IT201900006940A1 - PERFECTED COMPACT MAGNETIC SEPARATOR. - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

accompanying a patent application for an industrial invention entitled:

“PERFECTED COMPACT MAGNETIC SEPARATOR”.

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to an improved compact magnetic separator, in particular for domestic heating systems. However, the use of a compact magnetic separator according to the invention should not be considered limited to them, but can also be used in other systems or upstream of equipment, where the separation of ferrous particles from a fluid is required.

With reference, in particular, to a hydraulic system for space heating, it comprises pipes and radiators of a circuit, in which water heated by a boiler circulates. The internal surfaces of pipes and radiators are subject to corrosion, and the water carries with it ferrous particles such as corrosion debris, which tend to settle in some points thus creating reductions in the flow section and other problems.

Magnetic separators are present in the prior art and the separator which is believed to be closest to that of the present invention is described in the international patent application No. WO / 2004/105954. The separator described in said patent application comprises a cylindrical body with an inlet and an outlet formed on its lateral surface. The cylindrical body is closed at the top with a screw cap. A magnetic stem is fixed on the inside of the screw cap in the form of a tubular element which hermetically contains a series of magnets which are subsequently opposed and mutually separated by pole pieces. There is a vent valve on the cover. In the operation of the separator in question, the ferrous particles, transported by the flow entering the body, are attracted by the magnetic rod. The deposit of ferrous particles on the magnetic rod is aided by the swirling motion around the rod itself that the flow, even if in a mild way, tends to assume, before leaving the body. When the deposit of ferrous particles has reached a level where the flow passage section is exaggeratedly reduced or does not allow the further capture of particles by the magnetic element, the body must be opened by removing the lid. In this way, the magnetic rod is also extracted, which is fixed hanging under the lid and thus, with the magnetic rod outside the body, the ferrous particles accumulated on it can be removed, for example with a rag.

To remove the lid from the body, the system must be closed with a tap upstream of the inlet and, respectively, downstream of the outlet, and the vent valve must be open. To reassemble the separator, the cover must be screwed back onto the body and the upstream and downstream taps must be reopened. In addition, the vent valve must be closed again after the air, which entered the system with the removal of the cover, has been emitted back into the atmosphere.

In the aforementioned international patent application, it is also provided that, in order to facilitate the removal of ferrous particles from the magnetic rod, this is coated with a removable sleeve of thin plastic material, so that the removal of the sleeve from the magnetic rod can cause automatically the ferrous particles in a container for its disposal.

However, even this facilitated cleaning operation of the magnetic rod must be performed after removing the cover from the separator body and manually removing the plastic sleeve from the magnetic rod. This is tedious and time-consuming.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the known art, by designing a magnetic separator, in which the opening operation of the magnetic separator is not necessary for the cleaning of this magnetic separator.

A further purpose of the present invention is to allow an operator to remove the ferrous particles deposited inside the separator, without having to come into direct contact with them.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a magnetic separator which is economical and which at the same time is able to retain a greater quantity of ferrous particles and residues inside it.

These purposes are achieved in accordance with the invention with the characteristics listed in the attached independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The compact magnetic separator according to the invention is defined by claim 1.

For greater clarity, the description of the compact magnetic separator according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawing tables, having only illustrative and non-limiting value, where:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a first embodiment of a compact magnetic separator according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the compact magnetic separator vessel in a first embodiment;

Figure 2A is a plan view of the container of the compact magnetic separator of Figure 2;

figure 2B is a side view of the container of the compact magnetic separator of figure 2;

figure 2C is a side view of the vessel of figure 2, 2A, 2B sectioned along the plane II-II;

- Figure 3 shows the filtering tubular body of the magnetic separator according to the invention;

Figure 4A is a plan view of the body of Figure 4;

Figure 4B is a side view of the body of Figure 4;

- figure 4C is a side view of the body of figure 4, 4A, 4B sectioned along the plane IV-IV;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of a vessel and a body of the magnetic separator in a second embodiment;

Figure 6 is a sectional side view of the cap and the plate;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the cap connected to the bottom wall of the vessel.

Figure 8 is a sectional side view of the magnetic separator in the second embodiment made; said magnetic separator being sectioned according to a plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the vessel and the main axis of the inlet duct;

With reference to the attached figures, a magnetic separator according to the invention is indicated as a whole with the reference number (100).

The magnetic separator (100) is compact and is intended to be preferably installed on a thermal plant, in such a way as to retain residues and ferrous particles entering said thermal plant.

The compact magnetic separator (100) according to the invention is intended in particular for domestic thermo-hydraulic systems, in which it is preferably located upstream of the heating boiler of the circulating liquid in the system radiators.

However, the magnetic separator according to the invention can have application in other plants.

Said magnetic separator (100) comprises a body (1) hollow internally and having a horizontal axis (X).

The magnetic separator (100) also comprises a cylindrical vessel (3), which comprises a bottom wall (32) and a side wall (31), which includes an end edge (311) which defines an access mouth to said vessel (3).

The magnetic separator (100) comprises coupling means which hook said body (1) to said vessel (3).

The vessel (3) and the body (1) define a filter chamber.

Said coupling means can comprise threads (F1, F2) which allow a screw-on coupling or pins-seats (B1, B2) shaped in such a way as to allow a bayonet coupling.

In particular in Fig. 6, the coupling means are shown including the pins (B1) and the seats (B2) that allow bayonet coupling.

While in Figs. 2, 2B and 4C, the threads (F1, F2) that allow the coupling by screwing are shown. In this embodiment, the coupling means comprise a first thread (F1), obtained externally to said side wall (31) near the edge (311), and a second thread (F2), obtained inside said hollow body (1) ; said first and said second thread (F1, F2) being shaped in such a way as to be coupled together and thus connect said vessel (3) and said body (1) to each other.

The body (1) and the vessel (3) of the magnetic separator (100) are preferably made of plastic material, resistant to the temperatures of the liquid circulating inside the filtering chamber.

With reference to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the magnetic separator (100) comprises an inlet duct (6), intended to be connected to an inlet pipe and to be crossed by liquid entering said filtering chamber, and an outlet duct ( 7) intended to be connected to a delivery pipe and to be crossed by liquid leaving said filter chamber.

Both the inlet duct (6) and the outlet duct (7) are formed on said body (1).

The inlet duct (6) and the outlet duct (7) also act as a support for the magnetic separator (100) in the system. More precisely, the inlet pipe will be connected to a water return pipe of a heating system, while the outlet pipe will be connected to a delivery pipe to the heating system thus keeping the magnetic separator suspended (100).

With reference to Figs. 1, 4, 4A, 4B and 4C, the outlet duct (7) consists of an "L" -shaped duct comprising a main axis (Y) which is perpendicular to the axis (X) of the body (1), and a secondary axis, which coincides with the axis (X) of the body (1) and which flows into said filtering chamber. Preferably the main axis (Y) is arranged vertically, when said magnetic separator (100) is mounted upstream of a thermal system.

It should be noted that subsequently the term "horizontal" and "vertical" means the orientation of the axes of the ducts (6, 7, 33, 330), when the magnetic separator (100) according to the invention is installed upstream of a thermo-hydraulic system.

With reference to the attached figures, the magnetic separator (100) includes a single inlet duct (6), which includes an axis (X1) which is parallel to the axis (X) of the body (1); therefore said axis (X1) is arranged horizontally.

Alternatively, the magnetic separator (100) can comprise two inlet ducts (6), of which a first inlet duct (6) having an axis (X1) parallel to the axis (X) of the body (1), and a second inlet having an axis perpendicular to the axis (X) of the body (1).

The second inlet duct (not visible in the attached figures) can also be obtained in said body (1) and is preferably arranged parallel to the main axis of the outlet duct (7).

The presence of two inlet ducts (6) allows the magnetic separator (100) to be connected both to a vertical inlet pipe and to a horizontal inlet pipe.

If the inlet pipe, to which to connect the magnetic separator (100), is arranged horizontally, then the first inlet pipe (6) is connected to the inlet pipe, while the second inlet pipe is kept closed by means of a plug or a valve connected to said second inlet conduit.

On the other hand, if the inlet pipe, to which to connect the magnetic separator (100), is arranged vertically, then the second inlet pipe is connected to the inlet pipe, while the first inlet pipe (6) is kept closed by means of a plug or a valve connected to said first inlet conduit (6).

With reference to Figs. 1 and 5 the magnetic separator (100) includes a discharge duct (33, 330) having an axis (Y1, Y2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (Z) of the vessel (3). Said axis (Y1, Y2) is preferably arranged vertically once said magnetic separator (100) is installed upstream of a thermal plant.

The exhaust duct (33, 330) is arranged below the outlet duct (7) and the inlet duct (6), when said magnetic separator (100) is mounted upstream of a heating system.

In a first embodiment of the invention, shown in figures 1, 2, 2A, 2B and 2C, the exhaust duct (33) is obtained in said vessel (3).

In a second embodiment of the invention, shown in figures 4, 4A, 4B, 4C and 5, the exhaust duct (330) is instead obtained in said body (1).

With reference to Fig. 3, the magnetic separator (100) further comprises a tubular filtering body (4), arranged in said filtering chamber.

The tubular filter body (4) has a longitudinal parallel axis (Z) of the vessel (3). More precisely, the tubular filtering body (4) is arranged inside the filtering chamber in such a way that the axis of the tubular filtering body (4) coincides with the longitudinal axis (Z) of the vessel (3).

The tubular filtering body (4) divides the filtering chamber into a first compartment, external to the tubular filtering body (4) and communicating both with the inlet duct (6) and with the exhaust duct (33, 330), and a second compartment inside the tubular filter body (4) and communicating with the outlet duct (7).

With particular reference to Fig. 2C, the vessel (3) has a cylindrical shape and comprises two seats (8) which extend along the entire length of the side wall (31) and which are tangent to this side wall (31). The seats (8) are obtained in diametrically opposite positions of said vessel (3).

The magnetic separator (100) comprises a magnet inserted in each seat (8).

Preferably, each magnet can be removed from said seat (8) and therefore the bottom wall (32) of the vessel (3) comprises two openings (A) communicating with the seats (8).

The magnets are permanent magnets and preferably are neodymium. These magnets are shaped in such a way as to be suitable for slipping into said seats (8).

The magnets are oriented in the same direction inside each seat (8). In practice, the positive poles of each magnet are both arranged either in proximity to said bottom wall (32) of the vessel (3) or both arranged in proximity to the body (1).

In this way, a magnetic field is generated having an intensity double the intensity of the magnetic field generated by each magnet taken individually. More precisely, having the two magnets in the same orientation, the magnetic field lines generated by the same magnets and which pass through the filtering chamber are added together thus generating a magnetic field of greater intensity.

Alternatively, the magnets can also be two for each seat (8). The two magnets of each seat (8) are oriented in opposite directions with respect to each other.

This positioning of the two magnets inside each seat (8) has a magnetic anti-scale effect. In fact, the magnetic field generated by the magnets transforms calcium into aragonite, which is a harmless mineral and does not form limestone.

Preferably the two seats (8) are located in said vessel (3) so that the center distance that connects these seats (8) is perpendicular to the axis (Y1, Y2) of the exhaust duct (33).

With reference to Fig. 8, the tubular filtering body (4) comprises a metal mesh and therefore this tubular filtering body (4) is magnetized by the magnetic field generated by the two magnets. In this way, the ferrous particles and the paramagnetic particles transported by the liquid are attracted and retained by this tubular filtering body (4).

Preferably the magnetic separator (100) comprises a wall that surrounds said discharge duct (33, 330), which has a funnel-shaped profile that is connected with the same discharge duct (33) so that the water is conveyed towards said exhaust duct (33). If the exhaust duct (33) is obtained in said vessel (3) then the wall will be arranged in said vessel (3), while if the exhaust duct (330) is obtained in said body (1), then the wall will be arranged in said body (1).

Said exhaust duct (33, 330) can be built in transparent plastic material in such a way as to allow viewing and control of the amount of debris, ferrous particles and dirt accumulated inside the filtering chamber.

Preferably the entire vessel (3) can be built in transparent plastic material so as to further facilitate the control and inspection of the filtering chamber.

The side wall (32) of the vessel (3) comprises a wall (80) which delimits said seats (8). Said wall (80) is made of plastic material with slight magnetic susceptibility and has a thickness of approximately 1-2 mm so that the magnetic field generated by each magnet is minimally affected by the presence of this wall (80).

With reference to Fig. 2C, said bottom wall (32) comprises a positioning and centering seat (40) for positioning said tubular filtering body (4).

The positioning and centering seat (40) consists of a flare that extends along a circular trajectory, shaped in such a way that said tubular filtering body has an end portion inserted inside it.

It should be noted that the centering of the tubular filtering body (4) allows the magnetic fields to hit this tubular filtering body (4) in the most efficient way possible.

With particular reference to Fig. 6, to allow the simultaneous movement of the magnets, the magnetic separator (100) comprises a plate (P) comprising a first face (P1), on which the magnets are arranged, and a second face (P2) opposite to the first face (P1).

In particular, the plate (P) comprises two plates (L) connected to said first face (P1) of the plate (P) and which extend orthogonally with respect to said first face (P1) of the plate (P). Advantageously, the two plates (L) comprise a main longitudinal section (L1) and a secondary section (L2) which is arranged transversely with respect to said main longitudinal section (L2) and allows these magnets to be dragged and extracted from the seats (8).

The plate (P) abuts with said bottom wall (32) outside the vessel (3).

The magnetic separator (100) can also comprise a plug (T) arranged in proximity to said bottom wall (32) outside the vessel (3).

More precisely, the cap (T) is attached to said second face of the plate (P).

The cap (T) is connected to said bottom wall by self-tightening hooking means.

The plate (P) is interposed between said plug (T) and said bottom wall (32).

With particular reference to Fig. 7, the cap (T) includes two parallel straight slots (99), which act as a handle of the cap (T) so that a user can easily hook and unhook the cap (T) from the back wall (32).

The two parallel straight slots (99) can also act as guides for the sliding of a plate (98) which acts as a date memorandum to keep memory of the last date on which the magnetic separator was cleaned (100).

Following the above description, the flow of liquid inside the magnetic separator (100) according to the invention is described below both during a filtering process and during a filter washing process (100).

During filtering, the exhaust duct (33, 330) is kept closed while the fluid flows inside the filtering chamber entering the inlet duct (6) and exiting the outlet duct (7).

So the fluid is poured into the first compartment, then flows to the second compartment through the tubular filtering body (4) and finally comes out of the filtering chamber through the outlet duct (7).

The crossing of the tubular filtering body (4) allows both to prevent the passage of non-magnetic impurities having a larger size than the holes in the metal mesh of the tubular filtering body (4), and also to retain all those residues and ferrous particles, the which are retained by the tubular filtering body (4) magnetized by the effect of the magnetic field generated by the two magnets. In particular, the ferrous particles are prevented from passing from the first compartment to the second compartment since they remain attached to the tubular filtering body (4) made of metal material.

Dirt, impurities, residues and ferrous particles are therefore accumulated in the first compartment and can be removed through a simple washing process of the magnetic separator (100).

This washing process of the magnetic separator (100) provides for:

- remove the magnets in such a way that the ferrous particles detach from the tubular filter body (4) and are deposited by gravity near the exhaust duct (33, 330).

- close the outlet conduit (7) by means of a valve (not visible in the attached Figures);

- open the discharge duct (33, 330) by means of a valve (not visible in the attached figures), so that the fluid arranged inside the filtering chamber flows from said discharge duct (33, 330) towards the external;

- let a small quantity of fluid flow, opening a tap (not visible in the attached figures) connected hydraulically to the inlet duct (6), so that a small quantity of liquid is poured into the filtering chamber which drags the impurities, residues, and ferrous particles, remaining inside the filter chamber, towards the exhaust duct (33, 330).

- control of the actual cleaning of the magnetic separator by means of the transparency of the exhaust duct (33, 330) or possibly the transparency of the entire vessel (3).

- reinserting the two magnets inside said seats (8).

In the face of the above description, the advantages brought by the magnetic separator (100) according to the invention leap to the eye.

In particular, cleaning the magnetic separator (100) according to the invention is much easier than cleaning a magnetic separator of the known art. In fact, it is not necessary to open the magnetic separator for the extraction of the magnets. The magnets also do not need to be cleaned as they do not get dirty. More precisely, the ferrous particles do not attach directly to the magnets, since the magnets themselves are not located inside the filter chamber and are not in direct contact with the fluid flowing inside it.

Moreover, thanks to the presence of the two magnets arranged in diametrically opposite portions of the vessel (3), and of the tubular filtering body (4) interposed between them, the magnetic separator (100) according to the invention is much more efficient than the magnetic separator of the known art. In fact, the tubular filter body (4) becomes magnetized and increases its filtering capacity and the ability to retain ferrous particles, impurities and residues inside the filtering chamber.

Furthermore, in this arrangement the ferrous particles are attached to the tubular filtering body (4) instead of to the walls (80) which define the seats (8) for the magnets.

Numerous variations and modifications of detail can be made to the present embodiment of the invention, within the reach of a person skilled in the art, however falling within the scope of the invention expressed by the attached claims.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1) Compact magnetic separator (100) intended to retain residues and ferrous particles present in a liquid entering a heating system, in particular a domestic heating system; said magnetic separator (100) comprising: - a body (1) hollow internally and having a horizontal axis (X); - a vessel (3) comprising a bottom wall (32), a side wall (31) comprising an end edge (311), and an opening delimited by said end edge (311); said vessel (3) including a longitudinal axis (Z) coinciding with the axis (X) of the body (1); - coupling means which hook said body (1) to said vessel (3); - at least one inlet duct (6) obtained on said body (1); - an outlet duct (7) obtained on said body (1); - an exhaust duct (33, 330) arranged below both said inlet duct (6) and said outlet duct (7); - a filtering chamber delimited by said vessel (3) and by said body (1); - a tubular filtering body (4) comprising a metal mesh; said tubular filtering body (4) being arranged in said filtering chamber and defining a first compartment, communicating both with said inlet duct (6) and with said discharge duct (33, 330), and a second compartment, communicating with said outlet conduit (7); magnetic separator (100) characterized in that the vessel (3) comprises two seats (8) which extend along the entire length of the side wall (31); said seats (8) being obtained in diametrically opposite positions of said vessel (3); said bottom wall comprising two openings (A) communicating with said seats (8); said magnetic separator (100) comprising at least one magnet inserted inside each of said seats (8). 2) Magnetic separator (100) according to claim 1, in which the magnets are oriented in the same direction inside each seat (8). 3) Magnetic separator (100) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the magnets are two for each seat (8); said magnets of each seat (8) being oriented in the opposite direction to each other. 4) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said discharge duct (330) is obtained in said body (1). 5) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said discharge duct (33) is made in said vessel (3). 6) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one inlet duct (6) comprises a single inlet duct (6) comprising an axis (X1) parallel to the axis (X) of the body ( 1). 7) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one inlet duct (6) comprises two inlet ducts (6), of which a first inlet duct (6), which it comprises an axis (X1) parallel to the axis (X) of the body (1), and a second inlet duct, which comprises an axis perpendicular to the axis (X) of the body (1). 8) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said coupling means comprise threads (F1, F2) which allow a coupling by screwing, or pins-seats (B1, B2) which are shaped in such a way as to allow a bayonet coupling. 9) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said vessel (3) being constructed of transparent material in such a way as to allow the level of particles and residues retained in the filtering chamber to be controlled. 10) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said side wall (32) of the vessel (3) comprises a wall (80) which delimits said seat (8); said wall (80) having a thickness of about 1-2 mm and being made of a plastic material with a slight magnetic susceptibility. 11) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said bottom wall (32) of the vessel (3) comprises a positioning and centering seat (40) for positioning said tubular filtering body (4); said positioning and centering seat (40) consists of a flaring which develops along a circular trajectory. 12) Magnetic separator (100) according to any of the preceding claims comprising a plate (P), which is connected to one end of both magnets; said plate (P) abutting said bottom wall (32) externally to the vessel (3). 13) Magnetic separator (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a wall having a funnel-shaped profile that connects with the discharge duct (33) so that the liquid arranged inside the filtering chamber can be conveyed towards said exhaust duct (33).