FR2614563A1 - Device for the automated trapping of exhaust gases, as from vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for automatically trapping vehicle exhaust gases at their point of emission, in whatever way they are exhausted: sideways, backwards or vertically, both when the vehicles are at rest and for several metres as they start to move. The device consists of a carriage 30 which runs along an extraction pipe 1 and is in constant gas communication with it; while an extractor connected to the pipe 12 carries the gases away to the exterior. The trapping arms 8 and 9 position their cones 6 or 7 immediately opposite the exhaust of the particular vehicle. When the vehicle moves off, the carriage 30 follows it at the same speed as far as the end of its running track 13, before returning to its initial rest position 40. The device according to the invention is particularly intended for trapping exhaust gases from vehicles in fuel loading stations. It can also be adapted to any moving machine giving off noxious vapours.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for automatically capturing exhaust gases, in particular vehicles, mainly when these enter a fuel loading hall in which they are parked during the time of. charge and when they restart after charging is complete.

 Existing automatic systems for capturing these gases consist of a horizontal lateral sheath arranged on the ground, parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicles, equipped with capture grids and connected to a high-flow extractor. These systems do not allow a correct collection or when the exhaust is of the lateral type, in the case of a rear or vertical exhaust they become clearly ineffective. In addition, they require the installation of air heaters with fresh air intake, large consumers of energy, intended to compensate for the large flow rates of extracted air. They are also noisy. Finally, these gases being considerably diluted, their treatment, if it became necessary, would be particularly difficult.

 The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks. It is in fact made up of a mobile assembly moving on a raceway parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicles and equipped with two capture arms, one for the lateral capture, one for the rear capture.

 When a vehicle arrives, the robot approaches, deploys the appropriate arm and captures the exhaust gases at their point of emission for the time of the fuel load. When the vehicle starts, the robot, while continuing to pick up, follows the vehicle at the same speed as the latter until the end of the track. I1 then returns to its initial rest position after having folded the deployed arm.

 With regard to vertical splinters, the robot can also be mounted in elevation to the ground with an operation similar to that described above.

 The present system is a special case and can be adapted to other uses.

 The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in this particular application intended for the capture of exhaust gases.

 FIG. 1 represents, in perspective, the device according to the invention under the conditions of collection on the lateral and rear ground.

 FIGS. 2A and 2B represent, in nian and in section, the configuration of the complete installation of the device under the conditions of collection on the lateral and rear ground.

 FIG. 3 represents, in the form of a simplified electrical diagram, the various electrical servocontrol of the device.

 FIG. 4 shows a variant specific to the rear collecting arm.

 The device according to the invention consists of a straight extraction duct-rail (;) fixed to the ground or suspended, depending on the type of cementing desired, with a length of up to twenty to twenty five meters. This sheath channels the captured gases up to a vertical duct (12) made of rigid tyne sheet metal.

 Along the sheath-rail (i) circulates a monobloc assembly designated as the carriage (30) consisting of modules (2), (3) and (&.

 The module (2) is equipped with a specific nozzle which maintains a constant air connection between the duct-rail (1) and one or the other of the suction ducts (1 lA) and (11L) of the robot, whatever the position of the carriage '(30) along the sheath.

 The rear suction arm holder module (7)) and the side suction armrest module (4) move along a raceway made up of two "U" irons on edge (1d) on either side of the duct (1) and of the same length as the latter. These two modules are each equipped with four wheels which allow them to move and guide between the "U" irons (13).

 The module (3) is provided with an electric motor with two directions of rotation.

tion (I8) yes allows the manipulator arm (8) to move, perpandicularly in the direction of movement of the carriage (30), according to an angular rotation of the order of 1100. The arm (8) keeps to the right of its axis of rotation the flexible conduit (11A) and at its end the collecting rod (6).

 The module (t) is provided with two electric motors, one (I9) two directions of rotation intended to operate the manipulator arm (9), the other (M30) with two directions of rotation and variable speed used as element tractor of the carriage (30) and allowing the latter to circulate along its rails (13). The arm (9) maintains at its end the eccentric collecting rod (7) and moves in an oblique plane relative to the direction of movement of the carriage (30).

 The valves (5A) and (5L) are never opened simultaneously when the (5A) is open, in the case of rear collection, the gases are then sucked in through the cone (6), the flexible duct (11A), the fitting two tracks (10), the module (2) and the sheath-rail (i). when the (5L) is open, in the case of lateral collection, the gases are sucked in through the cane (7), the flexible duct (11L), the two-way connector (10), the module (2) and the sheath-rail ( 1).

 The position switches (14) and (15) are pivotable and equipped with antennas respectively. (31) and (32). which can come into contact with the chosen surfaces, these antennas are normally retracted when the carriage (30) is at rest. These switches, like the valves (5A) and (5L) never come into action simultaneously. They control, via a variable speed drive (35), the starting or stopping of the truck when a vehicle is present. The switch (14) maintains a constant distance between the vehicle bumper and the cane (6). The switch (15), depending on the type of vehicle, is arranged as a function of a reference surface (tire flap, bodywork, etc.) so as to always position the cane (7) facing the exhaust. .The roller limit switch (16) prevents the cone (i) from pressing against the carosperie of the vehicles by acting on the motor (il9) of action of the arm (9).

 According to the design of the device made up of three main parts, namely the modules (2), (3) and (a), it would be possible, in view of specific needs, to adopt only the modules strictly necessary : for example the modules (2) and (4) for the lateral capture only, or the modules (2) and (3) for the rear capture only, this yes in this second case requires the installation of the traction motor ( N3o) of the carriage (30) in the module (3).

 The configuration of the installation of the device according to FIGS. 2A and 2B indicates the schematic position of the robot according to its two operating modes on the ground: in position (L) when the robot picks up laterally and in position (A) when it picks up rear of vehicles. The extraction duct-rail (1) extended by the vertical duct (12) is connected to the centrifugal extractor (23) intended to evacuate the gases on the roof. The assembly is shown mounted on a sidewalk (25).

 During its movement, the carriage (30) is electrically powered by a multi-conductor target (24) suspended from a rail (22) running along the length of the raceway (13).

 when several fuel loading spans operate in parallel, a wire mesh protection (21) can be arranged in order to prevent personnel located on an adjoining span from being caught by the trolley (30).

 The induction loops (B1) and (B2) are made up of inductive electric cables etched into the ground, forming a generally rectangular "loop" arranged in the direction of movement of the vehicles in line with their compaction. The metal mass of the vehicles activates the induction loop (s) located under each one. During the stopping of the vehicles during the fueling, the loops, whose positions have been judiciously determined, give the necessary information to know the type of vehicle being razed and therefore its type of exhaust, in case of information is transmitted to the truck (30) via the programmable controller (34).

 The number of loops reread other more important according to the complexity of the possibilities of vehicles in presence, they can also boast doubled and / or replaced by light beams.

 The contact (t0) represents the initial rest position of the carriage (30), the contact (41) represents the position of the latter at the end of its travel at the other end of the raceway (13).

 The robot evolves according to two types of operation: a so-called "continuous" operation during which the extraction fan (23) rotates continuously from one collection cycle to the other and a so-called "discontinuous" operation where the extractor (23) stops after almost every collection cycle before automatically restarting at the start of the next cycle.

The electrical diagram according to Figure 3 shows three main blocks:
The first block in the upper part gathers all the control members, namely the induction loops (B1, B2, B3) represented here three in number, the position and limit switches (14), (15) and (16), the.

contacts (40) for initial position and (41) for end of travel of the carriage (30) and finally the switch (33) for choosing continuous or discontinuous operation.

 The second block, in the middle part, represents the programmable controller (34) which ensures the servo-control of the various motors of the robot to the control giants.

 The third block, in the lower part, indicates the connections at the output of the programmable controller (34) to the motors (M14) and (M15) for pivoting the switches (14) and (15), (M23) for driving the exhaust gas extractor, (M30) for pulling the carriage along its raceway (13), () for rotation of the rear capture arm, (M9) for rotation of the lateral capture arm and towards the speed controller (35) acting on the motor (M30).

 The lateral collection cycle is defined as follows: a vehicle arrives, the two induction loops (B1) and (B2) are requested, after a delay of a few seconds necessary to control the stopping of the vehicle, the switch ( 15) pivots, the valve (5L) opens, the carriage (30) advances at constant speed. When the switch (15) is actuated the carriage stops, the arm (9) moves towards the vehicle, when the contact (16) is actuated the arm (9) stops. At the end of its fueling, the vehicle starts by releasing the contact (15), the traction motor (M30) of the carriage (30) starts, activated by the variator (35). Arrived in (du), the carriage folds its side arm, stops then reverses its direction of arch nour return, at constant speed this time, to its initial position (40) of rest.

 The rear sensing cycle is defined as follows: when a vehicle arrives, a single induction loop is activated (B2), after time delay the switch (14) pivots, the valve (5A) opens, the rear arm (8) lowers and the carriage advances at constant speed. When the switch contact (14) is actuated, the carriage stops. At the end of loading, the vehicle starts, the contact (14) is then released, the motor (t30) starts activated by the variator (35). Arrived at (ci), the carriage (30) folds its rear arm, stops then reverses its direction of rarche to return, at constant speed, its initial position (40) of rest.

 The sectional view according to FIG. T represents a variant in the design of the rear collecting arm (8).

 The arm is represented according to two positions, the upper position which represents its maximum elongation, the lower position its rinin elongation: tn, the angle of rotation of the arm thus bare its elongation are a function of the association of the induction loops used .

 The number of arms of the trolley, limited to two in this configuration, is not limiting, as is their shape which will be adapted to each type of use.

 The application of this device in the industrial sector is primarily aimed at large public road transport companies in which the vehicles used require daily or almost daily fueling in closed halls.

 This device may be suitable for other companies, in particular for trucking, transport of funds, collection of household waste, where the loading of vehicles with fuel is also carried out in specific premises. It will also be suitable in certain development and repair workshops, as well as in the steel and steel industries where it is often necessary to capture harmful vapors from mobile containers.

Claims (6)

 1) Device intended to automatically capture exhaust gases, in particular from vehicles, at their lateral, rear or vertical emission point, in closed halls where these vehicles park and move on limited routes, characterized in ink that comprises a carriage (30) consisting of the module (2) for permanent aerolic connection between one or the other of the collection conduits (11A) and (11L) and the extraction sheath-rail (1), of the module ( 3) rear suction arm and module (4) lateral suction arm holder moving along a raceway (13) parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicles and arranged on the ground or in elevation.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the sheath-rail (1) disposed over the entire length of the raceway (13) ensures the evacuation of gases from the carriage (30) to the outside of the premises via a vertical pipe (12) and an extractor (23).  3) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the module (3) is provided with an arm (8) oscillating in a plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the carriage (30) and variable in length, this arm itself supporting , from a capture cone (6) fixed at its end, the flexible sheath (IIA) for transferring gases to the module (2) via a two-way connection (10) and a valve automatic (5A) placed in the upper part of the module (3).  4) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the module (4) side suction arm holder and motor element of the carriage (30) is provided with an arm (9) oscillating in an oblique plane Dar r-nttort au direction of movement of the carriage (50), this arm itself supporting, from an eccentric collector rod (7) fixed at its end, the flexible sheath (11L) for transferring the gases to the module (2) by through the two-way connector (10) and a tomato valve (5L) located in the upper part of the module (4).  5) Device according to claims 1, 3 and 4 characterized in that the pivoting in terrunteurs (14) and (15) determine the tositioning of the carriage (30) relative to the vehicles present as well as the advance thereof to the same speed as vehicles when they start, the switch (16) acting as a limit switch on the motor (: 9) for driving the arm (9) in order to maintain a minimum distance between the collector cane (7) and vehicles.  6) Device according to claims 1, 3 and 4 characterized in that the carriage (30) arrived at the end (41) of its raceway (13) folds the arm (8) or (9) deployed, to stop and automatically return to its initial rest position (40), before being again requested for another type of collection determined by an association of induction loops (B1, B2, .. Bn) activated by the following vehicle.