EP2570741A2 - Device for generating an air curtain - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has fan, outlet area, heat exchanger and intake portions (12,14) through which the air is sucked. A control unit is provided for controlling the heat exchanger to set in two different modes for opening and closing the intake portions respectively. A closure device is pivotally mounted in the housing (10) with respect to housing pivot axis in longitudinal direction. The closure device is provided with a curved sealing surface which is extended at specific distance from the pivot axis.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for producing an air curtain comprising at least one fan, at least one blow-out area, a heat exchanger, at least one first suction area, via which the air is sucked through the heat exchanger in a first operating mode (tempering operation) and at least one second suction area , over which in a second operating mode (regeneration operation), the air is sucked past the heat exchanger, wherein control means and / or adjusting elements are provided for a change from the first mode to the second mode and wherein these control means and / or adjusting effect that in the In the first mode of operation, the first suction region is opened and the second suction region is closed and, in the second operating mode, the second suction region is opened and the first suction region is closed.

From the DE 10 2009 032 232 A1 has become known an apparatus for producing an air curtain with the features mentioned. This has a number of fans, which are arranged in a housing and suck in a tempering the air through a heat exchanger therethrough. At the front of the housing there is a cover, which has a distance to the housing in tempering, so that there the air can be sucked. A carriage guided linearly in the housing can be moved, so that in a second operating mode, the regeneration operation, the air inlet opening for the heat exchanger can be closed. In this second operating mode, the fan receives intake air via bypass openings, which are located on the top and bottom of the housing. These bypass openings are opened only in the second mode, but closed in the first mode via linearly displaceable mounted panels. Alternatively, it is also possible to use individual flaps, which are pivotally mounted at each end, as closure members.

In the aforementioned DE 10 2009 032 232 A1 there is also an embodiment in which instead of a sliding carriage as a closure device two pivotable Serve flaps, which pivot about a respective outer bearing axis in each mutually opposite direction of rotation and close in one position, the suction port downstream of the heat exchanger and close in the other position, upper and lower intake ports in the housing. In such an arrangement, however, a servomotor is required for each of the pivotable flaps and in the housing is usually not enough space to bring these actuators under. Either the servomotors must therefore be mounted on the outside of the housing, or you must enlarge the housing.

This is where the present invention starts. The object of the present invention is to improve an apparatus for producing an air curtain of the type mentioned and to provide a structurally simple and effective alternative working variant.

The solution to this problem provides a device for producing an air curtain of the aforementioned type with the characterizing features of the main claim. In this case, according to the invention, a closure device mounted pivotably in the interior of the housing of the device about a pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing is provided. This has a curved closure surface which moves along a curved path extending away from the pivot axis of the closure device from the position in which it closes the second suction region, which corresponds to the first operating mode, to a position in which it closes the first suction region , which corresponds to the second mode.

The abovementioned closure device with a curved closure surface initially has the advantage that one can completely close one of the two suction regions by means of only one closure device in both operating modes and completely open the respective other of the two suction regions, so that the air sucked in only in both positions a minimum flow resistance is opposed. Since only one closure device is necessary, one has the advantageous possibility, if necessary to adjust these with only one motor. This motor can be accommodated in the housing due to the geometry of the closure device, without an enlargement of the housing is necessary.

In contrast to, for example, alternatively usable louver-like flaps, the closure device according to the invention is not a flow obstruction in the intake port, so that the complete intake cross-section in the respective open position available stands. The second intake can be covered for example via a simple intake grille. The air is then sucked in the second mode, bypassing the heat exchanger through the then fully opened second intake. In the first mode, however, the air is sucked in at the first intake and sucked through the heat exchanger and tempered. The closure device is then pivoted into such a position that the second suction region is completely closed.

Basically, it is in air curtains of the type in question so that they have a relatively high efficiency and therefore require a low energy input, if the device has a heat exchanger, which is operated with a refrigerant. The refrigerant can be distributed in such systems, in particular from one outdoor unit to several customer devices. However, in these cases, the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit must be deiced at regular intervals. In this case, the heat exchangers of the pickup devices are subjected to cold during the de-icing process, resulting in further operation of the air curtain that this cold air blows out, which is very uncomfortable for passersby, for example, in an acted upon with the air curtain door area. Alternatively, you could also disable the air curtain for the duration of defrosting, but this is also unfavorable, since then, for example, a door area, the air curtain is used to its foreclosure, unprotected and exposed to the thermal and the external weather conditions.

It is therefore advantageous that is prevented in the inventive solution that sucked during the defrosting phase air over the heat exchanger, cooled and then blown out. The mechanical locking device according to the invention is advantageously designed so that it simultaneously fulfills two functions at a time. When opening the first intake, it simultaneously closes the second intake area completely and by a simple pivoting movement along its curved path, the closure device then pivots into the second end position in which it simultaneously completely closes the first intake area and at the same time opens the second intake area.

By opening the second intake area, in the second operating mode (regeneration mode), intake air thus reaches the fan without it passing through the heat exchanger. The air curtain thus remains functional even during this defrosting phase, in which the device operates in the second operating mode, and the air curtain, which, for example, seals off a door area, can continue to be operated.

Within the scope of a further development of the invention, it is particularly preferred for the curved closure surface of the closure device to be a partial cylindrical jacket surface and for the curved path to be essentially a circular path. In this case, viewed in particular from the end face of the housing (viewed in the direction of the pivot axis), the curved closure surface and / or the curved path extend concentrically with respect to the pivot axis. The pivotable closure device thus moves during the process from one to the other closure position preferably approximately on a circular path (when looking in the direction of the pivot axis), through whose center the pivot axis extends. It is sufficient if the closure device travels in its process from a first end position to a second end position on its curved path, for example approximately a pivoting path of between 80 ° and 100 °, ie describes between its two end positions in about a quarter circle. This preferred geometry is particularly suitable when the first intake opening, which lies in the flow path behind the heat exchanger, extends in a plane which runs approximately at right angles to the plane of the second intake opening. However, the first intake opening does not necessarily have to be at right angles to the second intake opening. Other designs are also possible within the scope of the present invention.

In a possible constructive embodiment, for example, the first intake extends in mounted device in the housing approximately perpendicular and is aligned approximately parallel to a longitudinal side of the housing and the second suction port is located on the top of the housing, the housing cover with approximately rectangular in cross-section housing in right angle to the surface of the longitudinal side of the housing. The aforementioned constructive details relate to preferred concrete solutions and, of course, alternative constructive solutions are also conceivable within the scope of the present invention.

In order to effect a favorable force application for pivoting the closure device, this may for example have at least one lateral bearing surface which extends approximately perpendicular to the curved closure surface, wherein the pivot axis extends at a distance from the closure surface approximately at right angles through the bearing surface. The force can act on such a lateral bearing surface. This can be, for example, a metal sheet which extends at right angles to the curved closure surface and thus, as it were, viewed radially from the closure surface in the direction of the pivot axis. For example, an electric motor can be used for the pivoting drive of the closure device, wherein only one electric motor can be provided which drives a shaft which is mounted approximately in the pivot axis and acts on the closure device. For example, this motor-driven shaft can engage at least one lateral bearing surface, which is connected to the curved closure surface and extends radially to the latter in the direction of the pivot axis.

It should preferably be such that the closure device completely closes the intake opening in the respective closed position. Therefore, it is preferable that the closure device in each of the two closed positions has a seat shaped in such a way that it closes tightly with its curved surface towards the suction opening. For this purpose, it is preferred that both in the closed position in which it closes the second suction area and in the closed position in which it closes the first suction area, the closure device is assigned at least one abutment surface in the interior which extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing extends and which abuts approximately tangentially on the closure device linear or planar. As a rule, two such abutment surfaces are required for each closure position, which extend for example in the respective longitudinal edge regions of the curved closure surface in the longitudinal direction in the housing (ie parallel to the pivot axis and in the depth of the housing). But you can choose a constructive solution in which one of the abutment surfaces in both closed positions is effective, so that you can make do with only three abutment surfaces in total for both closure positions in an advantageous manner. The above embodiments will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawings.

The heat exchanger may be arranged in the housing of the air curtain device on the longitudinal side facing away from the blow-out region, for example in the flow path behind the first suction region, the suction opening of this first suction region being covered, for example, only by an intake grate. In the area of this intake grille, however, no changes in the change from one operating mode to the other are necessary. The determination by which the fan of the air curtain device sucks through the two intake openings is thus determined only by the position of the pivoting closure device with its curved closure surface. However, no changes are made directly to the intake grilles of the two intake openings themselves. There are thus no closure elements on the intake openings, which could obstruct the air flow through the intake opening even in the open position. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger is housed in a housing facing away from the blow-out in the housing and seen in cross-section of the housing beyond the second intake and arranged in the flow path immediately behind the first intake. The heat exchanger is preferably arranged along a longitudinal side wall of the housing behind a suction grille. When switching to the second mode, the intake air preferably passes from above or from below through the then opened second intake into the interior of the housing in an area that is seen from the first intake from beyond the heat exchanger, so that these intake air from the second intake does not flow through the heat exchanger, but is sucked directly from the fan.

For example, a filter device may be arranged between the intake grille of the first intake area and the heat exchanger, in order to filter out impurities in the intake air and thus to avoid clogging of the heat exchanger.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heat exchanger is flowed through by an externally supplied temperature control, which is supplied via an input line and discharged via an output line. It is thus possible to feed the heat exchanger of the respective air curtain from an outdoor unit, from which the temperature control medium (refrigerant) is distributed to a plurality of consumer devices.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in a device according to the invention, an underside housing wall of the air curtain device is provided with a flap-like hinged inspection cover, which can be opened to gain access to the interior of the housing, in particular for maintenance and repair work.

The features mentioned in the dependent claims relate to preferred developments of the task solution according to the invention. Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail by way of embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Luftschleiers gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsvariante;
• Figur 2 einen schematisch vereinfachten Querschnitt durch das Gehäuse der in Figur 1 gezeigten Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Luftschleiers, wobei diese in der ersten Betriebsart arbeitet;
• Figur 3 einen schematisch vereinfachten Querschnitt durch das Gehäuse der in Figur 1 gezeigten Vorrichtung zur Erzeugung eines Luftschleiers, wobei diese in der zweiten Betriebsart arbeitet;
• Figur 4 eine perspektivische Teilansicht mit Einblick in das Innere des Gehäuses der Vorrichtung von Figur 1, wobei diese in der ersten Betriebsart arbeitet und wobei nur die für das Verständnis der Erfindung wesentlichen Bauteile dargestellt sind;
• Figur 5 eine perspektivische Teilansicht mit Einblick in das Innere des Gehäuses der Vorrichtung von Figur 1, wobei diese in der zweiten Betriebsart arbeitet und wobei nur die für das Verständnis der Erfindung wesentlichen Bauteile dargestellt sind;
• Figur 6 eine Teilansicht der Verschlusseinrichtung im Gehäuse der Vorrichtung aus einer anderen Perspektive gesehen als in Figur 4, wobei die Vorrichtung in der ersten Betriebsart arbeitet;
• Figur 7 eine Teilansicht der Verschlusseinrichtung im Gehäuse der Vorrichtung aus einer anderen Perspektive gesehen als in Figur 5, wobei die Vorrichtung in der zweiten Betriebsart arbeitet;
• Figur 8 eine vergrößerte Detailansicht des mittleren Bereichs von Figur 4 in einer etwas anderen Perspektive.

Showing:

• FIG. 1 a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention for producing an air curtain according to an exemplary embodiment variant;
• FIG. 2 a schematically simplified cross section through the housing of in FIG. 1 shown apparatus for producing an air curtain, wherein this operates in the first mode;
• FIG. 3 a schematically simplified cross section through the housing of in FIG. 1 shown apparatus for producing an air curtain, wherein this operates in the second mode;
• FIG. 4 a partial perspective view with insight into the interior of the housing of the device of FIG. 1 this works in the first mode and only the components essential to the understanding of the invention are shown;
• FIG. 5 a partial perspective view with insight into the interior of the housing of the device of FIG. 1 this works in the second mode and only the components essential to the understanding of the invention are shown;
• FIG. 6 a partial view of the closure device in the housing of the device seen from a different perspective than in FIG. 4 wherein the device operates in the first mode;
• FIG. 7 a partial view of the closure device in the housing of the device seen from a different perspective than in FIG. 5 wherein the device operates in the second mode;
• FIG. 8 an enlarged detail view of the middle area of FIG. 4 in a slightly different perspective.

First, on the FIG. 1 Referenced. This shows in a schematically simplified representation in perspective from outside the approximately rectangular housing of an inventive air curtain device 10. This housing comprises two longitudinal side walls, wherein in the view according to FIG. 1 on the left the rear longitudinal side wall 11 is visible, in which the first suction region 12 is located, for example an approximately rectangular suction opening, which is covered with a grid and which can extend over the vast surface of the longitudinal side wall. The covering grid represents only a small flow resistance for the intake air. The housing of the device 10 further comprises on the top side a housing cover 13, in which a second suction region 14 is located, it may also be, for example, a rectangular grid covered with a suction port. This second intake area 14 serves as an alternative to the first intake area for sucking the air in the second operating mode (regeneration mode), as will be explained in more detail later. The housing further comprises two end walls, of which in FIG. 1 the front end wall 16 can be seen. Furthermore, in FIG. 1 two connection lines 17 can be seen, which serve to supply the heat exchanger of the device 10, the refrigerant or dissipate this.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the in FIG. 1 illustrated housing of the device 10 according to the invention, in the first mode, ie in the temperature control. The rear longitudinal side wall 11 is in this view on the left, the front parallel longitudinal side wall 15 is located on the right side in this illustration. In this first operating mode, the air is sucked into the housing through the first suction region 12, sucked through a filter device 24 and then passes through the heat exchanger 21, where it is heated, into the interior of the housing. There, the air is sucked by the fan 17 and is then blown out through a nozzle slot 19, which generates the air curtain and extends in the longitudinal direction of the device. The blow-out area of the nozzle slot is marked 18 and the air is drawn on the in FIG. 2 blown right side of the device 10 downwards.

The air thus flows through the filter device 24 and the heat exchanger sucked by the fan 17 approximately in the transverse direction through the housing of the device 10 before it is blown out at the nozzle slot 19. The closure device 23 is in the first mode according to FIG. 2 in the position in which the flow path from the first suction region 12 through the heat exchanger 21 to the fan 17 is opened, while the upper second suction region 14 is closed by the closure device 23. This has a curved closure surface, as in FIG. 2 recognizable extends approximately over almost a quarter circle and which, since it is a partial cylinder surface in the longitudinal direction of the housing, that is perpendicular to the plane in FIG. 2 extends. You can in FIG. 2 also recognize one of the lateral bearing surfaces 20, which extends approximately radially to the curved plane of the closure surface and in the direction of the pivot axis 22 of the closure device, in which this is also pivotally mounted on the lateral bearing surfaces. In the frontal view according to FIG. 2 the lateral bearing surface 20 has approximately the shape of a quadrant segment. When pivoting the closure device 23 about its pivot axis 22 from the position according to FIG. 2 in the position according to FIG. 3 pivots the curved closure surface 23 a of the closure device as well as the lateral bearing surface 20 approximately 90 ° counterclockwise, as can be seen when comparing the FIG. 3 With FIG. 2 can recognize well.

The following will be on FIG. 3 Referenced. It can be seen that now the closure device is in the second end position, which corresponds to the second operating mode, the regeneration operation of the device. The curved closure surface 23 a has moved about a quarter circle and now closes the intake behind the heat exchanger (ie in FIG. 3 right next to the heat exchanger. As a result, no more air can be sucked through the first intake area 12 and thus no air flows through the heat exchanger 21 therethrough. The fan 17 now rather aspirates the air from above through the suction opening of the second suction area 14, which is now open, since the closing device has moved and is pivoted counterclockwise. The curved closure surface 23 a is in accordance with this mode FIG. 3 before the heat exchanger 21 and there has a seat on two abutment surfaces 25, 26 which abut approximately linearly and tangentially in the edge regions of the curved closure surface 23 a and seal there, so that no air can flow through it. One of these abutment surfaces 25 is located in the upper region of the housing in front of the heat exchanger and the other abutment surface 26 is located in the lower region in front of the heat exchanger. Since the air is now sucked in from above through the intake region 14, it flows past the heat exchanger 21 to the fan and is blown out of this via the nozzle slot 19, without being cooled by the now cold heat exchanger.

In the position according to FIG. 2 , in which the second suction region 14 is closed by the closure device 23, the curved closure surface 23 a is also at two abutment surfaces, in which case the one abutment surface 25 is also used, since they are now in the in FIG. 2 left edge region abuts approximately tangentially line on the curved cylindrical surface. As the second abutment surface serves in this position, a further abutment surface 27, the left edge region of the curved closure surface in FIG. 2 seals.

Further constructional details result from the FIGS. 4 and 5 , each perspectively showing a portion within the housing of the device in which the closure device 23 is located. One looks in principle from the outlet side of the device in the housing and on the closure device, which in turn is shown in both modes. It can be seen two of the lateral bearing surfaces 20 of the closure device and it can be seen that this with the curved part-cylindrical closure surface 23 a from the position according to FIG. 4 in which the upper second intake area is closed is in the position according to FIG. 5 pivot when the first suction area is to be closed. In the position according to FIG. 4 results in an approximately rectangular opening 28 to the heat exchanger (this is not shown here), which in the position according to FIG. 5 is closed by the downwardly curved curved closure surface 23 a. The end-side lateral bearing surfaces 20, which pivot about the axis 22 with the closure device, can for example be pivotably mounted on end faces 29 of a part housing in which the closure device is located. At a further lateral bearing surface 20 a in the central region of the force application can take place via a shaft which is driven by an electric motor 30. This middle lateral bearing surface 20 a is connected to the curved closure surface 23 a. A short piece of the shaft 31 is in FIG. 4 recognizable.

Further details of the device according to the invention will be apparent from the FIGS. 6 and 7 , which in each case once again show in perspective a partial section in the region of the closure device 23 in the two positions, wherein these in FIG. 6 is open to the left while sucking in FIG. 7 is open at the top. It can be seen in each case a lateral bearing surface 20 and a part of the curved closure surface 23 a in the two pivot positions. It also recognizes the components that are shown here from the top, at the bottom of each of the abutment surfaces 25, 26, 27 are located, to two of which the curved closure surface 23 a in each of its end positions in each case. In FIG. 6 the rectangular opening 28 (12) is visible to the heat exchanger, the in FIG. 7 is closed by the curved closure surface 23 a. In FIG. 7 is an opening 32 (14) recognizable at the top, so that now from the top in the second mode air can be sucked while this opening 32 (14) in FIG. 6 is closed by the curved closure surface 23 a.

Further details of the pivoting mechanism for the closure device 23 will be apparent FIG. 8 , which once again shows an enlarged detail view of the middle area of FIG. 4 in a slightly different perspective. It can be seen here the shaft 31, which is driven by the electric motor 30 and engages the middle lateral bearing surface 20 a, which in turn is connected to the curved closure surface 23 a, so that on the lateral bearing surface 20 a of the pivotal attack on the closure device 23rd can be done.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Air curtain device

11

rear longitudinal side wall

12

first intake area

13

housing cover

14

second intake area

15

front longitudinal side wall

16

front end wall

17

fan

18

blow out

19

nozzle slot

20

lateral storage area

20 a

middle lateral storage area

21

heat exchangers

22

swivel axis

23

closure device

23 a

curved closure surface

24

filter means

25

Abutment surface

26

Abutment surface

27

Abutment surface

28

rectangular opening (12)

29

faces

30

electric motor

31

wave

32

Opening upwards (14)

33

connecting cables

Claims (9)

Apparatus for producing an air curtain comprising at least one fan, at least one blow-out area, a heat exchanger, at least one first suction area, via which the air is sucked through the heat exchanger in a first operating mode (temperature control operation) and at least one second suction area, via which in one second mode (regeneration mode), the air is sucked past the heat exchanger, wherein control means and / or adjusting elements are provided for a changeover from the first mode to the second mode and wherein these control means and / or adjustment cause in the first mode of the first suction opened and the second intake area is closed and opened in the second mode of the second intake and the first intake is closed,
characterized in that a in the interior of the housing (10) of the device about a pivot axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing (22) pivotally mounted closure means (23) is provided which has a curved closure surface (23 a), which along a at a distance from the pivot axis of the closure device extending cam track from the position in which it closes the second intake area (14), which corresponds to the first mode, moves to a position in which it closes the first intake area (12), which corresponds to the second mode , Device for producing an air curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved closure surface (23 a) of the closure device (23) is a partial cylinder jacket surface and the curved path is substantially a circular path. Device for producing an air curtain according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that seen from the end face of the housing (seen in the direction of the pivot axis (22)) the curved closure surface (23 a) and / or the curved path concentric to the pivot axis (22). run. Device for producing an air curtain according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an imaginary extension of the pivot axis (22) of the closure device (23) extends approximately through the center of the end face of the housing. Device for producing an air curtain according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure device (23) has at least one lateral bearing surface (20) which extends approximately perpendicular to the curved closure surface (23 a), wherein the pivot axis ( 22) extends at a distance from the closure surface approximately at right angles through the bearing surface. Device for producing an air curtain according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the closure device (23) covers in its process from a first end position to a second end position on its curved path approximately a pivoting path of between 80 ° and 100 °. Device for producing an air curtain according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the closure device (23) both in the closed position in which it closes the second suction region (14) and in the closed position in which it seals the first suction region (14). 12), in each case at least one abutment surface (25, 26, 27) is assigned, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the housing and which abuts the closure device linearly or flat approximately tangentially. Device for producing an air curtain according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that for the pivot drive of the closure device (23) only one electric motor (30) is provided which drives a shaft (31) mounted approximately in the pivot axis (22), which attacks on the closure device. Device for producing an air curtain according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electric motor driven shaft (31) on at least one lateral bearing surface (20, 20 a) engages, which with the curved closure surface (23 a) is connected and extends radially to this in the direction of the pivot axis (22).

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