Integrated Explosion Protection Apparatus For Supervision And Control Of Advanced Electrical Apparatuses

Abstract

The invention refers to an explosion protection system for electrical apparatuses and machineries, such as manipulators or industrial robots, located in hazardous environments, i.e. environments containing explosive concentrations of inflammable gases, dusts or vapours, comprising an air supply that applies internal pressurized air into an explosion proof enclosure. The invention is achieved by a flow- and pressure sensor arranged as an integrated unit and designed to stand high dynamic forces by having low inertia, balanced arrangement of moving parts and a movement guide, e.g. an axle with a support guide, with low friction.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation of pending International patent application PCT / IB2006 / 054993 filed on Dec. 21, 2006 which designates the United States and claims priority from Swedish patent application 0502927-7 filed on Dec. 28, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a system for explosion protection of electrical apparatuses and machineries, such as manipulators or industrial robots, located in hazardous environments, such as environments containing explosive concentrations of inflammable gases, dusts or vapours. The invention is especially related to systems that apply internal pressurized air into an explosion proof casing / housing and having a purging system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Advanced electrical apparatuses and automatic machineries as e.g. robots will normally consist of a complex design including electrical components as e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The object of the present invention is to provide a pressure and purging controller and sensor apparatus that solves these problems and which is cost effective and reliable for application on advanced electrical apparatus and machineries as e.g. industrial robots and that contain a pressurized enclosure comprising sub-compartments linked together in a serial coupled set-up.

[0014]A flow and pressure / purging controller and sensor system according to the invention gives the following advantages over known and available control and sensor solutions:

[0017]the advanced and cost effective and reliable flow- and pressure (Purge) sensor and control system is able to supervise both the inlet and outlet of the complete enclosure consisting of sub-compartments and does not need local sensors in each of the sub-compartments (ref. IEC 79-2 which describe system containing sub-compartments and local air supply and control by orifices),

[0019]can be arranged at the most optimal place in the pressurized enclosure as e.g. on the upper arm of a robot manipulator and thereof obtain a simple and effective enclosure design consisting of sub-chambers as a serial coupled chamber,

[0023]the advanced flow- and pressure sensor and control system may obtain optimal air, and energy, consumption by having a combined control of the inlet and outlet air-flow and pressure level and thereof avoid arranging several local supplies and sensors to obtain a complete control of a complex enclosure comprising sub-compartments,

[0024]the advanced purge and pressure control system will be able to control several separate enclosures / machines simultaneously supervision of the air leakage level during operation mode and thereof secure an optimal air consumption as well as reduce the potential downtime of the system by giving feedback information about the status of the leakage level and thereof initiate need for preventive maintenance (as. e.g. replacement of sealing etc),

Problems solved by technology

A problem with known systems for explosion protection of electrical apparatuses is that they are heavy, voluminous, expensive and has to be provided with a number of local detectors and units for ventilation and that the systems therefore cannot be optimally located.

Another problem is that the known systems can fail, that they are not sufficiently reliable.

Another problem is that the relief valve often will be blocked by dust or paint.

Another problem is that the known systems do not obtain an optimal air consumption relief valve often will be blocked by dust or paint.

Images