System having a process chamber for workpieces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9970706-B2
Application number	US-201615230078-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2016
Priority date	May 2, 2012
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to an installation having a process chamber which comprises an inner space having a receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has an opening for the supply or discharge of workpieces. The process chamber is constructed so as to have a device for the introduction of gaseous fluid into the inner space, which device has at least one nozzle or aperture for the production of a fluid stream curtain between the opening and the receiving region for workpieces. The process chamber has a device for supplying fresh air, with which device fresh air can be introduced into the receiving region at a side of the fluid stream curtain, which side faces away from the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An installation comprising:
a process chamber including an inner space defining a receiving region for workpieces;
an opening at one end of said process chamber for supplying or discharging said workpieces;
a blowing arrangement for blowing a gaseous fluid into said inner space;
said blowing arrangement including a nozzle for generating a fluid flow curtain of fresh air between said opening and said receiving region;
said fluid flow curtain having a first side facing toward said opening and a second side facing away from said opening and toward said receiving region;
a fresh air supply unit for introducing fresh air into said receiving region on said second side of said fluid flow curtain;
said nozzle being configured to direct said fluid flow curtain into said process chamber at an angle to form a flow eddy at said first side of said fluid flow curtain causing air at said first side to be agitated and mixed with the fresh air of said fluid flow curtain;
a diffuser disposed downstream of said nozzle and passing said fluid flow curtain therethrough; and,
said diffuser defining a mixing chamber to take up a portion of the air agitated by said flow eddy and adding said portion to said fluid flow curtain which flows into said receiving region to supplement said fresh air supplied by said fresh air supply unit.

2. The installation of claim 1 , wherein said fresh air supply unit is adapted to provide a variable fresh air volume flow into said inner space, said variable fresh air volume flow being provided into said inner space in a lock portion of said receiving region on said side of said fluid flow curtain facing away from said opening and/or in a drying portion of said receiving region on said side of said fluid flow curtain facing away from said opening and/or in a retention zone of said receiving region on said side of said fluid flow curtain facing away from said opening.

3. The installation of claim 1 , wherein said fresh air supply unit includes a conduit communicating with said receiving region and said conduit has an opening for drawing in fresh air;
said conduit includes a through-flow control device;
a control loop is connected to said through-flow control device;
said process chamber includes a detecting device for detecting status parameters thereof and emitting a signal to said control loop; and,
said control loop is configured to control the quantity of the fresh air introduced into said receiving region by said fresh air supply unit via said through-flow control device in dependence upon at least one of said status parameters.

4. An installation comprising:
a process chamber including an inner space defining a receiving region for workpieces;
an opening for supplying or discharging said workpieces;
a blowing arrangement for blowing a gaseous fluid into said inner space;
said blowing arrangement including a nozzle or orifice for generating a fluid flow curtain between said opening and said receiving region;
said fluid flow curtain having a first side facing toward said opening and a second side facing away from said opening and toward said receiving region;
a fresh air supply unit for introducing fresh air into said receiving region on said second side of said fluid flow curtain;
said fluid flow curtain being adapted to provide a constant fresh air volume flow into said inner space;
wherein said fresh air supply unit is adapted to provide a variable fresh air volume flow into said inner space, said variable fresh air volume flow being provided into said inner space in a lock portion of said receiving region on said second side of said fluid flow curtain facing away from said opening and/or in a drying portion of said receiving region on said second side of said fluid flow curtain facing away from said opening and/or in a retention zone of said receiving region on said second side of said fluid flow curtain facing away from said opening;
wherein said fresh air supply unit includes a conduit communicating with said receiving region and said conduit has an opening for drawing in fresh air;
said conduit includes a through-flow control device;
a control loop is connected to said through-flow control device;
said process chamber includes a detecting device for detecting status parameters thereof and emitting a signal to said control loop; and,
said control loop is configured to control the quantity of the fresh air introduced into said receiving region by said fresh air supply unit via said through-flow control device in dependence upon at least one of said status parameters.

5. An installation comprising:
a process chamber including an inner space defining a receiving region for workpieces;
an opening for supplying or discharging said workpieces;
a blowing arrangement for blowing a gaseous fluid into said inner space;
said blowing arrangement including a nozzle or orifice for generating a fluid flow curtain between said opening and said receiving region;
said fluid flow curtain having a first side facing toward said opening and a second side facing away from said opening and toward said receiving region;
a fresh air supply unit for introducing fresh air into said receiving region on said second side of said fluid flow curtain;
said fluid flow curtain being adapted to provide a constant fresh air volume flow into said inner space;
wherein said fresh air supply unit includes a conduit communicating with said receiving region and said conduit has an opening for drawing in fresh air;
said conduit includes a through-flow control device;
a control loop is connected to said through-flow control device;
said process chamber includes a detecting device for detecting status parameters thereof and emitting a signal to said control loop;
said control loop is configured to control the quantity of the fresh air introduced into said receiving region by said fresh air supply unit via said through-flow control device in dependence upon at least one of said status parameters;
wherein said detecting device for detecting status parameters of said process chamber is configured from the following:
i. carbon content and/or solvent content of the atmosphere in the receiving region;
ii. number and/or weight of workpieces which are arranged in the receiving region;
iii. number and/or weight of workpieces supplied to the receiving region per time unit;
iv. temperature of the exhaust air from a combustion chamber of a burner in a device for the temperature control of circulating air;
v. temperature difference of gaseous fluid which is removed from the receiving region and which is supplied to the receiving region again;
vi. temperature difference of gaseous fluid from the receiving region which is supplied to the combustion chamber of the burner in the device for the temperature control of circulating air and of exhaust air from the combustion chamber of the burner; and,
vii. heat quantity per time unit which is supplied to the process chamber.

6. The installation of claim 4 , wherein said detecting device for detecting status parameters of said process chamber is configured from the following:
i. carbon content and/or solvent content of the atmosphere in the receiving region;
ii. number and/or weight of workpieces which are arranged in the receiving region;
iii. number and/or weight of workpieces supplied to the receiving region per time unit;
iv. temperature of the exhaust air from a combustion chamber of a burner in a device for the temperature control of circulating air;
v. temperature difference of gaseous fluid which is removed from the receiving region and which is supplied to the receiving region again;
vi. temperature difference of gaseous fluid from the receiving region which is supplied to the combustion chamber of th

Assignees

• Duerr Systems Ag

Inventors

• Wieland Dietmar
• Iglauer Oliver
• Knuesel Christof
• Winkler Marius

Classifications

• F26B21/50

  Ducting arrangements from the source of air or other gases to the materials or objects being dried · CPC title

• F26B21/37

  Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow · CPC title

• F26B21/35

  Temperature; Pressure · CPC title

• F26B2210/12

  Vehicle bodies, e.g. after being painted · CPC title

• F26B23/022

  incinerating volatiles in the dryer exhaust gases, the produced hot gases being wholly, partly or not recycled into the drying enclosure · CPC title