EP3827724A1 - Suction system and actuation element and control method for a suction system - Google Patents

Abstract

A suction system comprising a suction system (1), a plurality of suction points (10, 10 ') fluidically connected to the suction system (1), each with a throttle valve (11) for each suction point (10, 10') and with a means (12) for manual adjustment of the throttle valve (11), is further developed by a sensor (11a, 11b, 13) for detecting a position of the throttle valve (11) and by a signaling connection device (14) between the sensor (11a, 11b, 13) and the suction system ( 1). The invention also relates to an actuating device for such a suction system and a control method for it.

Description

The present invention relates to a suction system comprising a central suction system, a plurality of suction points fluidically connected to the suction system, each with a throttle valve for each suction point and with a means for manual adjustment of the throttle valve. The invention also relates to an actuating element for installation in such a suction system and to a control method for a suction system. Such extraction systems are regularly used to collect and clean the working air of pollutants such as soldering fumes, welding fumes, laser or adhesive vapors and all types of dust.

The EP 2 147 727 A1 describes a suction system comprising a suction device, a control device for controlling the suction device, a plurality of work stations, each of which is provided with a user base which is assigned to the suction device and can be operated between an operating state in which it develops a suction effect and a state of rest , and with a wireless transmitter module that is suitable for generating a wireless signal that represents the operating state or the idle state. The suction system further comprises a wireless receiving module which is assigned to the wireless transmitting modules in order to receive signals wirelessly and which is connected to the control device in order to send the content of the signals to the device. The control device is designed in such a way that it switches the suction device on and off depending on the content of the signals.

The U.S. 3,283,093 A relates to inlet valves for built-in vacuum cleaner systems and the like, and more particularly to such a device in which the valve body and hinged lid therefor are formed from a flexible plastic material such as vinyl.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction and operation of suction systems.

In the suction system mentioned at the outset, this object is achieved according to the invention by a sensor for detecting a position of the throttle valve and by a signaling connection device between the sensor and the suction system.

The generic suction system regularly includes a central suction system that cleans polluted air. A plurality of suction points are fluidically connected to the suction system. The suction system generates a negative pressure, which it directs to the suction points via fluid lines. The fluid lines can contain rigid and articulated sections. The suction points include detection elements for detecting contaminated working air. They can be designed, for example, as suction arms, suction slot channels, under-table suction devices or the like. Extraction arms can make it easier to position the suction points at the point of use.

The suction points are mostly located away from the installation site of the suction system, for example in a neighboring room for acoustic reasons. At each suction point or at each detection element, an adjusting element, for. B. a toggle, lever or handwheel can be attached. The adjusting element can be in operative connection with a throttle valve with which the suction power of each suction point can be adjusted. In this way, the respective suction power can be largely adapted to individual needs using the adjustment element and throttle valve.

According to the invention, the manually set position of the throttle valve is now detected by means of a sensor and then transmitted to the suction system. The suction system then adjusts the suction power to the specific needs of the system. The invention thus turns away from providing complex pressure differential controls and comparable control methods in order to precisely record the specific suction conditions. Rather, it pursues the principle of individually recording the individual extraction requirements at each workstation and forwarding them to the extraction system so that the extraction system can generate and forward the current overall extraction performance. You consequently succeed in keeping the suction power constant at the suction points that are not affected in each case with little construction effort, despite changing suction requirements.

The signal from the sensor can be forwarded directly to a motor in the suction system. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the suction system can have a control device for processing a signal from the sensor and for adapting the suction power of the suction system. The signal can be sent to the control device of the suction system itself or to an external control of the suction system, for example to a connection-programmed or hard-wired control (VPS) or to a programmable logic controller (PLC). In principle, the sensor can be attached at almost any location in a fluid line of a suction point as long as it only senses the position of the throttle valve of the suction point assigned to it or of the detection element assigned to it. The sensor is therefore regularly attached in the immediate vicinity of the throttle valve or on or in the actuating element. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, at least the sensor can therefore be arranged on an undisturbed pipe or hose of the suction system or in a joint of the suction system or on a hood or suction tip of the suction point. In this way, the location of the sensor can be largely independent of the location of the adjustment element and the throttle valve and can, for example, be based on its space or assembly criteria.

The sensor can detect the position of the throttle valve - for example optically - not only over great distances, but also indirectly, as it does not detect the position of the throttle valve itself, but the position of the toggle coupled to the throttle valve, for example. If the toggle is coupled, for example, via a gear mechanism and thus not directly to the throttle valve, the toggle can also be spatially remote from the throttle valve. The sensor can then detect the position of any gear element instead of the position of the throttle valve or the toggle. This offers numerous design options and freedom in the arrangement of the throttle valve, the toggle and the sensor.

The object mentioned at the beginning is also achieved by an actuating element for an extraction system, which is equipped with a sensor and with a signaling connection device for connecting the sensor to the extraction system. The connection device provides an interface to the extraction system. The interface can be adapted to known standards for interfaces of the extraction system or it can be individually assembled. The actuating element can additionally also comprise a throttle valve and an adjusting element for it. This means that existing extraction systems can be retrofitted in order to be able to individually record the extraction requirements at each workstation and forward them to the extraction system, so that existing extraction systems can also generate and forward the specific extraction performance.

The actuating element with the throttle valve, the adjusting element for the throttle valve and the sensor can, depending on requirements and / or the embodiment of the detection element, for example an extraction arm, for example in a smooth-walled pipe section, in a joint, in a suction hood or at another user-accessible location in the Suction flow of the respective suction point can be mounted between the suction system, which is regularly away from the user, and the suction hood or suction tip close to the user. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor of the suction system or of the actuating element can detect and transmit an open and a closed position of the throttle valve. It thus offers a particularly cost-effective solution because it only needs to be set up to sense two states.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor can also detect and transmit any position between the open and closed positions of the throttle valve. This offers a finer and more precise recording of requirements, with which the extraction system can be adapted more precisely to the respective requirements and thus operated more effectively.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor of the suction system or of the actuating element can be designed as a reed relay or as a rotary encoder or as an angular position encoder, in particular as a potentiometer, as an incremental encoder or as an absolute encoder. In this way, known components are available for forming the sensor, which allow an inexpensive and easy-to-implement production and a similar repair in the event of damage.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sensor of the suction system or of the actuating element can have an electrical line connection or a wireless signal connection as a signaling connection device. The electrical line connection is particularly useful in the case of great distances and, for example, structural obstacles between the location of the sensor and the location of the suction system. A wireless connection, on the other hand, can offer simple equipment or retrofitting for shorter, unobstructed distances.

1. a) Erfassen der veränderten Stellung einer Drosselklappe,
2. b) Übertragen eines der Stellung der Drosselklappe entsprechenden Signals an die Absauganlage,
3. c) Anpassen der Saugleistung der Absauganlage an die signalisierte Stellung der Drosselklappe.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a control method for a suction system with a plurality of suction points, each with a manually adjustable throttle valve at each suction point, each with a sensor for detection the position of the throttle valves and with a central suction system. According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps:

1. a) detecting the changed position of a throttle valve,
2. b) Transmission of a signal corresponding to the position of the throttle valve to the extraction system,
3. c) Adjusting the suction power of the suction system to the signaled position of the throttle valve.

The method according to the invention is based on a suction system with several suction points or detection devices for contaminated air. During operation, the method begins in response to a change in the position of a throttle valve in step a) with the detection of the changed position of the throttle valve. For example, if one of five previously open throttle valves was closed, the closed position of the closed throttle valve is now recorded. From the new position of the throttle valve detected by sensors, a signal is generated in step b), which is transmitted to the suction system and there, for example, to a control device. Then in step c) the suction power of the suction system is adapted to the signaled new position of the throttle valve, in the example by reducing the suction power by a fifth. It is not at all relevant which of the five throttle valves was closed, only the fact that one of the throttle valves was closed. So that there are no power fluctuations at the remaining, for example, four suction points, but instead the suction power remains unchanged, the central suction system reduces its suction power, taking into account the total number of suction points.

The changed position of a throttle valve, which is detected in a step a), can also relate to its opening after a previous closed position. In order not to cause a drop in suction power at the remaining suction points, the open throttle valve is signaled to the suction system in step b), whereupon the suction system increases its output according to the throttle valve's share of the total number of throttle valves in the suction system.

Of course, changed positions of several throttle valves can also be detected in step a). The procedure then proceeds accordingly. In addition to the detection of simultaneously changed positions of the throttle valves, according to the invention, temporally offset changes can also be detected, passed on to the suction system and taken into account there accordingly. In addition, the Detection not only exhausted in the detection of an open position or a closed position. The sensors can also be designed to detect intermediate positions, so that, according to the invention, gradual changes in the position of the throttle valves can also be detected and taken into account.

At the start of operation, the method can initially start from a predefined situation in order to then be able to control the suction power as required. For this purpose, it may be required, for example, that the throttle valves of all suction points are closed and, if necessary, are closed by the user. After the suction system has been switched on, the suction power of the suction system can be increased accordingly in the manner of the method according to the invention described above by opening the throttle valves at the suction points. Alternatively, all throttle valves can be assumed to be in an open position, so that the suction system makes its maximum suction power available at the start of operation. According to a further alternative, manual input on the part of the user may be required, which, for example, specifies the number of open and closed throttle valves. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the method can detect the positions of all throttle valves at the start of operation in a step 0) before step a) and signal them to the suction system. The method thus first records an actual state of all throttle valves, whereupon the suction system provides the suction power required for this. Operation of the suction system can thus be started in the state of the suction system in which it was previously switched off. The creation or specification of an initial state by the user can thus be dispensed with.

In principle, the central suction system can be switched off manually or, for example, time-controlled. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the suction system can be switched off as soon as each throttle valve is signaled as closed. An actuation step of the suction system can thus be omitted. This is particularly advantageous in the case of suction systems that are located in a different room than the one in which the suction points or detection elements are attached. In this way, unnecessary running of the suction system and the associated expenditure of energy can be avoided.

Fig. 1:

ein schematisch dargestelltes Absaugsystem,

Fig. 2a, 2b:

Ausschnitte aus gelenkigen Absaugarmen,

Fig. 3:

eine Drosselklappe in einem Gelenk,

Fig. 4 bis 6:

Absaugarme mit einem Wellrohr als Gelenk, und

Fig. 7:

eine Explosionsdarstellung eines Betätigungselements.

The principle of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing by way of example. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1:

a schematically shown suction system,

Fig. 2a, 2b:

Excerpts from articulated suction arms,

Fig. 3:

a throttle valve in a joint,

Fig. 4 to 6:

Extraction arms with a corrugated pipe as a joint, and

Fig. 7:

an exploded view of an actuator.

Fig. 1 shows an extraction system comprising a stationary extraction system 1 which contains a control device 2 and an extraction pipe 3. The suction system 1 is connected to three suction points 10, 10 'by means of the suction pipe 3, the suction pipe 3 therefore forwards a negative pressure or suction generated by the suction system 1 to three suction points 10, 10'. Each suction point 10, 10 ′ comprises a connecting pipe 3 a, which is fluidically connected to the suction pipe 3 at a branch 17. It also has a suction hood (not shown) facing a user. Each connecting pipe 3a contains in a section 18 - which is shown enlarged by way of example only once - a rotatably mounted throttle valve 11, which can be operated manually via a toggle 12 attached to the outside. A sensor 13, which detects the position of the throttle valve 11, is also attached to the connecting pipe 3 a. The sensor 13 is a reed relay, the reed contact of which is mounted on or in the wall of the connecting pipe 3a. Magnets 11a, 11b (see p. Fig. 7 ) which interact with the reed relay 13 are attached to or in the throttle valve 11 or to the toggle 12 in order to make their position detectable. The sensor 13 is connected to the suction system 1 or its internal control device 2 via an electrical line 14.

The section 18 of the connecting pipe 3a can be produced separately and integrated as an actuating element in an existing system and thus retrofitted.

The user can vary the position of the throttle valve 11 on the toggle 12 and thus change the suction power acting at the suction point 10, that is to say vary it in terms of its intensity and switch it on or off. The adjustment of the throttle valve 11 to change the suction power at the suction point 10 is detected by the sensor 13 and transmits a corresponding signal to the control device 2 of the suction system 1 via the line 14. The transmission can also take place wirelessly instead of the electrical line 14. As a result, the electrical line 14 can be omitted.

In response to the corresponding signal, the suction system 1 adjusts its suction power accordingly to the requirements of the suction point 10, so that it only provides the suction power actually required at the suction point 10. If the sensor 13 detects, for example, a closed position of the throttle valve 11, the suction system 1 throttles its suction power or switches it off if necessary.

The suction system 1 is loud Fig. 1 connected to three parallel suction points 10, 10 '. Instead of distributing the suction power to the remaining two suction points 10 'when the third suction point 10 is closed, the sensor 13 according to the invention effects a reduction in the flow rate when only the throttle valve 11 is closed - which means that only one of the three suction points 10, 10' is switched off Suction power, in this case by a third. The reduction does not impair the suction power of the other suction points 10 ', but rather ensures that the same suction power is applied there as before.

Conversely, the sensor 13 informs the suction system 1, if necessary, that the previously closed suction point 10 is open again and more suction power is required when the suction point 10 is switched on again by turning the throttle valve 11. The suction power optimization thus prevents unnecessary energy consumption, fluctuating suction power at parallel suction points 10, 10 'and is both environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

The following Figures 2 to 6 show examples of a positioning of the throttle valve 11, the toggle 12 and the sensor 13:
Fig. 2a shows a section of a 2-articulated suction arm as a section of a connecting pipe 3a with possible nominal widths of, for example, 50, 75, 100 or 200 mm. Figure 2b shows a section of a suction arm for table mounting, which can also include more joints than just the joint 15 shown. At the on the Fig. 2a , 2 B The illustrated embodiments of connecting pipes 3a, the throttle valve 11 together with the toggle 12 and the sensor 13 are attached in the respective suction arm in the undisturbed course of the smooth-walled connecting pipe 3a. A reed relay consisting of a reed switch and magnets 11a, 11b is used as the sensor 13. The sensor 13 is connected via the line 14 to a motor M or an internal control device or a PLC. The magnets 11a, 11b are attached to the throttle valve 11, while the reed switch itself is fixed to the housing in the area of a rotary bearing of the toggle 12 on the connecting tube 3a. In Fig. 2a is the connecting pipe 3a between two joints 15, for example when mounting the suction arm on a table, wall or ceiling.

In Figure 2b connects the connecting pipe 3a to a table mount of the suction arm. The line 14 can connect the sensor 13 directly to the motor of the suction system or to an internal or an external control device of the suction system 1. Especially the embodiment of the Figure 2b in connection with a (not shown) wireless signaling device between the sensor 13 and the suction system 1 ( Fig. 1 ) is therefore well suited for retrofitting, in that the throttle valve 11, the toggle 12 and the sensor 13 can already be built into the connecting pipe 3a. The then only necessary replacement of the connecting pipe 3a and, if necessary, the establishment of the line connection 14 of the sensor 13 with the suction system 1 ( Fig. 1 , 2a ) is associated with relatively little effort.

According to the Fig. 3 the here semicircular or parabolic throttle valve 11, the toggle 12 and the sensor 13 are attached directly to and in the joint 15 of a suction arm. In particular, if the joint 15 is in two parts and can be dismantled, at least the magnets 11a, 11b on the existing throttle valve 11 and the reed switch of the sensor 13 on the existing toggle 12 can be conveniently retrofitted there. The signal connection to the extraction system 1 ( Fig. 1 ) can be done by radio, which results in the lowest possible material and assembly costs for the implementation of the invention.

The Figures 4 to 6 show suction arms with a corrugated tube as a joint 22 (which can also extend over almost the entire course of the suction arm: Fig. 6 ), with a telescopic section 20 (only Fig. 4 ) and with a user-facing suction hood 31 of a suction point. The throttle valve 11, the toggle 12 and the sensor 13 are each accommodated directly downstream of the suction hood 31 itself or in a cylindrical connection piece of the suction hood 31. In the vicinity of the suction hood 31, they offer a high level of user-friendliness due to the easy accessibility of the toggle 12. In addition, the invention can only be retrofitted by replacing the suction hood 31, so that the rest of the suction arm is not affected by a conversion.

Fig. 7 shows in an exploded view a possible actuating element according to the invention as a retrofit part. It comprises the smooth-walled connecting pipe 3a as a section of the connecting pipe 3a according to FIG Fig. 1 , in which the throttle valve 11 with the attached magnets 11a, 11b is rotatably mounted. The throttle valve 11 can be adjusted with the toggle 12, which is held in a pivot bearing 16 for the rotatable mounting of the toggle 12 in the connecting pipe 3a. The reed switch 13 is installed fixed to the housing in the rotary bearing 16, so that it is at the greatest distance from the magnets 11a, 11b transversely to the flow axis of the connecting pipe 3a in both closed positions of the throttle valve 11. In the two passage positions of the throttle valve 11, on the other hand, it has the smallest distance and is possibly switched by the action of the magnetic field of one of the magnets 11a, 11b. The reed switch 13 detects the position of the throttle valve 11 indirectly to the extent that it senses not its position but the position of the toggle 12. The reed switch 13 transmits the information about its switching status to the suction system 1 via the electrical line 14 ( Fig. 1 ) further. The fully assembled actuating element according to Fig. 7 can be installed in a suction arm of a suction system instead of a pipe of the same dimensions or exchanged for such a pipe with little manual effort.

Since the suction system and the actuating element described in detail above are exemplary embodiments, they can be modified in a wide scope by a person skilled in the art in the usual manner without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the specific design of the actuating element can also take place in a form other than that described here, for example as a retrofit part of a joint or a suction hood. Likewise, the housing or pipe sections in which the throttle valve, the toggle or the sensor are attached or accommodated can generally be designed in a different shape if this is necessary for reasons of space or design. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features can also be present several times or more than once.

List of reference symbols

1

Extraction system

2

Control device

3

Suction tube

3a

Connecting pipe

10, 10 '

Suction point

11

throttle

11a, 11b

magnet

12th

Gag

13th

sensor

14th

electrical line to the suction system

15th

joint

16

Pivot bearing

17th

branch

20th

Telescopic section

22nd

Corrugated pipe

31

Suction hood

M.

engine

Claims (10)

Suction system comprising a suction system (1), a plurality of suction points (10, 10 ') fluidically connected to the suction system (1), each with a throttle valve (11) for each suction point (10, 10') and with a means (12) for manual adjustment of the throttle valve (11), drawn by a sensor (13) for detecting a position of the throttle valve (11) and by a signaling connection device (14) between the sensor (13) and the suction system (1). Suction system according to Claim 1, characterized by a control device (2) for processing a signal from the sensor (13) and for adapting the suction power of the suction system (1). Suction system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least the sensor (13) is on an undisturbed pipe (3a) of the suction system or in a joint (15) of the suction system or on a hood (31) of the suction point (10, 10 ') is arranged. Actuating element for an extraction system, in particular according to claim 1, with a sensor (13) and with a signaling connection device (14) for its connection to the extraction system (1). Suction system according to one of Claims 1 to 3 or actuating element according to Claim 4, characterized in that the sensor (13) detects and transmits an open and a closed position of the throttle valve (11). Suction system or actuating element according to Claim 5, characterized in that the sensor (13) also detects and transmits every position of the throttle valve (11) between an open and a closed position. Suction system or actuating element according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by a reed relay or a rotary encoder or an angular position encoder, in particular a potentiometer, an incremental encoder or absolute encoder, as the sensor (13). Suction system or actuating element according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized by an electrical line connection (14) or a wireless signal connection as a signaling connection device. Control method for a suction system (1) with a plurality of suction points (10, 10 '), with a manually adjustable throttle valve (11) at each suction point (10, 10'), with a sensor (13) for detecting the position of the throttle valve ( 11) and with a suction system (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the following steps: a) detecting a changed position of the throttle valve (11), b) transmission of a signal corresponding to the position of the throttle valve (11) to the suction system (1), c) Adjusting the suction power of the suction system (1) to the indicated position of the throttle valve (11). Control method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the suction system (1) is switched off as soon as each throttle valve (11) is signaled as closed.

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