Adsorbent container for passive climate control of an exhibition display case

Abstract

Adsorbent container (200) for receiving adsorbent material (A) for passive climate control of an exhibition display case (V) with a housing section (100) which is provided with an opening (120) accessible from the outside, wherein the adsorbent container (200) is designed to be inserted into the opening (120), characterized in that the adsorbent container (200) is designed as a refillable cartridge (200) that can be inserted into the opening (120) accessible from the outside and which has a lid (220) that seals the opening (120).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an adsorbent container for holding adsorbent material for the passive climate control of an exhibition display case. The invention also relates to an exhibition display case equipped with the adsorbent container and to a corresponding installation module designed to be retrofitted to a housing section of an already installed exhibition display case.

[0002] Various climate control systems are known for the climate control of display cases or similar enclosed presentation devices, particularly for regulating relative humidity and / or adsorbing pollutants within such devices. So-called passive climate control aims to regulate relative humidity and / or adsorb pollutants without the use of circulating air pumps and / or actively operated filter systems. This often involves the use of an adsorbent container integrated into a housing section, such as the base of the display case. This construction is equipped with a drawer into which a cassette, serving as the adsorbent container, is inserted. This cassette is filled with adsorbent material, such as silica gel and / or activated carbon. The company "Long Life For Art" offers so-called ProSorb cassettes (https: / / llfa.de / prosorb-kassette-gross).html) available, which are usually used in mechanical drawer systems in the base, i.e. in the lower housing area, of display cases.

[0003] In DE 2020 24 100 716 U1, an exhibition display case with passive climate control is disclosed, which has a base element for accommodating climate control devices and whose construction is designed, among other things, for a standard mechanical drawer system.

[0004] Accordingly, drawer- or cassette-shaped adsorbent containers for holding adsorbent material for passive climate control of an exhibition display case are known, wherein a housing section of the display case, primarily the base, is provided with an externally accessible rectangular opening with a pull-out drawer into which the cassette-shaped adsorbent container is inserted.

[0005] However, such adsorbent containers offer only a limited contact area between the adsorbent material and the air to be purified. This is because air exchange occurs only through a restricted open front surface (the exposed part of the cassette's surface), which limits efficiency. The design requires additional installation space and mechanical guide elements. Furthermore, the cassettes must be completely replaced regularly, resulting in ongoing material and disposal costs. Additionally, achieving a secure, airtight seal of the drawer, particularly at its corners, is difficult.

[0006] Therefore, the invention is based on the objective of providing a new and significantly improved adsorbent container that advantageously overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0007] The problem is solved by an adsorbent container with the features of claim 1, which is characterized in that the adsorbent container is designed as a refillable cartridge that can be inserted into the externally accessible opening and has a lid that seals the opening.

[0008] This results in, among other things, the following advantages: ◯ The design does not require a drawer system; ◯ it can be mounted airtight on the display case; ◯ it offers a significantly larger contact area between the adsorbent material and the air; ◯ The cartridge can be refilled with various adsorption materials; ◯ The structure is accessible from the outside and easy to maintain.

[0009] Furthermore, according to independent claim 6, an exhibition display case equipped with such an adsorbent container is proposed, which has a housing section, in particular a base, which is provided with an opening accessible from the outside for inserting an adsorbent container according to the invention, i.e. an adsorbent cartridge, wherein the opening is designed to be sealed by the lid of the cartridge.

[0010] Furthermore, according to independent claim 9, a built-in module for attachment to a housing section of a display case is proposed, wherein the built-in module has a cover plate mountable to the housing section with an externally accessible opening for inserting an adsorbent container according to the invention, i.e., an adsorbent cartridge, the opening being configured to be sealed by the cartridge lid. The built-in module is particularly suitable for retrofitting to existing display cases, preferably in such a way that it replaces an existing drawer solution.

[0011] Particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims: Accordingly, the cartridge lid and the opening in the housing of the display case or the cover of the installation module each have smooth, preferably round, contours that fit together perfectly. This results in cornerless contours, making an airtight seal significantly easier and more reliable to achieve. With a preferably round contour, it is possible to securely and tightly close the round opening by screwing in the round cartridge lid, similar to a twist-off lid closure, thus creating a positive and form-fitting connection.

[0012] Preferably, the lid and its opening each have matching connecting elements, such as threads (for a twist-lock lid) or, alternatively, bayonet, clamping, or snap-lock mechanisms, to secure the cartridge inserted into the opening to the housing opening. A conical shape of the opening and lid can facilitate a precise fit and connection. If the connecting elements used allow for quick attachment (such as bayonet, clamping, or snap-lock mechanisms) but may not create a sufficiently airtight seal, additional sealing elements, such as O-rings, are used.

[0013] For the aforementioned rotary lid closure, the opening is equipped with a first thread, in particular an internal thread (e.g. round thread RD70 according to DIN 405), and the lid with a second thread engaging therein, in particular an external thread (also RD70).

[0014] Preferably, the adsorbent container, designed as a cartridge, is made of several materials, in particular inert materials including stainless steel and plastic, especially polypropylene. This means that the cartridge, and especially its filter basket in which the absorbent is filled or contained, is made of chemically inert (Latin for inactive, uninvolved, inert) materials which do not react with potential reaction partners (absorbent, air, water, reactants, etc.) under the given conditions.

[0015] Furthermore, a material mix, e.g. stainless steel (for the basket weave) and injection-molded PP plastic (polypropylene) for the housing part or the screw housing, can be implemented cost-effectively.

[0016] The cartridge according to the invention is preferably provided with an air-permeable, trough- or tube-shaped cartridge part, in particular with a filter basket, which receives the adsorbent material, wherein this cartridge part is made of corrosion-free material, in particular a stainless steel wire mesh or filter fabric. This creates a very large contact area between the adsorbent material and the air inside the display case, which in turn significantly increases the efficiency, especially compared to conventional drawer or cassette solutions.

[0017] Preferably, the cartridge is not manufactured in one piece, but consists of the air-permeable cartridge part and the lid, wherein the cartridge part, which is designed in particular as a filter basket, is detachably mounted to the lid, in particular by means of matching internal and external threads. Thus, the filter basket can be easily detached from the lid to fill it with new adsorbent material; afterwards, the assembled cartridge can be inserted directly into the opening on the display case housing or the cover of the installation module and sealed there.

[0018] It is advantageous if the opening on the housing or the cover is arranged so that the inserted cartridge part protrudes into the housing of the display case without touching any of its walls. The cartridge part containing the adsorbent material is thus freely suspended inside the display case housing or base, thereby ensuring optimal contact with the air to be purified.

[0019] It is also advantageous if two or more openings are arranged on the housing section of the display case or in the cover of the built-in module, resulting in a high degree of variability regarding the possible uses of multiple and / or different cartridges.

[0020] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which schematically depict the following: Fig.Figure 1 shows a housing section (here: the base) of an exhibition display case with openings for two adsorbent containers designed as cartridges according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows the arrangement according to Fig. 1 a variant in which the invention is designed as a built-in module which has a panel provided with openings for (subsequent) attachment to an exhibition display case; Fig. Figure 3 shows in detail the structure of a cartridge according to the invention; and Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the fitting of the cartridge with an additional particle filter as well as several size variants of cartridges.

[0021] The Fig.Figure 1 shows a housing section 100 of an exhibition display case (hereinafter also referred to as display case), the outer edges of which are indicated here only by vertical lines, since the basic structure of the display case is known and not the subject of the present invention. The housing section 100 is located in the base of the display case and serves to hold at least one adsorbent container, which according to the invention is designed as a cartridge 200. As shown in the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the display case or its housing section 100 can also have more than one opening 120, into which a cartridge 200 can then be inserted. Thus, several, possibly different, cartridges (i.e., with different sizes, shapes, etc., and / or filled with different adsorbent material) can be used.

[0022] Each cartridge 200 essentially consists of an air-permeable cartridge part 210, in which the respective adsorbent material A is located (see also Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) and which is inserted into the opening, and from a lid 220, with which the opening 120 is sealed as airtight as possible, so that the interior of the display case remains hermetically sealed against the outside ambient air.

[0023] Appropriate connecting elements ensure a secure and airtight fastening; in this case, an internal thread 125 in each opening 120 engages a matching external thread 225 on the cartridge lid 220. This creates a secure twist-lock closure in the example shown. Alternatively, other connections, particularly those that can be made quickly, are also possible, e.g., using bayonet, clamping, or snap-lock fasteners, or similar devices.

[0024] The construction of the cartridge 200 itself is explained using the Fig.Figure 3 illustrates in more detail: As can be seen there, the cartridge 200 essentially consists of two parts, namely an air-permeable cartridge part, here in the form of a filter basket 210, and a lid 220 that can be attached to it, which in turn is for the rotating lid screw connection with the respective opening 120 (see also Fig. 1 and Fig.2) is designed. A screw connection is also used to connect the filter basket 210 and the lid 220. The basket 210 has a rim with an external thread 211, which engages in a corresponding internal thread 221 provided on the lid. This has the advantage, particularly with the tubular shape of the basket 210 and lid 220 shown here, that all parts can be securely connected by the same movement (turning or screwing). Alternatively, other connecting means, such as a bayonet or clamping mechanism, are also conceivable. Depending on the application, it may be advantageous to design one thread pair 211 and 221 as a left-hand thread and the other thread pair 125 and 225 as a right-hand thread, or vice versa. It goes without saying that the basket 210 and its rim have a smaller diameter (e.g., RD60) than the opening or the lid 220 (e.g., RD70).To ensure a particularly secure seal, it can be advantageous to use a sealing ring or O-ring 225DR on the lid. To improve handling, especially to facilitate screwing in and unscrewing, the lid 220 has a foldable handle 220GR, which is preferably integrated into the outer housing structure (see figure). Fig. 1) This design is particularly easy to maintain and accessible from the outside without having to open the display case.

[0025] The filter basket 210, which is cylindrical and slightly conical, is made of a wire mesh of corrosion-resistant material, such as stainless steel. The filter basket 210 (hereinafter referred to as the adsorbent cylinder) has a length of approximately 350 mm and a diameter of less than 70 mm. Fig.Figure 4 illustrates that different sized adsorbent cylinders (200, 200*, or 200#) can be used. This allows the size to be adapted to the available installation space and the intended application (e.g., the volume of air to be cleaned and / or the required quantity of the respective adsorbent material).

[0026] Each 200-pound cartridge can be filled with any loose adsorbent material (such as silica gel, Purafil® [a Mentor Corporation brand], or other granules) or mixtures thereof, optimized for the specific application. For example, the cylindrical stainless steel basket is filled with silica gel (a porous form of silicon dioxide) to regulate relative humidity. Optionally, Purafil granules can be used to adsorb contaminants such as acids or aldehydes. Maintenance is simple: just unscrew the cylinder, replace or condition the granules, and screw it back in.

[0027] As the Fig. As also shown in Figure 4, the filter basket 210 can be additionally equipped with a fine particle filter 210PF to prevent particularly fine adsorbent material or any abrasion thereof from entering the interior of the display case (fine dust barrier). A filter paper or similar material inserted directly into the basket 210 can serve as the fine particle filter 210PF.

[0028] In summary, the following advantages, among others, result compared to a conventional drawer design: criterion Invention: Screw-in cylindrical cartridge State of the art: Prosorb cassette contact surface to the air approximately 2.1-2.3 times larger limited to an open front surface Filling material loosely fillable, regenerable permanently installed, not regenerable fastening 100% airtight with O-ring not completely sealed maintenance Refill / Condition complete replacement air circulation uniformly all around one-sided Waste quantity consumables only complete cassette Storage & Transport compact granules bulky cassettes Material flexibility Silica gel, Purafil, others Prosorb only mechanics No drawer needed Drawer mechanism required

[0029] The invention disclosed above is particularly suitable for the passive climate control of museum and exhibition display cases, using, among other things, regenerable silica gel for humidity stabilization. The invention is also very well suited for reducing pollutants in closed presentation systems, using, for example, Purafil granules or comparable adsorbents. The cartridge solution disclosed here allows for flexible conversion at any time, depending on climatic requirements, without structural modifications to the display case. The novel cartridge system completely replaces existing drawer solutions, reduces installation space and mechanical complexity, increases efficiency through a larger contact area, allows for flexible material selection, and significantly reduces operating costs and waste. The invention is not limited to the use of adsorbents (silica gel, Purafil, etc.).The invention relates to adsorption agents in which the substances to be filtered adhere to the surface of the respective adsorbent. In principle, the invention is suitable for use with all substances that can be filled into cartridges, including adsorption agents in which the substances to be filtered penetrate the volume of the absorbent and are dissolved therein or may chemically bond with it. Reference symbol list VT display case, also simply called display case 100 Housing section, here: base of the display case 110 one or more openings for inserting cartridges (see 200) EBM built-in module with BL cover for (retrofit) attachment to a display case 200 adsorbent container designed as a cylindrical cartridge (in various sizes 200, 200* and 200#) 210 air-permeable cartridge part, here designed as a filter basket, for filling with absorbent material A 210PF possibly insertable particle filter (fine dust filter) in filter basket 210 220 Lid with folding handle 220GR and sealing ring 223DR 125; 225 Fasteners, here matching threads of type RD70, for (tight) fastening of the cover 220 to opening 110 211; 221 further connecting elements, here matching threads of type RD60, for connecting filter basket 210 and lid 220 QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 2020 24 100 716 U1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Adsorbent container (200) for receiving adsorbent material (A) for passive climate control of an exhibition display case (V) with a housing section (100) which is provided with an opening (120) accessible from the outside, wherein the adsorbent container (200) is designed to be inserted into the opening (120), characterized by , that the adsorbent container (200) is designed as a refillable cartridge (200) that can be inserted into the externally accessible opening (120) and has a lid (220) that seals the opening (120). [2] Adsorbent container according to claim 1, which is designed as a cartridge (200) wherein the lid (220) and the opening (120) each have a smooth, in particular round, matching contour. [3] Adsorbent container according to claim 1 or 2, which is designed as a cartridge (200), wherein the lid (220) and the opening (120) each have connecting means (225, 125) that are compatible with each other, in particular threads, bayonet, clamping or snap-lock means, to fasten the cartridge (200) inserted into the opening (120) to the opening (120) of the housing (100). [4] Adsorbent container according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a cartridge (200) with a screwable lid (220), wherein the opening (120) has a first thread, in particular an internal thread (125), and the lid (220) has a second thread engaging therein, in particular an external thread (225). [5] Adsorbent container according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a cartridge (200), wherein the cartridge (200) is made of several materials, in particular of inert materials including stainless steel and plastic, in particular polypropylene. [6] Adsorbent container according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a cartridge (200), wherein the cartridge (200) has an air-permeable, trough- or tube-shaped cartridge part, in particular a basket (210), for receiving the adsorbent material (A), wherein the cartridge part, in particular the basket (210), is made of corrosion-free and / or inert material, in particular of a stainless steel wire mesh or filter fabric. [7] Adsorbent container according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as a cartridge (200), wherein the air-permeable cartridge part, in particular basket (210), can be attached to the lid (220), in particular screwed to it by means of matching internal and external threads (221; 211). [8] Display case with a housing section, in particular base (100), which has an opening (120) accessible from the outside for inserting an adsorbent container (200), characterized by , that the adsorbent container is designed as a refillable cartridge (200) that can be inserted into the externally accessible opening (120) and has a lid (220), and that the opening (120) is designed to be sealed by the lid (220). [9] Display case according to claim 8, wherein the opening (120) on the housing (100) is arranged such that the inserted cartridge part (210) projects into the housing (100) without touching any wall of it. [10] Display case according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the housing (100) has a plurality of openings (120) into which several, in particular different, cartridges (200) can be inserted. [11] Built-in module (EBM) for mounting on a housing section (100) of an exhibition display case for passive climate control of the same, characterized by, that the installation module (EBM) has a cover plate (B) that can be mounted on the housing section (100) and has an opening (120) accessible from the outside for inserting an adsorbent container (200), that the adsorbent container is designed as a refillable cartridge (200) that can be inserted into the opening (120) accessible from the outside and has a lid (220), and that the opening (120) is designed to be sealed by the lid (220). [12] Installation module (EBM) according to claim 11, wherein the opening (120) on the housing (100) is arranged such that the inserted cartridge part (210) protrudes into the housing (100) without touching any wall of the same. [13] Built-in module (EBM) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the housing (100) has a plurality of openings (120) into which several, in particular different, cartridges (200) can be inserted.

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