Device for mixing solid particles of dry ice with flow of gaseous medium

Abstract

Device for mixing solid particles of dry ice and the flow of gaseous medium including a feeding element (2) rotatively placed within the fixed housing (1) having openings (12, 13) for the flow of gaseous medium and/or the flow of gaseous medium with solid particles. Between the fixed housing (1) and rotatively placed feeding element (2) the immovable elastic membrane (3) is placed. The fixed housing (1) is at the side of the elastic membrane (3) provided by at least one sealed pressure chamber (14) connected with the opening (13) for the flow of gaseous medium and/or the opening (12) for the flow of gaseous medium with solid particles.

Claims

1. A device for mixing solid particles of dry ice and a flow of gaseous medium, the device comprises a fixed housing having openings for the flow of gaseous medium and/or the flow of gaseous medium with solid particles, a feeding element rotatively placed within the fixed housing, and an immovable elastic membrane placed between the fixed housing and the rotatively placed feeding element, the fixed housing is at a side of the elastic membrane provided with at least one sealed pressure chamber connected with the opening for the flow of gaseous medium and/or the opening for the flow of gaseous medium with solid particles.

2. A device for mixing solid particles of dry ice and the flow of gaseous medium according to claim 1, wherein the fixed housing has fixed plates and also comprises distancing elements between the fixed plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) Technical solution is explained more in detail on attached drawings, where:

(2) FIG. 1 shows overall exploded view of feeding disk-type device according to this technical solution;

(3) FIG. 2 shows sectional view of feeding disk-type device according to this technical solution;

(4) FIG. 3 shows detail of pressurized part of the device from the FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows sectional view of feeding roller-type device according to this technical solution.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(6) Device for mixing solid particles of dry ice with the flow of gaseous medium according to this technical solution will be further described in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4. Arrows in figures represent the direction A of dry ice granulate inlet, the direction B of the flow of compressed air and the direction AB of discharge flow of the mixture of air and granulate. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 relates to feeding disk-type device and FIG. 4 relates to feeding roller-type device.

(7) The device for mixing solid particles of dry ice with the flow of gaseous medium according to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises fixed housing 1, in this example consisting of fixed plates, wherein feeding element 2 is rotatively placed, in this example the feeding disk 2a comprising pattern of transporting cavities 21. The feeding disk 2a is rotatively placed between two fixed plates.

(8) Between fixed plates and the feeding disk 2a immovable elastic membranes 3 are placed.

(9) One fixed plate, for the sake of clarity in this embodiment, will be referred to as the upper fixed plate 1a, comprises the opening 11 for inlet of granulate, or solid particles, of dry ice from a container (not shown) and the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate, i.e. the flow of gaseous medium with solid particles. The other fixed plate 1b, for the sake of clarity in this embodiment, will be referred to as the lower fixed plate 1b, comprises the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air, i.e. the flow of gaseous medium. The opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air corresponds with the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate.

(10) The upper fixed plate 1a comprises at the side of adjacent immovable membrane 3, in the area of the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate, sealed pressure chamber 14 connected with the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate. In this embodiment, sealed pressure chamber 14, is made in the form of two pairs of grooves extending form opposite edges of the opening 12 for discharge of air with granulate. Sealing of the pressure chamber 14, is in this example realized by the sealing 15 placed in the groove 16 created around the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate.

(11) In the same manner, lower fixed plate 1b comprises at the side of adjacent immovable membrane 3, in the area of the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air, sealed pressure chamber 14 connected with the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air. Embodiment of sealed pressure chamber 14, is identical as in above mentioned upper fixed plate 1a, and so is the embodiment of sealing of this pressure chamber 14.

(12) Fixed plates 1a, 1b further comprise pressure release channels 17 for releasing remaining air pressure out of transporting cavities 21 in the feeding disk 2a.

(13) Fixed plates 1a, 1b are further provided by connecting means 18 for their mutual coupling. In this example, connection means 18 are in the form of bolts fastened in the lower fixed plate 1b, onto which the upper fixed plate 1a is mounted through related holes 19 and fastened by nuts.

(14) Constant mutual position of the upper fixed plate 1a and the lower fixed plate 1b is secured and defined by distancing elements 34. These distancing elements 34 are in this example realized by distancing sleeves put on bolts. Exactly defined distance between fixed plates 1a, 1b is essential for correct function of the device.

(15) Immovable elastic membrane 3 comprises holding elements 33 for its immovable fastening in relation to the fixed plate 1a, 1b and the feeding disk 2a. These holding elements 33 are in this example realized integrally with the immovable fixed membrane 3 in the form of eyes put on bolts, i.e. connection means 18 protruding out of the lower fixed plate 1b, or on distancing elements 34.

(16) The immovable elastic membrane 3 is provided by the opening 31 for the flow of air, or the flow of air with granulate. It means that, the immovable elastic membrane 3 between the upper fixed plate 1a and rotatively placed feeding disk 2a comprises the opening 31 for the flow of air with granulate, corresponding with the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate, and in the same manner, the immovable elastic membrane 3 between the lower fixed plate 1b and rotatively placed feeding disk 2a comprises the opening 31 for the flow of air, corresponding with the opening 13 for the flow of air.

(17) The immovable elastic membrane 3 further comprises at least one opening 32 for passage of the remaining air from transporting cavities 21 in the feeding disk 2a to the pressure release channels 17 on the fixed plate 1.

(18) During the operation of the device according to this technical from external source of compressed air is blasted-in through the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air. Granulate from the container of dry ice is led through the opening 11 for inlet of granulate to transporting cavities 21 of the feeding disk 2a. With rotation of the feeding disk 2a, granulate is transported to the opening 13 for inlet of the air, where the flow of the air discharges granulate from transporting cavities 21, while creating the mixture of air and granulate blasting out of the device through the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate. Compressed air passing through the device enters sealed pressure chamber 14, where air pressure is acting upon immovable elastic membranes 3 within the sealed area. The immovable elastic membrane 3 is forced against the feeding disk 2a within defined sealed space. Exerted force varies in relation to the amount of pressure in pressurized part, and thus tightness of the system is realized without a need for pressure dependent regulation of holding force of fixed plates 1. As sealing occurs within defined space only, the result is also reduction of friction during rotation of the feeding disk 2a by reducing the area of friction to the area of pressure channels 14 only. After discharging of transporting cavities 21, remaining pressure is equalized to ambient pressure when transporting cavities 21 pass by air discharge openings 32 that allow the air with remaining pressure to run out to pressure release channels 17 on fixed plates 1a, 1b.

(19) Embodiment according to FIG. 4 relates to the device comprising feeding roller 2b as the feeding element 2.

(20) The device for mixing solid particles of dry ice and the flow of gaseous medium according to FIG. 4 comprises fixed housing 1, wherein feeding element 2 is rotatively placed, in this example the feeding roller 2b, which comprises a pattern of transporting cavities 21.

(21) Between the fixed housing 1 and the feeding roller 2b immovable elastic membrane 3 is placed.

(22) The fixed housing 1 comprises at one side the opening 11 for inlet of granulate, or solid particles, of dry ice from a container (not shown), and at the other side the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air, i.e. the flow of gaseous medium and the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate, i.e. the flow of gaseous medium with solid particles. The opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air and the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate are in this example arranged as it is usual in devices with feeding roller.

(23) The fixed housing 1 comprises at the side of the immovable elastic membrane 3, in the area of the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air, sealed pressure chamber 14 connected with the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air. In this example, sealed pressure chamber 14 can be in particular realized as it was described in the embodiment of the device with the feeding disk 2a. Tightness of the pressure chamber 14, in this example, is also realized by the sealing 15 placed in the groove 16 created around the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air.

(24) In the same manner, the fixed housing 1 comprises at the side of adjacent immovable elastic membrane 3, in the area of the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate, sealed pressure chamber 14 connected with the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate. Embodiment of sealed pressure chamber 14, is identical as mentioned above, and so is the embodiment of sealing of this pressure chamber 14.

(25) During the operation of the device according to this invention, according to FIG. 4, air from external source of compressed air is blasted-in through the opening 13 for inlet of the flow of air. Granulate from the container of dry ice is led through the opening 11 for inlet of granulate to transporting cavities 21 of the feeding roller 2b. With rotation of the feeding roller 2b, the granulate is transported to the opening 13 for inlet of the air, where the flow of the air discharges the granulate from transporting cavities 21, while creating the mixture of air and granulate blasting out of the device through the opening 12 for discharge of the flow of air with granulate. Compressed air passing through the device enters sealed pressure chamber 14, where air pressure is acting upon the immovable elastic membrane 3 within the sealed area. The immovable elastic membrane 3 is forced against the feeding roller 2b within defined sealed space. Exerted force varies in relation to the amount of pressure in pressurized part, and thus rightness of the system is realized. As sealing occurs within defined space only, the result is also reduction of friction during rotation of the feeding roller 2b by reducing the area of friction to the area of pressure channels 14 only.

(26) Any elastic (flexible) material with suitable sliding properties and corrosion resistance can be used as material of the elastic membrane 3. In practice, it is mainly stainless steel, or steel with suitable surface treatment, or material based on plastics.

(27) Devices shown in figures and described in examples of embodiments represent particular construction embodiments. These embodiments are introduced as an illustrative example for disclosure of the technical solution. It is obvious that also other construction variants are possible within the idea of this technical solution, e.g. regarding the shape and dimensions of the pressure chamber 14, the way of sealing the pressure chamber 14, the way of securing the elastic membrane 3 to be immovable in relation to the feeding element 2, the arrangement and shape of discharge openings 32 on the elastic membrane 3, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(28) Device according to this invention is designed for mixing solid particles of dry ice with the flow of gaseous medium, especially for generating the blast of solid particles of dry ice for cleaning machines.