WO2014121933A1

WO2014121933A1 - Device for conditioning a volume of space that is not structurally closed by means of a gas mass flow

Info

Publication number: WO2014121933A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/000319
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruno Dorn; Dirk Elsner
Original assignee: Bruno Dorn; Dirk Elsner
Priority date: 2013-02-11
Filing date: 2014-02-06
Publication date: 2014-08-14
Also published as: EP2953854A1; DE102013002230A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for conditioning a volume of space that is not structurally closed by means of a gas mass flow and to the use thereof. The intention is that said device in particular be usable in a mobile manner and also be suitable for use in spatially limited conditions. This is achieved in that the device is formed from an arrangement of inflatable air cushions, wherein the arrangement consists of a main air cushion (1) and at least one further secondary air cushion (2, 3, 4, 5), each secondary air cushion is connected in one piece or in a materially cohesive manner to the main air cushion, forming an intermediate element (6) that can be moved in an articulated manner and each intermediate element has at least one gas-permeable passage between the main air cushion and the secondary air cushion, the device has at least one inlet opening (7) for introducing a conditioned gas mass flow and at least one outlet opening (8) having an outlet valve that opens in the event of overpressure in the air cushion in order to let the gas mass flow out, and the arrangement of main and secondary air cushions is aligned when in the inflated state in such a manner that each secondary air cushion is aligned at an angle to the main air cushion and the at least one outlet opening is arranged on the inner side of the angle formed by the main and secondary air cushions when in the inflated state.

Description

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume by means of a gas mass flow

The invention relates to a device for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow and their use.

For example, in rail transport has always been on the prob- learning that rail vehicles during operation in wintry weather conditions by Flugschnee- deposits and at the same time influence cold temperatures, especially in the area of the subsoil. Thawing halls and so-called "thawing walls" are known in the prior art, especially in the field of the former

Eastern bloc or RGW states such plants were widespread, since the lignite used there mainly for energy supply due to their high residual moisture content tended to icing, clumping and freezing in the freight cars. From DD 266 552 B5, for example, an arrangement for thawing bulk freight wagons with frozen cargo is known, in which a track between two side of the track arranged thawing walls is guided. The bulk freight wagons to be thawed are placed on this track. In the floor area between the track and the side walls, a heating pipe is laid in each case, from the outlet slits warm air flows out. To prevent heat loss, the thawing walls have foldable aprons in their upper area, which rise under the influence of the upward flowing warm air and rest against the wagon side walls. Under the influence of gravity, these aprons fall back into their vertical starting position.

In recent times, the provision of a stationary infrastructure in the form of thawing halls or walls is usually

BESTÄTIGUNGSKOPSE ziehtet. Instead, thaws are installed. The main difference to the above-mentioned stationary structures is that the thawing tent can be completely removed and stored during the warmer months of the year. Nevertheless, even with the thawing tents, an enclosure for the entire vehicle is created. The Auf- / /- the dismantling of such a thawing tent requires a not inconsiderable amount of time. In particular, the thawing tents - especially during the winter - must be reliably secured against being torn off in stormy weather conditions. Also, only such track systems for the establishment of a Auftauzeltes into consideration, the distance to the nearest / adjacent track is dimensioned sufficiently large, so that the thawing tent does not protrude into the confinement space. Thus, in practice, a thawing tent also has the character of a stationary installation to which the rail vehicles to be treated have to be supplied separately.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow, which overcomes the disadvantages of the known prior art. In particular, this device should be able to be used mobile and be suitable for use even in confined space conditions.

According to the invention this object is achieved in conjunction with the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the device is formed of an array of inflatable air cushion, the arrangement consists of a main air cushion and at least one additional secondary air cushion, each sub-air cushion in one piece or cohesively with the formation of a pivotally movable intermediate element is connected to the main air cushion and each intermediate element Has at least one gas-permeable passage between the main and secondary air cushion, the device has at least one inlet opening for introducing a conditioned gas mass flow and at least one outlet opening with an opening in excess pressure in the air cushion outlet valve for discharging the gas mass flow, and the arrangement of main and secondary Air cushion is aligned in the inflated state such that each secondary air cushion angled aligned with the main air cushion and the at least one outlet opening on the inner side of the formed from the main and secondary air cushion in the inflated state angle is arranged.

In this way, an air cushion is provided which when energized (ie filling) with air such and erects that a conditioning of the enclosing volume enclosing arrangement of main and secondary air cushion is provided. This enclosure effect can be further enhanced by the fact that the device is designed such that not only several different air cushions of the same device against each other in the inflated state, but also create the air cushion to external, not to the device according to the invention associated objects with sufficiently smooth surface and In this way, a tight fit between auxiliary air cushion and external component can bring about. The room volume to be conditioned can thus be largely sealed gas-tight against the ambient air. The gas mass flow is introduced into the device via the at least one inlet opening and leaves it via the at least one outlet opening as soon as a sufficient overpressure has built up in the device according to the invention. This built-in pressure in the device also serves to deploy or inflate the main and secondary air cushion. In a particularly advantageous manner, the main air cushion has a plurality of outlet openings, which are executed for example in the manner of a perforated grid.

The effect of the automatic erection of the auxiliary air cushion can be enhanced by the fact that the sheaths of the intermediate elements are dimensioned on the inside in the inflated state side in terms of area smaller than on the outside. As a result, when the intermediate element is subjected to a gas mass flow, the outer regions of the envelope expand more than the inner regions, which causes an automatic raising of the secondary air cushions with respect to the main air cushion.

A particular advantage of the invention is also to be seen in the fact that the volume of space to be conditioned is very small in comparison to the solutions known from the prior art, since the actual critical points are only selectively subjected to conditioning. This has a shortening effect on the required exposure time (ie the time that is effectively needed until the conditioning takes place) and on the energy efficiency as well as the C0 ₂ balance.

The invention is not limited to a conditioning of the space volume delimited by the device according to the invention by means of an air mass flow. It is rather the conditioning by means of any kind of gases possible. The use of the term "air cushion" takes place in the context of this application merely linguistic reasons and for ease of reading. It is obvious to the expert without saying that such an air pillow flows through not only by air but also from other gases and filled Kings ^¬ nen.

A first use of this technical teaching according to the invention provides for the enclosure and tempering of a corridor area of a vehicle arranged component. If, for example, the underfloor region of a rail vehicle is to be heated, then such a device according to the invention can be arranged in the space between the lower edge of the rail vehicle floor and the upper edge of the track area, wherein the depth or width of the main air cushion is approximately the width of the track or corresponds to the rail distance. To facilitate manual handling of the device, it can initially be stored in a folded state and placed under the rail vehicle. Only after correct alignment of the device with respect to the rail vehicle is this then transferred to a folded state, wherein in the unfolded state, the main and secondary pillows are fully deployed.

Depending on the specific geometric shape of the room volume to be conditioned, the main air cushion can either be a rather oblong cubic or

tubular shape or even have a flat, rectangular space shape. Regardless of the secondary air cushion are basically mounted on both sides of the longitudinal sides of the main air cushion and thus protrude in the unfolded state of the device laterally beyond the rails, the width of each sub-air cushion is greater than the clear distance between the lower edge of the vehicle floor and the Upper edge of the track area is executed. When introducing the gas mass flow, the secondary air cushion of the device according to the invention are directed such that the auxiliary air cushion fill the space between the vehicle and track and a conditionable air space - as a heating chamber - forms below the vehicle floor. In this way, for example, heated air can be introduced into this air space to heat or thaw mounted on the underbody of the rail vehicle components. A useful further development of the inventive concept provides that main and / or sub-air cushion on their respective outer surfaces via locking elements for mutual hooking in the inflated state with adjacent main or secondary air cushion have. In this way, the dimensional stability of the device according to the invention is improved and the seal between the air cushion even in unfavorable external conditions, especially in stronger wind or draft guaranteed.

According to a first embodiment, these locking elements are designed as Velcro fasteners. These can be readjusted by an operator and corrected if necessary. According to a second preferred embodiment, these locking elements are designed as locking strips with a sawtooth-like surface profile on the surfaces of the outer shells of the air cushion. In this way, the outer surfaces entangle upon the ingress of air, i. with unfolding air cushion, against each other automatically. A manual intervention by operating personnel is eliminated.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device has at least one secondary air cushion, which is connected to form an articulated movable intermediate element with the end face on at least one longitudinal end of the main air cushion. In this way, additional possibilities for sealing the room volume to be conditioned in the form of "axle walls" can also be realized in the direction of the track longitudinal axis.

It is particularly advantageous in this connection if the main air cushion on the outer side of the angle formed by the main and secondary air cushions in the inflated state is equipped with stiffening stabilizing elements. This may be, for example, in act the outer wall of the air cushion incorporated rigid fabric strips. Alternatively, the outer side of the main air cushion can also be glued to a stiffening element (eg in the form of a plywood board) whose outer contour is adapted to the base area of the main air cushion. Such a feature facilitates the manual handling of the device according to the invention, since these are then, for example, also suspended under a stationary object to be conditioned (or aligned in its relative position to the object by sliding operator movement) or above the object to be conditioned can.

The invention expediently provides that the outer geometries of main or auxiliary air cushions in the inflated state have recesses for collision-free adaptation to obstacles located in the room volume to be conditioned. This embodiment variant is helpful if the object to be conditioned can not be completely enclosed by the device according to the invention. Thus, for example, in the case of the conditioning of underfloor components of rail vehicles, the above-mentioned "axle walls" have a T-shaped outer contour, so that free spaces for the disc wheels of the rail vehicle are formed on both sides of the formed by the T-shape of the longitudinal web.

Furthermore, the at least one inlet opening of the device is equipped with a check valve.

It is of particular advantage if the gas-permeable passage in the intermediate element between the secondary and main air cushion has a pressure-dependent inlet valve. In this way it is ensured that in the course of filling the device according to the invention with a gas mass flow the overflow into one of the secondary cushions takes place only when a minimum pressure level in the main cushion is reached or exceeded. Thus, it can be ensured that the secondary cushions are filled with gas only when the main cushion has reached a sufficient basic stability. By using valves with different triggering limits, even the order of filling the various secondary pads can be specified.

Finally, the invention also includes the use of a device according to the invention for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow for enclosing and gassing an object. For this purpose, such a device according to the invention can be arranged in a folded state above the object to be conditioned (for example by hanging), wherein the spatial depth of the main pad must not be less than the spatial depth of the object. After the device has been correctly aligned with respect to the object, it is then transferred into a deployed state by supplying a gas mass flow, whereby in the unfolded state the main and secondary cushions are completely unfolded and, for example, a sealing connection is established between the secondary cushions and the bottom surface surrounding the object , In this way, a delimited and conditionable volume of space around bulky objects - such as a pest infested wooden furniture - or non-transportable objects - such as a pest infested rafters - be set up. The objects can be subjected to local treatment with gaseous insecticides by means of the device according to the invention without having to be moved or removed from a larger composite (eg roof). The inventive concept is illustrated in the following figures.

The device according to the invention is explained in the context of a possible application in which a bogie of a rail vehicle is to be heated and de-iced. As already mentioned, the device according to the invention without modifications is also suitable for use in other applications, such as e.g. the pest control in isolated places of wood structural structures or pieces of furniture by way of fumigation.

1 shows a perspective view of a rail vehicle is shown, the front bogie is covered by a device according to the invention for conditioning a structurally incomplete airspace. In this view, only one of the two outer side, in the inflated state almost vertically erect side lateral air cushion (2) is visible; the main air cushion is on the other hand - not visible here - below the bogie in the track area. By means of two external blower (10), which are connected to a respective inlet opening (7) of the device, the device hot air is supplied.

In Figure 2, the same arrangement is shown in frontal view from the front in the longitudinal direction of the track. In addition to the representation in FIG. 1, the second lateral auxiliary air cushion (3) is now also visible. The main air cushion, however, is still largely obscured by the front axle of the bogie.

For better visibility of the device according to the invention is therefore largely omitted in the following figures on the representation of the rail vehicle; only the front bogie and its two axes are retained in the following figures for illustrating the embodiment. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the bogie of the rail vehicle, comprising a front and a rear wheelset (each with three discs on each axle) (11) and the longitudinal beams (12) of the two wheel sets connecting bogie frame. Between the two sets of wheels, the main air cushion (1) with the two side auxiliary air cushion (2, 3) and the two front and rear secondary air cushion (4, 5), which in the form of so-called. "Achswänden" A blower (10) generates a heated air mass flow and blows it into a first side auxiliary air cushion (2).

4 shows a section A-A through this arrangement of bogie and inventive device is shown transversely to the track longitudinal axis.

Via a provided with a check valve inlet opening (7) flows by means of the blower (10, not shown in Figure 4) generated and heated air mass flow in a first lateral side air cushion (2), which via an articulated movable intermediate element (6) with the Main air cushion (1) is connected. Furthermore, a second side auxiliary air cushion (3) and a front end-side auxiliary air cushion (4) via a respective further articulated movable intermediate element (6) with the main air cushion (1) are connected. Each intermediate element (6) has a passage through which air can flow. It is expedient to carry out this implementation in the form of appropriately dimensioned (not shown here) spill valves, so that only when reaching the inflated or filled state of the arranged before the spill valve air cushion, a transfer of air into the underlying air cushion. In the state shown here, each secondary air cushion is inflated and aligned to form a near right angle to the main air cushion. The main air cushion (1) has on its upper side a plurality of outlet openings (8), from which the air flow escapes, as soon as a corresponding overpressure is built up within the main and secondary air cushion. For this purpose, the outlet openings have overpressure outlet valves, through which the air mass flow introduced into the device can escape upwards into the air space enclosed by the main and secondary air cushions. On its underside the main air cushion is glued to a stiffening plate (13). The stiffening plate facilitates the insertion and removal of the device below the rail vehicle; on the other hand it supports the device on the rails. For this purpose, it can be equipped, for example, with stop angles that allow it to be applied to the rail head.

FIG. 5 shows a section B-B through this arrangement of bogie and device according to the invention parallel to the track longitudinal axis. This view shows the two side air cushions (4, 5) arranged in the form of so-called "axle walls", which are likewise connected to the main air cushion (1) via an articulated intermediate element (6). 1) is glued flat on its underside with a stiffening plate (13), whereby the insertion and removal of the device according to the invention under the bogie facilitates and its positional stability is improved in the track body.

In the figures 6 to 9, the sequence when unfolding the device according to the invention is shown. In Figure 6, the device is shown in a still folded state. All secondary airbags of the device are still folded. The outer contour of the main air cushion also forms the outer contour of the device. In this folded state, the device is pushed into the track area below the rail vehicle and stored on the rail heads.

In the following step (Figure 7), the two lateral side air cushions (2, 3) ("side panels") are unfolded, which can be further extended by further ear-shaped folds in the longitudinal direction (Figure 8) It is expedient if these fold-outs have an outer contour with recesses (9), after which the side-by-side secondary air cushions are replaced by overlapping of the rail vehicle wheels and thus more effective delimitation of the airspace to be conditioned

9) Finally, the device is connected to the external blower The air mass flow generated by the blower is used to fill the main and secondary air cushions with air and shape them - After switching off the blower (10) and under escape of the stored air - folded again.

List of reference numbers:

I main air cushion

2 first side auxiliary air cushion

3 second side auxiliary air cushion

4 front side air cushion

5 rear side air cushion

6 intermediate element between main and secondary air cushion 7 inlet opening with check valve

8 outlet openings

9 recesses

10 blowers

II wheelset

12 longitudinal beams bogie

13 stiffening plate

Claims

claims

Device for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume by means of a gas mass flow, characterized in that the device is formed by an arrangement of inflatable air cushions, the arrangement comprising a main air cushion (1) and at least one additional sub-air cushion (2, 3, 4, 5),

each sub-air cushion is integrally or cohesively connected to the main air cushion with the formation of a pivotally movable intermediate element (6) and each intermediate element has at least one gas-permeable passage between main and sub-air cushion,

the apparatus has at least one inlet opening (7) for introducing a conditioned gas mass flow and at least one outlet opening (8) with an outlet valve opening in the air cushion in case of overpressure for discharging the gas flow stream,

and the arrangement of main and sub-air cushions in the inflated state is oriented such that each sub-air cushion is angled toward the main air cushion and the at least one exit port is formed on the inboard side of the main and sub-air cushions in the inflated state Angle is arranged.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume by means of a gas mass flow according to claim 1, characterized in that main and / or secondary air cushion on their respective outer surfaces via latching elements for mutual exchange when inflated with adjacent main or sub-airbags.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to claim 2, characterized in that the latching elements are designed for mutual hooking as Velcro fasteners or as a latching strip with sawtooth surface profile on the surfaces of the outer shells.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device has at least one secondary air cushion (4, 5), the formation of an articulated movable intermediate element with the end face at least a longitudinal end of the main air bag (1) is connected.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the main air cushion on the outer side of the formed from the main and secondary air cushion in the inflated state angle equipped with stiffening stabilizing elements is.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the outer geometries of main or secondary air cushion in the inflated state recesses (9) for collision-free adaptation to in have obstacles located in conditioning room volume.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one inlet opening is equipped with a check valve.

Apparatus for conditioning a structurally incomplete volume by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each gas-permeable passage in the intermediate element between the secondary and main air cushion has a pressure-dependent inlet valve.

Use of a device for conditioning a structurally non-enclosed volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of the claims 1 to 8 for enclosing and tempering a arranged in the underfloor region of a vehicle component.

Use of a device for conditioning a structurally not closed-off volume of space by means of a gas mass flow according to at least one of the claims 1 to 8 for enclosing and gasifying an object.