AND A WEAR STRIP

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a method for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement between an endless moving filter belt of a vacuum belt filter device and a vacuum arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises an endless seal belt running in contact with a low pressure side of the endless moving filter belt in a first groove of the vacuum arrangement, as defined in the preamble of independent claim 1.

The invention also relates to an arrangement for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement between an endless moving filter belt of a vacuum belt filter device and a vacuum arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device, wherein the sealing arrangement comprises an endless seal belt running in contact with a low pressure side of the endless moving filter belt in a first groove of the vacuum arrangement, as defined in the preamble of independent claim 14.

The invention relates also to a wear strip for use in the method and in the arrangement as defined in claim 27. The vacuum belt filter device can be configured to extract solids from a suspension containing solids.

Objective of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a method and an arrangement for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement between an endless moving filter belt of a vacuum belt filter device and a vacuum arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device so that easy monitoring of the condition of the sealing arrangement is provided for and so that easy maintenance of the condition of the sealing arrangement is provided for and additionally to provide a wear strip for use in the method and in the arrangement.

Short description of the invention

The method is characterized by the definitions of independent claim 1.

Preferred embodiments of the method are defined in dependent claims 2 to 13.

The arrangement is correspondingly characterized by the definitions of independent claim

14.

Preferred embodiments of the arrangement are defined in the dependent claims 15 to 26. The invention relates also to a wear strip for use in the method and in the arrangement as defined in claim 27.

Preferred embodiments of the wear strip are defined in the dependent claims 28 to 34. The invention relates also to a method for producing a detachable wear strip according to any of the claims 27 to 34 as defined in claim 35. The invention relates also to a method for using a vacuum belt filter device provided with an arrangement according to any of the claims 14 to 26 as defined in claim 36.

The invention is based on providing a detachable wear strip, on arranging the detachable wear strip between the vacuum arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device and the endless seal belt of the sealing arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device, on providing an intelligent identifier, on arranging the intelligent identifier between the vacuum arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device and the endless seal belt of the sealing arrangement of the vacuum belt filter device into an identifying position, on providing a interrogator, and on receiving a signal with said interrogator indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip.

In an embodiment, the intelligent identifier is provided at least partly in the detachable wear strip and the intelligent identifier is arranged between the vacuum arrangement and the endless seal belt by arranging the detachable wear strip between the vacuum arrangement and the endless seal belt.

In an embodiment, the intelligent identifier is arranged between the vacuum arrangement and the detachable wear strip.

In an embodiment a signal is received with said interrogator from said intelligent identifier indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip after the thickness of the detachable wear strip has worn to a threshold thickness so that when the detachable wear strip has worn to the threshold thickness, the intelligent identifier becomes un-embedded of material forming the wear strip to such extent so that the intelligent identifier is capable of producing signal to be detected the interrogator. The thickness of the detachable wear strip is reduced due to the movement of the endless seal belt i.e. the endless seal belt has a wearing effect or an eroding effect on the detachable wear strip.

In an embodiment a signal is received with said interrogator from said intelligent identifier indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip until the thickness of the detachable wear strip has worn to a threshold thickness so that when the detachable wear strip has worn to the threshold thickness, the intelligent identifier is configured to be damaged at least in part with the result that the intelligent identifier does not longer produce a signal to be detected by the interrogator which can mean that the detachable wear strip must be replaced in order to achieve a desired sealing effect in the sealing arrangement. The thickness of the detachable wear strip is reduced due to the movement of the endless seal belt i.e. the endless seal belt has a wearing effect or an eroding effect on the detachable wear strip.

In an embodiment a signal is received with said interrogator from said intelligent identifier indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip until the thickness of the detachable wear strip has worn to a threshold thickness so that when the detachable wear strip has worn to the threshold thickness, the intelligent identifier is configured to be short-circuited with the result that the intelligent identifier does not longer produce a signal to be detected by the interrogator which can mean that the detachable wear strip must be replaced in order to achieve a desired sealing effect in the sealing arrangement. The thickness of the detachable wear strip is reduced due to the movement of the endless seal belt i.e. the endless seal belt has a wearing effect or an eroding effect on the detachable wear strip.

In an embodiment a signal is received with said interrogator from said intelligent identifier indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip until the thickness of the detachable wear strip has worn to a threshold thickness so that when the detachable wear strip has worn to the threshold thickness, the intelligent identifier is configured to detach from the wear strip with the result that the intelligent identifier does not longer produce a signal to be detected by the interrogator with the result that the intelligent identifier does not longer produce a signal to be detected by the interrogator which can mean that the detachable wear strip must be replaced in order to achieve a desired sealing effect in the sealing arrangement. The thickness of the detachable wear strip is reduced due to the movement of the endless seal belt i.e. the endless seal belt has a wearing effect or an eroding effect on the detachable wear strip.

In an embodiment a signal with said interrogator from said intelligent identifier indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip as long as said intelligent identifier is in said identifying position. If the signal is lost, this can mean that the detachable wear strip has shifted into an incorrect position.

List of figures

In the following the invention will described in more detail by referring to the figures, of which

Figure 1 shows the working principle of a vacuum belt filter device,

Figure 2 shows in cut view an arrangement for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement of a vacuum belt filter device,

Figure 3 shows a detail of the arrangement shown in figure 2,

Figure 4 shows an alternative configuration of the detail shown in figure 3,

Figure 5 shows an alternative configuration of the detail shown in figure 3,

Figure 6 show in cut view a detail of the arrangement shown in figure 2,

Figure 7 shows in partly cut view a detail of an arrangement for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement of a vacuum belt filter device,

Figure 8 shows a wear strip according to a first embodiment,

Figure 9 shows a wear strip according to a first embodiment,

Figure 10 shows in cut view a wear strip according to a third embodiment,

Figure 11 shows in cut view a wear strip according to a fourth embodiment,

Figure 12 shows in cut view a wear strip according to a fifth embodiment, and

Figure 13 shows in cut view a wear strip according to a sixth embodiment.. Detailed description of the invention

First the method for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement 1 between an endless moving filter belt 2 of a vacuum belt filter device and a vacuum arrangement 3 of the vacuum belt filter device and some embodiments and variants of the method will be described in greater detail.

The sealing arrangement 1 comprises an endless seal belt 17 running in contact with a low pressure side (not marked with a reference numeral) of the endless moving filter belt 2 in a first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3. The endless moving filter belt 2 may revolve around at least a first roller 5 and a second roller 6, as shown in figure 1. The vacuum arrangement 3 is configured to produce a suction at the low pressure side of the endless moving filter belt 2 at a working zone 7 of the vacuum belt filter device. The vacuum belt filter device may comprise an endless moving filter cloth 8 that revolves around at least a third roller 9 and a fourth roller 10, and arranging the endless moving filter cloth 8 on a high pressure side (not marked with a reference numeral) of the endless moving filter belt 2 and in contact with the endless moving filter belt 2 at the working zone 7 of the vacuum belt filter device. The vacuum arrangement 3 may comprise vacuum tubing 11 and a manifold arrangement 12.

The method comprises a first providing step for providing the sealing arrangement 1 with a detachable wear strip 13.

The method comprises a first arranging step for arranging the detachable wear strip 13 between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17 of the sealing arrangement 1.

The method comprises a second providing step for providing an intelligent identifier 14.

The method comprises a second arranging step for arranging the intelligent identifierl4 between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17 of the sealing arrangement 1 into an identifying position.

The method comprises a third providing step for providing a interrogator 15. The method comprises receiving a signal with said interrogator 15 from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13.

The method may comprise providing the intelligent identifier 14 in the second providing step at least partly in the detachable wear strip 13 that is provided in the first providing step, and arranging the intelligent identifier 14 in the second arranging step between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17 by arranging the detachable wear strip 13 between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17 in the first arranging step.

The method may comprise arranging the intelligent identifier 14 in the second arranging step between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the detachable wear strip 13. The detachable wear strip 13 can for example be at least partly attached to the vacuum arrangement 3 by means of the intelligent identifier 14.

In an embodiment of the method, a signal is received with said interrogator 15 from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13 after the thickness of the detachable wear strip 13 has worn to a threshold thickness.

In an embodiment of the method, a signal is received with said interrogator 15 from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13 until the thickness of the detachable wear strip 13 has worn to a threshold thickness.

In an embodiment of the method, a signal is received with said interrogator 15 from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13 as long as said intelligent identifier 14 is in said identifying position.

The material forming the detachable wear strip 13 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, at least one of the following: polymer, metal, and ceramic.

The method may comprise providing in the second providing step an intelligent identifier

14 in the form of an active RFID device. An active RFID device normally includes a power source (not shown in the drawings) such as a battery and a RFID communications unit (not shown in the drawings) that includes a transmitter (not shown in the drawings) and/or a receiver (not shown in the drawings) and other components (not shown in the drawings) of the active RFID device.

The method may comprise providing in the second providing step an intelligent identifier

14 in the form of a passive RFID device. A passive RFID device does not include a power source, and turns on when a RF signal is received by the passive RFID device. A passive RFID device normally includes an antenna (not shown in the drawings) and base (not shown in the drawings) in communication with the antenna. When the antenna absorbs a radio frequency signal having a key frequency from an interrogator, the antenna collects the RF energy and transmits the energy to the base. In response to receiving the energy, the base sends a signal back to the interrogator.

The method may comprise providing in the second providing step an intelligent identifierl4 in the form of a semi-passive RFID device. A semi-passive RFID device is similar to a passive RFID device with the exception that the base is powered by a power source (not shown in the drawings).

The method may comprise arranging the detachable wear strip 13 in the first arranging step so that the detachable wear strip 13 comprising a RFID device 14 is arranged at least partly in the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3. A width of the detachable wear strip 13 comprising a RFID device 14 corresponds preferably, but not necessarily, to the width of the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3.

The method may comprise arranging the detachable wear strip 13 in the first arranging step so that the detachable wear strip 13 covers a bottom of the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3 essentially completely.

The method may comprise arranging the detachable wear strip 13 in the first arranging step so that the detachable wear strip 13 fills the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3 essentially completely.

The detachable wear strip 1 that is provided in the first providing step may comprise a second groove 22, and the detachable wear strip 13 may be arranged in the first arranging step so that endless seal belt 17 runs at least partly in the second groove 22.

The detachable wear strip 13 that is provided in the first providing step may comprise perforations 23 for allowing lubricating fluid such as water to pass through the detachable wear strip 13.

The detachable wear strip 13 that is provided in the first providing step may comprise several fixedly or releasable connected wear strip sections 21, as shown in figure 9, or be in one- piece form, as shown in figure 8.

The method comprises preferably, but not necessarily, arranging the intelligent identifier 14 in the second arranging step within 10 meters, preferably within 4 meters, more preferably within 2 meters, from an upstream end 28 of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device i.e. within a distance B from an upstream end of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device, which distance B is less than 10 meters, preferably less than 4 meters, more preferably less than 2 meters. Material 30 to be filtered is at the upstream end 28 of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device fed onto the endless moving filter belt 2 and the sealing arrangement is therefore more subjected to wear at the upstream end 28 of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device.

Next the arrangement for monitoring the condition of a sealing arrangement 1 between an endless moving filter belt 2 of a vacuum belt filter device and a vacuum arrangement 3 of the vacuum belt filter device and some embodiments and variants of the arrangement will be described in greater detail.

The sealing arrangement 1 comprises an endless seal belt 17 running in contact with a low pressure side of the endless moving filter belt 2 in a first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3.

The endless moving filter belt 2 may revolve around at least a first roller 5 and a second roller 6, as shown in figure 1. The vacuum arrangement 3 is configured to produce a suction at a low pressure side (not marked with a reference numeral) of the endless moving filter belt 2 at a working zone 7 of the vacuum belt filter device. The vacuum belt filter device may comprise an endless moving filter cloth 8 that revolves around at least a third roller 9 and a fourth roller 10, and arranging the endless moving filter cloth 8 on a high pressure side (not marked with a reference numeral) of the endless moving filter belt 2 and in contact with the endless moving filter belt 2 at the working zone 7 of the vacuum belt filter device. The vacuum arrangement 3 may comprise vacuum tubing 10, a manifold arrangement 11, and a vacuum box 16.

The sealing arrangement 1 comprises a detachable wear strip 13 between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17.

The arrangement comprises an intelligent identifier 14 arranged between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17 in an identifying position.

The arrangement comprises an interrogator 15. The interrogator 15 is configured to receive a signal from the intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13. The intelligent identifier 14 can be at least partly arranged in the detachable wear strip 13 that is arranged between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the endless seal belt 17.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be arranged between the vacuum arrangement 3 and the detachable wear strip 13. The detachable wear strip 13 can for example be at least partly attached to the vacuum arrangement 3 by means of the intelligent identifier 14.

The interrogator 15 can be configured to receive a signal from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13 after the thickness of the detachable wear strip 13 has worn to a threshold thickness.

The interrogator 15 can be configured to receive a signal from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13 until the thickness of the detachable wear strip 13 has worn to a threshold thickness.

The interrogator 15 can be configured to receive a signal from said intelligent identifier 14 indicative of the condition of the detachable wear strip 13 as long as said intelligent identifier 14 is in said identifying position.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be an active RFID device. An active RFID device normally includes a power source (not shown in the drawings) such as a battery and a RFID communications unit (not shown in the drawings) that includes a transmitter (not shown in the drawings) and/or a receiver (not shown in the drawings) and other components (not shown in the drawings) of the active RFID device.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be a passive RFID device. A passive RFID device does not include a power source, and turns on when a RF signal is received by the passive RFID device. A passive RFID device normally includes an antenna (not shown in the drawings) and base (not shown in the drawings) in communication with the antenna. When the antenna absorbs a radio frequency signal having a key frequency from an interrogator, the antenna collects the RF energy and transmits the energy to the base. In response to receiving the energy, the base sends a signal back to the interrogator.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be a semi-passive RFID device. A semi-passive RFID device is similar to a passive RFID device with the exception that the base is powered by a power source (not shown in the drawings).

The detachable wear strip 13 may be arranged so that the detachable wear strip 13 is arranged at least partly in the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3. A width of the detachable wear strip 13 corresponds preferably, but not necessarily, to the width of the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3.

The detachable wear strip 13 may be arranged so that the detachable wear strip 13 covers a bottom of the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3 essentially completely.

The detachable wear strip 13 may be arranged so that the detachable wear strip 13 comprising fills the first groove 4 of the vacuum arrangement 3 essentially completely.

The detachable wear strip 13 can comprise a second groove 22, and the detachable wear strip 13 may being arranged so that endless seal belt 17 is configured to run at least partly in the second groove 22.

The detachable wear strip 13 can comprise perforations 23 for allowing lubricating fluid such as water to pass through the detachable wear strip 13.

The detachable wear strip 13 may comprise several fixedly or releasable connected wear strip sections 21, as shown in figure 9, or be in one-piece form, as shown in figure 8. The intelligent identifier 14 is preferably, but not necessarily, arranged within 10 meters, preferably within 4 meters, more preferably within 2 meters, from an upstream end of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device, i.e. within a distance B from an upstream end of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device, which distance B is less than 10 meters, preferably less than 4 meters, more preferably less than 2 meters. Material 30 to be filtered is at the upstream end 28 of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device fed onto the endless moving filter belt 2 and the sealing arrangement is therefore more subjected to wear at the upstream end 28 of the vacuum arrangement 1 of the vacuum belt filter device.

Next the detachable wear strip 13 for use in the method or in the arrangement and some embodiments and variants of the wear strip will be described in greater detail.

The detachable wear strip 13 has an elongated base portion 18 having a first lateral side edge (not marked with a reference numeral) and a second lateral side edge (not marked with a reference numeral), and the detachable wear strip 13 comprising at least one intelligent identifier 14.

The detachable wear strip 13 may comprise a first longitudinal side flange 19 at the first lateral side edge of the elongated base portion 18 and a second longitudinal side flange 20 at the second lateral side edge of the elongated base portion 18 so that a second groove 22 is formed between the first longitudinal side flange 19 and the second longitudinal side flange 20.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be at least partly embedded, preferably fully embedded, in material forming the detachable wear strip 13. The detachable wear strip 13 is preferably, but not necessarily, formed of material comprising polymer.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be an active RFID device. An active RFID device normally includes a power source (not shown in the drawings) such as a battery and a RFID communications unit (not shown in the drawings) that includes a transmitter (not shown in the drawings) and/or a receiver (not shown in the drawings) and other components (not shown in the drawings) of the active RFID device.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be a passive RFID device. A passive RFID device does not include a power source, and turns on when a RF signal is received by the passive RFID device. A passive RFID device normally includes an antenna (not shown in the drawings) and base (not shown in the drawings) in communication with the antenna. When the antenna absorbs a radio frequency signal having a key frequency from an interrogator, the antenna collects the RF energy and transmits the energy to the base. In response to receiving the energy, the base sends a signal back to the interrogator.

The intelligent identifier 14 can be a semi-passive RFID device. A semi-passive RFID device is similar to a passive RFID device with the exception that the base is powered by a power source (not shown in the drawings).

The detachable wear strip 13 comprising a RFID device 14 can comprise perforations 23 for allowing lubricating fluid such as water to pass through the detachable wear strip 13 comprising a RFID device 14.

The detachable wear strip 13 may comprise several fixedly or releasable connected wear strip sections 21, as shown in figure 9, or be in one-piece form, as shown in figure 8.

The detachable wear strip 13 may comprise an upper plane surface 24 and a lower plane surface 25 that is parallel with the upper plane surface 24. In such case the detachable wear strip 13 can comprise an intelligent identifier 14 in the form of a first intelligent identifier 14a at a first distance C from the upper plane surface 24, and an intelligent identifier 14 in the form of a second intelligent identifier 14b at a second distance D from the lower plane surface 25. The distance between the upper plane surface 24 and the lower plane surface 25 may be between 2 and 7 mm, preferably between 4 and 5 mm. The first distance C being may be between 1 and 3 mm, preferably between 1.5 and 2.5 mm, more preferably about 2 mm. The second distance D may be between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, preferably about 1 mm. A third distance W between the first intelligent identifier and the second intelligent identifier in a direction measured perpendicular to the upper plane surface 24 and the lower plane surface 25 is preferably, but not necessarily, about 1 mm. Providing a first intelligent identifier 14a and a second intelligent identifier 14b as described allows monitoring of the wearing of a detachable wars strip 13 by receiving different kind of signals depending on from which intelligent identifier, the first intelligent identifier 14a the a second intelligent identifier 14b, a signal is received from.

The invention relates also to a method for producing a detachable wear strip 13 according to any of the claims 25 to 32. The method comprises producing a detachable wear strip 13 by extruding, providing at least one hole 27 such as a blind hole in the detachable wear strip 13, providing an intelligent identifier 14 in said at least one hole, and sealing said at least one hole with adhesive material 26.

The invention relates also to a method for using a vacuum belt filter device provided with an arrangement according to any embodiment described herein. In the method, the vacuum belt filter device is prevented from being started unless a signal is received with said interrogator 15 from said intelligent identifier 14.

It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that as technology advanced, the basic idea of the invention can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are therefore not restricted to the above examples, but they may vary within the scope of the claims.