DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIAL FROM A TRANSPORT AIRFLOW

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) with which lightweight fractions, such as films or paper for example, being carried along in a carrier airflow (A) are separated and discharged for further processing. The device is characterized in that the housing can be easily opened by means of two pivotal cover hoods (3, 4) in order to allow maintenance work to then be carried our safely. The first cover hood (3) has an intermediate piece (31, 31) which extends into the housing and has chamfered surfaces (30, 30) at the ends, said surfaces assuming a known specified angle relative to the vertical, wherein the inner chamfer docks precisely against the chamfer of a guide element (27). By virtue of the arrangement of the intermediate piece (31, 31), it is possible to service the device safely with few hand movements and without the use of tools.

Claims

1. Device (1) suitable for separating light fractions from a carrier air stream (A) in a housing having at least one cover hood (3, 4) and at least one inlet opening (5) and at least one guide element (27) above a rotary valve (7), wherein the surface of a flow inlet opening of the conductive element (27) assumes a predetermined angle (a, a) to the vertical and has at least one intermediate piece (31, 31) between the conductive element (27), and the at least one flow inlet opening (32, 32) has at least one hinged cover hood (3) arranged on the first outer cover hood (3), where: the two cover hoods (3, 4) each have at least one hinge (21, 21), the axis of rotation of which is parallel and arranged on the same opposite side of the flow inlet opening (32, 32); and a suction nozzle (6) is arranged on the same side as the axes of rotation of the hinges (21, 21); and the suction nozzle (6) is designed in such a way that at least one hinge (21, 21) of at least one cover hood (3) is mounted in a mechanically stable manner above the suction nozzle (6); and the conductive element (27) at least partially encloses the surface (20) of the second covering hood (4) in a wedge-shaped manner.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the flow inlet openings (32, 32) of the intermediate pieces (31, 31) are annular and, optionally, have annular sealing elements for forming an almost airtight connection.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the surface of a second inner covering hood (4) is formed at least partially by a perforated plate (20).

4. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the second covering hood (4) is adapted to the geometric dimensions of the cellular wheel (2) to be covered.

5. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening (30) of the conductive element (27) is adapted to the opening of the intermediate piece (31).

6. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one cover hood (3, 4) is closed by means of a clamping element (15), for example a tension clamp.

7. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one hinged inspection flap (14, 14) is arranged below the inlet opening (32).

8. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one connecting surface (30, 32) of the at least one intermediate piece (31, 31) adopts a predetermined angle a, a to the vertical.

9. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pivoting cover hoods (3, 4) of the housing and the rotary valve (7) have at least one pressure support element (12, 13) at a suitable location, which is operated electrically, pneumatically, hydraulically or by spring pressure.

10. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the pivotable cover hoods (3, 4) are closed by means of tensioners (12, 13).

11. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the upper side (20) of the guide element (27) has a closed arcuate guide plate (28) and the lateral walls (29) are formed as perforated plates.

12. Method for separating light fractions from a material-laden air flow (A) in a housing having at least one cover hood (3, 4) and at least one inlet opening (32) and a conducting element (27) above a rotary valve (7), having the following method steps: Introducing an airflow (A) loaded with at least one light fraction into an enclosure through at least one inlet nozzle; Deflection of the carrier air flow (A) by means of a bent conducting element (27) into a cellular wheel sluice (7) in which a cellular wheel (2) with at least one dividing element (24) is set; a. Outlet of the air stream (A) from the rotary valve (7) via a perforated plate (20), the light flat fractions being separated; b. stripping and discharging the light fractions from the inner wall of the cellular wheel sluice (7) by means of at least one arm (24) on the cellular wheel (2) within the cellular wheel sluice (7); and c. at least one cover (3,4) is opened without screws and tools; and in that at least one intermediate piece (31, 31) for guiding the carrier air flow (A) is arranged on at least one pivotable cover hood (3, 4).

Description

[0037] In the following, the invention will be explained in detail on the basis of figures. It shows:

[0038] FIG. 1 a perspective representation of the device (1) with a cellular wheel (2) in a housing with at least two cover hoods (3, 4) in the opened state;

[0039] FIG. 2 a perspective representation of the device (1) in the closed state;

[0040] FIG. 3 a schematic side view of the device (1) with an inlet nozzle (5) and an outlet nozzle (6) positioned above the cellular wheel (7);

[0041] FIG. 4 a schematic side view of the device (1) when the two cover hoods (3, 4) are opened;

[0042] FIG. 5 a schematic sectional view of the device (1) in the closed state of the two cover hoods (3, 4) positioned above the cellular wheel (2).

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of device 1 with a cellular wheel 2 in a cellular wheel sluice 7, which is described in more detail below. The cell wheel 2 is rotatably mounted in a housing 8. The housing is essentially supported by a supporting structure which is mounted on a base frame 9. The bearings 10, 10 of the cellular wheel 2 are arranged at the side of the cellular wheel on the supporting structure. The drive 11 of the cellular wheel 2 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the bearing 10 or the gear unit. The two cover hoods 3,4 are hinged in the area of the suction pipe of the outlet nozzle 6. The covers 3, 4 each have laterally arranged pressure supports 12, which considerably facilitate the opening of the relatively heavy cover and at the same time support the guidance of the covers 3, 4. Two inspection flaps 14, 14 are arranged in the lower area of the housing, which serve to facilitate easy maintenance work.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of device 1 in the closed state. Here the two cover hoods 3, 4 are arranged in their intended working position, whereby the outer cover hood 3 is kept closed with the aid of tensioning elements 15. The main purpose of the tensioning elements 15 is to open the cover 3 quickly and safely so that possible maintenance work can be carried out quickly. The surface of the air inlet opening on the inlet nozzle 5 is inclined at a predetermined angle a to the vertical in order to allow an advantageous coupling of the nozzle 5 to the flow control system without screw connections or other fastening means which can only be operated with tools.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of device 1 with an inlet port 5 and an outlet port 6. The top cover of the first cover 3 is arched in the rear part 16 in order to create favourable flow conditions inside the housing. This prevents greater turbulence inside the housing. The side walls 17 of the first cover 3 are essentially flat metal sheets on which an inspection door 18 is arranged in a suitable position. The surface 19 of the inlet opening of the inlet connection 5 occupies a predetermined angle a to the vertical. In principle, it is irrelevant whether the surface 19 has an inclination or an inclination. As a result of the inclination, the weight of the cover 3 is reduced, which has a positive effect on the opening of the cover.

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of device 1 when the two covers 3, 4 are opened. The cellular wheel sluice, which forms part of the housing, consists in the lower part of a closed sheet metal 20 in the shape of a circular arc, which is fastened and mounted on the base construction 9. The flow outlet nozzle 6, in this illustration on the left side, is arranged slightly above the centre of the rotary valve 7 for flow reasons. To gain access to the cell wheel 2 within the cell wheel sluice 7, first loosen the tensioning elements 15 of the first cover 3 and then lift the cover 3 with the support of the pressure elements 12. The joints 21 of the first cover 3 are located above the outlet connection 6.

[0047] At least part 6 of the outlet connection 6 is mechanically stable enough to withstand the loads of the upper cover 3 and the lower cover 4. The joints 21 of the second cover hood 4 are arranged at approximately the same height as the lower side of the outlet nozzle 6, which offers considerable design advantages. The pressure support elements 13 of the second cover 4 are fixed at one end to the upper edge of the second cover 4 and at the other end 22 to the support structure for the bearing 10, 10 of the cellular wheel 2.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of device 1 in the closed state. On the axis 23 of the cellular wheel 2, five arms 24 are arranged radially in the form of a star at equal angular spacings, at each end of which a lip seal 25 is attached, which lightly touch the inner side of the cellular wheel sluice 20, 20. As already mentioned above, the lower half of the cellular wheel sluice 7 is made of a closed sheet metal 20, which has a material outlet opening 26 in the lower area, through which the light fractions, such as paper or foil, striped off by the upper part 20, are discharged.

[0049] Over the upper half of the rotary valve 7, a perforated 20 plate extends over the entire length, from which the blown air flow can at least partially escape. The flat, light fractions carried by the carrier flow remain attached to the grid of the perforated plate 20 and are then carried along by the lip seals 25, as the cellular wheel 2 rotates, and discharged through the outlet opening 26. A conductive element 27 extends over a part of the surface of the sieve-shaped part 20 of the cellular wheel sluice, approximately in the middle of the drum, over the upper part 20 of the cellular wheel sluice 7. The guide element 27 is curved and wedge-shaped and extends at least partially over the surface of the screen plate 20. The upper part 28 of the conductive element 27 is a closed plate without openings, in contrast to the lateral walls 29 of the conductive element, which are made of a perforated plate. The purpose of these perforated plates is to balance the relatively large volumes of air in the air flow to escape, so as to prevent periodic oscillations from occurring within the casing and the flow lines. The conductive element 27 terminates with an annular sealing surface 30 which is at a predetermined angle a to the vertical. The annular sealing surface 30, which extends around the inlet opening of the guide element 27, has exactly the same geometrical dimensions as the wedge-shaped intermediate piece 31 docked to it in side view, which is attached to the first cover hood 3. The second part of the wedge-shaped intermediate piece 31 practically forms an extension of the intermediate piece. In practice, the extension 31 of this intermediate piece 31 forms the inlet connection 5 for the carrier air flow A, which is composed of a mixture of air and solids. The surface 30 of the end of the inlet connection 5 also has an inclination with the angle a to the vertical, so that the entire intermediate piece, in this case consisting of two parts, is wedge-shaped in order to minimise the weight of the hinged cover 3. A sealing element for sealing the flow line is provided on each of the connection surfaces 30, 30.

[0050] In summary, it may be stated that the present invention introduces a device 1 which separates light fractions, such as foils or paper, in a carrier air stream A and then discharges them in a way that they can be reused. This device is characterised by the fact that the housing can be opened effortlessly by two hinged cover hoods 3,4 without the use of any tools, so that maintenance work can then be carried out safely. The first cover 3 has at least one intermediate piece 31, 31 which extends into the housing of the device 1 and has at its ends inclined surfaces 30, 30 which occupy a certain predetermined angle a to the vertical, the inner incline docking exactly to the incline of a guide element 27. As a result of the arrangement of the intermediate piece 31, 31, it is possible to safely clean and maintain the device in just a few steps.