PRESSING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A pressing arrangement is disclosed, including a pressure vessel, a pressure medium supplying device configured to output a flow of pressure medium, and a pressure medium accumulator. In an embodiment, the pressure medium accumulator is positioned intermediate the pressure vessel and the pressure medium supplying device.

Claims

1. A pressing arrangement comprising: a pressure vessel; a pressure medium supplying device configured to output a flow of pressure medium; and a pressure medium accumulator comprising: at least one inlet in fluid communication with the pressure medium supplying device for receiving the flow of pressure medium output by the pressure medium supplying device; at least one outlet in fluid communication with the pressure vessel for outputting a flow of pressure medium to the pressure vessel; and at least one internal space in fluid communication with the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet, respectively; wherein the pressure medium accumulator is configured to continuously or continually accumulate pressure medium received via the at least one inlet within the at least one internal space, such that accumulated amounts of pressure medium are continuously or continually output from the at least one internal space via the at least one outlet such that the pressure medium accumulator outputs a flow of pressure medium via the at least one inlet to the pressure vessel; wherein the pressure medium supplying device is configured to output a flow of gaseous pressure medium, and wherein the pressure medium supplying device comprises at least one compressor; wherein the pressure medium accumulator is arranged such that the at least one internal space has a volume that is at least as large as a predefined constant multiplied with the volume of a compression stage of the at least one compressor, from which compression stage compressed gaseous pressure medium exits the at least one compressor, wherein the predefined constant is 3 or higher.

2. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, comprising at least one pressure medium guiding passage configured to permit passage of pressure medium, wherein the pressure vessel and the pressure medium supplying device are in fluid communication with each other by means of the at least one pressure medium guiding passage, and wherein the pressure medium accumulator is at least in part constituted by an enclosed space of a part or portion of the at least one pressure medium guiding passage.

3. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pressure medium accumulator comprises at least one tank or reservoir.

4. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pressure vessel comprises at least one flow generator, and wherein the pressure vessel comprises at least one pressure medium conduit having an inlet in fluid communication with the pressure medium accumulator for receiving the pressure medium flow output from the pressure medium accumulator and an outlet in fluid communication with the at least one flow generator such that the pressure medium flow output from the pressure medium accumulator is input into the at least one flow generator.

5. A pressing arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the at least one flow generator comprises an ejector.

6. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, comprising a press, wherein the pressure vessel is comprised in the press, wherein at least one of the pressure medium supplying device and the pressure medium accumulator is arranged separately from the press.

7. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pressure medium supplying device comprises a plurality of compressors arranged in parallel.

8. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the predefined constant is 3.5 or higher, or 4 or higher.

9. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the pressure medium supplying device comprises at least one pressure medium source.

10. A pressing arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising pressure medium flow regulating means having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the pressure medium accumulator and at least one outlet in fluid communication with the pressure vessel, wherein the pressure medium flow regulating means is configured to control the flow of pressure medium from the pressure medium accumulator to the pressure vessel.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0035] Exemplifying embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0036] FIG. 1 a schematic, in part sectional, side view of a pressing arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] The figure is schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate embodiments of the present invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The present invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments of the present invention set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a schematic, in part sectional, side view of a pressing arrangement 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pressing arrangement 100 is arranged for treatment of at least one article by means of pressing, for example by means of hot pressing such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP).

[0040] The pressing arrangement 100 comprises a pressure vessel, which comprises a pressure cylinder 1 and a top end closure 17 and a bottom end closure 16. It is to be understood that the pressure vesselwhich will be collectively referred to in the following by way of the reference numerals 1, 16 and 17may comprise additional parts, components or elements not illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0041] The pressing arrangement 100 comprises a pressure medium supplying device, schematically indicated by the element 30 in FIG. 1, which is configured to output a flow of pressure medium. For exampleand in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1the pressure medium supplying device 30 may for example comprise at least one compressor, which may be configured to output a pressurized flow of pressure medium. The pressure medium supplying device 30 mayin addition or in alternativecomprise at least one pressure medium source (e.g., comprising a tank or reservoir of pressure medium).

[0042] The pressing arrangement 100 comprises a pressure medium accumulator, schematically indicated by the element 40 in FIG. 1. The pressure medium accumulator 40 comprises an inlet 41, which is in fluid communication with the pressure medium supplying device 30 for receiving the flow of pressure medium output by the pressure medium supplying device 30, and an outlet 42, which is in fluid communication with the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 for outputting a flow of pressure medium to the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17. It is to be understood that the pressure medium accumulator 40 in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention could comprise more than one inlet and/or more than one outlet. The pressure medium accumulator 40 may for example comprise at least one tank or reservoir.

[0043] The pressure medium accumulator 40 comprises an internal space 43, which is in fluid communication with the inlet 41 and with the outlet 42, respectively. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the pressure medium accumulator 40 could comprise several internal spaces, which possibly may be interconnected with each other. According to another example, each internal space may be in fluid communication with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, respectively, which may correspond to the internal space. Thus, each internal space could have (possibly dedicated) respective inlet(s) and outlet(s) associated therewith.

[0044] The pressure medium accumulator 40 is configured to continuously or continually accumulate pressure medium received via the inlet 41 within the internal space 43 of the pressure medium accumulator 40, wherein accumulated amounts of pressure medium are continuously or continually output from the internal space 43 via the outlet 42 such that the pressure medium accumulator 40 outputs a flow of pressure medium via the inlet 41 to the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17.

[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressing arrangement 100 comprises pressure medium guiding passages 31 and 32 configured to permit passage of pressure medium between the pressure medium supplying device 30 and the pressure medium accumulator 40 and between the pressure medium accumulator 40 and the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17, respectively. Thus, the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 and the pressure medium supplying device 30 are in fluid communication with each other by means of the pressure medium guiding passages 31 and 32 and the pressure medium accumulator 40.

[0046] In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressing arrangement 100 comprises pressure medium flow regulating means 45 for example in the form of one or more valves, as illustrated in FIG. 1, which may be positioned intermediate the pressure medium accumulator 40 and the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17, in the pressure medium guiding passage 32. As further illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressure medium flow regulating means 45 may have an inlet in fluid communication with the pressure medium accumulator 40 and an outlet in fluid communication with the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17. The pressure medium flow regulating means 45 may be configured to control the flow of pressure medium from the pressure medium accumulator 40 to the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17.

[0047] For exampleand in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may comprise a flow generator 29. The pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 comprises a pressure medium conduit 33, which has an inlet in fluid communication with the pressure medium accumulator 40 for receiving the pressure medium flow output from the pressure medium accumulator 40, and an outlet in fluid communication with the flow generator 29 such that the pressure medium flow output from the pressure medium accumulator 40 is input into the flow generator 29. The flow generator 29 for example may comprise an ejector 29 (or several ejectors), but could in alternative or in addition comprise one or more fans or pumps or the like. The flow generator 29 will be further described in the following in connection with the description of other elements and components which may be comprised in the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 and which are illustrated in FIG. 1 for exemplifying purposes.

[0048] The pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may be comprised in a press, such as, for example, a HIP device as indicated in the foregoing. As indicated in FIG. 1, the pressure medium supplying device 30 and the pressure medium accumulator 40 may both be arranged separately from the press while being in fluid communication with the press, and particularly with the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 thereof. However, the pressure medium supplying device 30 and/or the pressure medium accumulator 40 could according to other examples be arranged in the press such that it or they are not arranged separately from the press, e.g., such that the pressure medium supplying device 30 and/or the pressure medium accumulator 40 are mechanically connected to the press.

[0049] As per the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 comprises a furnace chamber 18. The furnace chamber 18 may comprise a furnace, or heater or heating elements, for heating of the pressure medium in the pressure vessel for example during a pressing phase of a treatment cycle. The furnace is not shown in FIG. 1. The furnace could for example be arranged at a lower portion of the furnace chamber 18 and/or in proximity to the inner side, or lateral, surfaces of the furnace chamber 18. It is to be understood that different configurations and arrangements of the furnace in relation to, e.g., within, the furnace chamber 18 are possible. Any implementation of the furnace with regard to arrangement thereof in relation to, e.g., within, the furnace chamber 18 may be used in any one of the embodiments of the present invention described herein. In the context of the present application, the term furnace refers to the elements or means for providing heating, while the term furnace chamber refers to the area or region in which the furnace and possibly the load compartment and any article are located. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the furnace chamber 18 may not occupy the whole inner space of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17, but may leave an intermediate space 10 of the interior of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 around the furnace chamber 18. The intermediate space 10 forms a pressure medium guiding passage 10. During operation of the pressing arrangement 100, the temperature in the intermediate space 10 may be lower than the temperature in the furnace chamber 18, but the intermediate space 10 and the furnace chamber 18 may be at equal, or substantially equal, pressure.

[0050] The outer surface of the outer walls of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may be provided with channels, conduits or tubes, etc. (not shown), which channels, conduits or tubes for example may be arranged so as to be in connection with the outer surface of the outer wall of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 and may be arranged to run parallel to an axial direction of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17. A coolant for cooling of the walls of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may be provided in the channels, conduits or tubes, whereby the walls of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may be cooled in order to protect the walls from detrimental heat building up during operation of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17. The coolant in the channels, conduits or tubes may for example comprise water, but another or other types of coolants are possible. An exemplifying flow of coolant in channels, conduits or tubes provided on the outer surface of the outer walls of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 is indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrows on the outside of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17.

[0051] On the outside surface of the outer walls of the pressure cylinder 1, and possibly on any channels, conduits and/or tubes, etc. for coolant as described it the foregoing, pre-stressing means may be provided. The pre-stressing means (not shown in FIG. 1) may for example be provided in the form of wires (e.g., made of steel) wound in a plurality of turns so as to form one or more bands, and preferably in several layers, around the outside surface of the outer walls of the pressure cylinder 1 and possibly also any channels, conduits and/or tubes, etc. for coolant that may be provided thereon. The pre-stressing means may be arranged for exerting radial compressive forces on the pressure cylinder 1.

[0052] Even though it is not explicitly indicated in any of the figures, the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may be arranged such that it can be opened and closed, such that any article within the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 may be inserted or removed. An arrangement of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 such that it can be opened and closed may be realized in a number of different manners, as known in the art. Although not explicitly indicated in FIG. 1, one or both of the top end closure 17 and the bottom end closure 16 may be arranged so that it or they can be opened and closed.

[0053] The furnace chamber 18 is enclosed by a heat insulated casing 3 and is arranged so that pressure medium can enter and exit the furnace chamber 18. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the heat insulated casing 3 comprises a heat insulating portion 7, a housing 2 which is partly enclosing the heat insulating portion 7, and a bottom insulating portion 8. Not all of the elements of the heat insulated casing 3 may be arranged so as to be heat insulated or heat insulating. For example, the housing 2 may not necessarily be arranged so as to be heat insulated or heat insulating.

[0054] The pressure medium used in the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 or pressing arrangement 100 may for example comprise or be constituted by a liquid or gaseous medium which may have a relatively low chemical affinity in relation to the article(s) to be treated in the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17. The pressure medium may for example comprise a gas, for example an inert gas such as Argon gas.

[0055] As indicated in FIG. 1, the pressure medium may exit the load compartment 19 at the top portion thereof and subsequently be guided in a pressure medium guiding passage 12 between the walls of the load compartment 19 and the heat insulating portion 7, after which the pressure medium may enter into the pressure medium guiding passage 11 by way of openings 14 between the heat insulating portion 7 and the housing 2. The openings 14 between the heat insulating portion 7 and the housing 2 may possibly be provided with valves or any other type of adjustable throttle or pressure medium flow restriction means.

[0056] The pressure medium that enters into the pressure medium guiding passage 11 by way of the openings 14 between the heat insulating portion 7 and the housing 2 is guided in the pressure medium guiding passage 11 towards the top end closure 17 where it may exit the pressure medium guiding passage 11 and the heat insulated casing 3 by way of an opening 13 in the housing 2, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0057] A pressure medium guiding passage defined by the space in part defined by the inner surface of the top end closure 17 and the pressure medium guiding passage 10 are arranged to guide the pressure medium having exited the opening 13 in the housing 2 in proximity to the top end closure 17 and in proximity to an inner surface of walls of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17 (e.g., the walls of the pressure cylinder 1, respectively, as illustrated in FIG. 1) before the pressure medium re-enters into the furnace chamber 18. Thereby, an outer cooling loop may be formed by at least the pressure medium guiding passage 10 and the pressure medium guiding passage 11. In a part of the outer cooling loop, the pressure medium is guided in proximity to the inner surface of the top end closure 17 and the inner surface of walls of the pressure cylinder 1. The amount of thermal energy which may be transferred from the pressure medium during its passage in proximity to inner surfaces of the top end closure 17 and the inner surface of walls of the pressure cylinder 1 may depend on at least one of the following: the speed of the pressure medium, the amount of pressure medium having (direct) contact with the inner surface of the top end closure 17 and the inner surface of walls of the pressure cylinder 1, the relative temperature difference between the pressure medium and the inner surface of the top end closure 17 and the inner surface of walls of the pressure cylinder 1, the thickness of the top end closure 17 and the thickness of the pressure cylinder 1, and the temperature of any flow of coolant in channels, conduits or tubes provided on the outer surface of walls of the pressure cylinder 1 (indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrows on the outside of the pressure cylinder 1).

[0058] The pressure medium that is guided in the pressure medium guiding passage 10 back towards the furnace chamber 18 enters a space 26 between the furnace chamber 18or the bottom insulating portion 8and the bottom end closure 16. The furnace chamber 18 may be arranged so that pressure medium can enter the furnace chamber 18 from, and exit the furnace chamber 18 into, the space 26. For example, and in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the furnace chamber 18 may be provided with an opening in the bottom insulating portion 8 permitting pressure medium flow into or out of the furnace chamber 18. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressing arrangement 100 may comprise a fan 35 or the like for circulation of pressure medium within the furnace chamber 18. In accordance with the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the fan 35 may for example be arranged at an opening in the load compartment 19 above the bottom insulating portion 8 which permits pressure medium flow into or out of the load compartment 19.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 1, there may be provided a pressure medium conduit 28 (e.g., comprising a transport pipe) which may extend from the space 26 between the bottom insulating portion 8 and the bottom end closure 16, and through the bottom insulating portion 8, so that pressure medium from the pressure medium guiding passage 10 which enters into the space 26 can be guided via the pressure medium conduit 28 into the furnace chamber 18.

[0060] Possibly, the pressure medium conduit 28 could extend into the load compartment 19, possibly beyond the fan 35, such that the outlet of the pressure medium conduit 28 is located within the load compartment 19. The pressure medium conduit 28 could possibly be provided with one or more openings (not shown in FIG. 1), which possibly may include one or more adjustable throttles such as valves, permitting flow of pressure medium into the pressure medium conduit 28. Pressure medium which enters into the space 26 between the bottom insulating portion 8 and the bottom end closure 16 after having been guided in the pressure medium guiding passage 10 may be guided towards and into the pressure chamber 18 via the pressure medium conduit 28. This transport of pressure medium via the pressure medium conduit 28 may be in addition to the pressure medium flow output from the pressure medium accumulator 40 which is input into the flow generator 29 via the outlet of the pressure medium conduit 33 of the pressure vessel 1, 16, 17, such as described in the foregoing.

[0061] In conclusion, a pressing arrangement is disclosed, comprising a pressure vessel, a pressure medium supplying device configured to output a flow of pressure medium, and a pressure medium accumulator which is positioned intermediate the pressure vessel and the pressure medium supplying device.

[0062] While the present invention has been illustrated in the appended drawing and the foregoing description, such illustration is to be considered illustrative or exemplifying and not restrictive; the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawing, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the appended claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.