Housing for Gas-Treating Components Panel and Method for Manufacturing Such A Housing
The invention relates to a housing for gas-treating components, comprising: a body formed by a plurality of panels and provided with a receiving space for the gas-treating components, and at least one feed respectively discharge for gas connecting onto the receiving space. The invention also relates to a panel for use in such a housing. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a housing.
The invention relates to a housing for gas-treating components, comprising: a body formed by a plurality of panels and provided with a receiving space for the gas-treating components, and at least one feed respectively discharge for gas connecting onto the receiving space. The invention also relates to a panel for use in such a housing. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing at least a part of such a housing.
The housing for gas-treating components referred to in the preamble has been known for a long time. Such housings are usually referred to on the market as air treatment boxes and are generally employed to condition a local atmosphere in a space. The known housings are made of metal and comprise a metal frame to which a plurality of metal panels are fixed. The panels enclose a receiving space for electromechanical components. Examples of usual components placed in the housing are: fans for active displacement of gas, cooling and heating units for cooling and heating gas, filters for cleaning (contaminated) gas and moisture-regulating units for adding moisture to or removing it from gas. The known metal air treatment boxes have a number of drawbacks. A first drawback of the known housing is that it is relatively heavy. In addition, it is generally found to be relatively difficult to construct and install the frame (to be welded) on site, whereby assembly generally takes place off site. A third drawback of the known housing is that, when an electromechanical component arranged in the housing malfunctions, the (conductive) metal housing can become electrically charged, which is usually undesirable from a safety viewpoint. In addition, the known housing generally requires a relatively high level of maintenance, inter alia because of oxidation and the like, while the lifespan is relatively short.
The invention has for its object to provide an improved housing for gas-treating components which does not have the above stated drawbacks.
The invention provides for this purpose a housing of the type stated in the preamble, characterized in that the panels are manufactured at least partially from plastic. Application of plastic panels in a housing according to the invention has a number of advantages. A first advantage is that plastic has a relatively low density, which can result in reduction of transport costs in transporting of the panels, as well as facilitating installation of the housing. In addition, the plastic panels require relatively little or even no maintenance, while the lifespan is increased considerably when compared to metal panels. Plastic moreover usually has the characteristic of being more sound-insulating than metal, whereby sound production from the components arranged in the housing that is discernible outside the housing can be considerably reduced. An additional advantage of the plastic panels is that they can generally be made to size on site, this in contrast to the known metal panels. In addition to the above stated advantages it is also possible, in the case the plastic is of a recyclable or even biodegradable nature, to obtain a housing which has a relatively small environmental impact compared to the known conventional metal housing.
The housing is preferably provided with a plurality of profiles for mutual fixing of a plurality of adjacent panels. The profiles can herein be formed by for instance angle profiles for fixing two adjacent panels which are at least substantially perpendicular to each other, as well as by for instance T-profiles or H-profiles for fixing two panels lying in the same plane. In preference the profiles enclosing a panel herein at least substantially make contact with each other. In order to reduce the total mass of the housing, the profiles are manufactured in a particular preferred embodiment from plastic, in particular from fibre-reinforced plastic. The manufacture of the profiles from plastic also allows wide scope for making the profiles to size, whereby on site assembly of the housing according to the invention is made possible. In addition, the use of plastic profiles provides a housing which is at least substantially fully recyclable, whereby the (plastic) housing is therefore relatively environmentally-friendly.
In a preferred embodiment an adhesive is applied between adjacent panels for mutual fixing of the panels. Use of the adhesive generally results in a sturdy connection of two adjacent panels, wherein additional (mechanical) fixing elements are not usually required. The adhesive is preferably applied in combination with the above stated profiles. A fully self-supporting housing can thus be obtained. In a particular preferred embodiment the adhesive comprises mastic. In addition to an adhesive action, mastic also has a sealing and filling action. As well as a housing that is relatively robust, a housing can also be obtained which is relatively sound-insulating. An additional advantage is that the sealing and filling action of the mastic prevents, or at least counters, the growth of fungi, bacteria and yeasts in micro-spaces enclosed by the panels.
At least one panel is preferably provided with a closable opening connecting onto the receiving space for the purpose of carrying out operations in the receiving space. The opening is herein preferably closed by a cover element (pivotally) connected to the panel. Both the opening and the cover element can be formed in simple manner from the same panel, this in contrast to the forming of a cover element and corresponding opening in a conventional metal panel.
In another preferred embodiment at least a part of the panels has a laminar structure, wherein at least one first laminate layer forming part of the panel of laminar structure is manufactured from plastic. By giving the panel a laminated structure a panel can be obtained, by assembling materials, which has a number of favourable characteristics, including among others being sound-insulating and heat-insulating, rigid, lightweight and non-conductive. In a particular preferred embodiment at least one second laminate layer forming part of the panel of laminar structure is provided with wood. Wood gives the panel, among other things, a relatively great rigidity. The wood layer moreover functions generally as fixing layer for (mechanical) fixing of for instance an electromechanical gas-treating component to the panel. In another particular embodiment at least one third laminate layer forming part of the panel of laminar structure is manufactured from a sound-insulating material. The sound-insulating material can for instance be formed by polyurethane foam (PUR foam) or by foam rubber.
The invention also relates to a panel for use in such a housing. Advantages of the panel according to the invention have already been described above.
The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing at least a part of such a housing, comprising the steps of: A) heating at least a part of each of at least two panels, B) allowing the heated parts of the panels to mutually adhere while forming at least a part of the receiving space, and C) allowing the heated parts of the panels to cool. An example of a type of material from which the panels can be manufactured so that they can be welded is (foamed) polypropylene. The method can optionally be repeated until the whole receiving space has been made. The panels can be fixed to each other by heating the panels until they are (almost) liquid. The method is preferably also provided with step D), comprising of arranging a heated welding agent in at least a part of a seam formed by the panels, this during or after allowing the heated parts of the panels to adhere to each other while forming at least a part of the receiving space as according to step B. The welding agent is preferably applied immediately after the panels have been allowed to engage on each other. Applying the welding agent generally results in an improved, relatively durable and firm connection of the panels. The welding agent can optionally be heated by for instance a hot air blower when being introduced into the seam between the panels, in order to facilitate handling of the welding agent. The welding agent is preferably pressed into the seam via an assist means during or (just) after performing step D) so as to consolidate the mutual adhesion of the panels. A welding agent suitable for realizing a strong mutual fixing of the panels is for instance a flux-cored wire manufactured from polyphenyl sulphide.
The invention will be further elucidated with reference to non-limitative embodiments shown in the following figures. In the drawing:
It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described here, but that within the scope of the appended claims a large number of variants are possible which will be obvious to the skilled person in the field.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16: A housing for gas-treating components, comprising:
- a body formed by a plurality of panels and provided with a receiving space for the gas-treating components,
- at least one gas inlet and at least one gas outlet connecting onto the receiving space,
- wherein the panels are manufactured at least partially from plastic.
17: The housing as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing is provided with a plurality of profiles for mutual fixing of a plurality of adjacent panels.
18: The housing as claimed in claim 17, wherein the profiles enclosing a panel at least substantially make contact with each other.
19: The housing as claimed in claim 17, wherein the profiles are manufactured from plastic, in particular from fiber-reinforced plastic.
20: The housing as claimed in claim 16, wherein an adhesive is applied between adjacent panels for mutual fixing of the panels.
21: The housing as claimed in claim 20, wherein the adhesive comprises mastic.
22: The housing as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least two adjacent panels are welded together.
23: The housing as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one panel is provided with a closable opening connecting onto the receiving space for carrying out operations in the receiving space.
24: The housing as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least a part of the panels has a laminar structure, wherein at least one first laminate layer forming part of the panel of laminar structure is manufactured from plastic.
25: The housing as claimed in claim 24, wherein at least one second laminate layer forming part of the panel of laminar structure is provided with wood.
26: The housing as claimed in claim 25, wherein at least one third laminate layer forming part of the panel of laminar structure is manufactured from a sound-insulating material.
27: A panel for use in a housing as claimed in claim 16.
28: A method for manufacturing at least a part of a housing for gas-treating components, comprising the steps of:
- A) heating at least a part of each of at least two panels,
- B) allowing the heated parts of the panels to mutually adhere while forming at least a part of the receiving space, and
- C) allowing the heated parts of the panels to cool.
29: The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the method is also provided with a step D), comprising of arranging a heated welding agent in at least a part of a seam formed by the panels, this during or after allowing the heated parts of the panels to adhere to each other while forming at least a part of the receiving space as according to step B).
30: The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the welding agent is formed by polyphenyl sulphide.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 21, 2003
Publication Date: Oct 4, 2007
Inventor: Derk Euwen (Wijk en Aalburg)
Application Number: 10/530,150
International Classification: F24H 9/02 (20060101);