filter device

Abstract

Filter device (1) for filtering particles from an air stream, comprising an inlet channel (2) through which the air to be cleaned flows, at least one filter element (8, 8') through which it can flow, which is replaceably held in a flow channel (4), and an outlet channel (3) through which the cleaned air flows, characterized in that the filter device (1) has an insertion chamber (5) closable by a door (12), from which a filter element (8, 8') can be fed to the flow channel (4), and an output chamber (6) closable by a closure element (17, 19) into which a filter element (8, 8') can be fed from the flow channel (4), wherein the closure element (17, 19) of the output chamber (6) is locked in the closed position via a locking mechanism when the door on the insertion chamber (5) is opened and the output chamber (6) and the insertion chamber (5) is connected to the same flow channel (4).

Description

The present invention relates to a filter device for filtering particles from an air flow, having an inlet duct through which the air to be purified flows, at least one filter element through which flow can pass, which filter element is held interchangeably in a flow duct, and an outlet duct through which the purified air flows.Drum filters are known for cleaning an air stream, in which a surface of the drum filter is cleaned by means of a suction nozzle, as is known from DE 28 02 369 A1. However, such cleaning during the production process in continuous operation is only poorly suited for finer particles.DE 24 19 150 A1 discloses a device for changing particulate filter cells in the cleaning of filter walls which serve for air or gases and are arranged in a passable channel. The pure filter cells are supplied via a connection piece which is covered with a film. Before use, this film is peeled off.DE 27 54 513 A1 discloses a sealing device for filter cells in which access doors are removed for removing a used filter cell and a polyethylene bag is arranged around a flange in each case, so that the filter cell can be gripped and removed. The access doors can be fixed by nuts and threads.DE 10 2018 008 122 A1 discloses a device for filtering a contaminated air, in which a filter element can be removed and fed into a filter chamber in an air stream.DE 91 01 692 U1 discloses a filter device in an air duct system which is replaceable. For replacement, the filter device with the filter element is completely removed from the filter device and fed to a cleaning process. However, the disadvantage of such a filter device is that the production process for changing the filter elements must be interrupted.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a filter device for filtering particles from an air stream, which allows a filter element to be replaced without process interruption and is simple to operate.This object is achieved with a filter device having the features of claim 1 and with a filter device having the features of claim 8.The filter device according to the invention has an insertion chamber closable by a door, from which an element can be supplied to the flow channel, and a dispensing chamber closable by a closure element, into which an element can be supplied from the flow channel, wherein the closure element of the dispensing chamber is locked in the closed position via a locking mechanism when the door is open at the insertion chamber, and the dispensing chamber and the insertion chamber are connected to the same flow channel. This makes it possible to prevent incorrect operation when replacing a filter element, since the closure element of the dispensing chamber can only be opened when the door on the plug-in chamber is closed. Therefore, the user must first insert a filter element into the insertion chamber and close the closure element before the closure element can then be opened at the dispensing chamber. The locking mechanism is effective on the same shaft at which the insertion chamber, the flow channel and the dispensing chamber are connected to one another and form a common shaft. The shaft can preferably be oriented vertically as a drop shaft, but an orientation horizontally or in another direction is also possible. The filter device can have a plurality of such shafts one behind the other in the flow direction.Between the insertion chamber and the flow channel, an opening is preferably formed which can be closed by means of a movable cover. The opening may be released through the cover when the door is disposed on the insertion chamber in the closed position. This prevents both the opening and the door from being arranged in an open position, which leads to a suction of external air at the filter device and has effects on the production process, in particular if it is a pressure-sensitive production process, for example in fiber production. In order to ensure that the door on the insertion chamber and the opening between the insertion chamber and the flow channel are not simultaneously opened, the door can be displaceable together with the cover for opening and closing the insertion chamber. A corresponding opening in the cover then only opens up the opening between the insertion chamber and the flow channel when the displaceable door is arranged in a closed position.In a further embodiment of the invention, the cover is displaceable together with a blocking element of the locking mechanism. The blocking element can comprise, for example, a slot in which a web connected to a rotatable axle of the rotatable closure element engages, which web blocks a rotation of the axle in the region of the slot, wherein a widening is provided in the slot, at which widening the web of the axle is rotatable for opening the closure element. The web can have a rectangular cross section, for example, so that the web cannot be rotated in the region of the narrow slot, but permits rotation in the region of the widening. As a result, by displacing the blocking element with the slot relative to the web on the axle, a locking of the closure element can be effected or canceled.Preferably, at least two filter elements arranged one behind the other are arranged in the flow channel, which are designed, for example, as coarse filters and fine filters. Each filter element can have a filter surface at which suspended particles and particles are filtered out of the air, for example by screens, woven fabrics, wires or non-woven materials.Not according to the invention, the filter device has an insertion chamber closable by a door, from which a filter element can be supplied to the flow channel, and a dispensing chamber closable by a closure element, into which a filter element can be supplied from the flow channel, wherein the flow channel has at least two filter elements arranged one behind the other in the flow direction, which are coded by a different geometry and can be inserted in each case only into one of two adjacent insertion chambers of two or more adjacent insertion chambers. This ensures that each filter element is assigned only one insertion chamber due to a specific geometry, so that an exchange of the filter elements is prevented. Particularly when different filter elements are used as coarse filters or fine filters, it is possible by the coding by a geometry to prevent a different filter element from being inserted into a specific insertion chamber. Such codings can be formed, for example, by different widths, different thicknesses or other geometric shapes, such as bevels, projections or pins.Preferably, each door and / or each closure element can be positioned on the insertion chamber or the dispensing chamber in a sealed manner via a circumferential seal. It is precisely in production systems with pressure-sensitive production processes that an intake of external air at the filter device can thus be kept low.Preferably, a cover can be inserted on the filter element, covering a filter cake on the filter element, so that the unit consisting of filter element and cover can be removed from the dispensing chamber. The cover can close the filter element during the removal process, so that the separated particles that form the filter cake are held securely inside the filter element by the cover. For this purpose, the filter element can be designed as a filter cassette which has a circumferential frame around a filter surface. Furthermore, a latching or locking mechanism can optionally be provided on the cover, which can be latched or locked on the filter element, for example via a turned part. then the filter element can be removed from the dispensing chamber via the cover, wherein the cover preferably has a grip element for this purpose, so that the user can only pull out the filter element after the cover has been attached.The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a filter device according to the invention; FIGS. 2A to 2D show a plurality of perspective views of the filter device in an operating position; FIGS. 3A to 3D show several views of the filter device of FIG. 2, in which the first insertion chamber is opened; FIGS. 4A to 4D are several views of the filter device of FIG. 2 with the first discharge chamber opened; FIGS. 5A and 5B show two detail views of a cover element between the insertion chamber and the flow channel; FIG. 6 is a view of a filter element and a cover prior to assembly; FIGS. 7A to 7C show several views of the filter element of FIG. 6 with the cover mounted, and FIG. 8 shows a view of two different filter elements.A filter device 1 serves for filtration of an air stream, for example in a production plant for fibers or filaments or for cleaning combustion waste gases. The filter device 1 comprises an inlet channel 2 at which the air to be purified flows in and an outlet channel 3 from which the purified air flows out. Between the inlet channel 2 and the outlet channel 3 one or more chambers are arranged in a flow channel 4, in which a filter element 8 or 8' can be positioned.In order to be able to change the filter element arranged in the flow channel 4 during operation, an insertion chamber 5 and an outlet chamber 6 are provided adjacent to the flow channel 4. The inlet channel 2 is connected to a chamber in the flow channel 4, which is in turn connected to the outlet channel 3. Such a shaft can be arranged one or several times behind one another, as seen in the direction of flow, for example in order to use a filter element 8 as a coarse filter and a filter element 8' as a fine filter. However, the replacement of the used filter elements 8 or 8' is carried out in the same manner.In operation, a filter element 8 or 8' is arranged in the flow channel 4 and is supported by a stop or a filter element 8 or 8' in the dispensing chamber 6. For inserting a new filter element 8 or 8' it is inserted into the associated insertion chamber 5 which is then closed. Subsequently, a filter element 8 or 8' is removed from the dispensing chamber 6, so that either immediately or after closing a closure element on the dispensing chamber 6, the filter element 8 or 8' arranged in the flow channel 4 is displaced into the dispensing chamber 6, optionally via a spring element or the force of gravity. The filter element 8 or 8' arranged in the insertion chamber 5 can then slide down in the flow channel 4, optionally by gravity or a spring element. For this purpose, corresponding guide means, such as walls or guide strips, can be provided.The principle of the filter device, which is only schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, will now be described in detail:In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the filter device 1 is shown, which has a frame 9, on which a housing 10 is held. The housing 10 is formed in a central region as a flow channel which is connected on one side to an inlet channel 2 and on the opposite side to an outlet channel 3. Between the inlet channel 2 and the outlet channel 3, two chambers are formed on the flow channel 4, on each of which a filter element 8 or 8' can be positioned.The housing 10 has in the upper region a hood 11 on which two insertion chambers 5 for a filter element 8 or 8' are formed. Each insertion chamber 5 can be closed by a door 12 which is designed as a sliding door and can be displaced by a grip element 15. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, both openings to the insertion chambers 5 are closed.Two dispensing chambers 6 are arranged below the flow channel 4, wherein one dispensing chamber 6 can be closed by a closure element 17 and another dispensing chamber can be closed by a closure element 19. The closure element 17 is rotatably mounted on an axis 18 and the closure element 19 is rotatable about an axis 20.In the operating position, the two closure elements 17 and 19 of the dispensing chambers 6 are locked against opening. For this purpose, a blocking element is provided, which is displaceable together with the door. As can be seen from the top view of FIG. 2C and the enlarged view of FIG. 2D, the blocking element comprises a slot 23, at the end side of which a widening 22 is formed. A web 21 engages in the slot 23, which is rectangular in cross section and is blocked against rotational movement by the walls on the slot. The web 21 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the axle 18 or is formed integrally therewith. The web 21 on the left-hand side in FIG. 2D is connected to the axle 20 in a rotationally fixed manner or is formed integrally therewith. Blocking a rotational movement of the webs 21 thus prevents a pivoting movement of the closure elements 17 and 19. In this central position of the door 12, an accidental opening of the closure elements 17 and 19 is thus prevented, since during a replacement process a new filter element 8 or 8' must first be inserted into an insertion chamber 5.In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the filter device 1 is shown in a position in which the door 12 has been displaced in order to open an opening 13 for the insertion chamber 5 on the right side. The movement of the door 12 takes place via the grip element 15, with which the blocking element is simultaneously also moved. When the insertion chamber 5 is open on the right side, a filter element 8 can be inserted, wherein the geometry of the insertion chamber 5 on the right side is designed such that only a specific filter element 8 can be inserted, for example all filter elements 8 of the same geometry, which then each form a coarse filter.In this position of the door 12, the closure element 19 can also be opened on the left side. This is because the blocking element has been displaced with a plate 24 so that the web 21 is now no longer arranged on the axle 20 in the region of the slot 23, but in the region of the widening 22. In this position, the filter element 8' can optionally be pulled out in the dispensing chamber 6.If, during the filter change, the filter element 8 in the flow channel 4 is to be changed first, after the filter element 8 has been inserted into the insertion chamber 5, the door 12 is closed and moved into the position illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The door 12 closes the opening 13 to the insertion chamber 5 on the right side, but opens an opening 14 to the insertion chamber 5 on the left side for a filter element 8'. The blocking element has also been displaced by the movement of the door 12 into the right end position, so that the web 21, which is connected to the axis 18 or is formed integrally, is now arranged in the widening 22, so that the closure element 17 can now be pivoted about the axis 18. In this position, a filter element 8 can now be removed from the dispensing chamber 6. By removing the filter element 8 arranged in the dispensing chamber 6, the filter element 8 to be changed arranged in the flow channel 4 can now slide downward, so that the filter element 8 can thereby slide downward in the insertion chamber 5 into the flow channel 4. In practice, it is often the case that the filter element 8 located in the flow channel 4 is pressed against a stop by the air stream to be cleaned, in particular if external air is sucked in through the opened dispensing chamber 6. The filter element 8 is then displaced in the flow channel and the filter element 8 in the insertion chamber 5 only when the closure element 17 is closed, so that a negative pressure builds up in the output chamber 6, which ensures that the filter element 8 is detached in the flow channel 4. Optionally, a displacement of the filter elements 8 can also be assisted or stimulated by mechanical means.After the filter element 8 has been changed as a coarse filter in the flow channel 4, a change of the filter element 8' as a fine filter can now be carried out, wherein for this purpose a cleaned filter element 8' is first inserted into the insertion chamber 5 when the door 12 is arranged in the right end position according to FIG. 4B. Subsequently, the door 12 may be moved to the left end position shown in FIG. 3B. In this position, the left insertion chamber 5 is closed and a passage from the insertion chamber 5 to the flow channel 4 is opened. In addition, the closure element 19 can be opened in order to remove the filter element 8' from the dispensing chamber 6.For removing the filter elements 8 and 8' a cover 32 can be inserted into the respective filter element 8 or 8' which can be mounted on the frame 9.In Figs. 5A and 5B, the door 12 is shown movable together with a cover 27. The cover 27 has an opening 28 and can thus selectively open or close a passage between an insertion chamber 5 and the flow channel 4. The width of the opening 28 is designed to be so wide that all filter elements 8 or 8' can slide through the opening 28. A front region on the cover 27 is also designed as a blocking element, in which the slots 23 with the widening 22 on the end side are recessed. As a result, the closure elements 17 and 19 can be blocked simultaneously with the movement of the door 12 via the grip element 15, and in addition a connection between an insertion chamber 5 and the flow channel 4 can be opened and closed.The design of the door 12 and the cover 27 ensures that, when a filter element 8 is changed, the insertion chamber 5 is always closed toward the flow channel 4. When the insertion chamber is opened at a front opening 13, as shown in FIG. 3B, the cover 27 covers the opening to the flow passage 4, so that only a small amount of external air can be sucked in. When the new filter element 8 is inserted into the insertion chamber 5, the door 12 can be pivoted into the position shown in Fig. 4B, whereby the opening between the insertion chamber 5 and the flow channel 4 is released, since then the opening 28 is located under the insertion chamber 5. However, the flow channel 4 is sealed off from the outside since the door 12 is closed. In this position, the closure element 17 can then be opened in order to remove the filter element 8 from the dispensing chamber. A gap between the filter element 8 in the flow channel 4 and the output chamber 6 can be dimensioned so small that only slight external air is sucked in during the removal of the filter element 8, which however leads to negligible pressure fluctuations and does not impair the production process.Furthermore, a projection is formed on the grip element 15 as a marking element 26, so that the user makes it easier to see whether the door is arranged in a middle closed position or in one of the two lateral open positions. Furthermore, markings can be provided for identifying the individual steps for changing the filter elements 8, 8'.In FIG. 6, a filter element 8 is shown which has a filter surface 30, for example a screen, a woven fabric, a perforated grid or a nonwoven material, wherein the filter surface 30 is surrounded by a frame 31. Guide means, for example grooves, are formed on the frame 31 in order to be able to cover the filter surface 30. In this case, a filter cake which has deposited on the filter surface 30 can be covered by the cover 32, so that, if possible, no particles are suctioned in by the external air when the filter element 8 is removed from the dispensing chamber 6, which particles then pass into the flow channel 4.In order to prevent a user from removing the filter element 8 manually from the dispensing chamber 6 without the cover 32, a rotating part 34 of a latching or locking mechanism is provided on the cover 32. After the cover 32 has been inserted onto the filter element 8, the cover 32 can be locked or latched on the filter element 8 via the rotary part 34, in order then to pull the unit consisting of filter element 8 and cover 32 out of the dispensing chamber 6 by a grip element 33 on the cover 32. The turned part 34 can be designed, for example, as a bayonet lock, which can be inserted into an opening on the filter element 8 in a first position and then effects a locking by turning through 90°.In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the cover 32 is arranged on the filter element 8, and it can be seen that the cover 32 is surrounded on the edge side by the frame 31. As a result, the filter element 8 is largely sealed. The cover 32 is plate-shaped and can be formed from a metal sheet or plastic, for example a transparent plastic, so that the inner region of the filter element 8 remains visible.The cover 32 comprises an angled portion 35 on which the rotating part 34 is rotatably mounted and on which the grip element 33 is fixed. The cover 32 can be formed in one or more parts.In FIG. 7C, a section through the filter element 8 is shown, and it can be seen that a groove 36 is formed on opposite sides, into which a rim of the plate-shaped cover 32 can be inserted. At the end side, the cover 32 can then be locked to the frame 31 via the rotary part 34.In FIG. 8, two different filter elements 8 and 8' are shown, which have a different thickness and can optionally also be formed differently in height. This ensures that only one filter element 8 of a predetermined type can be inserted into a single opening of the insertion chamber 5, so that incorrect operation due to the geometry of the filter elements 8 and 8' is reliably prevented. Each filter element 8 comprises an opening 80 on the frame 31 which can be engaged with the rotating part 34 on the cover 32. Optionally, other locking mechanisms or latching mechanisms can also be used in order to produce a releasable connection between the cover 32 and a filter element 8 or 8'.In the exemplary embodiment shown, the filter device 1 has two shafts arranged one behind the other in the flow direction, each shaft having an insertion chamber 5, a chamber in the flow channel 4 and a discharge chamber 6. At each shaft, guide means for the filter elements 8, 8' can be provided.It is of course possible to provide only one shaft or more than two shafts on a filter device 1 instead of two shafts. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the door 12 is designed to be displaceable, while the closure elements 17 and 19 are mounted pivotably. It is of course also possible to design the door 12 to be pivotable as well; in particular, instead of the one-piece door, a multi-piece door with different wings can be provided. In addition, the closure elements 17 and 19 can also be designed to be displaceable instead of pivotable.List of reference characters1 Filter device 2 Inlet channel 3 Outlet channel 4 Flow channel 5 Plug-in chamber 6 Dispensing chamber 8, 8' Filter element 9 Frame 10 Housing 11 Hood 12 Door 13 Opening 14 Opening 15 Grip element 17 Closure element 18 Axis 19 Closure element 20 Axis 21 Web 22 Widening 23 Slot 24 Plate 25 Actuating lever 26 Marking element 27 Cover 28 Opening 30 Filter surface 31 Frame 32 Cover 33 Grip element 34 Turned part 35 Angle 36 Groove 80 Opening

Claims

A filter device (1) for filtering particles from an air flow, comprising an inlet channel (2) through which the air to be purified flows, at least one filter element (8, 8') through which a flow can pass and which is held interchangeably in a flow channel (4), and an outlet channel (3) through which the purified air flows, characterised in that the filter device (1) comprises an insertion chamber (5) closable by a door (12), from which an element (8, 8') can be supplied to the flow channel (4), and a dispensing chamber (6) closable by a closure element (17, 19), into which a filter element (8, 8') can be supplied from the flow channel (4), wherein the closure element (17, 19) of the dispensing chamber (6) is locked in the closed position by a locking mechanism, when the door at the insertion chamber (5) is opened and the dispensing chamber (6) and the insertion chamber (5) are connected to the same flow channel (4).Filter device according to claim 1, characterised in that between the insertion chamber (5) and the flow channel (4) an opening is formed which can be closed by means of a movable cover (27).Filter device according to claim 2, characterised in that the opening can be opened by the cover (27) when the door (12) is in the closed position on the insertion chamber (5).Filter device according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the door (12) can be closed together with the cover (27) for opening and closing the insertion chamber (5).Filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (27) is displaceable together with a blocking element of the locking mechanism.Filter device according to claim 5, characterised in that the blocking element comprises a slot (23), in which a web (21) connected to a rotatable axle (18, 20) of the rotatable closure element (17, 19) engages, which web blocks a rotation of the axle (18, 20) in the region of the slot (23), wherein an enlargement (22) is provided on the slot (23), on which the web (21) of the axle (18, 20) is rotatable for opening the closure element (17, 19).Filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two filter elements (8, 8') arranged one behind the other in the flow direction are arranged in the flow channel (4).Filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the door (12) and / or the closure element (17, 19) can be positioned on the insertion chamber (5) or the dispensing chamber (6) in a sealed manner via a circumferential seal.Filter device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover (32) can be pushed in on the filter element (8, 8'), which cover covers a filter cake on the filter element (8, 8') so that the unit consisting of filter element (8, 8') and cover (32) can be removed from the dispensing chamber (6).Filter device according to claim 9, characterised in that the filter element is designed as a filter cassette which has a circumferential frame (31) around a filter surface (30).Filter device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that a latching or locking mechanism is formed on the cover (32), which mechanism can be latched or locked on the filter element (8, 8') in order to remove the filter cassette (8, 8') from the unit consisting of filter element (8, 8') and cover (32) via a handle element (33) arranged on the cover (32).

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