EP2697620A1

EP2697620A1 - Device for detecting solids

Info

Publication number: EP2697620A1
Application number: EP12725298.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Harald Eichner; Michael Huck
Original assignee: Kaba Gallenschuetz GmbH
Current assignee: Kaba Gallenschuetz GmbH
Priority date: 2011-04-15
Filing date: 2012-04-05
Publication date: 2014-02-19
Also published as: DE102011002097B3; AU2012242333A1; CA2832239C; RU2601469C2; AU2012242333B2; JP2014510927A; RU2013150807A; US20140102174A1; CN103547904A; CA2832239A1; US9377381B2; CN103547904B; WO2012139564A1; SG194444A1; JP6012707B2

Abstract

Secure areas, such as at airports or other security-critical facilities, are entered from freely accessible areas, often by means of access locks. This bottleneck, which is present in any case, is used to check for substances of concern, such as drugs or explosive materials. In the case of solids, as is known, particles extracted from the access lock and retained in a screen are vaporized and the vapor is examined. Several of said screens are arranged on rotatable carrying disks and undergo consecutively the steps of vaporization and analysis. The aim of the invention is to make known methods more efficient in order to increase the throughput through such access locks. Said aim is achieved by a device for which available heating and extraction elements are assigned to multiple rotational positions of the carrying disks, whereby adjacent rotational positions lie apart from each other by only half the distance of two screens.

Description

DEVICE FOR DETECTING SOLIDS

The present invention relates to a device for dismantling tektion of solids, in particular of explosives or drugs, comprising a carrier wafer on which are several ^¬ re sieves arranged in a rotationally symmetrical, with the wires in a first rotational position, a suction passage for drawing in ambient air through the respective sieve and in a second rotational position, a first heating element for evaporating during the suction in the respective sieve trapped particles of the solids to be detected and associated with an analyzer suction for sucking the vaporized particles is assigned.

Such a device is already known from EP 0 447 158 A2. A carrier disk with a total of four screens is thereby moved between different rotational positions, wherein in each case a screen is in engagement with each device to be used in a rotational position.

Similarly constructed are other solutions from the prior art, for example according to DE 690 30 686 T2 with six screens at six rotational positions and according to GB 2 176 008 A with three positions, each having sample carriers.

A corresponding solution is also known from DE 690 33 217 T2. This is a detection system for explosives in which air is first extracted from a volume of room to be examined and passed through a metal sieve. For example, with sucked FestStoff particles Verfan ^¬ gen in the metal screen, which is arranged on a rotating disk. One after the other, every metal sieve three rotational positions of the rotating disc, wherein in a first rotational position, the suction takes place from the volume of space to be monitored. In a second rotational position, the metal screen is heated by using a heating element, so that the tightly passing on the metal sieve particles are ver ^¬ evaporated. The thus resulting vapor is fed to a Analysege ^¬ advises which characterize the information contained in the steam about Par ^¬ Tikel and can locate approximately known, popular materials such as explosives or drugs or the like. In a third position, a further Aufhei ^¬ tion of the metal screen and a suction of the now carbonized due to this further heating, remaining in the metal screen residual particles. A check for such solids is usually ^{¬ way} in the transition from an unsecured into a secure area, as done for example at airports. In principle, it is both possible to subject objects and persons to a review. In both cases, the object to be examined is in this case introduced in an air lock which is beauf ^¬ beat with an air stream which is sucked from the device described above. So until completion of the analysis must be ensured here is that the person or the object is permanently identifiable, so that during the Ana ^¬ lyse the person or the object must be recorded.

This is readily possible in the case of persons in that the person enters a room volume in the form of, for example, a person's lock for examination, which is closed by the person after entering and is only opened again after completion of the analysis. According to the solution of the prior art, this already several sieves arranged rotationally symmetrically on the rotating disc, so that no complete rotation of the disc, as well as not complete passage through all three rotational positions is required to handle a person. The third rotational position can also be carried out by the metal sieve in question in an intermediate step or simultaneously during the application of another sieve.

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of the known apparatus for detecting solids and to increase the utilization and efficient use of the components used. This is achieved by a device for detecting solids according to the features of the main claim. More From ^¬ configurations of this device can be taken from the subclaims. According to the invention also has a rotating support disc ^¬ present, on which a plurality of screens arranged rotationally symmetrical. It can be used for the manufacture of the sieves of any suitable material, such as metal sieves, ceramic sieves or - if sufficiently heat resistant - and plastic sieves are used. A preferred embodiment of the carrier disk provides for a total of three metal sieves. In this case, in a first rotational position of the carrier disk, there is a screen in engagement with an intake channel, through which ambient air is sucked in through the screen. Subsequently, the sieve in question is moved to a second rotational position, where a first heating element is provided for evaporating the particles collected in the sieve. The particles vaporized in this way are moved through a suction channel in the direction of an Analysegerä ^¬ tes which the effect tested, the vaporized particles, whether it is to sivstoffen critical, such as from Exploring ^¬ or acting drugs derived particles.

Between the first and the second rotational position of the carrier disc is an angle CC, which is chosen so that the angular distance between two screens on the support disk is a gerad ^¬ numbered multiple of this angle CC. This is changed at a rotational position by further rotation of the carrier disk by one rotational position in each case between a screen and an intermediate blind spot. The devices belonging to each rotational position are therefore each put into operation every second rotational position change of the carrier disc. By means of a corresponding design of the devices provided at the respective rotational positions, care can be taken that they are not put into operation at the blind locations, so that the relevant energy can be saved. Conversely, a complex control for the detection of a blind spot or a sieve that is currently not needed can be dispensed with.

To clean the sieves, which may still be loaded with residual particles, a second heating element may be provided at a third rotational position, which carbonizes the residual particles. As part of the first heating, in which the evaporation of the particles is to be effected, the screen is heated to about 180 ° C, while in the context of carbonization, a much higher heat in the range above 300 ° C is required. Accordingly, at the second rotational position, a first radiant heater may be arranged, which may have, for example, a heating power of about 300 watts. At the third rotational position is then a second heating element in Form of a radiant heater, which has a twice as high power, so preferably about 600 watts.

To improve the efficiency, however, it is also possible to work with other heating methods. Thus, it is especially provided that it is in the heating elements to induction coils, wherein the seven are assigned according induction loops ^¬ which can convert the induced by the Induktionsspu ^¬ len current in the range of the wires to heat. These induction loops are preferably interwoven with the screen to allow ideal heat transfer to the material of the screen.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides to fabricate the sieves as metal sieves of a ferromagnetic material, so that these metal sieves act as a whole as an induction loop.

These embodiments can be further developed in that the third rotational position with the second heating element is offset by an odd multiple of the angle CC relative to the second rotational position. This ensures that only one of the two provided with a Heizele ^¬ ment rotational positions a screen is present at a time. When a screen is now at the second rotational position, a power generator connected to the induction coil is operated at a lower power while the power is increased when a screen is at the third rotational position.

Here, it is useful if a material is arranged on the blind spots which does not rea ^¬ yaws to the induction coil, so a non-ferromagnetic metal. This can be for one made by the fact that the entire Trägerschei ^¬ be made of a non-ferromagnetic, for example austeni- tical, material. Alternatively, however, can be provided in the blind areas of the form of the screens similar aperture, which are optionally also fixed with iden ^¬ tables, raised frame on the support disk. Preferably, these blind locations are also distributed rotationally symmetrically over the circumference of the carrier disk centrally between the screens.

In a development of the device, a fourth rotational position can also be present, which has a suction device for the suction of carbonized particle residues. For this purpose, a second suction channel is present, which, for example, also with a central extraction system, which also performs the extraction of the air flow from the space to be monitored volume.

In order to be able to perform the extraction despite the rotating carrier disk, it is necessary for the intake or exhaust ducts to be able to be contacted with the carrier disk in each rotational position, with the carrier disk again being released after the respective work step has been carried out. This can be done, for example, in that the attachment or waste suction channels each being associated with a double-walled bellows which at its terminal the carrier disc kontak ^¬ animal side has a sealingly contacting this neck. As far as a frame is provided around the screens or the existing ^¬ if existing screens, this can also be contacted using the nozzle.

The contact through the nozzle, which is extended by means of the bellows and with the carrier disk or the Frame can be brought into contact, via an application of an overpressure in the double-walled bellows wel ^¬ cher unfolds due to this overpressure and thereby erects in the direction of the support disk. This results in a frictional engagement between the socket and the carrier plate or the frame, which by releasing the overpressure, and possibly also applying a vacuum to the bellows doppelwandi ^¬ gen, can be released again. The pressure is applied between the two walls of the bellows, while the inside of the bellows a for the arrival or

Extraction provided air duct forms. Of course, only the suction pressure is associated with this inner air duct. The position control of the carrier disk via a controlled drive, which is for example an electric drive. In this case, the latter can drive a toothed wheel which engages in a corresponding, toothed wheel-like arrangement of the carrier disc in the region of its circumference. However, there are other ways of driving the

Carrier disc conceivable and expressly covered by the invention.

The volume of space from which the air flow to be examined is sucked off can, for example, be a personal lock, which is largely completely hermetically sealed. It is applied by using a pump an air stream through Luftdü ^¬ sen in the ceiling area of such a revolving door, said revolving door and the umschlos- sene volume substantially traverses from their top to bottom and can be considered to demonstrate a type of air shower. In the floor area the extraction takes place via a suction funnel, which opens into the suction channel acted upon by the sieve.

To further increase the efficiency of such an arrangement may be provided a second, synchronized offset by a rotational position working carrier disc, which is associated with a second room lock with a second volume of space. This makes it possible to use the analyzer and also other components such as the heater at several positions simultaneously, thus significantly reducing the service life of the individual components.

The device for detecting solids will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment.

Show it

Figure 1 is a personal lock with an inventive

Device in a perspective view obliquely from above,

2 shows the device according to the invention in a view from outside the space volume to be monitored in a perspective view obliquely from above with the cover removed,

3 shows the device according to FIG 2 in a perspective view from inside the spatial volume to be monitored from obliquely above with removed Cover B ^¬ ckung, Figure 4a shows a double-walled bellows for contacting the intake or exhaust duct with the support disk in egg ^¬ ner sectional view without pressurization between the double walls, and

Figure 4b of the bellows according to Figure 4a in a sectional view with a pressurization between the double walls. 1 shows a turnstile 10, which separates a gesi ^¬ cherten region 12 from an unsecured area. 13 For this purpose, a person who has crossed over from the unsecured area 13 into the secured area 12 has to pass through a volume 11, which is enclosed by the aforementioned person lock 10. For this, the person first enters the un ^¬ secure area 13 from the volume 11, after which the door 14 of the security gate is closed 10th At this time point ^¬ a second door on the side of the protected area 12 is closed, so that the person is included at this point in time the volume of space. 11 By means of a pump 16, an air flow is generated in the volume 11, which flows essentially from the ceiling of the personal lock 10 in the direction of its bottom and is sucked off via a suction funnel 15. The intake funnel 15 is part of a cover of the device according to the invention, via which the person staying in the personal ^{security gate} 10 is examined for the entrainment of suspicious solids, in particular explosives or drugs, as follows. Within the housing described above is the arrangement shown in Figure 2, which is shown for clarity without any housing part. In Wesent ^¬ union is this is a support disk 20 on a plurality of metal screens 30 are arranged. By means of the carrier disk 20, the metal screens 30 are moved between different rotational positions. The metal screens 30 are in this case arranged on the support plate 20, that in each case a metal screen 30 with a blind spot 31 alternch ^¬ selt. In the present example, a total of three metal screens 30 are provided on the carrier disk 20, so that a total of three blind spots 31 are present between these metal screens 30. The carrier disc 20 can by means of a drive 27, which moves a gear 28, which engages in a knurling 29 of the carrier disc 20, are rotated. From one to the next rotational position 21 to 25, the carrier disc 20 in this case covers an angle CC, which is also the angular distance between a respective metal mesh and an adjacent blind spot. By changing from one to the next rotational position 21 to 25 is therefore alternated at a considered rotational position 21 to 25 each between a blind point 31 and a metal screen 30. In a first rotational position 21, suction takes place as previously described in connection with FIG. When the air is sucked out of the room volume 11 to be monitored, this extracted air passes through a metal sieve 30, so that any particles present in the air flow are caught in the metal sieve 30. After this loading of the metal wire 30 with particles to be detected, the carrier disk 20 is rotated to a second rotational position. When the metal screen 30 arrives in this second rotational position 22, it engages a first heating element 40, which causes heating of the metal screen 30. It can in this first heating element for example, a Indukti ^¬ onsspule act which excites in the metal screen 30 eingewobe ^¬ ne induction loop and up the metal screen 30 heated. The resulting vapor is sucked out by means of a first suction channel 43, to an analyzer 45, in which an analysis of the optionally evaporated Parti ^¬ kel takes place.

In the present example the considered metal ^¬ screen 30 passes below two empty positions 25, before being moved into the third rotational position 23rd There comes the metal ^¬ sieve 30 in the engagement of a second heating element 41, WEL ches causes a much stronger heating of the metal screen, and thereby still causing some carbonization on the metal 30 existing particles. Finally, in a fourth rotary position, extraction takes place on the metal screen 30 of existing carbonized particles.

Due to the use of blind spots at every other rotational position, these respective rotational positions are disabled. In this operating position to the

Blind spots applying inlet and exhaust ducts are thereby closed and prevents suction. In addition, it can be those of a non-ferromagnetic material such as an austenitic metal to act at the used to the blind spots 31 aperture which brings by applying the magnetization of an induction coil no heating with itself, so that in this way the energy ^¬ consumption is reduced by the thus prevented heating.

FIG. 3 shows the same arrangement as FIG. 2 viewed from the inside of the volume 11. Clearly visible ^¬ bar is thereby the drive 27, which offset the support plate 20 by means of the knurling 29 in a rotation about its axis of rotation 26 around. Also clearly visible are the Suction channels 43 and 44, which are brought in the region of the support plate 20 by means of bellows 34 with this in contact. This is shown in more detail in FIGS. 4a and 4b. The Fal ^¬ tenbalge 34 are double-walled, so have an inner wall 35 and an outer wall 36. At the end of these bellows 34 stub 33 are attached, which can come into sealing contact with the support plate 20 or any arranged on the metal screen 30 frame 32. Now reaches the support plate 20 a rotational position 21 to 25 and gets to a standstill, the space between the inner wall 35 and the outer wall 36 is beauf ^¬ beat with an overpressure. As a result, the situation of the bellows 34 changes from the state of FIG. 4a to the state of FIG. 4b. On ^¬ basis of the pressure between the inner wall 35 and the outer wall 36 of the bellows 34 is expanded and thus moves out in the direction of the support plate 20. The Ausrückweg is limited by the nozzle 33, which can not move out after contact with the support plate 20 further. Between the double walls, suction or suction of the air can take place independently of the prevailing overpressure between inner wall 35 and outer wall 36. Before the support disk 20 is further rotated, either the overpressure between the two walls of the bellows 34 can be lowered or even converted into a negative pressure, so that the bellows 34 is returned to the state as shown in Figure 4a. REFERENCE LIST Personal lock

volume

secured area

unsecured area

door

Velocity Stacks

pump

carrier disc

first rotational position

second rotational position

third rotational position

fourth rotational position

short position

axis of rotation

drive

gear

knurling

metal screen

blind spot

frame

Support

bellow

inner wall

outer wall

first heating element

second heating element

intake port

first suction channel

second suction channel

analyzer

Claims

P A T E N T A N S P R U C H E

Device for detecting solids, in particular explosives or drugs, comprising a carrier disk (20) on which several sieves are arranged rotationally symmetrically, the sieves in a first rotational ^position (21) being provided with a suction channel (42) for sucking in ambient air through the respective sieve and in a second rotational position (22) a first heating element (40) for evaporation during suction of particles of the solids to be detected collected in the respective sieve and a first suction channel (43) connected to an analysis device (45) for suctioning off the evaporated particle is assigned,

characterized in that the angular distance between two adjacent screens of the carrier disk (20) is an ^even multiple of an angle cc, which the carrier disk (20) sweeps over during the transition from a rotational position of the carrier disk (20) to an adjacent rotational position and the carrier disk ( 20) is constructed rotationally ^{symmetrically} in such a way that by rotating the carrier disk (20) by the angle CC from one to the next rotation position at a rotation position, a change is made from a sieve to a blind spot (31) or vice versa, so that the An - and suction channels (42, 43) are closed in every ^second rotational position by the blind spots (31). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sieves in a third rotational position (23) are assigned a second heating element (41) for carbonizing any particles still present on the respective sieve. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating elements (40, 41) are radiant heaters, the second heating element (41) having a ^greater , preferably twice as great, power as the first heating element (40).

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating elements (40, 41) are induction coils, with the sieves each being assigned an induction ^loop , preferably ^woven into the sieve.

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the heating elements (40, 41) are induction coils and the screens are metal screens (30), the latter functioning as induction loops.

Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the third rotational position (23) is offset by an odd multiple of the angle cc relative to the second rotational position (22) and the induction coils are fed by a generator, which is then set to a higher, preferably the double power is ^switched when there is a sieve at the third rotation position (23).

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a screen is provided at the blind spots (31) on the carrier disk (20) between two screens, which replicates the shape of the screens.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that panels and screens are attached to the carrier disk (20) by means of identical, raised frames (32).

9. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the diaphragms are made of a non- ^magnetic , preferably austenitic, material.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sieves in a fourth rotational position (24) are assigned a suction device for suctioning off carbonized particle residues via a second suction channel (44).

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sieves are each assigned a suction or suction channel (42, 43, 44) at least in the first, second and fourth rotational positions (21, 22, 24), which the Carrier disk (20) around the respective one

The sieve is contacted at least largely in a sealing manner and is released again before leaving the respective rotational position. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the suction and suction channels (42, 43, 44) each comprise a double-walled bellows (34) and a terminal connector which contacts the carrier disk (20) ^around the sieve (33), wherein the bellows (34) can be acted upon with an excess pressure for contacting the carrier disk (20), and preferably with a negative pressure for releasing it from the carrier disk (20).

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier disk (20) is knurled along its outer circumference and is driven by a gear (28) which engages in this knurling (29) and is connected to an ^electric drive (27).

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the suction channel (42) opens into a closed volume (11), preferably forming a personnel lock (10).

Device according to claim 14, characterized in that a second carrier disk, which works synchronously offset by a rotational position, is provided, the sieves of which are supplied with ambient air at its first rotational position via an intake pipe opening into a second spatial volume, preferably the analysis device (45) with the Seven of both carrier disks communicated.