WO1998012140A1

WO1998012140A1 - Apparatus for selectively supplying fluid products from a plurality of sources to a plurality of destinations

Info

Publication number: WO1998012140A1
Application number: PCT/EP1996/004078
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Guglielminetti
Original assignee: Giuseppe Guglielminetti
Priority date: 1996-09-18
Filing date: 1996-09-18
Publication date: 1998-03-26
Also published as: AU7085696A

Abstract

Mixing or distributing device (20, 40) of fluid products which comprises a fixed flange (11) whereon a plurality of socket valves (12) is mounted, a revolving disk (15) to which plug means (16) is associated and a translation device (19) of said revolving disk (15) allowing the coupling of said plug means (16) with one of the said socket valves (12) previously chosen.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SELECTIVELY SUPPLYING FLUID PRODUCTS FROM A PLURALITY OF SOURCES TO A PLURALITY OF DESTINATIONS

Field of the invention

The present invention refers to a mixing or distributing device of fluid products and to an apparatus comprising at least one device of this kind and at least one proportioning device.

Both objects of the present invention (device and apparatus) are particularly useful in the textile, chemical and tan industries etc., i.e. where it is necessary to envoy to the various apparatuses forming the plant quantities of fluid products which could be chemically aggressive. Prior Art

As already said, in certain working fields, e.g. textile, it is necessary to envoy to the various apparatuses quantities of fluid products which could be chemically aggressive. The systems used to proportion, from the point of view of volume or weight, the chemical products, having an acid or basic nature, are based on a distribution performed by means of a net of rigid pipes (built up in stainless steel or PVC) by using air or elecrical valves (built up also in stainless steel or PVC). Said valves are used in order to choose the product which has to be dosed and sent (one or two for each product) and they lead, in the case of volumetric dosing, to a manifold which sends the chosen product to a pump. In said manifold a first interruption valve for the counter and a second washing valve are present .

Downstream the counting system, one or more manifolds (which work as distributing lines) are present. Said manifolds (in rigid PVD or stainless steel AISI 316) deliver the products to the users by means of a three-way valve for each use, and present a two-way foot valve for the washing discharge. The weight system works in a similar way with the only difference that the measuring system consists of a scale inserted under a barrel which weighs the chosen products by means of a pump sucking from the same barrel by using the same line. Nowadays it is also used a system based on a plurality of valves mounted near a rail whereon a trolley shifts bearing a pipe which fits with the chosen valve. The sending system remains the same as those described before.

As already seen, in the aforesaid methods there is a huge wasting of valves and pipes with a remarkable increase of the overall costs. On the contrary, with the device and the apparatus using said device, objects of the present invention, we have a remarkable simplification of the whole distribution plant and a consequent lowering of the costs . Summary of the invention First object of the present invention is a mixing or distributing device of fluid products comprising a fixed element whereon a plurality of openings disposed on a circle is provided, and a mobile element showing integral plug means. In a first embodiment of the present invention plug means engages one of the openings after a rotatory movement performed by said mobile element. In a second embodiment of the present invention the mobile element further performs a translatory movement (forwards/backwards) so that the plug means engages the opening.

More in particular, first object of the present invention is a mixing or distributing device of fluid products which comprises a fixed flange whereon a plurality of openings (in case provided with socket valves) is mounted, a revolving disk presenting plug means and a translation device of the revolving disk allowing the coupling of the plug means with one of the socket valves previously chosen.

Further object of the present invention is an apparatus comprising at least a mixing or distributing device as described above and at least a proportioning device, which performs the measurements of the volumetric or ponderal quantities and the pressurization by means of a pump.

List of the alleged figures

The present invention will be better comprised through the following alleged figures having only a demontrative but non-limiting function, where: figure 1 shows a schematical view of the second embodiment of the mixing or distributing device and the apparatus objects of the present invention; figure 2 shows a schematical view of the apparatus of figure 1, wherein some mixing or distributing devices are provided.

Detailed description of the invention

The present detailed description is based on the second embodiment, wherein the mobile element not only rotates but also translates (forwards/backwards); all the remarks on the second embodiment stated in the following will apply also to the first one. It is apparent by observing figure 1 (second embodiment) that apparatus 10, object of the present invention, consists essentially of a first mixing device 20 (also object of the present invention) choosing the fluid products which have to be dosed (in particular liquids strongly acid or basic), of a second distributing device 40 (also object of the present invention) in order to choose the destinations of the dosed products, and of a third proportioning device 30 (known in the prior art) which performs the measuring of the volumetric or ponderal quantities and pressurizes the fluids by means of a pump (not shown) . More in particular, the first mixing device 20 is essentially composed by a flange 11 having changeable dimensions according to the number of products (e.g. acid or basic ones) which can be chosen. Said flange 11 presents, in correspondence to an external area on a circle, a plurality of openings in case provided with socket valves 12 presenting suitable sealing means, which, in their turn, can be provided both with automatic inner nonreturn valve and with electrical, air or mechanical external valves. The flange 11 can be built up with a suitable rigid material able to be used in an environment strongly aggressive (stainless steel 316. PVC, Teflon etc.). The aforesaid flange 11 shows on the centre of the circle formed by the socket valves 12 a bearing 13 of suitable dimensions able to bear shaft 14 on which the revolving disk 15 is fitted. In this particular embodiment the shaft 14 can both rotate on its axis and longitudinally translate (forwards-backwards) . In this way the revolving disk 15 too is obliged to perform the aforesaid movements. The plug means 16 is fixed on the revolving disk 15 (on a cercle having the diameter as long as the one whereon the socket valves 12 of the flange 11 lie) . Sais plug means 16 has a suitable shape which can or not bear, on the face in front of said flange 11, a nonreturn valve (not shown in the figure) . The plug means 16 is conceived as to enter into any socket valve 12 with a perfect sealing action in order to allow the flowing of the chosen liquid product. The revolving disk 15 can be provided with a crown gear 24 meshing a pinion gear 17 moved by an engine 18 which consequently moves (clockwise or counterclockwise) said revolving disk 15, thus allowing the choise and the positioning of plug means 16 in any socket valve 12. In this second embodiment, of course, said rotation is performed only when shaft 14 is translated in a detached position (e.g. "forward position"); whereas in the first embodiment (not shown in the figure) there is a slithering during the rotation of the revolving disk on the flange.

In the second embodiment, the translation of shaft 14 (forwards- backwards) can be performed by means of a translation device 19 (e.g. an actuator) which can use in alternative the following systems:

(A) air or hydraulic system with double-effect piston or a simple effect piston with return spring, or with a diaphram system;

(B) mechanical system;

(C) other suitable systems. It is evident for those skilled in the art that the rotation of the revolving disk 1 can be performed by means of systems and engines of various kind which can be electrical, electronic, pneumatical or mechanical ones. The revolving disk 15 can also present a diameter smaller than that of a circle necessary for the use of plug means 16. Thus, it would be necessary to foresee an arm (another embodiment not visible in the figure 1), integral with the revolving disk 15. and whereon the plug means 16 can be mounted. Thus, by choosing from time to time the length of said arm we can use the same searching block for different diameters of the circles whereon the socket valves lie. This variation of the arm length can be also automatically performed, e.g. by providing a telescopic arm whose length is changed by means of electronic comands. To the mixing device 20 a number n of tanks of chemically aggressive products (e.g. strongly acid or basic) is linked by means of suitable linkage pipes 21, 22 which end with the correspondent socket valve 12. A flexible or articulated hose 23 is linked, in its turn, to plug means 16 mounted on the revolving disk 15 which is linked, in correspondence with the other end, to the second proportioning device 30 which also sucks and pressurizes. This happens by means of a control system which can be manual, mechanical, electrical or electronic. The plug means 16, thanks to the rotation of the revolving disk 15_• is positionated on a socket valve 12 linked to a particular product. At this point, shaft 14 translates along the position "backwards" joining together the plug means 16 with the chosen socket valve 12. By opening the nonreturn valve positionated in correspondence to the socket valve 12 the suitable product will freely flow. Said product, sucked by a suitable pump present in the proportioning device 30 and suitably dosed, is ready to be distributed by means of the second distributing device 40.

The second distributing device 40 for the product distribution is not described in detailes because it is practically speaking identical to the first mixing device 20 as described above. The only difference could be the lack of valves in correspondence to the openings, valves which, on the contrary, are necessary for the first mixing device 20. Figure 2 shows an apparatus 100 more complicated than those described above. In the latter embodiment four devices 50, 60, 70, δO (two mixing and two distributing devices) are provided similar to those already shown in figure 1, wherein the relevant arm, which bears the relevant plug means, can be placed in correspondence to the chosen socket valve. Thus, the different arms will work as a clock hand and will search the desired opening. It is easly understandable that by means of a simple rotation of the revolving disk it is possible to couple simultaneously a plurality of plug means with several openings (and in case with several socket valves).

In this way it is possible to realize a great number of combinations between the fluids wich have to be mixed or distributed. The described system is extremely flexible and rapid in order to choose both the products and their destinations. It is evident that the aforesaid operations can be performed by means of a computer.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made in details of construction and arrangement without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. Apparatus (10) comprising at least a mixing device (20) choosing the fluid products which have to be dosed, at least a proportioning device (30) which performs the measurements of the volumetric or ponderal quantities and the pressurization by means of a pump, and at least a distributing device (40) in order to choose the destination of the dosed product.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mixing device (20) and/or said distributing device (40) comprises: (a) a fixed element whereon a plurality of openings placed on a circle in provided, and (b) a mobile element showing integral plug means engaging one of said openings after a rotatory movement performed by said mobile element.

3- Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said mobile element further performs a translatory movement (forward/backwards) so that said plug means engages said openings.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3. wherein said mixing device and/or said distributing device comprises: (a) a fixed flange (11) whereon said plurality of openings provided with socket valves (12) is mounted, (b) a revolving disk (15) presenting said plug means (16) and (c) a translation device (19) of said revolving disk (15) allowing the coupling of said plug means (16) with one of said socked (12) previously chosen.

5- Apparatus according to the aforesaid claims, wherein the coupling between said plug means (16) and said socket valve (12) is a sealed one.

6. Apparatus according to the aforesaid claims, wherein the rotation of said revolving disk (15) is performed by means of a crown gear/pinion gear meshing and wherein the translation of said revolving means (15) is realized by means of an actuator (19)- 7 • Apparatus according to the aforesaid claims , wherein said fluids are aggressive fluids from the chemical point of view, in particular a strongly acid or basic liquid. 8. Apparatus according to the aforesaid claims, wherein an arm, whereon said plug means (16) is fixed, is integral with said revolving disk (15) of said mixing or distributing device. 9- Apparatus according to the aforesaid claims, wherein a plurality of said plug means (16) is provided, which simultaneously engages an equal number of socket valves (12). 10. Apparatus according to the aforesaid claims, wherein all the operations are operated and controlled by means of a computer. 11. Use in the textile, chemical, tan fields of the device (20, 0) and of the apparatus (10) according to the aforesaid claims.