Housing for a compressor or expander installation

Abstract

Housing for a compressor or expander installation, consisting of a bottom (2), roof (3) and side walls (4), wherein at least a portion of the side walls (4) is constructed from separate panels (6) which extend between the bottom (2) and the roof (3) of the housing (1). A seal (9) is provided between a first panel (6a) and an adjacent second panel (6b) in the form of a substantially strip-shaped gasket, located between facing sides (10) of the first panel (6a) and second panel (6b), wherein said seal (9) extends over substantially the entire length of the sides (10), wherein the seal (9) is provided with a fastening portion (11) by means of which it is fastened to a side (10a) of the first panel (6a) belonging to the facing sides (10), and with a flexible lip (12) connecting to and protruding from the fastening portion (11) which contacts the second panel (6b).

Description

[0001] Housing for a compressor or expander installation

[0002] The present invention relates to a housing for a compressor or expander installation .

[0003] More specifically, the invention is intended for a compressor or expander installation, comprising one or more compressors or expanders , one or more coolers , one or more dryers , one or more filters and associated pipes , valves , couplings and the like .

[0004] The housing comprises a base , roof and side walls .

[0005] It is known that such enclosures exist , in which one or more side walls are provided with or constructed entirely from separate panels or doors , which are removable .

[0006] This allows access to the installation in the housing for maintenance , repairs and the like .

[0007] Removing the panels from the housing opens up the sides of the housing, providing access to all of the components .

[0008] It is important that the various panels fit together properly such that the insulating properties of the housing are optimally maintained .

[0009] Indeed, the housing of the compressor or expander system serves to provide sound and thermal insulation . Furthermore , the housing must also ensure good air tightness , ensuring that warm air from inside the housing can only exit through the intended path, and that any cooling air, drawn in from outside , can follow its intended path and cannot exit the housing through an undesired path .

[0010] In the known housings , the seal between the different panels is formed by the fact that each panel is provided with an L- profile on a side facing an adj acent panel , which is fastened to the relevant side of the panel by one leg of the L- profile , and wherein the other leg of the L-profile hooks behind the adj acent panel , whereby behind this panel a layer of insulation material is provided into which the aforementioned other leg of the L-profile is fitted by pressing .

[0011] The L-profiles ensure a good closure or seal , whereby pressing the aforementioned leg of the L-profile into the layer of insulation material is crucial to obtain a good seal .

[0012] Such known installations have the disadvantage that the panels have to be removed one by one and in sequence when access is required .

[0013] Indeed, because the leg of the L-profile is arranged into the layer of insulation material , this panel must be deplaceable sideways such that the leg can be removed from the layer of insulation material before the panel is allowed to be removed . Therefore , the first step is to sideways remove a panel from the end of a side wall in order to then remove the adj acent panel and move on to the next panel in the row .

[0014] Therefore , when access to a part of the compressor or expander installation locate ;d behind a panel at the end of a row of panels is required, one has no other choice but to remove the entire row .

[0015] The present invention aims to remedy at least one of the aforementioned and other dis advantages .

[0016] The obj ect of the present invention is a housing which provides a good sound and thermal insulation, which has a good air tightness and which allows the removal of any panel from the side wall .

[0017] The invention relates to a housing for a compressor or expander installation, which consists substantially of a bottom, roof and side walls , wherein at least a portion of the side walls is constructed from separate panels which extend between the bottom and the roof of the housing , characterized in that a seal is provided between a first panel and an adj acent second panel in the form of a substantially strip-shaped gas ket , located between facing sides of the first panel and second panel , wherein said seal extends over substantially the entire length of the sides , wherein the seal is provided with a fastening portion by means of which it is fastened to a side of the first panel belonging to the facing sides , and with a flexible lip connecting to and protruding from the fastening portion which contacts the second panel .

[0018] By ' flexible ' is meant here deformable or not rigid .

[0019] An advantage is that by using a seal in the form of a stripshaped gasket , a good seal can be achieved between two adj acent panels .

[0020] By the contact between the flexible lip and the second panel , and preferably over the entire length of the sides , an insulating and airtight seal is obtained between both panels .

[0021] Another advantage is that the flexible lip allows to remove any panel from the respective side wall , without having to observe a special order when removing panels .

[0022] Indeed, the flexible lip can be deformed, allowing it to break the contact between the lip and the adj acent panel by deforming the lip . This can happen on either side of the panel that is to be removed . This allows this panel to be easily removed without having to remove any other panels .

[0023] Maintenance and any repair work on the compressor or expander installation is thus greatly simplified and can be carried out more quickly, as only the relevant panels of the housing behind which the components to be maintained or repaired are located, need be removed, without the need to also remove other panels from the housing . In order to better demonstrate the characteristics of the invention, some preferred embodiments of a housing for a compressor or expander installation according to the invention are described below, by way of example but not in any way limiting , with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :

[0024] Figure 1 shows schematically and in perspective a housing for a compressor or expander installation according to the invention;

[0025] Figure 2 shows schematically a section of the compressor or expander installation of Figure 1 , which is indicated in Figure 1 by F2 ;

[0026] Figure 3 shows a cross-section along the line I II-II I in Figure 2 ;

[0027] Figures 4a and 4b show in detail the seal from Figures 1 to 2 .

[0028] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a housing 1 for a compressor or expander installation .

[0029] The housing mainly comprises a floor 2 , a roof 3 and side walls 4 .

[0030] As shown in Figure 1 , the roof 3 comprises in this case a ventilation grille 5 with ventilation holes . One side wall 4 is also provided with a ventilation grille 5 .

[0031] In this case , the side walls 4 are all entirely constructed from separate panels 6 . This is not essential for the invention : not all side walls 4 need be constructed from panels 6 , nor does a side wall 4 need to be constructed entirely from panels 6 . For example , according to the invention, it is not excluded that only two side walls 4 are constructed entirely from panels 6 , and that one other side wall 4 is constructed half from panels 6 and the other half from a single piece or panel .

[0032] The panels 6 extend between the bottom 2 and the roof 3 .

[0033] In this case , the panels 6 extend all the way from the bottom 2 to the roof 3 , but this is not necessarily the case .

[0034] For example , it is also possible that a panel 6 extends to a certain distance from the bottom 2 , respectively from the roof 3 of the housing 1 and that between the bottom 2 and the lower edge 7 of the panel 6 , respectively between the roof 3 and the upper edge 8 of the panel 6 , the side wall 4 is provided with a strip which runs over the entire width of the side wall 4 , i . e . runs over several adj acent panels 6 .

[0035] According to the invention, a seal 9 is provided between two adj acent panels 6 in the form of a substantially strip-shaped gas ket .

[0036] This is shown in Figures 2 and 3 .

[0037] Between one panel 6a , which will hereinafter be referred to as the first panel 6a, and an adj acent panel 6b, which will hereinafter be referred to as the second panel 6b , a seal 9 is provided between the facing sides 10 of the first panel 6a and the second panel 6b .

[0038] The seal 9 extends over substantially the entire length L of these sides 10 and in this case , but not necessarily for the invention, the seal 9 extends over the entire length L of these sides 10 .

[0039] In this case , but not necessarily for the invention, such seal 9 is located between all adj acent panels 6 or thus between each pair of adj acent panels 6 .

[0040] According to the invention, the seal 9 is provided with a fastening portion 11 , by means of which the seal 9 is fastened to a side 10a of the first panel 6a belonging to the facing sides 10 , and with a flexible lip 12 connecting to and protruding from the fastening portion 11 , which contacts the second panel 6b . This is shown schematically in Figure 3 .

[0041] In particular , the flexible lip 12 will in this case contact a side 10b of the second panel 6b belonging to the facing sides 10 .

[0042] For each panel 6 in this case , one side 10 will have the fastening portion 11 of a seal 9 fastened to it , while the other side 10 of the panel 6 will contact the flexible lip 12 of another seal 9 which is fastened to the adj acent panel 6 .

[0043] In other words , one seal 9 is fastened to each panel 6 . The seal 9 may be made of a rubber, a plastic, a silicone or another suitable material with the necessary insulating properties that allow a deformation or a certain flexibility of the seal , and in particular the protruding lip 12 .

[0044] A possible precise design of the seal 9 is shown in detail in Figures 4a and 4b . In these figures , the fastening portion 11 is shown more clearly .

[0045] As can be seen in these figures and in Figure 3 , the protruding lip 12 is provided with a first end 13 by which the lip 12 is fastened to the fastening portion 11 of the seal 9 , and with a second free end 14 .

[0046] The thickness D of the protruding lip 12 decreases from the first end 13 to the second end 14 . This results in the flexibility of the lip 12 increasing towards the second end 14 .

[0047] In this case , this second free end 14 is provided with a bulge 15 .

[0048] In this case , when considering a cross-section of the seal 9 as shown in Figure 4b, this bulge 15 is substantially circular , but this is obviously not essential for the invention . It could also be , for example , hair-shaped, rectangular, or simply an increase in the thickness D of the lip 12 at this free second end 14 . The design of the bulge 15 can also be chosen in such a way that the seal 9 can be manufactured using known extrusion methods , although a seal 9 , as used in the invention, can also be manufactured in other ways .

[0049] As can be seen in Figure 3 , the aforementioned bulge 9 is provided behind the aforementioned second panel 6b .

[0050] For this purpose , a space 16 is provided between the second panel 6b and the compressor or expander installation .

[0051] In the example shown, a layer of insulation material 18 is provided behind the panel 6 , i . e . , on the inward-facing side 17 of the panel 6 . This layer 18 does not extend to or against the side 10b of the second panel 6b . This creates or defines the aforementioned space 16 behind the second panel 6b, which provides room where the bulge 15 might be placed .

[0052] It is also possible for the second panel 6b to have an edge or detailing on the corresponding side 10b, behind which the bulge 15 can be placed . For example , the side 10b could have a recess into which the bulge 15 can fit .

[0053] Furthermore , in this case , but not necessarily for the invention, a groove 19 or notch is provided at the location where the first end 13 of the protruding lip 12 is fastened to the fastening portion 11 .

[0054] This groove 19 or notch will locally create an increased flexibility in the seal 9 . This has the consequence or advantage that the protruding lip 12 is movable as a whole and relative to the fastening portion 11 , such that , as it were , the angle A, formed by the protruding lip 12 with the fastening portion 11 , can be changed .

[0055] This is beneficial when removing or repositioning a panel 6 .

[0056] The fastening portion 11 by which the seal 9 is fastened to the side 10a of the first panel 6a comprises a fastening means 20 which allows to achieve this fastening .

[0057] They can be achieved in different ways .

[0058] Thus , the fastening means 20 may comprise screws and / or bolts allowing the fastening portion 11 to be screwed to the side 10a of the first panel 6a .

[0059] In the example of Figures 3 to 4b, the fastening means 20 comprises a clamp or the like which can be fastened to or over an edge 21 , provided for that purpose on the side 10a of the first panel 6a .

[0060] This clamp comprises a clamping profile , for example made of aluminium, which is embedded in the material of the gasket .

[0061] Instead of aluminium, for example , another resilient material such as steel , stainless steel , spring steel , plastic or the like can be used . The material of the gasket can, as mentioned above , be , for example , rubber wherein an aluminium clamping profile is embedded in it .

[0062] As can be seen in Figures 4a and 4b, the clamping profile is an aluminium U-profile , and the fastening portion 11 of the seal 9 is also shaped as a U-profile .

[0063] However, on the inward-facing sides of the U-profile of the fastening portion 11 , protruding ribs 22 are provided, positioned staggered relative to each other . These protruding ribs 22 will provide additional clamping .

[0064] Removing and repositioning a panel 6 from the housing 1 is very simple and is done as follows .

[0065] When a panel 6 is to be removed, the desired panel 6 can be removed without having to move it sideways .

[0066] Depending on the mechanism by which the panel 6 is suspended or fastened to the housing 1 , either the top edge 8 or the bottom edge 7 can be tilted or moved forward, meaning away from the compressor or expander installation .

[0067] The respective panel 6 will be provided with a seal 9 on one side 10 .

[0068] When, for example , the bottom edge 7 of the panel 6 is tilted forward, the protruding lip 12 that hooks behind one of the two adj acent panels 6 will deform, whereby the angle A between the protruding lip 12 and the fastening portion 11 will in this case decrease until the bulge 15 of this lip 12 is released from behind this panel 6 near the bottom edge 7 .

[0069] By tilting further and further forward, the bulge 15 will become exposed over an increasingly greater length of this side 10 .

[0070] Behind the other side 10 of the respective panel 6 , the bulge 15 of the protruding lip 12 of the other adj acent panel 6 will be located and will contact this side 10 .

[0071] When panel 6 is tilted forward, this contact with the bulge 15 of the adj acent panel 6 will be broken .

[0072] In this way, panel 6 is completely freed from housing 1 , without having to observe a specific order for removing the panels 6 . Indeed, any random panel 6 can be removed in this way without first removing another panel 6 .

[0073] To reposition this panel 6 , the bottom edge 7 ( or the top edge 8 ) of panel 6 can be brought towards the housing 1 and then the panel 6 can be tilted all the way back against the housing 1 .

[0074] Here , on the aforementioned other side 10 , the panel 6 will contact the bulge 15 of the protruding lip 12 of the other adj acent panel 6 .

[0075] On the side 10 of the panel 6 to which the seal 9 is fastened, after the panel 6 is repositioned, the protruding lip 12 will not be located behind the one adj acent panel 6 . However, this protruding lip 12 can simply be pushed backwards until the bulge 15 of this lip 12 is in the space 16 provided for this purpose and contacts the side 10 of the adj acent panel 6 .

[0076] This can be done by hand or with a tool that may be specifically provided for this purpose .

[0077] In this way, a good and insulating seal has again been achieved on both sides 10 of this panel 6 .

[0078] It should be clear that , even when repositioning a panel 6 , no specific order of the panels 6 needs to be observed . Indeed, any panel 6 can be repositioned in this way without first having to reposition another panel 6 .

[0079] The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described by way of example and shown in the figures , but a housing for a compressor or expander installation according to the invention can be realised in all kinds of shapes and sizes without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims .

Claims

Claims .1.- A housing for a compressor or expander installation, consisting substantially of a bottom (2) , roof (3) and side walls (4) , wherein at least a portion of the side walls (4) is constructed from separate panels (6) which extend between the bottom (2) and the roof (3) of the housing (1) , characterised in that a seal (9) is provided between a first panel (6a) and an adjacent second panel (6b) in the form of a substantially strip-shaped gasket, located between facing sides (10) of the first panel (6a) and second panel (6b) , wherein said seal (9) extends over substantially the entire length of the sides (10) , wherein the seal (9) is provided with a fastening portion (11) by means of which it is fastened to a side (10a) of the first panel (6a) belonging to the facing sides (10) , and with a flexible lip (12) connecting to and protruding from the fastening portion (11) which contacts the second panel (6b) .2.- The housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the protruding lip (12) is provided with a first end (13) whereby the lip (12) is fastened to the fastening portion (11) of the seal (9) , and with a second free end (14) .3.- The housing according to claim 2, characterised in that the second free end (14) is provided with a bulge (15) .4.- The housing according to claim 3, characterised in that the bulge (15) is arranged behind the second panel (6b) , in a space (16) provided for this purpose between the secondpanel (6b) and the compressor or expander installation and / or behind an edge or detailing of the second panel (6b) , provided for this purpose.5.- The housing according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the seal (9) is provided with a groove (19) or notch at a location where the first end (13) of the protruding lip (12) is fastened to the fastening portion ( 11 ) .6.- The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fastening portion (11) of the seal (9) is provided with a fastening means (20) .7.- The housing according to claim 6, characterised in that the fastening means (20) comprises screws and / or bolts.8.- The housing according to claim 6, characterised in that the fastening means (20) comprises a clamp or the like, configured to be fastened onto an edge (21) , provided for that purpose on the side (10a) of the first panel (6a) .9.- The housing according to claim 8, characterized in that the clamp comprises a clamping profile, embedded in the material of the gasket.10.- The housing according to claim 9, characterised in that the clamping profile is made of aluminium.11.- The housing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a seal according to the aforementioned seal (9) is provided between all panels (6) .

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