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(11) | EP 0 958 069 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
EXHAUST ARRANGEMENT ABGASANLAGE SYSTEME POUR ECHAPPEMENTS |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] The present invention relates to a suction operated gas evacuating arrangement, and then particularly, but not exclusively, to a vehicle exhaust gas evacuating arrangement, wherein the arrangement includes a suction hose having at one end a device for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, and wherein the other end of the hose communicates with a suction channel.
[0002] It is known to use so-called exhaust gas evacuating arrangements in vehicle testing systems and vehicle repair shops to evacuate vehicle emission gases from the premises concerned, so as to keep the emission of gases into said premises at the lowest possible extent. These arrangements normally include a hose which carries at one end a device for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, while the other end of the hose is connected to a suction channel. The exhaust gases are transported through the hose and channel to an outlet point located externally of the building for instance, with the aid of a fan or fan system. Naturally, the gas evacuating arrangement shall be leakage-free to the greatest possible extent, while enabling a hose connection to be fitted to the vehicle as the vehicle enters the premises and to enable the vehicle to be moved within the premises until it leaves said premises, wherewith the suction hose is disconnected from the vehicle.
[0003] The US 4117773 A discloses a gas evacuating arrangement, wherein a suction hose communicates with a suction channel through a carriage, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the channel. The carriage includes means for temporarily lifting a free edge of a seal mounted along the suction channel, such as to effect desired communication between the carriage and the channel (see figure 1-2).
[0004] DE 36 04 085 A describes a suction operated gas evacuating arrangement, particularly for evacuating vehicle exhaust gases, wherein the arrangement includes a suction hose having provided on a first end a device for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle for instance, and wherein the other end of the hose communicates with a suction channel. The arrangement includes a carriage which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the channel, said second end of the hose is connected to the carriage. The arrangement further includes a seal in the top of the channel and means for temporarily lifting said seal such as to effect desired communication between said carriage and said channel, the seal covering an opening in the top section of the channel and being adapted to coact in the abutment of a free long side edge with a supportive surface and with the means of the carriage through the combined effect of the weight of the seal and the sub-pressure in the suction channel.
[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a highly effective gas evacuating arrangement with the opening in the top section of the channel which allows an easy temporarily lifting of the seal through the means of the carriage.
[0006] This object is achieved with the arrangement defined in the features of the independent claim 1.
[0007] The inventive arrangement has many advantages over known arrangements of this kind. For instance, the inventive arrangement ' provides a highly impervious means for effectively transporting gas between the suction hose and the suction channel. The inventive sealing device is designed to provide an effective sealing function with the aid of gravity and suction power. In addition, the invention allows a number of different embodiments to be implemented with regard to the method in which the hose or hoses is/are transported along the suction channel. The inventive arrangement can readily be combined with different types of auxiliary devices, such as balancing blocks and parallel guide rails that are inclined to enable suction hoses to slide back automatically to an initial position. The inventive arrangement may, of course, also be used in combination with means for returning the suction hose or hoses mechanically. The inventive arrangement thus provides both technical and economical advantages.
[0008] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates an inventive arrangement in perspective; and Fig. 2 is a partially open perspective view of the inventive arrangement in larger scale.
[0009] The inventive arrangement includes a flexible suction hose 1 which carries on a first end 2 a device 3 for connection to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, for instance an automobile 100. The other end 4 of the hose 1 communicates with a suction channel 5 through the medium of a carriage 40 that is movable in the longitudinal direction of said channel, wherein said other hose end 4 is connected to the carriage 40.
[0010] In the case of the illustrated embodiment, a balance block 6 acts between the carriage 40 and the hose 1 and enables the hose to be hoisted from a low position of use to a higher position in which the hose can be moved along the channel 5 without colliding with objects present in the premises.
[0011] The arrangement also includes a guide rail 10, normally a ceiling-mounted rail, wherein the rail can also be used to support the suction channel 5 if so desired. The suction channel 5 of the illustrated embodiment is divided into two part-channels 5a and 5b, which are mirror images of each other. Although not shown, the part-channels 5a and 5b may be connected to an evacuation pipe and to a fan system or the like that provides the suction-operated evacuating arrangement with the requisite suction force.
[0012] In the illustrated embodiment, the guide rail 10 includes a forward transport rail 10a and an outer rail loop 10b that functions as a return transport rail, said rails 10a and 10b being positioned above the part-channels 5a and 5b.
[0013] The cross-sectional shape of the transport rail/guide rail 10 will best be seen from Fig. 2. The part-channels 5a and 5b are supported by the transport rail 10 through the medium of attachments 11.
[0014] As before mentioned, the part-channels 5a and 5b are of mutually identical construction and are the mirror image of each other, and consequently only one, 5a, of the part-channels will be described in detail. The part-channel 5a of the illustrated embodiment has a chute-like or gutter-like configuration and includes a bottom 20, an outer side wall 21 and an inner side wall 22. The part-channel 5a also includes a sealing end-cover 23 at respective ends thereof. The top of the part-channel 5a is closed by means of a flexible seal 24, for instance a rubber or plastic seal. The seal 24 extends along the full length of the part-channel 5a and also overlaps the end-covers 23 of said channel. The outer side edge 25 of the seal 24 that lies proximal to the outer side wall 21 is sealingly attached to an attachment part 26 of the part-channel 5a. The seal 24 has a free edge 27 which faces towards the inner side wall 22 and which rests on a ledge 28 provided at the upper edge of the inner wall 22. The free side edge 27 of the seal 24 rests on the ledge 28 under the weight of the seal while the sub-pressure prevailing in the channel acts on the seal 24 to provide a particularly effective sealing effect. A downward sloping climber plate 29 is mounted at both end-parts of the part-channel 5a.
[0015] As earlier mentioned, the part-channel 5b is an identical mirror-image of the part-channel 5a and consequently those parts of the part-channel 5b that find correspondence in the part-channel 5a have been identified with the same reference signs in the drawings.
[0016] The inventive arrangement also includes a box-like carriage 40 that can be moved along the length of the channel 5. Mounted on the bottom surface 42 of the carriage 40 is a socket connector 41 which enables the suction hose 1 to be connected to the arrangement with the upper end 4 of said hose communicating with said carriage 40. The carriage 40 includes a bottom 42, two side walls 43, 44 and two end walls 44, 46. The side wall 43 of said carriage 40 carries a guide rail 50 which slides on the ledge 28, but underneath the sealing edge 27 as the carriage 40 is moved along the part-channels 5a and 5b. The side wall 44 also carries correspondingly a guide rail 50 which slides along the part-channel 5b in the aforedescribed manner.
[0017] The carriage 40 also includes a carrier frame 60 which carries rotatable guide wheels 61, 62 whose size and positioning are adapted to enable the wheels to roll guidingly between the inner walls 22 of the part-channels 5a and 5b. The frame 60 also carries further guide wheels 63-66 which roll guidingly within the guide rail 10 such as to enable the carriage 40 to be moved along the guide rail 10 in an effectively guided manner in relation to the part-channels 5a and 5b.
[0018] The carriage 40 also carries on its upper surface an arcuate cover plate 70. The cover plate 70 is anchored to the upper edges of the walls 45, 46, and the end-parts 71, 72 of said cover plate project beyond respective end walls. The free end-edges of respective end-parts 71, 72 are located essentially on the same height level as the guide rails 50. The width of the cover plate 70 is such as to enable the edge-parts of said plate to slide beneath the free edge 27 of the seals 24. Because of the arcuate shape of the cover plate 70, there is defined between the upper edge of the side wall 43 and the cover plate 70 an air gap 73. An air gap 74 is formed correspondingly between the upper edge of the side wall 44 and the cover plate 70.
[0019] When the carriage 40 is moved in a direction towards the channel 5, i.e. towards the part-channels 5a and 5b, the relevant end-part 71 or 72 of the cover plate and the guide rails 50 will enter between the seals 24 and the supportive ledge parts 28 by virtue of the presence of the climber plates 29 and a certain seal overhang, as evident from Fig. 2. As the carriage 40 moves along the part-channels 5a and 5b, the arcuate cover plate 70 functions to slidingly lift the seals 24, as a result of relevant seal sections sliding on the upper surface of the cover plate 70, so as to obtain mobile communication between the inner space of the carriage 40 and the inner space of respective part-channels 5a and 5b. It will be evident from this that the aforesaid mobile sealing function is particularly effective and beneficial. It will also be evident from the aforegoing that exhaust gases evacuated by suction through the hose 1 via the carriage 40 and the gaps 73, 74, is able to pass into the part-channels 5a and 5b. Naturally, the seals 24 will close and communication between the carriage 40 and the part-channels cease, when the carriage 40 is manoeuvred out of contact with the part-channels 5a and 5b.
[0020] It will be understood that the arrangement may include an automatically functioning throttle or valve that closes the hose 1 when the suction arrangement is not in use, so as to avoid applying suction to the apparatus in the absence of exhaust gases.
[0022] The hose connection device 3 is connected to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle 100 in the premises concerned, whereafter movement of the vehicle in the premises will cause the carriage 40 to be drawn along the channel 5. This movement causes the cover plate 70 to lift the seals temporarily, such that the exhaust gases are able to pass from the carriage 40 and into the part-channels 5a and 5b via the gaps 73 and 74, for further transportation of the gases from the premises. When the vehicle 100 leaves the premises, the hose connector 3 is removed from the vehicle exhaust pipe and the hose 1 is hoisted to a higher level, e.g. through the medium of a balance block or counterweight 6, and the carriage 40 with the hose 1 hanging therefrom is returned to a position adjacent the entrance to the premises in readiness for connection to the next vehicle, for instance. The hose and carriage can be returned to said position in a number of different ways. This has been exemplified in Fig. 1 with a return rail 10b which forms an additional loop. This method of returning the hose and carriage is particularly advantageous, particularly when a plurality of individual carriages 40 and suction hoses 1 are arranged to act along a channel 5. The guide rail 10b may be inclined so as to enable return of the carriages 40 and suction hoses 1 suspended therefrom to be effected under the force of gravity.
[0023] However, this method of returning carriages 40 and suction hoses suspended therefrom to a starting position is only one of a number of different alternatives. For instance, when only one carriage and one suction hose is used in coaction with the suction channel 5, the carriage and the hose may be returned mechanically, wherein the carriage 40 need not leave the guide rail 10a mounted above the part-channels 5a and 5b.
[0024] The carriage may, of course, also be returned manually, by gripping the hose and dragging the carriage to its starting position for connection to another vehicle.
[0025] It will also be understood that the means for guiding and longitudinally transporting the carriage 40 with a suction hose 1 suspended therefrom may be modified in many ways within the scope of the inventive concept.
[0026] It will also be understood that the carriage 40 may also be constructed to function when the channel 5 is an undivided single channel, e.g. a channel similar to part-channel 5a. In this case, the gap 74 will, of course, be closed by a cover plate and the guiding of the carriage 40 in relation to the part-channel 5a will be further supplemented with a counterpressure roll that rolls along the outer channel wall 21. It will also be understood that the illustrated means for guiding the carriage relative to the channel 5 may be modified or varied in many different ways.
[0027] The invention thus provides a highly effective sealing function between the carriage 40 and the part-channels 5a and 5b, wherewith highly effective sealing is ensured between the carriage 40 and the channels 5a and 5b through the combined effect of gravity and suction subpressure as the carriage 40 is moved along the part-channels 5a and 5b as the vehicle is moved.
1. A suction operated gas evacuating arrangement, particularly for evacuating vehicle
exhaust gases, wherein the arrangement includes a suction hose (1) having provided
on a first end (2) a device (3) for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle
(100) for instance, and wherein the other end (4) of the hose (1) communicates with
a suction channel (5), the arrangement further includes a carriage (40) which can
be moved in the longitudinal direction of the channel (5), said second end (4) of
the hose (1) is connected to the carriage (40); the arrangement further including
a seal (24) in the top of the channel (5) and means (70) for temporarily lifting said
seal (24) such as to effect communication between said carriage (40) and said channel
(5), the seal covering an opening in the top section of the channel (5) and being
adapted to coact in the abutment of a free long side edge with a supportive surface
(28) and with the means (70) of the carriage (40) through the combined effect of the
weight of the seal (24) and the sub-pressure in the suction channel (5) characterized in that the seal (24) is flexible and one long side (25) of said flexible seal (24) is attachedly
mounted along the top of said suction channel (5), the other long side edge (27) of
the said seal (24) being free and resting on the top section of the channel (5) abutting
the supportive ledge (28) at outside of the channel (5) further characterized in that the means (70) is adapted (73, 74) to lift temporarily the free long side edge (27)
of the flexible seal (24), such as to effect the said communication between said carriage
(40) and the opening in the top section of the channel (5).
2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the channel (5) is comprised of two part-channels (5a, 5b); and that each part-channel
(5a, 5b) carries an individual seal (24).
3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (5) or the part-channels (5a, 5b) has/have a gutter-like configuration.
4. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that the carriage (40) has essentially a box-like configuration that includes an upwardly
facing opening; in that said opening is covered by a generally arcuate cover plate (70) whose edge part or
edge parts causes or cause the free edge (27) of the seal (24) to be lifted temporarily;
and in that at least one gas communication gap (73, 74) or like means is provided between the
cover plate (70) and the side-part (43, 44) of the box-like carriage (40).
5. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that the carriage (40) includes means (50, 61-66) for guiding said carriage in its longitudinal
movement relative to the channel (5) or the part-channels (5a, 5b).
6. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the arrangement includes a rail (10) for transporting or guiding the carriage (40).
1. Durch Saugen betriebene Gasabsauganlage, insbesondere zum Absaugen von Fahrzeugabgasen,
wobei die Anlage einen Ansaugschlauch (1) enthält, bei dem an einem ersten Ende eine
Vorrichtung (3) zum Verbinden des Schlauchs beispielsweise mit dem Abgasrohr eines
Fahrzeugs (100) vorgesehen ist und wobei das andere Ende (4) des Schlauchs (1) in
Verbindung mit einem Ansaugkanal (5) steht, wobei die Anlage weiter einen Schlitten
(40) enthält, der in Längsrichtung des Kanals (5) bewegt werden kann, das zweite Ende
(4) des Schlauchs (1) mit dem Schlitten (40) verbunden ist; wobei die Anlage weiterhin
eine Dichtung (24) oben auf dem Kanal (5) und Mittel (70) zum vorübergehenden Anheben
der Dichtung (24) enthält, um so eine Verbindung zwischen dem Schlitten (40) und dem
Kanal (5) zu erzielen, wobei die Dichtung eine Öffnung im oberen Abschnitt des Kanals
(5) abdeckt und dafür ausgelegt ist, beim Anstoßen einer freien langen Seitenkante
an einer Unterstützungsoberfläche (28) und an den Mitteln (70) des Schlittens (40)
durch den kombinierten Effekt des Gewichts der Dichtung (24) und des Unterdrucks im
Ansaugkanal (5) zusammenzuwirken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Dichtung (24) flexibel ist und eine lange Seite (25) der flexiblen Dichtung (24)
längs der Oberseite des Ansaugkanals (5) anhaftend angebracht ist, wobei die andere
lange Seitenkante (27) der Dichtung (24) frei ist und auf dem oberen Abschnitt des
Kanals (5) unter Anstoßen an die Unterstützungsleiste (28) an der Außenseite des Kanals
(5) aufliegt, weiterhin dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Mittel (70) dafür ausgelegt (73, 74) ist, vorübergehend die freie lange Seitenkante
(27) der flexiblen Dichtung (24) anzuheben, um so die Verbindung zwischen dem Schlitten
(40) und der Öffnung im oberen Abschnitt des Kanals (5) zu bewirken.
2. Anlage gemäß Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Kanal (5) zwei Teilkanäle (5a, 5b) umfasst und dass jeder Teilkanal (5a, 5b)
eine individuelle Dichtung (24) trägt.
3. Anlage gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Kanal (5) oder die Teilkanäle (5a, 5b) eine rutschenartige Konfiguration hat/haben.
4. Anlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schlitten (40) eine im wesentlichen kastenartige Konfiguration hat, die eine
aufwärts weisende Öffnung enthält; dass die Öffnung mit einer allgemein gebogenen
Abdeckplatte (70) abgedeckt ist, deren Kantenteil oder Kantenteile die freie Kante
(27) der Dichtung (24) dazu veranlasst oder veranlassen, vorübergehend angehoben zu
werden, und dass zumindest ein Gasverbindungsspalt (73, 74) oder ähnliches Mittel
zwischen der Abdeckplatte (70) und dem Seitenteil (43, 44) des kastenartigen Schlittens
(40) bereitgestellt ist.
5. Anlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Schlitten (40) Mittel (50, 61-66) zum Führen des Schlittens bei seiner Längsbewegung
relativ zum Kanal (5) oder den Teilkanälen (5a, 5b) enthält.
6. Anlage gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Anlage eine Schiene (10) zum Transportieren oder Führen des Schlittens (40) enthält.
1. Dispositif d'évacuation de gaz par aspiration, en particulier pour évacuer des gaz
d'échappement de véhicule, dans lequel le dispositif inclut un tuyau souple d'aspiration
(1) à une première extrémité (2) duquel est monté un dispositif (3) destiné à relier
le tuyau souple au tuyau d'échappement d'un véhicule (100) par exemple, et dans lequel
l'autre extrémité (4) du tuyau souple (1) communique avec un canal d'aspiration (5),
le dispositif inclut en outre un chariot (40) qui peut être déplacé dans la direction
longitudinale du canal (5), ladite deuxième extrémité (4) du tuyau souple (1) est
reliée au chariot (40) ; le dispositif incluant en outre un éléments de scellement
(24) dans la partie supérieure du canal (5) et un moyen (70) destiné à soulever temporairement
ledit élément de scellement (24) de façon à effectuer une communication entre ledit
chariot (40) et ledit canal (5), l'élément de scellement recouvrant une ouverture
dans la section supérieure du canal (5) et étant adapté pour coopérer, en butée avec
un bord long latéral libre, avec une surface porteuse (28) et avec le moyen (70) du
chariot (40) par l'effet combiné du poids de l'élément de scellement (24) et de la
dépression dans le canal d'aspiration (5), caractérisé en ce que l'élément de scellement (24) est flexible et un côté long (25) dudit élément de scellement
flexible (24) est monté fixe le long de la partie supérieure dudit canal d'aspiration
(5), l'autre bord long latéral (27) dudit éléments de scellement étant libre et reposant
sur la section supérieure du canal (5) en appui sur le rebord de support (28) à l'extérieur
du canal (5), caractérisé en outre en ce que le moyen (70) est adapté pour soulever temporairement le bord long latéral libre
(27) de l'élément de scellement flexible (24), de manière à effectuer ladite communication
entre ledit chariot (40) et l'ouverture dans la section supérieure du canal (5).
2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le canal (5) est constitué de deux parties de canal (5a, 5b), et en ce que chaque partie de canal (5a, 5b) porte un élément de scellement individuel (24).
3. Dispositif selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le canal (5) ou les parties de canal (5a, 5b) ont une configuration en gouttière.
4. Dispositif selon une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que le chariot (40) a sensiblement une configuration en boîte qui inclut une ouverture
dirigée vers le haut, en ce que ladite ouverture est recouverte d'une plaque de couverture (70) de forme généralement
incurvée dont la partie de bord ou les parties de bord provoquent le soulèvement temporaire
du bord libre (27) de l'élément de scellement (24) ; et en ce que au moins un orifice de communication de gaz (73, 74), ou des moyens équivalents,
est prévu entre la plaque de couverture (70) et la partie latérale (43, 44) du chariot
(40) en forme de boîte.
5. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, caractérisé en ce que le chariot (40) inclut un moyen (50, 61 à 66) destiné à guider ledit chariot dans
son mouvement longitudinal par rapport au canal (5) ou les parties de canal (Sa, 5b).
6. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif inclut un rail (10) destiné à transporter ou guidé le chariot (40).