U.S. patent application number 13/469136 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for clothes treatment appliance with water container and a transfer pipe.
This patent application is currently assigned to BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is Ralf Bommels, Bernd Gemunden, Jurgen Hess, Vladimir Proseanic, Svetlana Visnepolschi. Invention is credited to Ralf Bommels, Bernd Gemunden, Jurgen Hess, Vladimir Proseanic, Svetlana Visnepolschi.
Application Number | 20130255094 13/469136 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48325800 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130255094 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bommels; Ralf ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
CLOTHES TREATMENT APPLIANCE WITH WATER CONTAINER AND A TRANSFER
PIPE
Abstract
A clothes treatment appliance includes a water container
connected to a transfer pipe leading to a water-cleanable unit, in
particular, a process air condenser, of the clothes treatment
appliance. The clothes treatment appliance further includes a water
accelerator.
Inventors: |
Bommels; Ralf; (Falkensee,
DE) ; Gemunden; Bernd; (Deisenhofen, DE) ;
Hess; Jurgen; (Berlin, DE) ; Proseanic; Vladimir;
(West Bloomfield, MI) ; Visnepolschi; Svetlana;
(West Boomfield, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bommels; Ralf
Gemunden; Bernd
Hess; Jurgen
Proseanic; Vladimir
Visnepolschi; Svetlana |
Falkensee
Deisenhofen
Berlin
West Bloomfield
West Boomfield |
MI
MI |
DE
DE
DE
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
BSH BOSCH UND SIEMENS HAUSGERATE
GMBH
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
48325800 |
Appl. No.: |
13/469136 |
Filed: |
May 11, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13431101 |
Mar 27, 2012 |
|
|
|
13469136 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
34/85 ;
34/79 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 58/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
34/85 ;
34/79 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/22 20060101
D06F058/22 |
Claims
1. A clothes treatment appliance, comprising: a water container
connected to a transfer pipe leading to a process air condenser;
and a water accelerator.
2. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 1, wherein the water
accelerator comprises a pressure generator for generating pressure
in the transfer pipe.
3. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 2, wherein the pressure
generator comprises an inlet for a pressurized medium.
4. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 2, wherein the pressure
generator comprises a compression chamber connected to the transfer
pipe downstream from a valve that controls a water flow from the
water container into the downpipe and wherein the compression
chamber comprises a mechanical or electromechanical device that
controllably changes a volume of the compression chamber.
5. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 4, wherein the
compression chamber is a section of the transfer pipe.
6. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 2, wherein the pressure
generator comprises a steam generator for generating steam as a
pressurized medium, and wherein an outlet of the steam generator is
connected to a transfer pipe downstream from a valve that controls
a water flow from the water container into the transfer pipe.
7. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 1, wherein a section of
the transfer pipe is shaped as a Venturi nozzle that is connected
to an inlet for a pressurized medium.
8. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 1, wherein the water
accelerator comprises an impeller within the transfer pipe.
9. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 1, wherein the clothes
treatment appliance is adapted to apply a water hammer effect on
water in the transfer pipe.
10. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 9, wherein the water
hammer effect is achieved by modulating a pressure generated by a
pressure generator.
11. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 9, wherein the
transfer pipe comprises a closing device downstream from the water
accelerator for periodically opening and closing the transfer
pipe.
12. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 11, wherein the
closing device comprises a rotating device as an impeller or a
chopper.
13. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 1, wherein the clothes
treatment appliance is a clothes drying appliance.
14. The clothes treatment appliance of claim 1, wherein the clothes
treatment appliance is a household appliance.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present Application is a Continuation-In-Part
Application of co-pending application Ser. No. 13/431,101, filed on
Mar. 27, 2012 (Attorney Docket No. 2012P00610US), for which
priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a clothes treatment appliance,
including a process air condenser and a water container connected
to a transfer pipe leading to a water-cleanable unit of the clothes
treatment appliance.
[0003] A typical clothes dryer (as such or as a washer-dryer in
combination with a washing function) includes a laundry or clothes
container (e.g. a rotatable clothes drum) that is connected to an
air inlet and an air outlet of a process air channel. Warm air
entering the clothes container via the air inlet of the process
channel dries the clothes or laundry. The resulting warm and wet
process air leaves the clothes container through the air outlet of
the process air channel and flows to a process air condenser that
cools the process air. At the condenser, the humidity contained by
the process air precipitates. Thus, behind the condenser (with
respect to a flow direction of the process air) the process air is
cool and dry and flows to a heater that heats up the process air to
be warm and dry. This warm and dry process air is then
re-introduced into the clothes container via the air inlet. To keep
up the flow of the process air, an air blower may be used.
[0004] During the drying process, solid residues, especially fluffs
and hair, are released by the clothes and are dragged along with
the process air. At the condenser, the fluffs and hair etc. adhere
to the precipitated drops of condensate water and at least partly
stick to the condenser if the water drops drip from the condenser,
typically into a condensate collector, the so called collection
pan. To remove particles from the process air prior to the
condenser, it is known to place filters into the process air
channel between the air outlet and the condenser. However, filters
are not effective enough to separate all the particles or residue
from the process air flow. Therefore, at the condenser mainly
agglomerated lint (from fluff and/or hairs) can be observed even
after a few drying operations. These lint agglomerations reduce the
condensation effectiveness and may cause a breakdown of the
condenser function over time.
[0005] For this sake, the condensation unit is going to be rinsed
in appropriate sequences.
[0006] In state of the art appliances the removal of the
agglomerations is realized by issuing a water gush where the water
is released from a water container above the condenser and flows
through a vertical transfer pipe that directs the water to the
condenser.
[0007] For example, EP 2 134 896 B1 and WO 2010/102892 A1 both
disclose a cleaning device as described with the water container in
an upper region of the drying appliance and the condensation unit
in a lower region of the drying appliance. The water container is
supplied by condensate water collected from the condenser.
[0008] The realization of the described set-ups above is complex.
It affords several components and is associated with considerable
cost for material and assembly. Also, the water gush often cannot
completely clean the condenser, and typically a certain amount of
lint remains.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or
mitigate at least some of the problems associated with the prior
art and in particular to provide a clothes treatment appliance with
an improved effectiveness for cleaning a condenser.
[0010] An object is achieved by a clothes treatment appliance,
including a water container connected to a transfer pipe leading to
a water-cleanable unit of the clothes treatment appliance wherein
the clothes treatment appliance further includes a water
accelerator.
[0011] The water container is typically positioned above the
water-cleanable unit such that water released into the transfer
pipe can create a water gush at a lower outlet of the transfer pipe
to clean the water-cleanable unit. Up to now, the energy and
momentum of the water is mainly dependent on the gravitational
potential energy of the water and thus on the height of the water
container relative to the condenser unit. To increase, in
particular amplify, the energy and momentum of the water leaving
the transfer pipe and thus to enhance a cleaning effectiveness in
particular with respect to the water-cleanable unit, the clothes
treatment appliance further includes a water accelerator. The water
accelerator also enables the application of a shorter transfer pipe
in any geometrical arrangement and thus a more flexible design
and/or a more compact set-up.
[0012] In particular, the water-cleanable unit may be a process air
condenser. Alternatively or additionally, the water-cleanable unit
may e.g. be a process air filter, in particular if it is positioned
between a clothes container (e.g. drum) of the clothes treatment
appliance and the process air condenser. The filter may be a lint
(fluff, hair etc.) filter.
[0013] In an advantageous embodiment the water accelerator includes
a pressure generator for generating pressure in the transfer pipe.
The pressure increases the energy and momentum of the water leaving
the transfer pipe. The pressure generator may have a particularly
simple and rugged design or set-up. Also, use of the pressure
generator enables a fast-responding build-up (and relaxation) in
pressure of the water and thus a precise control of the water gush
momentum and energy.
[0014] In an advantageous embodiment the pressure generator
includes an inlet for a pressurized medium. This enables a
particularly simple set-up. The pressure of the pressurized medium
is transferred to the water coming from the water container. The
pressurized medium may, e.g., be pressurized process air tapped or
bypassed from a process air channel, pressurized air generated by a
compressor, steam provided by a steam generator, main (tap) water
and/or water output by a pump.
[0015] In a variation, the inlet is connected to the pressure
generator to drive the pressure generator. In this case the
pressure generator could also be called a pressure transfer
device.
[0016] In another variation, the inlet is directly connected to the
transfer pipe to directly transfer the pressure to the transfer
pipe. In particular, if the inlet is directly connected to the
transfer pipe, the pressure generator providing the pressurized
medium may be part of the pressure generator, e.g. a valve
connected to a tap or main water line, an air compressor, a steam
generator and so on.
[0017] In an advantageous embodiment an outlet of the transfer pipe
is shaped as a Venturi nozzle that is connected to the inlet for
the pressurized medium. Thus, the pressurized medium accelerates
the water having flown through the transfer pipe. The Venturi
nozzle may be integrated into the transfer pipe or may be an
attachment to an existing transfer pipe. For example alternatively,
the transfer pipe may have a nozzle/nozzle-like means at another
position, e.g. in a midsection. The Venturi nozzle may be regarded
as a pressure generator.
[0018] In another advantageous embodiment the pressure generator
includes a compression chamber connected to the transfer pipe
downstream a valve for controlling a water flow from the water
container into the transfer pipe and wherein the compression
chamber includes a mechanical device for controllably changing a
volume of the compression chamber. This enables a particular high
pressure.
[0019] The mechanical device may, e.g., include a piston or a
deformable membrane. The membrane may be made of rubber, etc. The
piston may be pushed in the direction of the transfer pipe to
reduce the volume available for the water e.g. by pressure
(pressured air, steam or water). In this case the compression
chamber may be regarded as a pressure transfer device. The membrane
may in particular be pushed in the direction of the transfer pipe
by pressure to reduce the volume available for the water e.g. by
pressure (pressured air, steam or water).
[0020] Alternatively, the mechanical device may be moved or driven
by a motor (electric motor, hydraulic motor and so on), in
particular if the mechanical device is a piston.
[0021] In an advantageous embodiment the compression chamber is a
section of the transfer pipe. This enables an easy assembly and,
particularly, a compact design.
[0022] It is generally advantageous that the pressure generator is
connected to the transfer pipe downstream (with respect to the
water coming from the water container) a valve for controlling a
water flow from the water container into the transfer pipe. This
prevents a spill-back of the water into the water container and
maintains the pressure in the transfer pipe if this valve is
closed. To adjust activation of the valve and the water
accelerator, the clothes treatment appliance may e.g. include a
controller (for example a microcontroller) for controlling the
valve and the water accelerator.
[0023] Generally, the valve may be a controlled/active valve or be
a passive valve like a flap or a back-pressure valve etc.
[0024] The valve may, e.g., be integrated with an outlet of the
water tank, be located between the water tank and the transfer
pipe, or be integrated with the transfer pipe.
[0025] In yet another advantageous embodiment the pressure
generator includes a steam generator for generating steam as the
pressurized medium and wherein a steam outlet of the steam
generator is connected to the transfer pipe downstream a valve for
controlling a water flow from the water container into the transfer
pipe. The use of a steam generator may enable a particularly
compact design. The steam generator may include an electric
heater.
[0026] To feed the electric heater with water, it may be connected
to the transfer pipe, in particular, at a position of the transfer
pipe below the connection to its steam outlet. This has an
advantage that the steam generator does not need a separate water
feed and may produce pressurized steam if there is water in the
transfer pipe but does not generate steam if the transfer pipe is
empty.
[0027] In yet another advantageous embodiment the water accelerator
includes an impeller within the transfer pipe. The rotation of the
impeller pushes the water in the direction of the outlet of the
transfer pipe. Use of the impeller has an advantage that this
embodiment allows for a particularly compact design.
[0028] In another advantageous embodiment the clothes treatment
appliance is adapted to apply a water hammer effect (shock wave) on
the water in the transfer pipe. The water hammer effect may in
particular include a modulation of the pressure of the water
leaving the transfer pipe. The modulation may, in particular,
include a series of pressure pulses or spikes, in particular, a
periodic series. The water hammer effect enhances the cleaning
effectiveness even further.
[0029] In an advantageous embodiment the water hammer effect is
achieved by modulating a pressure generated by the pressure
generator.
[0030] In another advantageous embodiment the transfer pipe
includes a closing device downstream of the water accelerator for
periodically opening and closing the transfer pipe. Thus, the
closing device may generate a series of pressure pulses or spikes
in a simple manner.
[0031] In particular, the closing device may include a rotating
chopper. The rotating chopper may be operated by a motor.
[0032] In one embodiment the rotating chopper has a cylinder-shaped
body which has a through-hole perpendicular to its longitudinal
axis. By placing the section of the chopper that includes the
through-hole within the transfer pipe and by rotating the chopper
around its longitudinal axis, the through-hole is alternatingly
aligned parallel to the transfer pipe (and then fully opens the
transfer pipe) and perpendicular to the transfer pipe (and then
closes the transfer pipe). The longitudinal axis of the chopper may
in particular be oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of
the transfer pipe, e.g. horizontally. This embodiment has an
advantage that the chopper has a fixed position with respect to the
down pipe which simplifies a pressure-tight sealing. The chopper
may be fixed to the transfer pipe by a pivot bearing.
[0033] In another advantageous embodiment the rotating chopper has
a disc-shaped body (`rotor`) which has one or more through-holes
parallel to its longitudinal axis. If there is more than one
through-hole, they are advantageously located concentrically around
a longitudinal axis of the chopper. By placing a section of the
rotor that includes a through-hole into a cut-out of the transfer
pipe and by rotating the rotor around its longitudinal axis, the
through-hole is alternatingly placed within the transfer pipe (and
then opens the transfer pipe) or outside the transfer pipe (such
that the chopper closes the transfer pipe). It is advantageous that
a distance between the through-holes is such that the transfer pipe
is alternatingly opened and closed by the rotation rotor.
Advantageously, the plane of the disc-shaped rotor (perpendicular
to the longitudinal axis) is oriented perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the transfer pipe , e.g. horizontally, and the
longitudinal axis is oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the transfer pipe .
[0034] In yet another advantageous embodiment the chopper has two
disc-shaped bodies, both of which have one or more through-holes.
The two disc-shaped bodies may in particular have the same or a
very similar shape and a same location and size of the
through-hole. Of the two disc-shaped bodies, at least one body is
rotatable (`rotor`), or e.g. both bodies are rotatable but in a
different direction. This chopper may be placed within the transfer
pipe. During operation, the through-holes of the two discs
alternatingly overlap or are misaligned and thus leave the transfer
pipe open or close the transfer pipe , respectively.
[0035] The clothes treatment appliance may in particular be a
clothes drying appliance, e.g. a clothes dryer or a
washer-dryer.
[0036] The clothes treatment appliance may in particular be a
household appliance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0037] In the figures of the attached drawing, the invention is
schematically described in more detail by means of several
exemplary embodiments. Same or functionally equivalent elements may
be denoted by the same reference numerals. In particular,
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a sectional side view of a household drying
appliance 11 including a water accelerator 27;
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of one embodiment of the
water accelerator 27;
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of another embodiment of
the water accelerator 27;
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of yet another embodiment
of the water accelerator 27;
[0042] FIG. 5 shows a sectional side view of even another
embodiment of the water accelerator 27;
[0043] FIG. 6 shows a sectional side view of a chopper 45 for
creating a water hammer effect; and
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of another chopper 49 for
creating a water hammer effect.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a clothes treatment appliance realized as a
household drying appliance 11, in particular a clothes dryer. The
drying appliance 11 includes a clothes container in form of a
rotatable clothes drum 12. The drum 12 is connected to an air inlet
section 13 and an air outlet section 14 of a process air channel
15. Warm air entering the drum 12 via the air inlet section 13 can
dry the clothes contained in the drum 12. The resulting warm and
wet process air P leaves the drum 12 through the air outlet section
14 and flows to a process air condenser 16 that cools the process
air P. Thus, at the condenser 16, the process air precipitates. To
cool the process air P, the condenser 16 typically has several
plate-like cooling blades 17 that are arranged in a parallel
fashion (which in the shown drawing are oriented in parallel to and
are spaced apart perpendicular to the viewing plane).
[0046] The condenser 16 and its cooling blades 17, respectively,
may be cooled by a fluid medium, such as, for example, water. In
this case, the condenser may be embodied as a water/air heat
exchanger. Alternatively, the process air condenser 16 may be an
evaporator of a heat pump, e.g. a compressor-type heat pump.
[0047] Behind or downstream the condenser 16, the process air P is
cool and dry and is moved by an appropriate device (for example a
fan) to a heater 18 that heats up the process air P to be warm and
dry. The heater 18 may be, e.g., an electric heater, or a condenser
of a heat pump.
[0048] This warm and dry process air P is then re-introduced into
the drum 12 via the air inlet section 13. To keep up the flow of
the process air P, an air blower 19 is used.
[0049] To collect the condensate C dripping from the condenser 16,
underneath there is located a condensate collector 20, e.g. a pan.
The condensate collector 20 may be integrated in the process air
channel 15, e.g. as a bottom of a section of the process air
channel 15. From the condensate collector 20, the condensate C is
pumped by a pump 21 to a water container 22 located above the
condenser 16. A bottom region of the water container 22 is
connected to a transfer pipe 23 that leads to the condenser 16.
Between the water container 22 and the transfer pipe 23 is a
controllable valve 24 that, if opened, allows the condensate C
stored in the water container 22 to enter an upper inlet of the
transfer pipe 23, flow through the transfer pipe 23, and leave a
lower outlet 25 of the transfer pipe 23 as a water gush. The
transfer pipe 23 is directed such, and the outlet 25 is positioned
such that the water gush can clean the condenser 16, in particular
cooling blades 17 of the condenser 16. The condenser 16 is thus a
water-cleanable unit.
[0050] Alternatively or additionally, the water-cleanable unit may
e.g. be a process air filter 26, in particular if positioned
between the drum 12 and the condenser 16.
[0051] The household drying appliance 11 also includes a water
accelerator 27 to accelerate the water leaving the transfer pipe 23
and thus to increase to momentum/energy of the water gush and thus
to enhance cleaning effectiveness.
[0052] FIG. 2 shows a sectional side view of one embodiment of the
water accelerator 27. The water accelerator 27 includes a Venturi
nozzle 28 at the outlet 25 of the transfer pipe 23. The Venturi
nozzle 28 includes an inlet 29 for pressurized medium M, e.g.
pressurized air, steam or water. The pressurized medium M is used
in a well-known manner to create the Venturi effect and to
accelerate the condensate C leaving the outlet 25. The Venturi
nozzle 28 may be integrated into the transfer pipe 23 or may be an
attachment to the transfer pipe 23.
[0053] FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of another embodiment of
the water accelerator 27. Here, the water accelerator 27 includes a
pressure generator 30 for generating pressure in the transfer pipe
31 by a compression chamber 32. The compression chamber 32 is
located downstream from the valve 24 and is realized as a section
33 of the transfer pipe 31. The compression chamber 32 is divided
into two parts 32a, 32b, namely a first part 32a containing the
condensate C coming from the water container 22 and a second part
32b not containing the condensate C. The compression chamber 32
further includes a mechanical device in the form of a movable
piston 34 that acts as a partition means for the two parts 32a and
32b. Movement of the piston 34 controllably changes a volume of the
compression chamber 32 (in particular its first part 32a). This
enables a particular high pressure of the condensate C within the
transfer pipe 31. To this effect, the second part 32b includes an
inlet 35 for a pressure providing medium M that can be opened and
closed by a valve 36. To increase the pressure and to facilitate a
movement of the piston 34 in the direction of the first part 32a
(to decrease its volume), a spring 37 is located in the second part
32b that pushes the piston 34 in the direction of the first part
32a.
[0054] During one possible mode of operation, the valve 24 opens
and lets the condensate C flow into the transfer pipe 31. When the
valve 24 closes, the valve 36 opens such that the second part 32b
is pressurized (e.g. by an influx of pressurized process air P or
tap water) and moves the piston 34 in the direction of the first
part 32a. This reduces a volume of the first part 32a and increases
pressure of the condensate C.
[0055] To increase a pressure of the condensate C within the
transfer pipe 31, the transfer pipe 31 may have another valve 53
(see FIG. 4) downstream from the compression chamber 32.
[0056] During another possible mode of operation, the valve 53 is
closed when the valve 24 is open and may open after the valve 36
has opened and the piston 34 has been moved, or a little later or
earlier. Therefore, the piston 34 acts on a contained condensate C
that cannot leave the transfer pipe 31 during pressure build-up.
After the gush the piston 34 can be removed to initial position.
This can be realized by a pulling spiral spring 37 which contracts
after pressure release. Alternatively, the piston 34 can be moved
by a mechanical or electromechanical device (a linear motor for
example).
[0057] FIG. 4 shows a sectional side view of yet another embodiment
of the water accelerator 27 including a steam generator 38 as a
pressure generator for generating steam as the pressurized or
pressurizing medium. The steam generator 38 includes an electric
heater 39, an outlet of which is connected to a steam inlet 40 for
the steam. The steam inlet 40 is also located downstream the valve
24. The transfer pipe 31 also shows the valve 53 downstream the
inlet 40 for the steam (here at the outlet 25 of the transfer pipe
41).
[0058] In one mode of operation, the valve 24 is open to feed the
condensate C into the pressure container 41 while the valve 53 is
closed. An opening duration of the valve 24 is such that a water
level of the condensate C filling the transfer pipe 41 is lower
than the inlet 40 for the steam. Then the valve 24 is closed such
that the transfer pipe 41 provides a pressure-tight container for
the condensate. In a further step, the electric heater 39 is
activated and generates steam as the pressurizing medium M. A steam
atmosphere builds up above the water level in the pressure
container 41 and generates pressure. In a next step, the valve 53
is opened, and the condensate C can leave the transfer pipe 41 with
increased speed. After that, the process may be repeated.
[0059] To feed the electric heater 39 with water, it is connected
by a feed channel 54 to the transfer pipe 41, at a position below
the inlet 40 and below the water level. Thus, the steam generator
38 does not need to have a separate water feed and may only produce
pressurized steam M if there is condensate C in the pressure
container 41.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a sectional side view of another embodiment of
the water accelerator 27 including an impeller 43 within the
transfer pipe 23. The rotation impeller 43 pushes the water in the
direction of the outlet 25 of the transfer pipe 23.
[0061] FIG. 6 shows a sectional side view of a rotating chopper 45
for creating a water hammer effect. The rotating chopper 45 is part
of a closing device 44 for periodically opening and closing the
transfer pipe 46. Thus, the closing device 44 may generate a series
of pressure pulses or spikes of the pressure of the condensate C
leaving the transfer pipe 46 in a simple manner.
[0062] The rotating chopper 45 has a disc-shaped body (`rotor`)
which has at least one through-hole 47 perpendicular to its
longitudinal axis L. If there is more than one through-hole 47,
they can be located concentrically around the longitudinal axis L.
By placing a section of the chopper 45 that includes the
through-hole 47 into a cut-out 48 of the transfer pipe 46 and by
rotating or oscillating the chopper 45 around its longitudinal axis
L, the through-hole 47 is alternatingly placed within the transfer
pipe 46 (and then opens the transfer pipe 46) or outside the
transfer pipe 46 (such that the chopper 45 closes the transfer pipe
46). To allow a large opening cross section, a diameter of the
through-hole 47 may correspond to a diameter of the transfer pipe
46 at the cut-out 48, or may be slightly smaller to increase a
sealing property.
[0063] FIG. 7 shows a bottom view of a closing device 42 including
another chopper 49 for creating a water hammer effect. This chopper
49 has two disc-shaped bodies 50 and 51. The bodies 50 and 51 are
concentrically aligned and are only shown offset for easier
description of the chopper 49. The bodies 50 and 51 are of the same
shape and have several through-holes 52. The through-holes 52 are
shaped like angular sectors of a ring. Of the two disc-shaped
bodies 50 and 51, only one body 50 or 51 is rotatable.
[0064] This chopper 49 is placed within the transfer pipe . During
rotation, the through-holes 52 of the bodies 50 and 51
alternatingly overlap and are misaligned and thus open or close the
transfer pipe, respectively.
[0065] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the
described embodiments.
* * * * *