air is provided bidirectionally. For example, the filter device 10 can be installed in a ceiling region of a tunnel with the blower housing 1 arranged at the ceiling of the tunnel, wherein the two air conducting hoses 2 can extend along the tunnel walls so that fresh air can be provided in a region where persons are present. In further embodiments not illustrated in the drawing, the filter device 10 can also comprise more than two air outlet openings 12 with more than two air conducting hoses 2 which can be present, for example, about a complete circumference of the blower housing 1.

[0077] In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the air conducting hose 2 according to the invention is illustrated with at least one filter element 3. According to FIG. 8, it comprises three openings 23 each provided with a filter element 3 and, according to FIG. 9, two openings 23 each provided with a filter element 3. At the first end 21, the air conducting hose 2 is of an open configuration for connection to the air outlet opening 12 of the blower housing 1 of the filter device 10 while the second end 22 is embodied closed. The cross section of the air conducting hose 2 can be polygonal, in particular rectangular, circular, elliptical, star-shaped or designed in other ways. Due to the flexible material of the air conducting hose 2, there are hardly any limits in regard to the variety of shapes. At the first end 21, in particular a second interface part can be present that provides for a fast coupling with the first interface part at the blower housing 1. The second interface part in this context can comprise at least one thread and/or bayonet connecting element and/or a predetermined key-lock code so that mounting of filter elements that do not fit can be avoided.

[0078] Finally, in FIG. 10, a fifth embodiment is illustrated that corresponds in regard to its basic configuration to the third embodiment according to FIG. 6. However, at the air outlet opening 12 of the blower housing 1 an air conducting socket 121 is provided which extends partially axially into the interior of the air conducting hose 2. The air conducting socket 121 tapers in a direction facing away from the blower housing 1 (in flow direction) and thus provides for a flow focusing that prevents that a connecting region of the air conducting hose 2 in the region of its first end 21 will be overloaded by dynamic effects of the flow. Moreover, in the air conducting hose 2 various flow guiding structures 24 are provided which are formed preferably of the material of the air conducting hose 2 and project into the interior of the air conducting hose 2. The flow guiding structures 24 are designed as circumferentially extending intermediate walls but leave open a central flow cross section. Similar to a tapering course tapering in the axial direction, they serve for adaptation of the flow resistance in axial direction with the goal of achieving a more uniform flow through the filter elements 3. For this purpose, the flow guiding structures 24 project less far into the interior between the first and the second compartments 25a, 25b than the flow guiding structures 24 between the second and the third compartments 25b, 25c. Of course, the two measures (air conducting socket 121 and flow guiding structures 24) can also be used individually, not only in combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0079] 1 blower housing [0080] 11 air inlet opening [0081] 12 air outlet opening [0082] 121 air conducting socket [0083] 2 air conducting hose [0084] 21 first open end [0085] 22 second closed end [0086] 23 opening of the air conducting hose [0087] 24 flow guiding structure [0088] 25a, 25b, 25c compartments of the air conducting hose [0089] 3 filter element [0090] 4 device for generating an air flow (blower) [0091] 10 filter device [0092] A.sub.n local cross-sectional area of the air conducting hose [0093] 5 support device/exterior support frame [0094] 51-54 support device segments [0095] 50 joint/hinge [0096] 6 grid [0097] CS clean side [0098] RS raw side [0099] U environment