Device for conducting a fluid and system comprising the device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for conducting a fluid, comprising at least one nozzle (12) with a flow channel (14) extending between a nozzle inlet (16) and a nozzle outlet (18), wherein the flow channel (14) widens from the nozzle inlet (16) to the nozzle outlet (18) with an opening angle (a) in the region of 1° to 2.5°. According to the invention, a device (10) is provided which has reduced cleaning requirements and lower susceptibility to blockages.

Description

[0001] Device for passing a fluid and system comprising the device

[0002] The invention relates to a device for passing a fluid, comprising at least one nozzle with a flow channel extending between a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising the device.

[0003] In industrial container or surface treatment, devices are used in which cleaning fluid, such as water, is sprayed onto the containers or surfaces to be cleaned using nozzles.

[0004] Common nozzles are those with cylindrical bores, where the cleaning fluid is sprayed through the bore and directed through the nozzles onto the containers or surfaces to be cleaned. To avoid blockages, e.g., due to the jamming of boundary grains, these nozzles must be cleaned regularly.

[0005] The object of the invention is to provide a device which has a reduced need for cleaning and a reduced susceptibility to clogging.

[0006] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0007] In a device for passing a fluid comprising at least one nozzle with a flow channel extending between a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet, the invention provides that the flow channel widens from the nozzle inlet to the nozzle outlet with an opening angle in the range of 1° to 2.5°.

[0008] The invention thus provides a device in which particles that are flushed with the fluid through the nozzle inlet into the nozzle are transported along an expanding flow channel to the nozzle outlet. Due to the expanding flow channel, the probability of a particle becoming trapped in the flow channel is reduced. The opening angle is the angle formed by walls or wall sections that extend from the nozzle inlet to the nozzle outlet on opposite sides of the flow channel. The value of the opening angle is in the range of 1° to 2.5°. Preferably, the opening angle has a value of 1.5°. Furthermore, the flow channel can widen continuously from the nozzle inlet to the nozzle outlet and can, for example, widen in a funnel shape or conically, so that the channel cross-section continuously increases.Furthermore, the nozzles can, for example, be rigidly designed so that they do not change their orientation relative to the device after assembly or manufacture. The fluid can preferably be a liquid, more preferably water, and can be referred to as a cleaning fluid. This provides a device with reduced cleaning requirements and reduced susceptibility to clogging, thus increasing functional reliability. Furthermore, the expanding flow channel results in a larger treatment area upon impact of the jet compared to a cylindrical nozzle, with the same nominal nozzle diameter, spray pressure, and fluid delivery volume.

[0009] According to a further example, the device may comprise a base plate, wherein the at least one nozzle extends through the base plate.

[0010] Using the base plate, the at least one nozzle can be mounted, for example, over a fluid outlet opening. Fluid exiting the fluid outlet opening is then directed directly through the nozzle. If multiple nozzles of the device extend through the base plate, multiple nozzles can be mounted simultaneously over one or more fluid outlet openings.

[0011] Furthermore, the at least one nozzle and the base plate can, for example, be manufactured in one piece.

[0012] This allows the base plate to be manufactured cost-effectively at the same time as the nozzles. Furthermore, there is no need for nozzle assembly, and the nozzle is already correctly aligned to the base plate. According to another example, the number of nozzles can be between one and four, preferably three.

[0013] If the number of nozzles is three, the nozzles can be arranged in a triangle, for example. Using the example of a container washing system, on which the device can be mounted, one vertex of the triangle can be aligned along a conveying direction of containers. Starting from a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, the nozzle arranged at the aligned vertex of the triangle lies between the other two nozzles. The outer nozzles can each direct the cleaning fluid onto an outer surface of the containers. The nozzle arranged at the aligned vertex can direct the cleaning fluid into the interior of the container. This allows the entire container to be wetted with cleaning fluid.

[0014] The device may further consist of a plastic material or metal material.

[0015] This allows the device to be easily manufactured in large quantities, e.g., using an injection molding process. Furthermore, corrosion of the device material can be avoided.

[0016] According to one example, the nozzle inlet may have a diameter between 2 mm and 14 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 9 mm, more preferably 4 mm.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for treating surfaces of objects comprising at least one device according to the preceding description, wherein a transport path for objects extends through the system and the at least one nozzle is aligned with the transport path.

[0018] Advantages and effects, as well as further developments of the system, arise from the advantages and effects, as well as further developments of the device described above. To avoid repetition, reference is therefore made to the previous description in this regard. According to one example, the objects are containers. Furthermore, the treatment can include spraying, squirting, heating, and / or cooling.

[0019] According to one example, the equipment may be a cleaning machine, a pasteurizer, a crate washer or a transport device.

[0020] The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show:

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a device for passing a fluid;

[0022] Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the device; and

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a system comprising the device.

[0024] The device is referred to in its entirety below by the reference numeral 10, as shown in Figure 1.

[0025] The device 10 has at least one nozzle 12, which can be arranged on a base plate 20. In this example, three nozzles 12 are arranged on the base plate 20.

[0026] The nozzles 12 and the base plate 20 can be formed integrally from a plastic or metal material. For this purpose, an injection molding process can be used, for example.

[0027] According to Figure 2, the at least one nozzle 12 has a nozzle inlet 16 and a nozzle outlet 18. A flow channel 14 extends from the nozzle inlet 16 to the nozzle outlet 18. The flow channel 14 establishes a fluid-communicating connection between the nozzle inlet 16 and the nozzle outlet 18. In the cross-sectional view according to Figure 2, the flow channel 14 can be delimited laterally to the flow direction through the flow channel 14 by a first wall section 24 and a second wall section 26. The first wall section 24 and the second wall section 26 are arranged opposite one another and extend from the nozzle inlet 16 to the nozzle outlet 18.

[0028] The wall sections 24, 26 are arranged at an angle to one another, which represents an opening angle α of the flow channel 14. The opening angle α has a value in the range of 1° to 2.5°. Preferably, the opening angle α has a value of 1.5°.

[0029] The flow channel 14 can therefore expand conically or funnel-shaped from the nozzle inlet 16. The cross-sectional area of ​​the flow channel 14 can therefore increase continuously along the flow direction.

[0030] Thus, the flow channel 14 expands from the nozzle inlet 16 to the nozzle outlet 18. The diameter of the nozzle inlet 16 is therefore smaller than the diameter of the nozzle outlet 18.

[0031] Particles that enter the flow channel 14 through the nozzle inlet 16 are transported along the expanding flow channel 14 to the nozzle outlet 18. Therefore, the particles do not adhere to the walls 24, 26 of the flow channel 14. This prevents the particles from becoming jammed in the flow channel 14.

[0032] The diameter of the nozzle inlet can be between 2 mm and 14 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 9 mm, most preferably 4 mm.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a system 30 which includes the device 10.

[0034] In the system 30, objects 32, e.g., containers, are moved along a transport path 34. In the process, the objects 32 are also transported past a device 10. The device 10 is mounted on the system 30 in such a way that a fluid can flow through the nozzles 12. For this purpose, the device 10 can be mounted with the nozzles over one or more fluid outlets.

[0035] For assembly, the base plate 20 of the device 10 may have a through-hole 22 extending through the base plate 20. The device 10 may be secured in the system 30 by means of a fastening element arranged through the through-hole 22. The fastening element may, for example, be a screw.

[0036] The fluid can flow through the nozzles 12 at a pressure of approximately 0.8 bar and, after exiting the nozzle outlet 18, impinges on the object 32 or its surface. Due to the expanding flow channel 14, the emerging fluid jet has a larger impact area compared to a cylindrical nozzle with the same nominal diameter.

[0037] The system 30 can be designed as a cleaning machine, pasteurizer or crate washer.

[0038] If the objects 32 have an interior space, e.g., if they are designed as containers, they can be transported upside down along the transport path with a container mouth pointing downwards.

[0039] If the device 10 is configured according to the example shown in Figure 1, a first nozzle 12 can be arranged to discharge the fluid into the interior of the container. The other two nozzles 12 can discharge the fluid onto the outer surfaces of the container.

[0040] The example described above does not limit the invention in any way. Rather, the invention can be modified in many ways. All of the features of the invention described above can be essential to the invention alone or in combination with one another. List of reference symbols

[0041] 10 Device

[0042] 12 nozzles

[0043] 14 Flow channel 16 Nozzle inlet

[0044] 18 Nozzle outlet

[0045] 20 base plate

[0046] 22 passage opening

[0047] 24 wall section 26 wall section

[0048] 30 Appendix

[0049] 32 objects

[0050] 34 Transport path

Claims

Claims 1 . Device for passing a fluid comprising at least one nozzle (12) with a flow channel (14) extending between a nozzle inlet (16) and a nozzle outlet (18), characterized in that the flow channel (14) widens from the nozzle inlet (16) to the nozzle outlet (18) with an opening angle (α) in the range of 1 ° to 2.5 °.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flow channel (14) widens conically.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the device (10) has a base plate (20), wherein the at least one nozzle (12) extends through the base plate (20).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one nozzle (12) and the base plate (20) are made in one piece.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of nozzles (12) is between one and four, preferably three.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) consists of a plastic material or metal material.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle inlet (16) has a diameter between 2 mm and 14 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 9 mm, more preferably 4 mm.

8. System for treating surfaces of objects (32) comprising at least one device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein A transport path (34) for objects (32) extends through the system (30), and the at least one nozzle (12) is aligned with the transport path (34). System according to claim 8, characterized in that the system (30) is a cleaning machine, a pasteurizer, a crate washer, or a transport device.

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