GB2373850A

GB2373850A - Nozzle equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2373850A
Application number: GB0203304A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ismo Groenvall; Kim Hagstroem; Arvo Aalto
Original assignee: Halton Oy
Current assignee: Halton Oy
Priority date: 2001-02-13
Filing date: 2002-02-12
Publication date: 2002-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2022-02-12
Also published as: SE522915C2; FI111989B; SE0200353D0; NO319445B1; GB0203304D0; FI20010269A; GB2373850B; FI20010269A0; WO2002064272A8; NO20020707L; WO2002064272A1; SE0200353L; NO20020707D0

Abstract

Nozzle equipment (10) in connection with a table (11), which nozzle equipment (10) includes means for producing an air jet (L<SB>1</SB>) upwards from the table, in which connection by means of the jet (L<SB>1</SB>) produced by the nozzle equipment impurities in the air are guided away from near the table (11), <B>characterized</B> in that the nozzle equipment (10) comprises, inside a body (200) of the nozzle equipment (10), a space (130) for collecting impurities, such as liquids, which space is formed of a chamber (13) for collecting impurities, such as liquids, and that the body (200) of the nozzle equipment (10) can be opened, Thereby allowing the impurities collecting space to be cleaned on the inside.

Description

i 1 2373850

Nozzle equipment 5 The invention relates to nozzle equipment, in particular for producing a carrier air jet and/or a curtain jet in connection with a table.

From the prior art, various devices are known for bringing about a curtain

jet/carrier air jet, wherein the carrier air jet is directed from below upwards, for 10 example, in connection with a table, the purpose of the jet being to carry impuri-

ties away into an exhaust located above and, in addition, to isolate, for example, spaces of different temperatures from each other, as is the case with curtain nozzle equipment in connection with display cases in shops. Curtain jet devices have thus been used, for example, in connection with shop display cases. In connection with 15 bar counters, carrier airlcurtain jet air is used to transport tobacco smoke away from the bar counter, in which connection the purpose of the air jet is to protect the employee from the tobacco smoke. In addition, carrier air jets have been used in connection with hoods, in which case the purpose of the carrier air jet is to bring about efficient removal of impurities from the upper space of the hood and 20 to promote the flow into the hood. Air jet devices have also been used in connec-

tion with gambling tables, the air jet being used to remove tobacco smoke from near the gambling table and also to bring about a protecting curtain for preventing tobacco smoke from spreading from the customer space to the working space.

25 The present patent application proposes an improvement in particular in the use of nozzle equipment bringing about carrier air/curtain air and disposed in connection with tables, in which case the table may be, for example, a worktable of a fume cliamber, a bar counter, a gambling table etc. In state-of-the-art equipment arrangements, it has been a problem that impurities, such as liquids, have got into 30 the nozzle producing the air jet and into its supply tube system, thus detrimentally affecting the operation of the nozzle. Thus, this patent application proposes using L

nozzle equipment which can be opened and which includes a space for collecting impurities, such as liquid, which space can be cleaned. This patent application proposes using equipment comprising a detachable nozzle body as the equipment producing a curtain/carrier air jet, in which connection, by detaching the nozzle S body together with its nozzles, the space collecting impurities can be reached from above the worktable or from the side thereof, which space can then be cleaned, for example, by the cleaning staff at the end of working hours. At the same time, the detached nozzle equipment can be cleaned on the inside.

10 The nozzle equipment in accordance with the invention is particularly suitable for use in connection with bar counters to produce a curtain jet between the working space of the bar counter and the customer space, thereby preventing impurities, such as tobacco smoke, from spreading to the working space. The equipment in accordance with the invention is also suitable for use in fume chambers to produce 15 a curtain jet in connection with laboratory tables for carrying away impurities, spills, etc. In addition, the invention is suitable for use in connection with exhaust air devices by which cigarette smoke is generally injected away from an occupied zone. 20 The nozzle equipment in accordance with the invention comprises a body which can be disassembled so that a chamber provided inside the nozzle equipment for the purpose of collecting impurities may be cleaned. This can take place so that a wall in connection with the collecting chamber can be removed over the entire length of the nozzle equipment and the collecting chamber can thus be reached.

25 The invention also encompasses an embodiment in which the nozzle body itself with its nozzles can be detached from the collecting chamber.

The nozzle equipment according to the invention is characterized by the features presented in the claims.

In the following, the invention will be described with reference to some advanta

geous embodiments of the invention shown in the figures of the appended drawings, but the intention is not to limit the invention to these only.

Figure IA shows nozzle equipment in accordance with the invention in connec-

5 lion with a table of a fume chamber.

Figure 1B shows nozzle equipment in accordance with the invention in connection with a bar counter.

10 Figure 2A is an axonometric sectional view of an advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein the nozzle equipment comprises a space collecting impurities and including a separate drain. The end walls of the housing structure have been left out of the illustration to show the internal components of the structure. Figure 2B illustrates detachment of the nozzle body and cleaning of the equip-

ment. Figure 3 is an axonometric sectional view of nozzle equipment which can be 20 attached to the side of a table and which can also be disassembled by detaching one body half of the nozzle, whereby the space collecting impurities is available and can be cleaned. The end walls of the housing structure have been left out of the illustration to show the internal components of the structure.

25 Fig. 1A shows nozzle equipment 10 in accordance with the invention bringing about an airflow Lo in connection with a table ll of a fume chamber. An elongated slot nozzle 12 is disposed at the location D2 in the rear part of the table 11 to produce a carrier air jet/curtain jet Lit in a hood H. which is located above in the fume chamber and includes an exhaust duct h. In Fig. lA, dashed lines Do 30 indicate an alternative location for the nozzle equipment 10 in the worktable l 1.

r Fig. 1B is a side view of nozzle equipment in accordance with the invention disposed in connection with a table 11, which is here a bar counter. An air jet Lit is used to guide impurities, such as tobacco smoke, away from near the table 11 into a hood H and an exhaust duct h located above. Thus, the nozzle equipment lo in 5 accordance with the invention may be disposed in different arrangements in connection with tables 11 and in different table applications. An elongated slot nozzle is preferably used as the nozzle in the nozzle equipment.

Fig. 2A shows a first advantageous embodiment of the invention, wherein a body 10 200 of nozzle equipment 10 is disposed in connection with a table 11 in a gap U between table-top parts 1 lax and l l a2 or in an elongated groove made in the table.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, the nozzle equipment lO includes a slot nozzle 12 formed by plate parts 12' attached to a part 12" which is circular in cross-section and which is articulated to turn in a cradle 12"' conforming to the 15 shape of the part 12". Thus, the nozzle 12 can be turned in a manner known in itself into different control positions in order to direct an air jet in desired directions. The body of a collecting chamber 13 of an openable space 130 for collecting impurities is designated by reference numeral 300.

20 The nozzle 12 is disposed with its turning bearings in a nozzle body 120 and the entire structure is detachably attached as one entity to the chamber 13 collecting impurities, such as liquid, by means of a quickrelease fastening means 100. The impurities collecting chamber 13 includes an air supply chamber 14 as the supply duct. In accordance with the invention, the nozzle equipment 10 can be opened at 25 its body 200 over the entire length of the collecting space 130 and the collecting chamber 13 so that the chamber 13 collecting impurities, such as liquids, in the space 130 collecting impurities may be cleaned. In the arrangement, the impurities collecting chamber 13 comprises the collecting space 130 proper for impurities, such as liquid, below the supply duct 14. Thus, if impurities, such as liquid, enter 30 the space 130 through the nozzle 12, they are collected in the impurities collecting space 130 located below. The space 130 located below includes a drainage duct 17

comprising a shut-off valve 18 for the collected liquid. The duct 17 is connected, for example, to the general drainage of the bar counter. The supply air chamber 14 is an elongated slot-like part, which is connected at the side to the impurities collecting chamber 13. An air supply duct 15 is connected to the supply chamber 5 14. The supply air chamber 14 is an elongated slot-like chamber part and it extends over the length of the table 11.

The nozzle body 120 is detachably attached to the body of the impurities collecting chamber 13 by quick-release fastening means 100; 120b, 120b:, 19an 10 19a2; Rn Fig. 2B shows cleaning of the impurities collecting chamber 13 as indicated by the arrow E2. The nozzle body 120 is detached (as shown by the arrow En) in such a way that the ridges 120b and 120b2 located on its side surfaces 120a and 120a: 15 are detached from the grooves Lear and 19a2 of the same cross-sectional shape located on the sides of the impurities collecting chamber 13. Thus, by detaching the nozzle body 120, it can be easily cleaned on the inside by the cleaning person after working hours, and in that connection it is also possible to reach the impurities collecting space 130, which can then also be easily cleaned.

Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of the equipment in accordance with the invention, wherein a chamber 13 for collecting impurities, such as liquid, is formed by a downwards extending side wall 120b of a body half 120a of a nozzle body 120 and by a side wall 120c joining thereto and extending obliquely 25 downwards. The body half 120a is attached to a lower plate 160 by a folded joint 16. An air supply chamber 14 located before the impurities collecting chamber 13 is defined by the lower plate 160 and by an upper plate 140. An air duct 15 is connected to the lower plate 160 of the air supply chamber 14 in the region of its front edge. The chamber 13 for collecting impurities, such as liquid, includes an 30 impurities collecting space 130 below the point where the air supply chamber 14 joins the chamber 13. The nozzle body half 120a can be detachably attached to

the other nozzle body half 120az by a quick-release fastening means 100. The fastening means Rat is preferably a screw. A nozzle slot F for a curtain/carrier air jet Lit is formed between the upper edge of the nozzle body part 120a' and the upper edge of the other nozzle body half 120a2 located in a fixed position.

Claims

1. Nozzle equipment (10) in connection with a table (11), which nozzle equipment (10) includes means for producing an air jet (Lit) upwards from the 5 table, in which connection by means of the jet (Lo) produced by the nozzle equipment impurities in the air are guided away from near the table (11), characterized in that the nozzle equipment (10) comprises, inside a body (200) of the nozzle equipment (lo), a space (130) for collecting impurities, such as liquids, which space is formed of a chamber (13) for collecting impurities, such as liquids, 10 and that the body (200) of the nozzle equipment (10) can be opened, thereby allowing the impurities collecting space to be cleaned on the inside.

2. Nozzle equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the impurities collecting space (130) of the nozzle equipment (10) comprises a wall structure 15 (120b) which is situated at the side of the nozzle equipment (10) and which is detachable over the length of the impurities collecting space (130), detachment of said wall structure allowing the impurities collecting space (130) to be opened and cleaned. 20

3. Nozzle equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that the wall (120b) is formed of the nozzle body part.

4. Nozzle equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nozzle equipment comprises a detachable body (200) of the nozzle 25 equipment which can be detachably attached to a body (300) of the collecting chamber (13) of the impurities collecting space (130) using fastening means (120b, 19a; 120a:, 19a:; Rat).

5. Nozzle equipment according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a 30 nozzle body (120) can be separately detached out of connection with the collecting chamber (13).

6. Nozzle equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the impurities collecting chamber (13) includes a space (130) for collecting impurities, such as liquid, below an air supply chamber (14), in which connection impurities, such as 5 liquid, are collected in said impurities collecting space.

7. Nozzle equipment according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the impurities collecting space (130) in the impurities collecting chamber (13) includes a drain, e.g. a duct (17) and therein a valve (18).

8. Nozzle equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air supply chamber (14) has a wider crosssection than its height and that an air supply duct (15) is connected to said slot-like air supply chamber (14) and that the air supply chamber (14) opens at the side into the impurities collect 15 ing chamber (13).

9. Nozzle equipment according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that a nozzle body (120) is formed by nozzle body halves (120a and 120a2), of which one nozzle body half (120a) is detachable from the other nozzle body half (120a2) by 20 opening fastening means (Rat), whereby the impurities collecting chamber (13) can be cleaned.

10. Nozzle equipment according to the preceding claim, characterized in that an elongated nozzle slot (17) is formed between the nozzle body halves (l2Oa and 25 120a2) and upper edge plates.

11. Nozzle equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, character-

ized in that the drainage duct (17) connected to the space (130) for collecting impurities, such as a liquid collecting space, is connected to a general drain 30 located in connection with the table (11).

12. Nozzle equipment according to claim S. characterized in that quickrelease fastening means (100) between the nozzle body (120) and the impurities collecting chamber (13) are formed by a ridge and a groove (120b; fan; 120b:, lilac).

5

13. Nozzle equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle equipment is disposed in connection with a bar counter or equivalent to produce a curtain jet between the working space and the customer space, whereby, for example, tobacco smoke is prevented from spreading over the bar counter to the working space.

14. Nozzle equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle equipment (10) is disposed in connection with a fume chamber to produce a curtain jet, whereby, for example, in laboratory conditions, impurities are removed from near the worktable and passed to an exhaust.

15. Nozzle equipment (10) substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.