EP2257211B1 - Remote shutoff device for a suction or ventilation apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a remote shutdown device for a suction or ventilation installation.

A suction or ventilation installation generally comprises a suction box, a motorized suction turbine pneumatically connected to the outlet orifice of the box and at least one pipe, one end of which opens into the box.

Such a structure is used in central vacuum systems, on movable vacuum cleaners, sled type or can, in mechanical ventilation systems but also on some so-called dry columns or smoke extraction. To simplify the description, reference will be made to the central vacuum installations, but it is obvious that the invention applies to any installation comprising at least one duct, one end of which is connected to a suction assembly or ventilation.

In such central vacuum installations, the suction assembly is disposed with its dust container in a technical room and the duct opening into the box is part of a network of ducts connecting the plant to suction sockets. arranged in the areas to be cleaned. Each suction port is closed by a hinged lid and can receive the rear end of a hose whose front end with a handle is adapted to receive a rigid tubular extension or suction members.

The document EP 0 695 137 discloses a remote shut-off device for a suction or ventilation installation, comprising a suction duct and a shutter, the suction duct being intended to be connected to the suction or ventilation installation at a downstream end, in the direction of flow of the suction flow, and to be connected to a suction nozzle at an upstream end, the shutter being pivoted between a suction position in which it not closing the duct, so as to achieve suction at the nozzle, and a closed position, in which it closes the duct, so as to generate a significant depression downstream of the stop device, for be detected by the suction or ventilation system in order to generate a stop. Another known device is described by the document DE 31 42 060 A1 .

Once the installation is stopped, the user must reposition the shutter in its original position, that is to say in the suction position. If this operation is not performed, when restarting the installation, a depression is established again downstream of the shutter, so that the installation is stopped quickly. Such abnormal operation may eventually lead to deterioration of the installation.

The invention aims to overcome this disadvantage by providing a remote shutdown device for a suction or ventilation system to prevent an unwanted shutdown of the installation during its restart.

To this end, the invention relates to a remote stop device of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises elastic return means, arranged to return the shutter from the closed position to the suction position when the depression downstream of the shutter is low, that is to say after stopping the suction or ventilation system, the shutter being actuated by actuating means on a first part of the race , so as to partially close the suction duct, and being designed to be actuated solely by the depression created in the suction duct downstream of the shutter, on a second stroke portion, so as to completely close the duct suction.

The actuating means are for example in the form of a button.

The return means thus make it possible to avoid the risk of manipulation error by the user by ensuring that the shutter is in the suction position when the system is restarted.

In addition, the efforts required to operate the button are limited. Indeed, the actuation of the button is performed on a limited stroke, corresponding to the first part of the shutter stroke. In other words, the button does not accompany the shutter over its entire course. Thus, the effort to be applied to the button by the user, necessary to oppose the return force generated by the elastic return means, is substantially reduced. The ergonomics of the stop device is thus improved.

Thus, in order to actuate the stop of the installation, the user first actuates the button so that the shutter is driven on the first part of its stroke, then the depression continues alone to cause the shutter on the remaining part of the race, until the complete shutter suction duct. As seen above, this last position is maintained until the stop of the installation.

Advantageously, the stop device comprises a body having a wall delimiting the suction duct, and a portion forming an outgrowth with respect to the suction duct in which are housed, at least in part, the shutter, the means actuation and / or elastic return means.

According to a possibility of the invention, the body comprises an abutment against which the shutter is intended to come to bear in the closed position.

In this way, the shutter position is precisely determined by the position of the stop.

Preferably, the stop is formed in the inner wall of the suction duct.

According to one characteristic of the invention, the elastic return means comprise a tension spring comprising a first end connected to the body and a second end connected to the shutter.

Advantageously, the stop device comprises stops arranged to delimit the stroke of the actuating means.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the body is formed of two complementary molded parts, each delimiting a portion of the suction duct and the protrusion.

This feature facilitates the mounting of the stop device.

Preferably, the shutter comprises a closure wall having a shape complementary to that of the section of the suction duct, the wall having a concave face turned towards the downstream end of the suction duct, in a position of shutter.

According to a possibility of the invention, the suction duct has a substantially cylindrical shape, the shutter being arranged, because of the concavity of its closure wall, so that said wall is arranged, in position d shutter, in the extension of the inner wall of the suction duct.

In this way, the suction pipe has a surface continuity when the shutter is in the suction position. The risk of clogging and loss of loads inside the duct are then limited.

Advantageously, the actuating means are slidably mounted on the body and cooperate with the shutter so as to allow its rotation during the translation of the actuating means.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the shutter comprises a heel intended to come into contact with a cam of the actuating means, during the rotation of the shutter on the first stroke portion, the heel being disengaged from the cam during the rotation of the shutter on the second part of the race.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the shutter comprises a foot, having a generally elongated shape, attached to the closure wall, behind the concave face, the heel being disposed at the free end of the foot, the axis of rotation of the shutter being attached to the foot, between the heel and the end of the foot attached to the closure wall.

Advantageously, the second end of the elastic return means is connected to the shutter, at the heel or a zone located near it.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the shutter has a center of gravity which is offset with respect to its center of rotation, so that, after actuation of the shutter on the first part of the race, the projection of the center gravity, on the axis passing through the center of rotation and oriented along the axis of the suction duct, is spaced from the center of rotation.

According to a possibility of the invention, the shutter comprises an arm driven in rotation by the actuating means, on the first part of the shutter stroke.

Preferably, the shutter comprises an arm rotated by the actuating means on the first part of the shutter stroke.

Advantageously, the second end of the elastic return means is connected to the shutter, at the arm or an area located near it.

• Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble schématique d'une d'aspiration centralisée.
• Figure 2 est une vue, en perspective, du dispositif d'arrêt selon l'invention.
• Figure 3 en est une vue de face, en position d'aspiration de l'obturateur, l'une des parties du corps ayant été retirée ;
• Figure 4 est une vue en coupe longitudinal du dispositif d'arrêt, en position d'aspiration de l'obturateur ;
• Figure 5 est une vue correspondant à la figure 3, en position intermédiaire de l'obturateur ;
• Figure 6 est une vue correspondant aux figures 3 et 5, en position d'obturation de l'obturateur ;
• Figure 7 est une vue correspondant aux figures 3, 5 et 6, représentant le rappel de l'obturateur.
• Figure 8 représente une variante de réalisation, en position d'aspiration de l'obturateur ;
• Figures 9 et 10 sont des vues correspondant à la figure 8, respectivement en position intermédiaire et en position d'obturation de l'obturateur.
• La figure 1 représente une installation centralisée d'aspiration 1 comportant un caisson d'aspiration 2 équipé d'un filtre 3 et d'une turbine 4 actionnée par un moteur électrique 5, apte à créer une dépression dans le caisson 2.

In any case, the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, by way of example, two embodiments of this remote stop device.

• Figure 1 is a schematic overview of a centralized aspiration.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the stop device according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a front view, in the suction position of the shutter, one of the parts of the body having been removed;
• Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the stop device, in the suction position of the shutter;
• Figure 5 is a view corresponding to the figure 3 in the intermediate position of the shutter;
• Figure 6 is a view corresponding to figures 3 and 5 , in shutter position of the shutter;
• Figure 7 is a view corresponding to figures 3 , 5 and 6 , representing the shutter recall.
• Figure 8 represents an alternative embodiment, in the suction position of the shutter;
• Figures 9 and 10 are views corresponding to the figure 8 respectively in the intermediate position and in the closed position of the shutter.
• The figure 1 represents a centralized suction installation 1 comprising a suction box 2 equipped with a filter 3 and a turbine 4 actuated by an electric motor 5, able to create a vacuum in the box 2.

The casing 2 is connected to one or more suction wall outlets 6, distributed in a building, via ducts 7. The ends of the ducts are equipped with flaps or butterflies 8, 9, as is known to the prior art.

A tubular hose 10, comprising a connection piece 11, is inserted into the wall socket so as to ensure a tight connection between the pipe and the hose.

The hose 10 further comprises a second end connected to a remote stop device 12 forming a handle, the structure of which will be detailed below.

The remote shut-off device is furthermore equipped with a tubular nozzle 13, intended for attaching suction accessories, with or without an extension tube.

The Figures 2 to 7 represents a remote stop device 12 for a suction or ventilation installation 1.

The latter comprises a body 14 intended to form a handle and delimiting a suction duct 15, as well as a shutter 19 pivotally mounted on the body 14.

The suction duct 15 is intended to be connected to the hose 10 at a downstream end 16, in the direction of flow of the suction flow F, and to be connected to the suction nozzle 13 at one end. upstream 17. More particularly, the downstream end 16 has an internal thread 18 intended to cooperate with a thread of the hose 10, the upstream end having external ribs for fixing the endpiece 13.

The shutter 19 is pivotally mounted on the body 14, between a suction position ( Figures 2 to 4 ) in which it does not close the duct 15, so as to be able to achieve suction at the endpiece 13, and a closed position ( figure 6 ), in which it closes the conduit 15, so as to generate a significant depression downstream of the stop device 12, to be detected by the suction or ventilation system 1 to generate its stop. The axis of rotation of the shutter 19 is designated by the reference A.

The shutter 19 is actuated by a button 20 on a first stroke portion, so as to partially close the suction duct 15 ( figure 5 ), and is designed to be actuated solely by the depression created in the suction duct 15 downstream of the shutter 19, on a second stroke portion, so as to completely close the suction duct 15 ( figure 6 ).

The structure of the body and the shutter will now be described in more detail.

The body 14 is formed of two complementary molded parts, each delimiting a portion of the suction duct 15. For reasons of visibility, a part of the body has been removed from the figures 3 and 5 to 7 .

The body further defines a housing 23 for the button 20 and the shutter 19, each portion of the body 14 forming a portion of said housing 23. The housing 23 forms, at least in part, an outgrowth with respect to the suction duct 15 .

The inner wall of the suction duct 15 further comprises a stop 24 against which the shutter 19 is intended to bear in the closed position.

The shutter 19 has a closure wall 25 having a concave shape complementary to that of the section of the suction duct 15, as can be seen in FIG. figure 4 . The concavity is turned towards the downstream end 16 of the suction duct 15, in the suction position of the shutter 19.

The suction duct 15 also has a substantially cylindrical shape, the shutter 19 being arranged, because of the concavity of its closure wall 25, so that said wall is arranged, in the suction position of the shutter 19, in the extension of the inner wall of the suction duct 15, as appears more particularly in the figure 4 .

The shutter 19 further comprises a foot 26, having a generally elongate shape, attached to the closure wall 25, behind the concave face. A heel 27 is disposed at the free end of the foot 26. The axis of rotation A of the shutter 19 is attached to the foot 26, between the heel 27 and the end of the foot attached to the closure wall 25.

The heel 27 is intended to come into contact with a cam 28 formed on the button 20, during the rotation of the shutter 19 on the first stroke portion, the heel 27 being disengaged from the cam 28 during the rotation of the the shutter 19 on the second part of the race.

The button 20 is slidably mounted on the body 14 and thus cooperates with the shutter 19 so as to allow its rotation during the translation of the button 20. The stroke of the button 20 is delimited by the stops 21,22 provided on the body 14.

The stop device 12 comprises resilient return means 29, arranged to return the shutter 19 from the closed position to the suction position, when the depression downstream of the shutter is low, that is, ie after stopping the suction or ventilation system 1.

More particularly, the elastic return means comprise a tension spring 29 comprising a first end connected to the body 14, on the downstream end 16 side thereof with respect to the shutter 19, and a second end connected to the shutter 19, at the heel 27 or an area located near it, the foot 26 then forming a lever arm.

The operation of the stopping device will now be described in more detail.

When no action is exerted on the button 20 by the user, the shutter 19 is held in the suction position by the elastic return means 29 as shown in FIGS. Figures 3 and 4 . The installation can then be started, preferably remotely. The starting means of the installation are known to those skilled in the art and will not be detailed here.

When the user wishes to stop the installation, it presses the button 20 so that its depression over its entire course causes the rotation of the shutter 19 on a first part of its stroke, through the cam 28 and heel 27. This intermediate position is shown in FIG. figure 5 .

In this position, the shutter 19 partially closes the suction duct 15 and is subjected to a torque exerted by the depression established downstream of the shutter, on the side of the end 16 of the body 14.

This torque reaches a value sufficient to oppose the return spring 29 so that the shutter 19 continues its pivoting movement under the action of the depression until it abuts against the stop 24 of the 14. In this position, the duct 15 is completely closed and the value of the depression downstream of the shutter 19 increases rapidly until reaching a threshold value detected by the installation and triggering its shutdown.

Note that the effort required to operate the button 20 are limited. Indeed, the actuation of the button 20 is performed on a limited stroke and the button does not accompany the shutter 19 on the entire stroke of the latter. Therefore, the effort to be applied to the button by the user, necessary to oppose the return force generated by the elastic return means 29, is substantially reduced. The ergonomics of the stop device is thus improved.

After stopping the installation, the depression downstream of the shutter 19 drops gradually to a threshold from which the return means 29 exert a greater torque on the shutter 19 that the depression itself.

The latter is then gradually brought back from its closed position to its original suction position, represented in FIGS. Figures 2 to 4 . When returning to the position of the shutter 19, the heel 27 enters again into contact with the cam 28 of the button 20 ( figure 7 ) in order to bring the latter back to its position shown in figure 3 .

The Figures 8 to 10 represent an alternative embodiment of the stop device. In order to facilitate understanding of the drawing, the same elements have been designated by the same references.

The operating principle of this variant of the stop device is similar to that described above.

The structure of the stop device, however, differs in that the shutter 19 has a generally cylindrical or spherical shape and is pivotally mounted in a housing 30 of the body of complementary shape. The shutter has a through-hole 31 whose inner wall is located in line with that of the suction duct 15, in the suction position of the shutter 19, as can be seen in FIG. figure 8 . The stop device 12 has in this a structure similar to that of a ball valve.

The shutter is designed so that its center of gravity G is offset from its center of rotation R.

As represented in figure 8 , the shutter 19 is arranged so that, in the suction position, the projection of the center of gravity G, on the axis B passing through the center of rotation and oriented along the axis C of the suction duct 15, either coincides with the center of rotation R. In other words, the center of gravity G is located at the right of the center of rotation R of the shutter.

Button 20 differs from that described with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. Figures 2 to 7 in that it is pivotally actuated relative to the body 14.

In addition, the shutter 19 comprises an arm 32 coming into contact with the button 20 so as to be driven by it, on the first stroke portion of the shutter 19, the second end of the elastic return means 29 being linked. at the shutter, at the arm 32 or an area located near it.

As before, the actuation of the button 20 causes the shutter 19 to rotate on a first part of its stroke. The shutter thus partially closes the suction duct 15.

In this position, represented in figure 9 the projection P of the center of gravity G is offset with respect to the center of rotation R, upstream thereof. It should be noted that, according to another embodiment variant not shown, the shutter could be arranged so that the projection P is offset downstream of the center of rotation R.

In this position, because of the aforementioned offset, the depression established downstream of the shutter 19 creates a torque tending to oppose the return means 29 so as to bring the shutter 19 in the closed position shown in FIG. figure 10 . As previously, in this position, the arm 32 bears against the abutment 24 of the body 14.

After stopping the installation, the shutter 19 returns to its original position by means of elastic return means 29.

The advantages presented with reference to the embodiment of the Figures 2 to 7 therefore also apply to this variant of execution.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments of this remote stop device, described above as examples, but it, as defined in the appended claims, on the contrary embraces all variants.

Claims (15)

1. A remote shut-down device (12) for a suction or ventilation installation (1), comprising a suction pipe (15) as well as a sealing member (19), the suction pipe being intended to be connected to the suction or ventilation installation at a downstream end (16), in the direction of circulation of the suction flow (F), and to be connected to a suction endpiece (13) at an upstream end, the sealing member (19) pivoting between a suction position in which it does not seal the pipe (15), so as to be able to carry out a suction at the endpiece (13), and a sealed position, in which it seals the pipe (15), so as to generate a significant depression downstream of the shut-down device (12), intended to be detected by the suction or ventilation installation (1) in order to generate its shut-down,
   the device including elastic return means (29), arranged to bring the sealing member (19) from the sealed position back to the suction position, when the depression downstream of the sealing member is low, that is to say after shut-down of the suction or ventilation installation,
   characterized in that the sealing member (19) is actuated by actuating means (20) over a first travel portion, so as to partially seal the suction pipe (15), and being designed to be actuated only by the depression created in the suction pipe (15) downstream of the sealing member (19), over a second travel portion, so as to completely seal the suction pipe (15).
2. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a body (14) presenting a wall delimiting the suction pipe (15), and a portion (23) forming an excrescence relative to the suction pipe in which the sealing member (19), the actuating means (20) and/or the elastic return means (29) are housed, at least partly.
3. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 2, characterized in that the body (14) includes a stop (24) against which the sealing member (19) is intended to bear in the sealed position.
4. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 3, characterized in that the stop (24) is arranged in the inner wall of the suction pipe (15).
5. The shut-down device (12) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastic return means include a tension spring (29) comprising a first end linked to the body (14) and a second end linked to the sealing member (19).
6. The shut-down device (12) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it includes stops (21, 22) arranged to delimit the travel of the actuating means (20).
7. The shut-down device (12) according to any of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the body (14) is formed of two complementary molded portions, delimiting each a portion of the suction pipe (15) and of the excrescence (23).
8. The shut-down device (12) according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the sealing member (19) includes a sealing wall (25) presenting a shape complementary to that of the section of the suction pipe (15), the sealing wall (25) presenting a concave face turned towards the downstream end (16) of the suction pipe (15), in the sealed position.
9. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 8, characterized in that the suction pipe (15) presents a substantially cylindrical shape, the sealing member (19) being arranged, due to the concavity of its sealing wall (25), in such a way that said wall is disposed, in the sealed position, in the extension of the inner wall of the suction pipe (15).
10. The shut-down device (12) according to any of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the actuating means (20) are slidably mounted on the body (14) and cooperate with the sealing member (19) so as to allow its rotation upon the translation of of the actuating means.
11. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 10, characterized in that the sealing member (19) includes a heel (27) intended to come in contact with a cam (28) of the actuating means (20), upon the rotation of the sealing member (19) over the first travel portion, the heel (27) being released from the cam (28) upon the rotation of the sealing member (19) over the second travel portion.
12. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 11, characterized in that the sealing member (19) includes a foot (26), presenting a generally elongated shape, fastened to the sealing wall (25), behind the concave face, the heel (27) being disposed at the free end of the foot (26), the axis of rotation (A) of the sealing member being fastened to the foot (26), between the heel (27) and the end of the foot fastened to the sealing wall (25).
13. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 5 and according to any of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the second end of the elastic return means (29) is linked to the sealing member (19), at the heel (27) or an area situated in proximity thereto.
14. The shut-down device (12) according to any of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the sealing member (19) presents a center of gravity (G) which is offset relative to its center of rotation (R), so that, after actuation of the sealing member (19) over the first travel portion, the projection (P) of the center of gravity (G), on the axis (B) passing through the center of rotation (R) and oriented along the axis (C) of the suction pipe (15), is spaced away from the center of rotation (R).
15. The shut-down device (12) according to claim 14, characterized in that the sealing member (19) includes an arm (32) driven in rotation by the actuating means (20), over the first travel portion of the sealing member, and the second end of the elastic return means (29) is linked to the sealing member (19), at the arm (32) or an area situated in proximity thereto.

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