WO2003026074A1

WO2003026074A1 - Device for electrical and aeraulic connection of an irradiation device

Info

Publication number: WO2003026074A1
Application number: PCT/FR2002/003098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian Lumpp
Original assignee: Christian Lumpp
Priority date: 2001-09-14
Filing date: 2002-09-11
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Also published as: FR2829879B1; FR2829879A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for electrical and aeraulic connection of an electromagnetic radiation lamp irradiation device (19) equipped with electrical connecting means (32) for powering an emitter tube, and aeraulic coupling means (34) for circulating a coolant to cool the lamp. A galvanic control circuit (76) is connected to an electrical safety device (36) for inhibiting excitation of the emitter tune in case of galvanic interruption caused by a fault in the electrical and/or aeraulic connection.

Description

DEVICE FOR ELECTRICAL AND AERAULIC CONNECTION OF A RADIATION DEVICE

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for electrical and aeraulic connection of an irradiation device having an electromagnetic radiation lamp constituted by a transmitter tube mounted in a housing of a support structure, which is equipped:

- electrical connection means for supplying the transmitter tube from an electrical energy source,

- and aeraulic coupling means for the circulation of a cooling fluid intended to cool the lamp.

State of the art

Documents WO-A-98/01700 and WO-A-01/18447 describe such irradiation devices. These irradiation devices equipped with electromagnetic radiation lamps, in the ultraviolet, visible and / or infrared, are commonly used, in particular in the field of graphic arts, for applications such as the drying of inks, varnishes or adhesives, of the radical or cationic type, on supports such as paper, cardboard, plastic or textile, etc.

The addition of cooling air ducts, like those of the high-voltage power cables of radiation dryers mounted on printing machines, cause problems of space, and difficulties of installation, which result: .. ..

> the volume of the cooling air ducts,

> connection techniques carried out either by clamps, or by a flange-to-flange assembly, or by screw coupling. This results in difficulties in assembly, taking into account on the one hand the small size of the locations, and the risks of improper handling as for example the fall of a screw or a tool on particularly sensitive elements constituted by gears, optical control systems, chromed printing rollers, inkwells, etc.

> the absence of any intrinsic control guaranteeing the condition and reliability of the electrical and aeraulic system.

Subject of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an electrical and aeraulic connection device for an irradiation device having an electromagnetic radiation lamp, so as to facilitate and guarantee the aeraulic and electrical connection, while ensuring good sealing pressurized air, and to allow rotational mobility during mounting or maintenance, or ease of introduction of the substrate, especially paper.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a galvanic control circuit in connection with an electrical safety device, which cooperates with means for inhibiting the excitation of the emitter tube in the event of galvanic discontinuity caused by a fault. electrical and / or ventilation connection.

If the male and female sleeves of the air coupling coupling, and the electrical connection pin with the socket are not both connected, there can be no galvanic continuity, which prevents the supply of the transmitter tube.

According to a preferred embodiment, the air coupling means comprise a snap coupling coupling secured to a ventilation duct forming part of the galvanic control circuit. The ventilation duct advantageously consists of a flexible spiral sheath made of aluminum or stainless steel. The metal coupling fitting comprises a tubular male sleeve fixed to the ventilation duct and capable of snapping into a female sleeve integral with the support structure. The male sleeve is provided with a frustoconical part provided with a plurality of grooves distributed angularly at regular intervals, and with a bead cooperating with a slope of the female sleeve to obtain a sufficient degree of tightness in the coupling position.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the electrical connection means comprise a connection pin intended to be plugged into a socket fixed to the support structure, said pin comprising at least four plugs, two of which allow the electrical connection with the electrodes of the transmitter tube. , a third plug being connected to a ground wire, and a fourth plug connected to a wire of the galvanic control circuit. The spindle could nevertheless include three plugs, the absence of the fourth being replaced by the metal carcass of the spindle which would provide continuity of galvanic control after coupling.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the galvanic control circuit comprises an electrical connection wire passing through a longitudinal notch of the supporting structure, and electrically connected to the fourth plug of the connection pin, and to the ventilation duct by the through the air coupling fitting.

The safety device can also be controlled by a presence detector, in particular a limit switch, controlling the insertion of the lamp into the frame, and a pressure switch controlling the pressure of the fluid in the ventilation duct so as to interrupt the galvanic connection when the pressure falls below a predetermined threshold.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from your description which follows of an embodiment of the invention given by way of nonlimiting example, and represented in the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an overall view of the electrical and aeraulic connection installation according to the invention, the electromagnetic radiation irradiation device being shown mounted on a machine;

- Figure 2 shows the electrical circuit of the irradiation device with the galvanic connection;

- Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2 of the known type of irradiation device, in which the invention can be implemented;

- Figure 4 shows a partial view of Figure 1 with the air coupling;

- Figure 5 shows a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the air coupling coupling of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 is an alternative embodiment of Figure 4 with a longitudinal air coupling; - Figure 7 is a sectional view of the electrical connection pin of the irradiation device.

Description of a preferred embodiment

In FIGS. 1 to 3, an irradiation device 10 with electromagnetic radiation, in particular having a lamp with ultraviolet radiation, visible or infrared, is provided with a longitudinal emitting tube 12 containing two electrodes arranged at opposite ends. The electrodes are of the type described in document WO-A-98/01700.

The emitter tube 12 is generally a transparent quartz tube, filled with an ionizing gas under a pressure of the order of a few bars. The gas may be based on argon, xenon, mercury or any other inert gas such as nitrogen, or a mixture of gases allowing the formation of a luminous plasma arc between the electrodes when the latter are subjected to a voltage. linear of the order of 10V / cm, or higher (see WO-A- 98/01700). The tungsten electrodes are brought into operation at a high temperature, for example between 1500 ° C. and 2000 ° C. The emitter tube 12 is mounted in a support structure 14 produced from an aluminum profile, and described in detail in document WO-A-01/18447. An intermediate wall 16 subdivides the support structure 14 into a longitudinal pipe 18 intended for the circulation of a cooling fluid, and a compartment 20 for receiving the emitter tube 12. The compartment 20 is open on the end face 22 to allow the emission of electromagnetic radiation in the direction of arrow F. The intermediate wall 16 has orifices 24 ensuring the circulation of the cooling fluid between the pipe 18 and the compartment 20. The emitter tube 12 is associated with two lateral reflectors 26 of parabolic shapes or elliptical, separated from each other by a slot 28 extending parallel to the axis of the tube. To ensure the cooling of the lamp, the coolant coming from the pipe 18 circulates in the compartment 20 both in a corridor 30 behind the reflectors 26, and around and along the emitter tube 12 through the slot 28.

The cooling fluid for removing the heat generated by the infrared of the lamp is constituted by ventilation air, but it is clear that any other gas or liquid can be used.

To ensure the electrical supply and the cooling of the transmitter tube 12, b support structure 14 is equipped with electrical connection means 32, aeraulic coupling means 34, the assembly cooperating with a safety device 36 guaranteeing the installation simultaneous and correct electrical connection and aeraulic coupling. Switching on the lamp is thus inhibited as long as the two previous conditions are not met. The safety chain can be reinforced by a limit switch 38, and a pressostatic contact 40 electrically connected to the safety device 36 by connecting wires 41, 43. The limit switch 38 sends a presence signal of the lamp 10 in the receptacle of the frame 42, and the pressostatic contact 40 emits a blocking signal when the air pressure in the ventilation duct 44 falls below a predetermined threshold. The air coupling means 34 are connected to a fan 46 by the ventilation duct 44, which is fitted with a quick coupling 48 on the side of the support structure 14. The fan 46 is supplied by a first output S1 at low voltage of a 5 electrical panel 50.

The electrical connection means 32 of the lamp 10 comprise a connection pin 52 intended to be plugged into a socket 54 fixed to your support structure 14. The pin 52 is connected by a cable 55 to a connection box 56, which is connected to the output S2 of a step-up transformer housed in the electrical panel 50. The box 56 is equipped with a limit switch security cooperating with the cover, and inserted in series in the galvanic control circuit guaranteeing the isolation of the high voltage in relation to the environment. 5

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the aeraulic coupling means 34 and the electrical connection means 32 extend perpendicular to the support structure 14 of the irradiation device 10. For the replacement of a lamp, it suffices to remove the connection pin 52, and pull the support structure 14 0 in the direction of the arrow F1 (FIG. 4).

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the air coupling coupling 48 comprises a male sleeve 58 fixed to the ventilation duct 44 and which can be snapped into a female sleeve 60 secured to the supporting structure 14. 5

The tubular male sleeve 58 is made of a substantially elastic metallic material, for example cold-worked brass. It comprises a frustoconical part 62 provided with a plurality of ridges distributed angularly at regular intervals. The presence of the streaks makes it possible to reduce the outside diameter of the sleeve 58 to allow insertion into the cylindrical female sleeve 60. The end of the frustoconical part 62 is provided with a bead 64 capable of reacting in the coupling position with a slope 66 formed in the female sleeve 60. This results in a reaction R composed of a longitudinal pulling force Fy which tends to press the shoulder 68 of the male sleeve 58 against a shoulder adjacent to the female sleeve 60. This coupling position makes it possible to obtain a sufficient degree of tightness for the pressurized air present in the ventilation duct 44.

Furthermore, beyond the conical part, whose ridges allow as many elastic conical segments, there is a cylindrical adjustment H7 / g6 over a certain cylindrical height such as for example 5 mm (tolerances: + 0.1 / + 0.5 for the female sleeve 60, and - 0.1 / - 0.5 for the male sleeve 58), whose minimum clearance between the bore of the female sleeve 60 and the cylindrical part of the male sleeve 58, allows the rectilinear movement of the connection male / female while allowing, if necessary, the rotational mobility of the support structure 14.

It is clear that the female and male sleeves of the air coupling coupling 48 can be reversed.

In FIG. 6, the aeraulic coupling means 34 are arranged axially at the end of the lamp, and the height of the adjustment H7 / g6 given as an example at 5 mm, allows the horizontal suspension of your supporting structure 14 and rotation about the longitudinal axis above the irradiated product PP in movement. The irradiation device 10 remains suspended by the aeraulic coupling of the female sleeve 60 in the male sleeve 58, which constitutes a lifting fixing element implanted in an orifice of the upright of the frame 42 of the printing machine.

At the other end of the male sleeve 58, there is a cannula 68 in "fir" profile with a groove 70 at the bottom of which abuts the ventilation duct 44. The latter is made of aluminum spiral or stainless steel spiral or a sheath of material synthetic polyester type, armed with a metallic spiral wire. The ventilation duct 44 is fitted and glued so as to ensure the mechanical ventilation connection at the same time as the electrical contact for galvanic monitoring.

The use of a silicone-type adhesive ensures the adhesion of the sleeve 58 to your sheath 44, preferably being housed in the hollow parts of the cannula. 68 and spiral sheath. The raised parts are by mechanical contact pressure, providing sufficient electrical conductivity for galvanic measurement. However, the use of a spiral aluminum sheath 44 on a sleeve 58 made of a copper material, such as brass, in addition to the corrosive action, can cause a battery effect which risks disturbing the galvanic measurement. To circumvent this nuisance, the sleeve 58 will undergo a surface treatment of the nickel-chromium type.

To replace the irradiation device 10 of FIG. 6, it suffices to remove the connection pin 52, and to pull the support structure 14 in the longitudinal direction of the arrow F2.

The galvanic recovery at the opposite end of the ventilation duct 44 will be carried out on its counter flange 72 (FIG. 1) by electrically insulating it from the flange 74 of the fan 46 by an insulating ring 75, so as to eliminate contact with the earth of the latter's metal carcass. In fact, the galvanic recovery upstream of the spiral sheath 44 offers the simple advantage of simultaneously checking that the ventilation sheath 44 has not been accidentally cut off from the irradiation device 10 up to the fan 46.

If there is a risk of metallic contact of the aluminum spiral sheath 44 on a structure of the installation, it is always possible, either to cover the aluminum sheath 44 with a heat-shrinkable insulating sleeve over all or part of your length of this sheath , or to replace it with a synthetic sheath internally reinforced with a metallic spiral wire, ensuring the galvanic connection between the aeraulic coupling and the counter flange 74 of the fan 46.

The female sleeve 60 is made of a conductive material like the male sleeve 58, and comprises an inlet cone of inverted conical slope allowing the bead 64 of the male sleeve 58 to slide during the coupling pressure to exceed the rounded edge corresponding to the diameter minimum. After passing, the inverted slope makes it possible to exert on the bead 64 the traction effect described above, making the aeraulic coupling airtight. The bore of each sleeve 58, 60 is completely smooth after coupling, so as not to cause a pressure drop in the air flow. The female sleeve 60 is mounted on the body of the support structure 14, the surface treatment of which constitutes an electrical insulator.

In FIG. 7, the connection pin 52 connected to the socket 54 of the irradiation device 10, comprises four plugs, two of which are connected to conductors 78 connected to the electrodes of the emitter tube 12, a third connected to a ground wire 80 , and a fourth to a wire 82 isolated from galvanic control.

The electrical connection wire 76 (FIGS. 1 and 2) passes through a longitudinal notch in the support structure 14 of the lamp, and is electrically connected to the galvanic control plug of the connection pin 52, and on the other hand to the sheath. 44 conductor of the aeraulic coupling, so as to test the continuity of the galvanic measurement.

The spindle could nevertheless include three plugs, the absence of the fourth being replaced by the metal carcass of the spindle which would provide continuity of galvanic control after coupling.

The electrical connection box 56 (FIG. 1) is discreetly mounted inside the frame 42 of the machine in substation between the cabinet and the lamp, and offers the advantage of mounting in adopting an indifferent position. of the electrical cabinet compared to that of the irradiation device 10.

The first sheath 84 coming from the output S2 of the cabinet comprises two high voltage cables, a ground wire, and two galvanic control wires.

The cable 55 for supplying the connection pin 52 comprises the two high-voltage conductors 78, the ground wire 80, and one 82 of the two wires for the galvanic control. The second wire 86 of the galvanic control, mounted on the side of the housing via a male / female plug, is connected to the ventilation duct 44 at the level of the counter flange 72 fixed to the fan 46.

The operation of the safety device 36 is as follows:

As long as the male and female sleeves 58, 60 of the air coupling coupling 48, and the electrical connection pin 52 with the socket 54 are not both connected, there can be no galvanic continuity, which prevents the supply of the transmitter tube 12.

The presence of this galvanic control safety prevents two potential accidents:

> On the one hand, the power supply to the lamp, failing to connect your ventilation, would destroy the appliance and risk fire to the environment.

> On the other hand, the lack of connection of the power supply could, due to the presence of high voltage, create an electric arc in the air, either between the two female plugs of the connection pin 52, or with a metallic part of the environment.

The galvanic continuity also depends on the closing of the limit switch 38 which confirms the presence of the irradiation device 10 in the frame 42. It is clear that the limit switch 38 can be replaced by any other presence detector .

The pressostatic contact 40 controls the pressure in the ventilation duct 44, and causes the interruption of the galvanic continuity in the event of insufficient pressure of the cooling air.

Other conventional security means are added to the previous parameters, in particular:

> a fan motor protection circuit breaker 46,

> a motor winding temperature sensor,

> and a thermostat for the HV / LV transformer. The presence of the rotating female sleeve 60 allows the rotational mobility of the dryer, and the electrical safety device 36 guarantees the simultaneous connection of the air coupling and the electrical coupling of the irradiation device 10.

Claims

Claims.

1. Device for electrical and aeraulic connection of an irradiation device (10) having an electromagnetic radiation lamp constituted by an emitter tube (12) mounted in a housing of a support structure (14), which is equipped:

- electrical connection means (32) for supplying the emitting tube (12) from a source of electrical energy, - and aeraulic coupling means (34) for the circulation of a cooling fluid intended to cool the lamp, device characterized in that it comprises a galvanic control circuit in connection with an electrical safety device (36), which cooperates with means for inhibiting the excitation of the emitter tube (12) in the event of galvanic discontinuity caused by a fault in the electrical and / or aeraulic connection.

2. Electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the aeraulic coupling means (34) comprise a coupling coupling (48) with snap fastening secured to a ventilation duct (44) forming part of the circuit galvanic control.

3. Electrical and ventilation connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ventilation duct (44) is constituted by a flexible spiral sheath made of aluminum or stainless steel.

4. An electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the ventilation duct (44) is constituted by a flexible sheath of synthetic material reinforced with a spiral metal wire.

5. Electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the metallic coupling fitting (48) comprises a tubular male sleeve (58) fixed to the ventilation duct (44) and capable of

5 snap into a female sleeve (60) secured to the support structure (14).

6. An electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the male sleeve (58) is provided with a frustoconical part o (62) provided with a plurality of ridges distributed angularly at regular intervals, and a bead (64) cooperating with a slope (66) of the female sleeve (60) to obtain a sufficient degree of tightness in the coupling position.

7. Electrical and ventilation connection device according to claim 6, 5 characterized in that the coupling connector (48) comprises cylindrical adjustment means allowing a rotational movement of the female sleeve (60) in the coupling position.

8. Electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 1, 0 characterized in that the electrical connection means (32) comprise a connection pin (52) intended to be plugged into a socket (54) fixed to the support structure ( 14), said pin comprising at least four plugs, two of which allow electrical connection with the electrodes of the transmitter tube (12), a third plug being connected to a ground wire (80), and a fourth plug connected to a wire ( 82) of the galvanic control circuit.

9. An electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 2 and 8, characterized in that the galvanic control circuit comprises an electrical connection wire (76) passing through a longitudinal notch of the support structure (14), and electrically connected to the fourth plug of the connection pin (52), and to the ventilation duct (44) via the air coupling coupling (48).

10. Electrical and ventilation connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device (36) is controlled by a presence detector, in particular a limit switch (38), controlling the insertion of the device d irradiation (10) in the frame (42).

5

11. Electrical and ventilation connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety device (36) cooperates with a pressure switch (40) controlling the pressure of the fluid in the ventilation duct (44) so as to interrupt the connection galvanic when the pressure falls below a predetermined threshold o.

12. Electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooling fluid in the ventilation duct (44) is pressurized air coming from a fan motor (46). 5

13. An electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 12, characterized in that the fan motor (46) is provided with a flange (74) separated from the counter-flange (72) of the ventilation duct (44) by a insulating ring (75) to allow galvanic recovery of the control circuit. 0

14. An electrical and aeraulic connection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical connection means (32) comprise a connection pin (52) intended to be plugged into a socket (54) fixed to the support structure (14 ), said pin comprising at least three plugs 5, two of which allow electrical connection with the electrodes of the transmitter tube (12), a third plug being connected to a ground wire (80), the metal carcass of the pin ensuring the continuity of the galvanic control after coupling.