BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is an apparatus for separating extraneous particles of a fluid in a hydraulic circuit.

PRIOR ART

Apparatuses are known that are intended to be applied to hydraulic circuits and which perform the function of separating extraneous particles from fluid that flows in the circuit, for the correct operation of the circuit. The extraneous particles can be of solid and/or gaseous type.

One type of apparatus with these functions is the dirt separator, which separates impurities circulating in closed circuits of hydraulic systems, for example heating systems. The impurities are above all made up of particles of sand, sludge and ferrous dust.

The dirt separator normally comprises a large upper chamber in which an element with reticular surfaces is housed against which the particles collide and an equally large lower chamber in which the impurities are deposited. This lower chamber permits low cleaning frequencies and the impurities can be discharged therefrom to the outside.

Another type of apparatus with the aforesaid separating functions is the deaerator, which eliminates continuously the air particles that form in the closed circuits of hydraulic systems, for example, heating systems or solar plants.

Similarly to the dirt separator, the deaerator normally comprises a large lower chamber in which an element with reticular surfaces is housed to which the air microbubbles adhere and increase in volume and an upper chamber to which the air bubbles are directed and from which the air bubbles are discharged, for example through an automatic air vent valve.

Both the dirt separator and the deaerator are apparatuses that are widely used with excellent results in the hydraulic systems seen above.

There are, however, situations in which it is difficult if not impossible to install such apparatuses along the hydraulic circuits of the system due to problems of space in the systems, because of the configuration and the dimensions of such apparatuses.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for separating extraneous particles of a fluid in a hydraulic circuit that is able to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks.

A further object of the present invention is that this separating apparatus should be low cost and highly efficient with minimal pressure drops. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Such objects are achieved by a separating apparatus according to claim 1. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to understand better the invention, a description is set out below of two exemplifying, non-limiting embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which:

fig. l is a top perspective view of an apparatus for separating extraneous particles of a fluid in a hydraulic circuit, according to the invention;

fig.2 is an axial section view of the apparatus in fig.1;

fig.3 is a section according to the line 3-3 of fig.2 of a detail of the apparatus in fig.1; fig. 4 is a top perspective cutaway view that shows the detail in fig.3; fig.5 shows in an axial section the operation of the apparatus in fig.1;

fig.6 is a top perspective view of another apparatus for separating extraneous particles of a fluid in a hydraulic circuit, according to the invention;

fig.7 is a frontal view of a part of the apparatus in fig.6;

fig.8 is an axial section view of the apparatus in fig.6;

fig.9 a perspective top view, in a partial axial section, of the apparatus in fig.6;

fig.10 is a bottom perspective view, in an axial section, of the part of the apparatus in fig.7;

fig.11 shows in an axial section the operation of the apparatus in fig.6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus illustrated in figs 1,2,5 in the operating configuration is a dirt separator, indicated generally with 10, to be installed in a hydraulic circuit, for example of a heating system.

This dirt separator 10 provides a body 11 formed by an upper tubular element 12, by a lower cup-shaped element 13 that joins with the upper tubular element 12, and by a further lower cup-shaped element 14 connected to the preceding lower cup-shaped element 13 by sealing screw coupling 15.

In the tubular element 12 a rectilinear conduit 16 is formed for the passage of fluid. At the two ends of the tubular element 12 two respective ring nut connections 17 and 18 are provided for connecting the dirt separator 10 to the hydraulic circuit of the heating system.

The two mutually connected lower cup-shaped elements 13, 14 define internally a collecting chamber 19 that communicates with the conduit 16. The joining between the tubular element 12 and the cup-shaped element 13 occurs through a narrowed portion 13 A of the cup-shaped element 13 to which a narrowed portion 19A of the collecting chamber 19 corresponds internally.

Along the periphery of the conduit 16, at the narrowed portion 19A of the collecting chamber 19, there is a deflecting flap 20, shown in detail in figs 3,4. The ends of the flap 20 are mounted on two shelves 21 fixed to the tubular element 12 so as to be arranged transversely to the axis XI of the conduit 16, in the lower part of the conduit above the narrowed portion 19A of the collecting chamber 19. For this cantilevered arrangement of the flap 20 on the shelves 21, between the flap 20 and the lower edge of the conduit 16 a passage 16A forms for the fluid, which is clearly visible in fig.4. The flap 20 has a trapezoid section, in particular a right angle trapezium section, and has centrally a flow-breaking aerodynamic profile 20A in relief.

At the lower end of the cup-shaped element 14 a drain cock 22 is arranged that has a ball valve 23 connected to a control stem 24 that can be operated from the outside for opening or closing the drain cock 22. Opening the drain cock 22 places the collecting chamber 19 in communication with the outside.

The operation of the dirt separator 10 is illustrated in fig.5 with the help of arrows.

Once the dirt separator 10 has been connected to the hydraulic circuit of the heating system by means of the ring nut connections 17 and 18, the conduit 16 is traversed by the flow of fluid, for example water, of the heating system.

Inside the hydraulic circuit extraneous particles form, in particular particles of sand, sludge and ferrous dusts, which have to be removed from the hydraulic circuit. The presence of an obstacle constituted by the deflecting flap 20 in the lower part of the conduit 16 induces a variation in the motion of the portion of fluid that hits the flap 20. In particular, this motion of the portion of fluid passes from laminar to turbulent; this turbulent motion is also promoted by the presence of the passage 16A and of the profile 20A of the flap 20. The frictional force acting on the particles thus undergoes a strong variation in direction and modulus and this frictional force, added to the force of gravity acting on the particles, will push the particles downwards in the direction of the collecting chamber 19 through the narrowed portion 19 A. As the weight of the particles tends to take the particles to the lower part of the conduit, with several passages of the fluid in the dirt separator 10, as normally occurs in the closed circuit of the heating systems, complete purification of the fluid will be obtained.

The particles that collect in the chamber 19 can be discharged to the outside by opening the drain cock 22.

The dirt separator 10 is very compact and can also be installed in systems in which the space available is not great, owing to the reduced dimensions in particular of the tubular element 16, which substantially has the configuration of a conduit. And also because of this conduit configuration of the element 16, it is easy to install the dirt separator 10 along the hydraulic circuit. The dirt separator 10 is further of low cost and is highly efficient with minimal pressure drops.

The narrowed portion 19A of the chamber 19 promotes the collecting of the particles to be removed.

The apparatus illustrated in figs 6-11 in the operating configuration is on the other hand a deaerator, indicated generally with 30, which is also to be installed in a hydraulic circuit, for example of a heating system. This deaerator 30 provides a body 31 formed by a lower tubular element 32, by an upper cup-shaped element 33 that joins with the lower tubular element 32, and by a further upper cup-shaped element 34 connected to the preceding upper cup-shaped element 33 by a seal screw coupling 35. In the tubular element 32 a rectilinear conduit 36 is formed for the passage of fluid.

At the two ends of the tubular element 32 two respective screw connections 37 and 38 are provided for connecting the deaerator 30 to the hydraulic circuit of the heating system. The two mutually connected upper cup-shaped elements 33,34 define internally a collecting chamber 39 that communicates with the conduit 36. The joining between the tubular element 32 and the cup-shaped element 33 occurs through a narrowed portion 33A of the cup-shaped element 33 to which a narrowed portion 39A of the collecting chamber 39 corresponds internally.

Along the periphery of the conduit 36, at the narrowed portion 39A of the collecting chamber 39, there is a deflecting flap 40, shown in detail in figs 7, 10. The flap 40 is in a single piece with the tubular element 32 and extends therefrom so as to be arranged transversely to the axis X2 of the conduit 36, in the upper part of the conduit below the narrowed portion 39A of the collecting chamber 39. The flap 40 has a rectangular section. In the cup-shaped element 34 an automatic air vent device 41 is housed that has a float 42 inside the cup-shaped element 34 and a relief valve 43 at the upper end of the cup-shaped element 34. The relief valve 43 is connected to the float 42 and is controlled by the latter to vent the air. The operation of the deaerator 30 is illustrated in fig.1 1, with the help of arrows.

Once the deaerator 30 is connected to the hydraulic circuit of the heating system by means of the screw connections 37 and 38, the conduit 36 is traversed by the flow of fluid, for example water, of the heating system.

During the operation of the system inside the hydraulic circuit extraneous particles of air form that have to be removed.

The presence of an obstacle constituted by the deflecting flap 40 in the upper part of the conduit 36 induces a variation in the motion of the portion of fluid that hits the flap 40. In particular this motion of the portion of fluid passes from laminar to turbulent. The frictional force acting on the particles of air thus undergoes a great variation of direction and modulus and this frictional force, added to the hydrostatic thrust acting on the particles of air will push the particles of air upwards in the direction of the collecting chamber 39 through the narrowed portion 39 A.

As the particles of air, which are lighter than the fluid, tend to move to the upper part of the conduit, with several passages of the fluid in the deaerator 30, as normally occurs in the closed circuit of the heating systems, there will be a complete elimination of the air found in the hydraulic circuit.

Such particles of air are evacuated to the outside through the device 41, through the fact that with the accumulation of air in the upper part of the camera 39 the level of fluid in the chamber decreases and consequently the float 42 lowers that commands the valve 43 to open with consequent venting of the air to the outside.

As seen for the dirt separator 10, the deaerator 30 is very compact and can also be installed in systems in which the space available is not great, owing to the reduced dimensions in particular of the tubular element 36 which substantially has the configuration of a conduit. And also because of this conduit configuration of the element 36 it is easy to install the deaerator 30 along the hydraulic circuit. The deaerator 30 is further of low cost and is highly efficient with minimal pressure drops.

The narrowed portion 39A of the chamber 39 promotes the collecting of the particles to be removed.

It is clear that variations on and/or additions to what has been disclosed and illustrated above are possible.

The general configuration of the dirt separator and of the deaerator and the particular configuration of the components thereof may vary according to requirements, the tubular configuration of the conduit remaining unchanged in which the deflecting flap is received and operates. Also the configuration of the deflecting flap can vary, for example can have a different section from those illustrated. Further, several deflecting flaps can be provided that are arranged near the collecting chamber. In general, any deflecting element can be provided that performs equivalent functions to those of the flap.

However, the flap embodiments disclosed and illustrated above are very simple and effective.

Several deflecting elements and several collecting chambers can be used.

For the air vent, instead of using an automatic device, a manual device can be used.

In order to facilitate the agglomeration of the particles and improve efficiency, it is possible to insert suitable meshes into the collecting chamber.

In order to improve the capture of ferromagnetic dusts, it is possible to use suitable magnets near the collecting chamber.

The principle of the deflecting element seen above that creates turbulence and a consequent variation of the motion of the fluid can be applied to any apparatus for separating extraneous particles of a fluid in a hydraulic circuit.

A combined apparatus can also be conceived in the body of which a conduit and two collecting chambers are provided, one of which is arranged operationally in a lower position and the other of which is arranged in an upper position, at each of which at least one respective deflecting element is provided, such that both the solid particles below and the gaseous particles above can be intercepted and collected.