Pipes and tubular conduits – With pressure compensators – Variable capacity chambers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-10-23
Brinson, Patrick (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
With pressure compensators
Variable capacity chambers
C138S031000, C118S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305421
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a deviced for applying a fluid processing agent to a strip of fabric.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
It is known to affix a so-called pressure accumulator in liquid-conducting conduits, to absorb and damp pressure variations and pressure surges in them, where this accumulator is connected with the conduit via a shunt line. This arrangement works well, as long as only one and the same liquid flows in the conduit. However, if a change in liquid occurs during operation, the residual amount of advancing liquid remaining in the shunt line and on the one side of the accumulator can prove to be disruptive. The residual liquid gradually mixes with the next liquid and contaminates the latter. This problem is particularly obvious in feed lines to application heads that carry fluid processing agents in the form of dye baths. Corresponding systems are known, for example, from German Patent A1 29 00 712 and German Patent A1 33 15 770 A1. If, for example, red dye was being used first, and a switch to yellow takes place, the residual amount of “dead” red dye remaining in the shunt line and on the one side of the accumulator will gradually mix with the yellow and turn it orange.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the task of creating an arrangement to influence the amount of liquid flowing through a feed line to an application head, in which the smallest possible residual amount can be expected when the liquid is changed.
This task is accomplished by providing a pressure accumulator in the feed line between a fluid processing agent source and an application head. The pressure accumulator has an elastic sleeve which is substantially the same diameter as the feed line. The elastic sleeve is fastened to a tubular housing, and the housing is sized so that there is an annular chamber formed between the housing and the elastic sleeve. The annular chamber has a connector which allows the annular chamber to be in fluid connection with either a pressure source or a vacuum source.
The “tubular element” is actually known, as a cuff valve, from German Patent 40 31 228 A1, in the more relevant function as a pressure surge damper from German Patent 10 96 694 B. It exercises practically the same function as the pressure accumulator that has already been mentioned. Here, the “pressure accumulator” surrounds the conduit, so to speak, and continues its inside circumference practically in the same alignment, without any shunt line or similar areas that must be filled with liquid being required in order for the “pressure accumulator” to fulfill its function.
The pressure accumulator can function in two modes.
In the first mode, if a pressure is maintained at the connection that corresponds to the pressure in the flowing liquid, the tubing section remains essentially cylindrical and merely continues the conduit at practically the same diameter. In this state, the tubular element can serve as a damping element, in that the elastically flexible tubing section moves back somewhat in case of a pressure surge and absorbs the pressure surge.
The mode imparts an active influence on the flow of the processing agent in the feed line, in that the connector is brought into connection with a region of greatly reduced pressure, in other words a vacuum chamber. This causes a partial vacuum in the annular chamber, so that the tubing section inflates inside the annular chamber, thereby taking up portions of the flowing liquid. This can be utilized to withdraw portions of the liquid from the downstream region of the feed line when the pump which produces the liquid flow is shut off, in order to prevent the liquid from running out, for example, or from being mixed with other liquids.
Specifically, if the feed of processing agent is shut off at the application device, and, at the same time, the connector of the annular chamber is connected with the vacuum chamber, the tubing section is drawn into the annular chamber, thereby increasing volume, and draws the processing agent located in the feed channels and in the slit back from the slit, so that application to the web can immediately be stopped completely.
In a preferred embodiment, the radial flanges, together with the inside circumference of the tubular segment, delimit an essentially rectangular cross-section of the annular chamber, which is actually open towards the axis of the conduit and is closed off by the tubing section. When a partial vacuum is applied, the tubing section deforms radially outward, into the annular chamber.
It is practical if the ends of the tubing section are connected with the radial flanges by means of clamp rings. The clamp rings can be structured as cone rings. It is practical if the cone ring, in each instance, is braced on the tubular segment with axial draw spindles, together with the radial flanges, where clamping the ends of the tubing section can take place by way of interacting cone surfaces.
At least one back-off valve and one flush valve can be provided in the application device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2448118 (1948-08-01), Pellettere
patent: 2609001 (1952-09-01), Hebard
patent: 3103234 (1963-09-01), Washburn
patent: 3744527 (1973-07-01), Mercier
patent: 3948287 (1976-04-01), Sugimura et al.
patent: 4628964 (1986-12-01), Sugimura et al.
patent: 4759387 (1988-07-01), Arendt
patent: 1 096 694 (1961-01-01), None
patent: 29 00 712 (1980-07-01), None
patent: 33 15 770 (1984-10-01), None
patent: 40 31 228 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 197 05 258 (1998-08-01), None
Brinson Patrick
Eduard Kusters Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
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