Compressed-Air Ejector Vacuum for Dust Aspiration in Explosive Areas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Industrial environments with abrasive operations face challenges in safely managing dust generated by abrading processes, as electrical aspiration systems pose risks of explosion and compromise safety, while existing pneumatic solutions are inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A pneumatic vacuum cleaner with low air consumption and improved aspiration efficiency, utilizing a compressed-air injection system and ejector design that generates depression without electrical components, allowing for effective dust collection away from the work zone without increasing costs or modifying existing tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electrical vacuum cleaners are used to aspirate dust, then aspiration efficiency is improved, but safety risks increase due to explosion hazards in potentially explosive atmospheres

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaspiration efficiencyVSAvoidexplosion risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical motor system with a pneumatic system that uses compressed air to generate aspiration. The ejector device converts compressed air into a high-velocity jet that creates negative pressure to aspirate dust, eliminating electrical components that could cause sparks or explosions in potentially explosive atmospheres.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs pneumatic principles by using compressed air as the driving medium. The ejector device utilizes the Venturi effect and pressure differential created by compressed air flow to generate aspiration forces, providing a safe alternative to electrical systems in environments with dust explosion risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If pneumatic vacuum cleaners are used to eliminate explosion risks, then safety is improved, but aspiration efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexplosion riskVSAvoidaspiration efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the pneumatic system parameters including compressed air pressure, ejector geometry, and nozzle dimensions to maximize aspiration efficiency. By carefully adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective dust collection performance comparable to electrical vacuum cleaners while maintaining safety in explosive atmospheres.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If compressed air is used to generate aspiration, then air consumption increases, but operational costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaspiration forceVSAvoidair consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The ejector device is designed to dynamically convert compressed air into high-velocity flow that creates efficient pressure differentials. The optimized geometry ensures that compressed air is used effectively to generate strong aspiration forces while minimizing overall air consumption compared to conventional pneumatic systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The pneumatic vacuum cleaner achieves high aspiration efficiency with low air consumption, ensuring safety by eliminating electrical components and reducing operational costs, while allowing for universal use with various abrading tools without hindering their operation.

Implementation Method 1

a tubular conduit (11) for the injection of compressed air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressed air injection: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an ejector (10) comprising at least a tubular conduit (11) for the injection of compressed air into a structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEjector effect: Venturi Effect

Data Source

PatentEP2615957B1Pneumatic vacuum cleaner
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 CATALFAMO PASQUALE
  • EP2615957B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2615957B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2615957B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a pneumatic vacuum in which an ejector (10) exhibits a tubular conduit (11) for injection of compressed air, a discharge channel (12) for discharging the aspirated fluid and the compressed air injected via the tubular conduit (11), an aspirating channel (13) in fluid communication with the tubular conduit (11) and the discharge channel (12) for aspirating; the ejector (10) has a first and a second tubular body (17, 24) exhibiting a first converging portion (20, 25) arranged downstream of an inlet zone (18) along an aspirating direction (21) and a second portion (22, 26) having a constant section emerging from the first converging portion (20, 25) at the smaller-section zone (23, 27) and downstream of the first portion (20, 25) along the aspirating direction (21), the tubular conduit (11) for injecting the compressed air exhibiting an inlet mouth (28) located at the converging portion (25) of the second tubular body (24) such as to inject pressurised air into the second tubular body (24).