Guide structure for guiding components through a cooling bath

Abstract

Guide structure (1) for guiding at least one component (6) on a path (16) through a cooling bath (15), comprising a recording unit (5), a withdrawal unit (6), and a guide (7) which serves to connect the receiving unit (5) and the removal unit (6), wherein the guide structure (1) a first partial area (2) comprising the receiving unit (5) and an initial part of the guide (7), a second partial region (3) which comprises a central part of the guide (7) and is formed from a fibre-reinforced plastic or ceramic, and a third portion (4) comprising an end portion of the guide (7) and the removal unit (6), wherein the specific thermal conductivity of the second sub-region (4) is smaller than that of the first (2) and the third (4) sub-region.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a guide structure for guiding components through a cooling bath, in particular containing liquefied nitrogen.

[0002] Cooling baths containing a liquid coolant, preferably a liquefied gas, particularly preferably liquefied nitrogen, can be used to cool components. To cool a component, it can be immersed in the liquefied nitrogen and then removed again. Depending on the length of time the component remains in the liquefied nitrogen, the component can be cooled down to the boiling point of the nitrogen. This usually means very rapid cooling from ambient temperature to, for example, approximately -190°C.

[0003] Such a cooling device typically comprises a thermally insulated container filled with cryogenic liquefied nitrogen. Insulating the container, vacuum insulation, and / or superinsulation serves to prevent the formation of condensation or ice on the container and to reduce nitrogen consumption through evaporation, as the use of an insulated container reduces the heat input into the cooling liquid.

[0004] If the component to be cooled is immersed in the cooling bath using a fixture, for example, the fixture itself is cooled in the cooling bath. When the component is removed from the cooling bath, the fixture generally also leaves the cooling bath, leaving the cooled fixture exposed to the ambient air. The moisture contained in the fixture can then form a layer of ice on the fixture, leading to icing of the fixture, which can cause problems the next time the fixture is used.

[0005] Components can also be moved along a path defined by a guide and leading through the cooling bath, and cooled in this way. In order to insert components to be cooled into such a guide, there is generally a receiving unit outside the cooling bath through which the component is inserted into the guide, and a removal unit from which the cooled component can be removed. However, the guide conducts cold stored in the cooling bath outwards to the receiving and removal unit. Since these units are located in the ambient air, they can ice up. Parts of the guide that are outside the cooling bath can also ice up. This can, for example, hinder the insertion and removal of components and lead to system malfunctions. It is therefore desirable to prevent or at least reduce this icing.

[0006] Until now, heaters have been used to prevent ice formation. To ensure the heat from the heaters is directed as effectively as possible to the areas at risk of icing, the receiving unit, the removal unit, and the guide are made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as metal. While this approach can solve the icing problem, the heat input from the heaters via the receiving unit or removal unit and the guide into the cooling bath increases nitrogen consumption.

[0007] From DE 22 49 486 A a device for treating pesticides with a volatile, liquid coolant, such as fluorocarbon or the like, is known.

[0008] From US 3,404,989 A a method for preserving a food by freezing is known, in which the food is kept in contact with liquid nitrogen.

[0009] US 4,124,997 A discloses a device for cooling and shredding car tires.

[0010] Based on this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a guide structure for guiding components which reduces the problems described with reference to the prior art. In particular, a guide structure is to be provided which is suitable for guiding components through a cooling bath and in doing so prevents icing of the parts of the guide structure located outside the cooling bath. The heat input into the cooling bath is to be kept as low as possible and thus nitrogen consumption is to be reduced. Furthermore, such a guide structure should be cost-effective to manufacture and easy to install. Likewise, existing cooling systems should be able to be retrofitted with this guide structure.

[0011] These objects are achieved with a guide structure according to the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments are specified in the respective dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the patent claims can be combined with one another in any technologically expedient manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description, particularly in conjunction with the figures, provides information on further preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0012] The guide structure according to the invention for guiding at least one component on a path through a cooling bath comprises the features specified in claim 1.

[0013] A receiving unit is a unit through which parts can be inserted into the guide, and a removal unit is a unit from which components can be removed after traveling the path defined by the guide. The receiving unit and the removal unit are located above the cooling bath, so the liquid coolant cannot leave the tank through these units.

[0014] A cooling bath is generally understood to be a liquid coolant contained in a container, preferably an insulating container, particularly preferably a vacuum-insulated and / or super-insulated container. The liquid coolant used is preferably liquefied gas, particularly preferably liquefied nitrogen.

[0015] Components can be moved through a cooling bath along a path defined by the guide. This allows the components to be cooled. Depending on the length of time they spend in the cooling bath, a specific cooling temperature can be achieved. The components pass through a receiving unit located outside the cooling bath into the guide, which is at least partially immersed in a cooling bath. The liquid coolant comes into direct contact with the components to be cooled when the components are located at a point on the guide that is immersed in the cooling bath.

[0016] According to the invention, the guide structure comprises a plurality of sub-regions that have different thermal conductivities. This is achieved by using materials with different specific thermal conductivities, such as metal in combination with ceramic or fiber-reinforced plastic, for different sub-regions. This can, for example, reduce nitrogen consumption and prevent icing or the formation of condensate above the cooling bath.

[0017] According to the invention, a guide structure is proposed in which a first partial region comprises the receiving unit and a starting part of the guide, a second partial region comprises a middle part of the guide and a third partial region comprises an end part of the guide and the removal unit, wherein the specific thermal conductivity of the second partial region is smaller than that of the first and third partial regions.

[0018] The first and third subregions are preferably formed from a material with good thermal conductivity, such as metal, so that icing that may occur in these subregions can be reduced or removed by the use of heating units. The second subregion comprises the central part of the guide, which is predominantly located in the cooling bath when the guide structure is attached to a cooling bath. The second subregion is preferably made from a material with poor thermal conductivity. A material with poor thermal conductivity is understood to mean, in particular, ceramic or fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0019] Due to the low thermal conductivity of the material used for the third sub-area, the cold stored in the liquid coolant is only conducted to the outside to a limited extent, i.e. from the cooling bath to parts of the guide structure that lie outside the cooling bath. The heat that is introduced, for example, by heating units into the receiving unit and / or the removal unit, is only conducted to a small extent into the cooling basin because the second sub-area is predominantly made of material with poor thermal conductivity, in particular ceramic or fiber-reinforced plastic. This reduces the tendency of the receiving unit and the removal unit to icing and, at the same time, reduces the heat input into the cooling bath. This also reduces nitrogen consumption. Furthermore, less heating energy is required to defrost the receiving unit or removal unit.It is even possible that the heat input from the environment is sufficient to keep the guide ice-free.

[0020] According to a further development of the guide structure, a first transition between the first and second partial areas and a second transition between the second and third partial areas are located above a filling level of the cooling bath when the guide structure is attached to the cooling bath.

[0021] The first and second transitions should be positioned in such a way that the amount of cold leaving the cooling bath via the guide and the amount of heat entering the cooling bath via the guide are minimized. Furthermore, the receiving unit, the removal unit and the part of the guide located outside the cooling bath should be able to be defrosted so well that components can be guided smoothly through the guide structure. This goal is achieved by positioning the first and second transitions above the fill level of the cooling bath. When positioning the transitions, care must be taken to ensure that the heat input from the first and third sections into the second section is large enough that the parts of the second section that lie outside the cooling bath do not freeze up to the point where their function is restricted.The closer the positions of the transitions are to the surface of the cooling bath, the lower the risk of icing of the parts of the second sub-area that lie outside the cooling bath.

[0022] According to a further development of the control structure, the first partial area can be heated by a first heating unit and / or the second partial area can be heated by a second heating unit.

[0023] These heating units are used in particular for defrosting the first and second sub-areas. The first or second heating unit can be located directly in the receiving unit or removal unit, respectively, or the use of heating units can mean that heat is supplied to the first and / or third sub-areas from outside, for example, through warm air. The heat input from the first and third sub-areas into the adjacent parts of the second sub-area can also prevent icing in the adjacent parts of the second sub-area that are above the fill level.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment, the first sub-area comprises the receiving unit, the second sub-area the guide, and the third sub-area the removal unit. This has the advantage that the three assemblies—the receiving unit, the removal unit, and the guide—can each be manufactured from a material with the desired specific thermal conductivity, thus resulting in advantages in the production of the guide structure. Furthermore, individual assemblies, in particular the receiving unit, the removal unit, or the guide, can be retrofitted.

[0025] According to an alternative embodiment, the third sub-region is formed from fiber-reinforced plastic or ceramic. Both fiber-reinforced plastic and ceramic exhibit a specific thermal conductivity suitable for the illustrated uses of the guide structure. Furthermore, these materials are well suited for shaping the guide into the desired shape.

[0026] According to a further development of the management structure, a metal is used for the first and second sections. The good thermal conductivity of metal can be used to easily defrost the metal sections with the help of a heating unit.

[0027] According to a further development of the guide structure, the guide follows a curved path. If components are moved along the guide, curved guides are particularly suitable, as they can prevent the components from becoming jammed on the guide path.

[0028] According to a further development of the guide structure, the guide can guide components with a largest dimension of less than 25 cm, preferably less than 10 cm, particularly preferably less than 5 cm.

[0029] Additionally, according to a further development of the guide structure, the guide can guide components with a maximum dimension of more than 0.1 cm, preferably more than 0.5 cm, particularly preferably more than 1 cm. The maximum dimension refers to the largest value of dimensions, such as a length, width, depth, or diameter, of a component.

[0030] The guide structure is especially suitable for cooling components of the aforementioned size, since, for example, the materials mentioned generally ensure sufficient stability of the guide structure for guiding components of this size.

[0031] The invention and its technical context will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments illustrated in the drawings do not limit the invention. Identical components are generally provided with the same reference numerals in all figures. Fig. 1 schematically shows a guide structure according to the invention attached to a cooling bath.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 shows a guide structure 1 according to the invention, which is attached to a cooling bath 15. A component 9 can be moved by a receiving unit 5 along a path 16, guided by a guide 7, to a removal unit 6. A container 8 is filled with a liquid coolant up to a fill level 14. The component 9 is contacted with the coolant along path 16 and cooled accordingly.

[0033] The receiving unit 5 contains a first heating unit 10, the removal unit 6 contains a second heating unit 11. A first partial area 2 of the guide structure 1 and a third partial area 4 of the guide structure 1 have a higher specific thermal conductivity than a second partial area 3. A first transition 12 between the first partial area 2 and the second partial area 3 is located above the fill level 14. A second transition 13 between the second partial area 3 and the third partial area 4 is also located above the fill level 14. The partial area 2 is made of ceramic or fiber-reinforced plastic so that as little cold as possible is conducted out of the cooling bath 15 via the guide 7. Nevertheless, a part of the guide structure 1 that lies above the fill level 14 tends to ice over. The icing can, for example, make it difficult for the component 9 to move smoothly through the guide 7.

[0034] The first 10 and second 11 heating units heat the sub-areas 2 and 4. These are made of a material with good thermal conductivity, such as metal, so that the heat can be easily conducted to the frozen areas. This prevents these sub-areas from icing up. Furthermore, heat from the first sub-area 2 and the third sub-area 4 reaches the part of the guide 7 located above the fill level 14 via the first transition 12 and the second transition 13, respectively. The position of the first transition 12 and the second transition 13 is selected such that icing up, which would impair the functionality of the guide structure 1, does not occur above the fill level 14. List of reference symbols 1 Management structure 2 First section 3 Second section 4 Third section 5 Recording unit 6 withdrawal unit 7 Guide 8 containers 9 Component 10 First heating unit 11 Second heating unit 12 First transition 13 Second transition 14 Filling height 15 Cooling bath 16 Way

Claims

[1] Guide structure (1) for guiding at least one component (6) along a path (16) through a cooling bath (15), comprising a recording unit (5), a sampling unit (6), and a guide (7) which serves to connect the receiving unit (5) and the removal unit (6), wherein the guide structure (1) a first sub-area (2) comprising the recording unit (5) and an initial part of the guide (7), a second sub-area (3) comprising a central part of the guide (7) and made of a fiber-reinforced plastic or ceramic, and a third sub-area (4) comprising an end part of the guide (7) and the extraction unit (6), where the specific thermal conductivity of the second sub-area (4) is smaller than that of the first (2) and the third (4) sub-area. [2] Management structure (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that a first transition (12) between the first (2) and second (3) sub-area and a second transition (13) between the second (3) and third (4) sub-area are located above a fill level (14) of the cooling bath (15) when the guide structure (1) is attached to the cooling bath (15). [3] Management structure (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the first sub-area (2) can be heated by a first heating unit (10) and / or the third sub-area (4) by a second heating unit (11). [4] Management structure (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by , that a metal is used for the first (2) and third (4) sub-area. [5] Management structure (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized by , that the guide (7) describes an arc-shaped path (16). [6] Management structure (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized bythat the guide (7) can guide components (9) with a maximum dimension of less than 25 cm, preferably less than 10 cm, particularly preferably less than 5 cm. [7] Management structure (1) according to claim 6, characterized by that the guide (7) can guide components (9) with a largest dimension of more than 0.1 cm, preferably more than 0.5 cm, particularly preferably more than 1 cm.

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