Filter module and use of a filter module for separating coating residues and / or paint residues, in particular overspray in a paint booth
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- INNOVATIVE PAINT & CONVEYOR SYST SL
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-20
AI Technical Summary
Existing filter modules in paint booths have limited capacity for separating paint and/or paint residues due to their smooth surfaces, which restrict the effective removal of overspray and varnish.
A filter module with a housing box and filter arrangement comprising multiple filter elements, each having a separation surface with a plurality of cells designed as cavities, allowing for increased absorption capacity and efficient separation of paint and/or paint residues, with the option of using pyrolysis-resistant or combustible materials for easy cleaning and reuse.
The filter module achieves a higher separation efficiency with a low pressure drop, enabling the effective capture of paint and/or paint residues, and can be easily cleaned or reused, enhancing the overall filtration process in paint booths.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024068828_16012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] FILTER MODULE AND USE OF A FILTER MODULE FOR SEPARATION OF PAINT AND / OR COLOR RESIDUE, ESPECIALLY OVERSPRAY IN A PAINT BOOTH
[0002] The present invention relates to a separator arrangement, a filter module and its use for separating paint and / or varnish residues
[0003] EP 2 236 215 A1 discloses, in particular in Fig. 4, a filter arrangement comprising several half-shell-shaped channels which are arranged offset from one another in rows in the inflow direction.
[0004] The disadvantage is the comparatively smooth surface of the gutters, which only allows for a limited separation of paint residues and varnishes or other overspray.
[0005] The present invention is based on the preliminary consideration of the prior art with the task of providing a filter module with increased filter capacity for the absorption of filtered varnish and / or paint residues.
[0006] The present invention solves this problem by a filter module having the features of claim 1.
[0007] A filter module according to the invention has an inflow side and an outflow side and serves to separate paint and / or varnish residues within its interior. A preferred application is the separation of overspray in a paint booth.
[0008] The filter module comprises a housing box with an inlet and an outlet opening, and a filter assembly arranged within the housing box. The filter assembly comprises a plurality, i.e., at least two or more, filter elements for separating paint and / or varnish residues, in particular overspray, in a paint booth.
[0009] According to the invention, one or more of the filter elements, preferably all of the filter elements, have, at least in some areas, a separation surface with a plurality of cells, in particular a first plurality of cells, which are formed in the form of cavities. The cavities allow the respective filter element to absorb a considerable amount of dye and varnish residues.
[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.
[0011] The separation surface is advantageously formed with the plurality of cells as a pattern of cavities arranged flatly next to one another.
[0012] The cells of the separation surface are closed by a bottom surface, forming a corresponding cavity. A through-opening, however, is not to be understood as a cavity, in contrast to the prior art, but rather as a hole, channel, or grid mesh. It is advantageous for the efficient production of such a filter element if the said bottom surface is provided by the filter wall of each filter element and is designed with a closed wall, at least in the area of the separation surface (9). This reduces the number of parts and the complexity of the filter element structure.
[0013] The separation surface can also advantageously be formed with the first plurality of adjacently arranged cells as identically shaped cells, preferably with equally sized cavities. This allows the filter element to be manufactured in a few production steps.
[0014] The filter module can have several of the filter elements arranged next to each other along a plane parallel to the plane of the inflow opening in order to enable a high separation efficiency with a low pressure drop at the same time.
[0015] For an even higher separation efficiency, it is advantageous if the filter module has several of the filter elements arranged one behind the other in the main inflow direction, in particular perpendicular to the plane of the inflow opening.
[0016] One or more of the filter elements, preferably all of the filter elements in the filter arrangement, can advantageously be designed in a columnar or trough-shaped manner to ensure optimal flow. In the case of the trough, it is a bowl-shaped trough, for example, as opposed to a polygonal trough. If the troughs are designed in a bowl shape, i.e., a shape with a U-shaped cross-section and, in particular, a bowl-shaped trough with a constant cross-section along its longitudinal direction, particularly a half-shell shape, there are fewer edges where accumulations occur, and a more even distribution is achieved.
[0017] The cells of the first plurality of cells can have an average cell depth, i.e., an average distance between the cell edge and the base surface, of more than 1 mm, preferably more than 2 mm, particularly preferably 2.3-20 mm. Average means that the mean cell depth is determined at various locations within a cell. Since the base surface may be slightly curved, a certain variance in cell depth may occur, which is taken into account when calculating the mean value.
[0018] Furthermore, the cells can be arranged directly adjacent to each other and separated by a cell wall of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm. This achieves a particularly large absorption capacity.
[0019] The filter arrangement may further comprise at least one connecting element, preferably a plate-shaped connecting element, for connecting the filter elements to one another.
[0020] The connecting element may also have a previously described separation surface.
[0021] The housing box can be made of a pyrolysis-resistant material, in particular a metal, for cleaning and reuse.
[0022] The filter assembly can be made of a pyrolyzable material, particularly cellulose, and can be replaceably arranged within the housing. Thus, the contaminated surfaces are incinerated, while the housing is reusable.
[0023] The filter assembly can alternatively be made of a pyrolysis-resistant material, particularly a metal material, and preferably be integrally connected to the housing. In this variant, the entire filter module can be cleaned by heating.
[0024] Advantageously, the cells of the plurality of cells can be honeycomb-shaped, with the cell walls preferably made of metal. Alternatively or additionally, the cells of the plurality of cells, preferably a second plurality of cells, can be formed as holes in a perforated plate that are closed on one side.
[0025] Alternatively or additionally, the cells of the plurality of cells, preferably a third plurality of cells, may be formed as a sequence of opposing and interconnected wave crests and spaced-apart wave troughs, wherein the cell walls are preferably formed from cellulose material, particularly preferably from cardboard.
[0026] The separation surface can advantageously be arranged only in certain areas along the surface of the filter element, in particular along the inflow surface of the filter element, so that the production is less material- and labor-intensive.
[0027] The filter elements arranged one behind the other can be designed such that the filter elements arranged near the inlet opening have larger cavities than the filter elements arranged behind them. This creates a separation gradient within the filter module.
[0028] Furthermore, the geometry of the filter elements within the filter module can vary in the main inflow direction. For example, the arcuate area provided by the filter elements of each filter element, preferably the circular area, can vary with a constant longitudinal extension in a geometric design of the filter element.
[0029] Also in accordance with the invention is the use of the aforementioned filter assembly in a filter module according to the invention. Such a package comprising multiple filter elements is not known or suggested in this form in the prior art. Therefore, the use of the filter assembly, particularly as a replaceable unit, is also unknown to date.
[0030] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which an exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will expediently consider the features disclosed in the drawings, the description, and the claims in combination individually and combine them into useful further combinations. In particular, a multitude of possibilities are explained in more detail. The following example shows:
[0031] Fig. 1 Perspective view of an inventive
[0032] Filter module with a separator arrangement arranged therein;
[0033] Fig. 2 representation of the separator arrangement of Fig. 1;
[0034] Fig. 3 shows a first variant of a separation surface;
[0035] Fig. 4 a second variant of a separation surface; and
[0036] Fig. 5 a third variant of a separation surface.
[0037] Fig. 1 shows a filter module 1 for separating overspray in a painting system. This type of overspray arises when painting, for example, vehicles or everyday objects in a paint booth. Typically, such a paint booth has an interior for positioning a vehicle or an object to be painted, as well as a dispensing device for paint and / or varnish, e.g. a nozzle bar with a plurality of spray nozzles. The body of a vehicle or the object is preferably positioned on a frame on a grid and is sprayed with varnish and / or paint. An air duct, in particular a recirculation duct, is arranged beneath the grid, through which excess varnish and / or paint residues are sucked away.A filter block is arranged between the air duct and the grate, through which the paint and / or varnish is passed and in which harmful dye or varnish components are separated.
[0038] A filter module 1 shown as an example in Fig. 1 comprises a housing box 7, in particular a closed-walled housing box, with an inflow opening 2 and an outflow opening, which in Fig. 1 is arranged concealed at the rear of the housing box.
[0039] Arranged within the housing box 7 is a preferably replaceable filter arrangement 4 comprising a plurality of filter elements 5, 6 and at least one connecting element 3 connecting the filter elements 5, 6 to form the filter arrangement 4. Individual filter elements 6 of the filter arrangement 4 are arranged in a row next to one another in a plane E, in particular a plane parallel to the plane of the inflow opening 2.
[0040] The air flow to be filtered has a main inflow direction Z, which in Fig. 1 runs perpendicular to the inflow opening. Flow vortices within the air flow are negligible in this main inflow direction.
[0041] Further filter elements 5 of the filter arrangement 4 are arranged one behind the other in a direction perpendicular to the plane E. The filter elements 5 behind the first plane E are offset from the filter elements 6 along the first plane E, which is explained below.
[0042] The filter elements 6 are spaced apart from one another and have one or more elongated gaps for the passage of the air flow. The offset of the rear filter elements 5 is such that the air flow passing through the gap, essentially directed toward the outlet opening of the filter module 1, strikes the surface of the filter element 6 arranged downstream in the flow direction.
[0043] As a connecting element 3 of the filter arrangement 4, a cover plate arranged at the end of the filter elements 5 and 6 is provided on both sides in Fig. 1 and 2.
[0044] The filter elements 5 and 6 can preferably be connected to the end plate in a form-fitting or material-fitting manner.
[0045] The preferred geometry of the filter elements is half-shells, with the filter elements 6 of a first row facing each other along plane E with their concave surfaces facing one or more adjacent filter elements 5 arranged behind them. This provides an enlarged flow path.
[0046] Within the scope of the present invention, the filter elements have, at least in some areas, a special separation surface 9, which significantly increases the separation capacity and the available separation surface.
[0047] The separation surface comprises an array of a plurality of adjacent cells 11, wherein the array is formed as a pattern of flatly arranged cavities. Cell 11 has a cell wall 10a and 10b for separating cell 11 from neighboring cells.
[0048] The cell or cells 11 have a bottom surface 12 for closing off the cell on one side. The bottom surface 12 is provided by a wall of the filter element 5 or 6, so that the wall 8 of the respective filter element 5 or 6 is designed as a closed wall, delimiting it from a grid structure.
[0049] The cavities defined by the cells 11 allow for increased storage capacity for the solids and liquids separated from the air stream.
[0050] The individual cells of the plurality of cells have a substantially identical shape. Deviations due to manufacturing tolerances, preferably of up to 5%, are negligible. This means, for example, that all cells of the plurality of cells can be hexagonal.
[0051] The above-described separation surface 9 with the plurality of cells 11 can extend over the entire provided surface of a filter element or, in order to save material, only along the inflow surface of a filter element 5 or 6. The inflow surface is the surface at which more than 80% of the inflowing air flow hits the filter element for the first time.
[0052] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, these are the convex side of the half-shell-shaped filter element for filter elements 6 and the convex side of the half-shell-shaped filter element for filter elements 5. The opposite side of the filter element can be designed without the aforementioned separation surface 9.
[0053] The same applies to the design of the connecting element 3, which can have a previously described separation surface 9 made of cells 11 in regions or completely, in particular along the inflow surface.
[0054] The filter arrangement or at least the filter elements may comprise a pyrolysis-resistant material or, particularly preferably, consist of a combustible material, in particular cellulose material, such as cardboard, wood or paper.
[0055] For reasons of improved stability of the separation surfaces, it is also possible for the filter walls 8 of the filter elements 5 or 6 and / or the connecting element(s) 3 to be made of a combustible material, such as cardboard or paper, while the cell walls 10a, 10b are formed from a material that exhibits greater mechanical stability against deformation with a similar wall thickness and against deformation upon contact with liquid. The material of the cell walls can be formed, for example, from a non-combustible material, such as a metal mesh, or from a combustible material, such as wood.
[0056] The filter walls 8 can advantageously be connected to the cell walls 10a, 10b by a positive connection, e.g. gluing or welding or the like.
[0057] Fig. 2-5 show different variants of deposition surfaces 9 within the scope of the present invention.
[0058] Fig. 2 shows a grid structure with square grid meshes as separation surface, which is closed on one side by the filter wall 8 of a respective filter element.
[0059] Fig. 3 shows a structure of hexagonal honeycombs 11a. This structure is particularly suitable for manufacturing cell walls 10a made of metal, since metal sheet strips can be formed relatively easily into this shape.
[0060] Fig. 4 shows a structure of interconnected wave structures as cell walls 10b. Two corresponding wave crests are connected to each other, so that two corresponding wave troughs form an ovoid-shaped cell 11b with a tapered end. These cell walls 10b can preferably be formed from cellulose material, in particular cardboard. The cellulose material can also optionally be advantageously coated to protect it from softening.
[0061] Fig. 5 shows a perforated plate 10c as a separation surface, with the holes each forming the cells 11c.
[0062] The filter assembly 4 can be removed as a whole from the housing box 7, for example, when the filter capacity or maximum load is reached. The housing box can be made of a pyrolysis-resistant material, such as metal. For this purpose, the housing box can have a flap (not shown) for removal. If the filter assembly is made of a combustible material, at least the housing box is reusable after pyrolysis treatment. If the filter assembly is made of a pyrolysis-resistant material, the entire filter module can be reused after pyrolysis treatment.
[0063] Alternatively or additionally, the entire filter module can be made of a combustible material, particularly a cellulose-based material. In this case, it is a single-use version of a filter module.
[0064] The filter elements can also have other alternative shapes. However, a channel or half-shell shape, especially with a round or square cross-section, or a column or tubular shape with a different cross-section, e.g., triangular, square, hexagonal, polygonal, or round, is preferred.
[0065] It is also possible to combine a first plurality of identically shaped cells with a second plurality of identically shaped cells. For example, if the wave crests and troughs in Fig. 4 are not arranged exactly one above the other but with a slight offset, this can result in a sequence—e.g., a row—of identically shaped cells in one direction and a regular sequence of differently shaped cells in another direction.
[0066] Furthermore, in a modification of Fig. 3, it is also possible to arrange a central region with a first plurality of identically shaped cells with a larger cavity and an edge region with a second plurality of identically shaped cells with a smaller cavity than the cells of the first plurality. These together form a deposition surface 9 with a deposition gradient.
[0067] Regardless of the shape of the cells, passage openings can also be arranged next to the separation surface 9. These can have walls of the same shape as the cells 11, but without forming a cavity due to the lack of floor space.
[0068] 1 filter module
[0069] 2 inlet opening
[0070] 3 Connecting element
[0071] 4 Filter arrangement
[0072] 5 filter element
[0073] 6 filter element
[0074] 7 Housing box
[0075] 8 Wall of the filter element / filter wall
[0076] 9 Separation surface
[0077] 10a Cell wall
[0078] 10b Cell wall
[0079] 10c perforated sheet
[0080] 11 cells
[0081] 11 a honeycomb
[0082] 11 b ovoid cell
[0083] 11 c holes
[0084] Z Main inflow direction
[0085] E Level
Claims
Patent claims 1. Filter module (1) with an inflow opening (2) and an outflow opening arranged in a housing box (7) and a filter arrangement (4) arranged in the housing box (7) comprising a plurality of filter elements (5, 6) for separating paint and / or varnish residues, in particular overspray in a paint booth, characterized in that one or more of the filter elements (5, 6) are provided, at least in regions, with a separation surface (9) with a plurality of cells (11, 11 a, 11 b, 11 c) in the form of cavities.
2. Filter module according to claim 1, characterized in that the separation surface (9) with the plurality of cells (11, 11 a, 11 b, 11 c) is formed as a pattern of cavities arranged side by side 3. Filter module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cells of the separation surface (9) are closed off by a bottom surface, such that a filter wall (8) of each filter element (5 or 6) provides this bottom surface and is designed with a closed wall at least in the region of the separation surface (9).
4. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separation surface with the first plurality of cells (11, 11 a, 11 b, 11 c) arranged next to one another is designed as cells of the same shape, preferably with cavities of the same size.
5. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the filter module (1) along a plane parallel to the plane (E) of the inflow opening (2) several of the filter elements (5 or 6) are arranged next to one another.
6. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the filter module (1) in the main inflow direction (Z), in particular perpendicular to the plane (E) of the inflow opening (2), several of the filter elements (5, 6) are arranged one behind the other.
7. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more of the filter elements (5, 6), preferably all filter elements (5, 6) of the filter arrangement (4), are column-shaped or sinuous, preferably shell-shaped with a constant cross-section in the direction of its longitudinal extent, in particular half-shell-shaped.
8. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cells (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) of the plurality of cells have an average cell depth, i.e. an average distance between the cell edge and the bottom surface, of more than 1 mm, preferably more than 2 mm, particularly preferably 2.3 - 20 mm.
9. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cells (11, 11a, 11b, 11c) are arranged directly adjacent to one another and are separated from one another by a cell wall of less than 2 mm, preferably less than 1 mm.
10. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter arrangement (4) has at least one connecting element (3), preferably a plate-shaped connecting element, for connecting the filter elements (5 or 6) to one another.
11. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (3) has a separation surface (9) according to one of the preceding claims.
12. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing box (7) is made of a pyrolysis-resistant material, in particular of a metal.
13. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter arrangement (4) is made of a pyrolyzable material, in particular of cellulose material, and is arranged replaceably in the housing box (7).
14. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter arrangement (4) consists of a pyrolysis-resistant Material, in particular made of a metal material, and is preferably integrally connected to the housing box (7).
15. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cells (11a) of the plurality of cells are honeycomb-shaped, wherein the cell walls are preferably formed from metal.
16. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cells (11c) of the plurality of cells are formed as holes in a perforated plate that are closed on one side.
17. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cells (11 b) of the plurality of cells are formed as a sequence of opposite and interconnected wave crests and spaced-apart wave troughs, wherein the cell walls are preferably formed from cellulose material, particularly preferably from cardboard.
18. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separation surface (9) is arranged only in regions along the surface of the filter element (5 or 6), in particular along the inflow surface of the filter element (5 or 6).
19. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter elements (5, 6) arranged one behind the other are designed such that the filter elements (6) arranged in the region of the inflow opening (2) have larger cavities than the filter elements (5) arranged behind them.
20. Filter module according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the geometry of the filter elements (5, 6) within the filter module (1) varies in terms of their geometry in the main inflow direction (Z). 21 .Use of the filter arrangement according to one of the preceding claims in a filter module according to one of the preceding claims.