FILTER UNIT FOR A COMPRESSOR

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filter unit (10) for a compressor, comprising a housing (12) with an inlet (14) and an outlet (28) for gas to be compressed, a particle pre-filter (16) arranged downstream of the inlet (14) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed, an ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) which is configured to emit ultraviolet light and is arranged downstream of the particle pre-filter (16) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed, and a ballast (40) which is configured and arranged to control the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22). The filter unit (10) is designed in such a way that the gas to be compressed which is fed in at the inlet (14) first passes through the particle pre-filter (16), is then irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) and can finally be fed to the compressor through the outlet (28). The invention also relates to a compressor comprising such a filter unit (10) and to a method for compressing breathing air using such a compressor.

Claims

1. Filter unit (10) for a compressor, comprising: a housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (28) for gas to be compressed; a particle pre-filter (16) arranged downstream of the inlet (14) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed; an ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) which is arranged downstream of the particle pre-filter (16) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed and is configured to emit ultraviolet light; and a ballast (40) which is configured and arranged to control the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22); wherein the filter unit (10) is designed in such a way that gas to be compressed which is fed in at the inlet (14) first passes through the particle pre-filter (16), is then irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) and can finally be fed to the compressor through the outlet (28).

2. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, in which the housing (12) in the area of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) is made at least partially, preferably completely, of anodised aluminium, in particular on the inside, wherein, for example, cartridge tubes, in particular with article numbers 61089, 62333 and 60174, can be used.

3. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the housing (12) is elongate, in particular cylindrical, for example circular-cylindrical, in the region of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22).

4. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the ballast (40) is further configured to adapt the control of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) to an ambient temperature and/or a temperature of the gas to be compressed, which can be entered by a user using an input unit or can be detected by a sensor unit.

5. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a monitoring unit which is configured to monitor correct operation of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22).

6. A filter unit (10) according to claim 5, further comprising a notification unit which is operatively coupled to the monitoring unit and is configured to output a notification when a deviation from the correct operation of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) is detected.

7. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) is fastened inside the housing (12) in a vibration-damped manner, in particular by means of at least one spring clip (20a, 20b), which is preferably made at least partially from a ceramic and/or sheet metal material.

8. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one bracket (34) which is provided on the outside of the housing (12) and preferably comprises at least one damping element (36) for mechanical vibrations, for example an elastomeric damping element, wherein the bracket (34) preferably comprises at least one permanent magnet (38).

9. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) is configured to emit ultraviolet light in the UVC range, preferably at a wavelength of about 254 nm.

10. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, wherein the particle pre-filter (16) is at least of filter class F7.

11. Filter unit (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum monitoring unit (18) which is configured to provide a notification of an excessive pressure difference between the interior and the surroundings of the housing (12), and which can be arranged, in particular, in the region of the particle pre-filter (16).

12. Compressor, in particular a breathing air compressor and/or multi-stage piston compressor, comprising a compressor block with at least one compressor motor and a filter unit (10) according to claim 1.

13. Compressor according to claim 12, wherein the filter unit (10) comprises a housing (12) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (28) for gas to be compressed; a particle pre-filter (16) arranged downstream of the inlet (14) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed; an ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) which is arranged downstream of the particle pre-filter (16) in the flow direction of the gas to be compressed and is configured to emit ultraviolet light; a ballast (40) which is configured and arranged to control the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22); and a monitoring unit which is configured to monitor correct operation of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) wherein the filter unit (10) is designed in such a way that gas to be compressed which is fed in at the inlet (14) first passes through the particle pre-filter (16), is then irradiated by the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) and can finally be fed to the compressor through the outlet (28); and further comprises a control unit which is operatively coupled to or integrated with the monitoring unit and is configured to adapt the operation of the compressor, for example to switch off the compressor or to open a flush valve, when a deviation from the correct operation of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) is detected.

14. Compressor according to claim 12, further comprising a timing unit which is configured to ensure a time interval between a start-up of the ultraviolet irradiation unit (22) and of the at least one compressor motor.

15. Compressor according to claim 12, wherein a suction hose (30) which is attached, preferably sealed by means of elastic material, to the outlet (28) of the filter unit (10) is provided between the filter unit (10) and the compressor block.

16. Compressor according to claim 12, further comprising a safety device which is configured to ensure that operation of the compressor is only possible when the filter unit is in operation, wherein the safety device preferably comprises means by which operation of the compressor can exceptionally also be allowed in cases in which the filter unit is not in operation.

17. Method for compressing breathing air using a compressor according to claim 12, wherein the breathing air to be compressed is drawn in through the filter unit (10), then compressed by the at least one compressor motor and finally bottled at a pressure of, for example, between 90 and 550 bars.

Description

[0029] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become even clearer from the following description of an embodiment when said embodiment is considered together with the accompanying drawings. In detail, in the drawings:

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a filter unit according to the invention in a schematic side view;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the filter unit from FIG. 1 in a sectional view along a sectional plane AA from FIG. 1; and

[0032] FIGS. 3a and 3b show enlarged detailed views of two areas from FIG. 2.

[0033] A filter unit according to the invention is shown in each of FIGS. 1 and 2, and is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The filter unit 10 comprises a multi-part housing 12, which comprises an inlet 14 for gas on a first part 12a, which is at the top in the drawings and to which a suction hose can optionally be connected. The individual parts of the multi-part housing 12 described below are each firmly connected to one another, for example riveted, screwed, welded or the like, wherein in some embodiments it is also possible for several of the parts of the housing 12 to be formed in one piece with one another.

[0034] A chamber in this first part 12a of the housing 12 accommodates a filter material which forms an annular particle pre-filter 16 through which the gas flowing in through the inlet 14 passes before it enters the actual interior of the housing 12. Also assigned to the first part 12a of the housing 12, the filter unit 10 comprises a vacuum monitoring unit 18 for indicating a possible blockage of the particle pre-filter 16. Since the first part 12a of the housing 12 is closed at its top by a releasably clamped and sealed cap 12e, an openable access to the interior of the housing 12 can be provided at this point, through which the filter material of the particle pre-filter 16 can be removed and replaced, for example at regular intervals.

[0035] Below the first part 12a is a second part 12b of the housing 12, which is shown again in FIG. 3a in an enlarged detailed view and in which a first fastening element 20a for a rod-shaped ultraviolet irradiation unit 22 is arranged, which can be inserted and replaced by unscrewing and removing the second part 12b, which is screwed onto the third part 12c of the housing 12 described below by means of a thread (not shown). The irradiation unit 22 can be designed, for example, as a fluorescent tube for ultraviolet light with a wavelength of approximately 254 nm, by means of which any viruses, bacteria, spores, etc. present in the gas flowing inside the housing can be inactivated or killed.

[0036] In the embodiment shown, the first fastening element 20a is formed by a spring clip which holds the irradiation unit 22 in a vibration-damped manner, wherein a socket 24 for the electrical supply of the irradiation unit 22 is detachably fitted onto it from above. There is also a screwed cable connection 26 on the outside of the second part 12b of the housing 12, to which a power cable for supplying the ultraviolet irradiation unit can be fastened, wherein an electrical connection (not shown in the drawings) between the screwed cable connection 26 and the socket 24 is provided within the second part 12b of the housing 12.

[0037] From the first fastening element 20a, the irradiation unit 22 extends through a third part 12c of the housing 12 to a fourth part 12d, in which it is held in an analogous manner by a second fastening element 20b, which is also shown in FIG. 3b in an enlarged detailed view. Here, the third part 12c of the housing 12 is made of anodised aluminium, since this material reflects ultraviolet light of the said wavelength and thus both increases the efficiency of the device and counteracts excessive heating thereof. The other parts of the housing 12 can also be made of aluminium or of another material, for example stainless steel, since they are much less exposed to the radiation of the irradiation unit 22.

[0038] Finally, on the underside of the fourth part 12d of the housing 12 there is attached a flange-shaped outlet 28, to which a suction hose 30 through which the irradiated gas can be supplied to a compressor block (not shown here) is fastened in the configuration shown in the drawings. It should be noted that in the region of the third and fourth parts 12c, 12d of the housing 12 and of the outlet 28 no further accesses to the interior of the housing 12 are provided, so that on this side of the filter unit 10 on which the gas has already been irradiated and is therefore in a state ready for compression and finally bottling, no complex measures have to be taken to seal the housing 12 and at the same time critical contamination of the treated gas can be reliably ruled out.

[0039] Furthermore, it should be noted that on the outside of the housing 12, in particular in the region of the third part 12c thereof, two brackets 34 are mounted by means of mounting clamps 32, which each comprise an elastomeric damping element 36 and a permanent magnet 38 and by means of which the filter device 10 can be mounted on a surface made of a ferrous metal, for example an outside of the compressor system (not shown). Together with the fastening elements 20a and 20b mentioned above, the damping elements 36 serve to decouple the filter device 10 and in particular the ultraviolet irradiation unit 22 from the vibrations and shocks occurring during operation of the compressor block.

[0040] Furthermore, a ballast 40 in the form of a switch box is mounted on the housing 12 in a similar manner by two mounting clamps 32, and undertakes all the control tasks necessary for the operation of the filter unit 10 and in particular the ultraviolet irradiation unit, as well as the electrical supply via a further screwed cable connection 42 and a cable (not shown). The ballast 40 itself is fed from the mains via a connection (not shown), so that the filter unit 10 can be operated autonomously apart from this. The ballast 40 can also be operatively coupled to further electronic components which are to be provided optionally and are not shown here, such as sensors for the ambient temperature or the temperature of the gas drawn into the filter unit 10, a monitoring unit for the function of the ultraviolet irradiation unit, a notification unit for a user and/or a control unit of the compressor block.