Simulation cabinet

The invention is a simulation cabinet with two side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall, an exterior wall, and an interior chamber, with a rear wall being arranged in the interior chamber at a distance from the exterior wall, and at least one ventilator arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, with the rear wall showing air openings for suctioning air from the interior chamber via the ventilator, with the rear wall showing at least one opening and at least a first flow restrictor each being arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall such that the air suctioned by the ventilator through the air openings of the rear wall, after flowing through the flow restrictor, can be guided through the opening into the interior.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application 10 2014 118 787.3, filed on Dec. 16, 2014.

No federal government funds were used in researching or developing this invention.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

SEQUENCE LISTING INCLUDED AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a simulation cabinet.

Background of the Invention

Simulation cabinets are used in scientific and industrial laboratories for the simulation of biological, chemical, and/or physical influences of the environment. During the simulation of influences from the environment the air flow used in the simulation cabinet is of decisive importance in order to allow generating in the cabinet a homogenous air distribution and thus appropriate temperature distribution as well.

A simulation cabinet as a laboratory heating cabinet is known from DE 41 16 500 A1. In the simulation cabinets of prior art, a pre-heating chamber with an integrated, powerful heating/cooling system, comprising a heating/cooling device and a ventilator, is arranged around an interior vessel. Air-baffles ensure that the entire air flow is guided over the heating and/or cooling elements, and subsequently enters the interior chamber via air vents in the lateral walls over wide areas and in a controlled fashion. By introducing air over the entire ide walls it shall be prevented that disturbing eddies are generated, preventing optimal homogeneity of the temperature inside the interior vessel.

The simulation cabinets of prior art show a complicated design in order to generate homogeneity of the temperature inside the interior chamber.

The objective of the invention therefore comprises to provide a simulation chamber, which shows a simple design and allows improved air guidance and thus advantageously a homogenous distribution of temperature inside the inner chamber of the simulation cabinet.

The object of the invention is attained in a simulation cabinet showing the features as described herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred embodiment, a simulation cabinet with two side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall, an exterior wall, and an interior chamber, with a rear wall arranged in the interior chamber at a distance from the exterior wall, and at least one ventilator arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, with the rear wall showing ventilator openings for suctioning air from the interior chamber via the ventilator, wherein the rear wall comprises at least one opening and that a first flow restrictor is arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall abutting it, such that the air suctioned by the ventilator through the ventilator openings of the rear wall, after flowing through the flow restrictor, can be guided through the opening into the interior chamber.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein two flow restrictors are arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the rear wall and at least one flow restrictor are connected to each other as one piece.

The simulation cabinet according to claim1, wherein at least one flow restrictor having a length equivalent to a distance from the bottom wall to the top wall of the simulation cabinet.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein at least one flow restrictor has an angle (a) of essentially 90° with reference to the rear wall and the exterior wall.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein at least one flow restrictor is embodied as a pinhole.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the rear wall has several openings, arranged in the proximity of interfaces of lateral edges of the rear wall, with a longitudinal extension of the proximities essentially being smaller than ⅓ of the length of a lateral edge of the rear wall.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein at least one opening in a bottom-top direction respectively shows a greater extension than in a side wall-side wall direction.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the rear wall comprises, in the proximity to each intersection of the lateral edges of the rear wall, a pair of openings, with one pair comprising at least two openings, distanced in the side wall-side wall direction, aligned parallel.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein, within a proximity of a first, second, and third interface of lateral edges of the rear wall, precisely one pair each of openings and three pairs of openings in a proximity of a fourth intersection of lateral edges of the rear wall being arranged, with the pairs in the proximity of the fourth intersection being arranged in the bottom-top direction.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein each of the pairs in the proximity of the fourth intersection lateral edges of the rear wall extends parallel to the bottom-top direction, essentially with a respectively identical distance.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein adjacent pairs of the pairs in the proximity of the fourth intersection in the bottom-top direction each have identical distances.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the openings have the same size of area content, respectively.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, further comprising wherein an air guidance element is arranged at the rear wall, with a first lateral edge at the rear wall and with a second side edge at a minimum of one flow restrictor.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein, at an installation of the rear wall and at least one flow restrictor in the simulation cabinet, the first side edge of the air guidance element is arranged at a side wall of the simulation cabinet and the second lateral edge of the air guidance element abuts the exterior wall of the simulation cabinet.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the air guidance element, together with the rear wall and the abutting flow restrictor, respectively form an angle (β) showing essentially 45°.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, further comprising wherein at least one slot is arranged between the rear wall and the top.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, further comprising wherein at least one, preferably two slots are arranged between the rear wall and the bottom wall.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, further comprising wherein at least one heating device is arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, surrounding the ventilator, with the heating device surrounding the ventilator either helically or annularly.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, further comprising wherein the ventilator is surrounded by a first and a second heating device, with the second heating device surrounding the ventilator and the first heating device.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the first heating device is embodied helically and the second heating device annularly.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, wherein the two opposite side walls each comprise beads to support grids or sheet metals.

In another preferred embodiment, the simulation cabinet as described herein, further comprising wherein several ventilators are arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, with one separating wall arranged between the ventilators, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The simulation cabinet according to the invention shows two side walls, a bottom wall, a top wall, an exterior wall, and an interior chamber, a rear wall arranged inside the interior chamber at a distance from the exterior wall, and at least one ventilator arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, with the rear wall comprising ventilation openings for suctioning in air from the interior chamber via the ventilator, is characterized in that the rear wall shows at least one opening and that at least a first flow restrictor is arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, abutting said exterior wall, that the air suctioned by the ventilator through the air openings in the rear wall, after passing through the flow restrictor, can be conducted through at least one opening into the interior chamber. The flow restrictor causes a throttling of the air flowing through the flow restrictor. After flowing through the flow restrictor, the air expands. Thus, after flowing through the flow restrictor, here a lower pressure results for the air in reference to said air upstream said flow restrictor. The mean particle distance of the air components increases by said expansion, which results in a change of the air temperature. Any inhomogeneous temperature distribution given upstream the flow restrictor is therefore rendered more homogenous upon passing the flow restrictor. This way, air with a more homogenous temperature distribution is conducted through the opening into the interior chamber, which leads to improved homogeneity of the temperature inside the interior chamber.

Advantageously, two flow restrictors are provided between the rear wall and the exterior wall, beneficially at both sides of the ventilator. With such an arrangement a symmetrical arrangement of the flow restrictors can be achieved in reference to the ventilator.

Preferably the rear wall and at least one flow restrictor are connected to each other in one piece. Such an arrangement facilitates the design of a simulation cabinet.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one flow restrictor shows essentially a length which is equivalent to a distance of the bottom wall from the top wall of the simulation cabinet. Such a flow restrictor extends along the entire extension of the rear wall and the exterior wall along the direction bottom-top. Accordingly, no section is given between the rear wall and the exterior wall in the direction bottom-top, through which air is conducted through the opening into the interior chamber without a prior flow reduction. This way, the effect of a homogenized distribution of air in the interior chamber is further promoted.

At least one of at least one flow restrictor can preferably be arranged at an angle of essentially 90°, respectively in reference to the rear wall and the exterior wall. Any air flow parallel in reference to the direction side wall-side wall therefor perpendicularly impinges a flow restrictor ar-ranged in this fashion. With a flow restrictor arranged at an angle of essentially 90° respectively in reference to the rear wall and the exterior wall, here the mixing of air after passing the flow restrictor can be minimized.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention at least one flow restrictor is embodied as a pinhole. Pinholes are produced easily and cost-effectively.

According to a preferred further development of the invention the rear wall shows several openings, arranged in the proximity of intersections of the lateral edges of the rear wall, e.g., at the corners, with a longitudinal extension of the proximities essentially being smaller than one third of the length of the lateral edge of said rear wall. Openings in the corners of the rear wall promote the faster adjustment of a homogenous temperature distribution in the interior chamber.

Preferably at least one opening in the direction bottom-top shows respectively a greater size than one in a direction side lateral wall-side wall. Such slotted openings allow a better distribution of the air inside the used space.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the rear wall shows respectively at least one opening in the proximity of each intersection of the lateral edges of the rear wall, preferably at least one pair of openings, with one pair showing at least two openings distanced in the direction side wall-side wall, preferably aligned essentially parallel. Such an arrangement allows a more even distribution of air inside the interior chamber.

It is particularly preferred that in the proximity of a first, second, and third intersection of the lateral edges of the rear wall precisely one pair of openings and in the proximity of a fourth intersection of lateral edges of the rear wall several pairs of openings, preferably three ones, are arranged, with in the proximity of the fourth intersection the pairs are arranged distanced from each other in the direction bottom-top. Such an arrangement can compensate any asymmetrical distribution of air by the ventilator.

Preferably, every pair of the pairs in the proximity of the fourth intersection shows essentially the same even distance from the lateral edges of the rear wall extending parallel to the direction bottom-top. Such an arrangement can further improve the homogenized distribution of air in the interior chamber.

Advantageously the adjacent pairs of the pairs in the proximity of the fourth intersection in the direction bottom-top respectively show even distances. Such an arrangement can further improve the homogenized distribution of air in the interior chamber.

Advantageously the openings show essentially a respectively identically sized area. With such openings a homogenized distribution of the air inside the interior chamber can be improved.

In a further embodiment of the invention an air guidance element is arranged at the rear wall, which is arranged with a first lateral edge at a rear wall and with a second lateral edge at least at one flow restrictor. Such air guidance elements serve for the deflection of the air flowing through the flow restrictor in the direction towards the openings of the rear wall.

Preferably, upon installation of the rear wall and at least one flow restrictor in a simulation cabinet the first lateral edge of the air guidance element abuts a side wall of the simulation cabinet and the second lateral edge of the air guidance element abuts the exterior wall of the simulation cabinet. Such an arrangement of the air guidance element promotes the air guidance.

Preferably the air guidance element meets the rear wall and the abutting flow restrictor respectively at an angle of essentially 45°. Such an arrangement of the air guidance element allows a deflection of the air flowing parallel to the lateral edge of the rear wall to the air guidance element by 90°. The air deflected by the openings in the interior chamber can then flow parallel in reference to said lateral wall areas, which may benefit a homogenous temperature distribution in the interior chamber.

In another embodiment of the invention at least one slot is arranged between the rear wall and the top wall. Through such a slot, in addition to the openings in the rear wall, air can flow into the interior chamber.

Preferably, at least one, preferably two slots are arranged between the rear wall and the bottom wall. Through such a slot, in addition to the openings in the rear wall, air can flow into the interior chamber.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention at least one heating device is arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, surrounding the ventilator, with the heating device surrounding the ventilator preferably in a helical or annular fashion. Such a heating device can evenly heat the air suctioned by the ventilator through the air openings at the rear wall.

Advantageously, the ventilator is surrounded by a first and a second heating device, with the second heating device sur-rounding the ventilator and the first heating device. Such heating devices can ensure improved performance of heating the air.

Preferably the first heating device is embodied helically and the second heating device annularly. Such an embodiment of the heating devices can further improve the above-mentioned heating of the air.

As an alternative to at least one heating device the invention may also show a cooling device, without it here being necessary to essentially change the principle design of the invention.

In a further development of the invention several ventilators are arranged between the rear wall and the exterior wall, with respectively a separating wall being arranged be-tween the ventilators. Several ventilators are particularly advantageous in case of large-scale simulation cabinets. The separating walls prevent any mutual influencing of the air flows of adjacent ventilators.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the interior chamber7of an exemplary embodiment of a simulation cabinet1. The interior chamber7is limited by a top wall5, a bottom wall4opposite said top wall5, two opposite side walls2,3, a rear wall8, and a door, not shown here, opposite the rear wall8. The side walls2,3may each show beads71. Grids and/or sheet metals may be placed in or on these beads71. The limiting walls2,3,4,5,8of the simulation cabinet1are essentially arranged respectively at a right angle in reference to each other, with the simulation cabinet1showing the form of a cuboid or a cube. The corners of the simulation cabinet1may be rounded.

The rear wall8is shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.FIG. 2shows a rear view,FIG. 3a front view of the rear wall8. Ventilator openings12are arranged in the rear wall8. The ventilator openings particularly form a grid structure. The ventilator openings12are embodied for example as slots12′ extending in the direction bottom-top x parallel in reference to each other, which may be arranged symmetrical about a point, for example a center point of the rear wall8. The slots12′ may be arranged in a circular area.

Here and in the following, the direction bottom-top x marks a straight line, which respectively intersects perpendicularly the bottom wall4and the top wall5. Here and in the following the direction side wall-side wall y marks a straight line, which respectively intersects perpendicularly the side walls2,3.

Through the ventilation openings12in the rear wall8a ventilator11, shown for example inFIGS. 4, 8, suctions air from the interior chamber7. The ventilator11is located between the rear wall8and an exterior wall6arranged at a distance d1from the rear wall8(cf.FIG. 4), directly behind the ventilator openings12. The ventilator11may be a conventional ventilator, which generates a vacuum by way of rotations, allowing to suction air. An axis of rotation A of the ventilator11is particularly arranged perpendicular in reference to the rear wall8. The suctioned air is discharged by the ventilator particularly in the radial direction and flow therefore subsequently essentially parallel to the rear wall8.

The ventilator11may be surrounded by a first heating device61and/or a second heating device62, as discernible particularly fromFIG. 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown, both the first as well as the second heating device61,62are provided. The first heating device61surrounds the ventilator11and is particularly embodied helically, for example showing two windings. The second heating device62surrounds the ventilator11and the first heating device61, for example embodied as a ring, and shows therefore only one winding. The second heating device62is particularly arranged such that in the axial direction one winding of the second heating device62is arranged between the two windings of the first heating device61. This way, a particularly homogenous heating of the air is achieved, by the air first being heated by the helical first heating device61and subsequently heated by the annular second heating device62. Alternatively, the ventilator11may also be surrounded by only one heating device61,62. With the heating devices61,62the air can be heated to a selected temperature. As an alternative to heating devices, depending on the simulation requirements, here cooling devices may also be provided in order to cool the air to a selectable temperature.

At least one flow restrictor31is arranged between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6, with a width of the flow restrictor31being perhaps equivalent to the distance d1between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6. The flow restrictor31is arranged in reference to the exterior wall6at an angle α, which particularly represents a right angle. Advantageously two flow restrictors31,32are arranged at both sides of the ventilator11, particularly symmetrically in reference to said ventilator11.

The air suctioned by the ventilator11from the interior chamber7into the enclosure between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6is guided through the ventilator11to the flow restrictor31,32, as shown for example inFIG. 3.FIG. 5shows a detail of the flow restrictor31. The arrows shown inFIG. 5shall indicate the air flow14. The following description applies similarly to the flow restrictor32. The flow restrictor31may be made from sheet metal with a plurality of openings, which are punched out and/or circular, for example. In particular, the flow restrictor31may be embodied as a pinhole. Here, the flow restrictor31may show preferably a length which is equivalent to the distance between the bottom wall4and the top wall5.

An air guidance element13is arranged between the flow restrictor31and the closest side wall2. The air guidance element13may be embodied as a sheet metal. The air guidance element13is arranged such that in an installation of the rear wall8and the flow restrictor31in the simulation cabinet1, here a first lateral edge13aof the air guidance element13at the side wall2of the simulation cabinet1and a second lateral edge13bof the air guidance element13are arranged abutting the exterior wall6of the simulation cabinet1. For example, the air guidance element13forms with the exterior wall6and the side wall2an angle, for example respectively an angle β measuring for example 45°. The air flowing through the flow restrictor31in the direction side wall-side wall y can be deflected by the air guidance element13, essentially deflected by 90°, cf.FIGS. 3 and 5. The air guidance element13deflects air flowing essentially perpendicularly through the flow restrictor31in a direction parallel to the side walls2,3, as illustrated by the arrows shown inFIG. 5.

The rear wall8, the flow restrictors31,32, and the air guidance element13are advantageously connected fixed to each other and may be formed in one piece, for example. For example, the rear wall8is arranged in one piece at the first lateral edge13aof the air guidance element13, with the air guidance element13being bent at an angle of 45° in reference to the rear wall8, for example, particularly towards the exterior wall6. At the second lateral edge13bof the air guidance element13the flow restrictor31is arranged in one piece, with the flow restrictor31being bent at an angle of 45°, for example, in reference to the air guidance element12, particularly towards the rear wall8, so that overall the flow restrictor31is aligned essentially at a right angle in reference to the rear wall8.

In order to allow air from the enclosure between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6to reach the interior chamber7, the rear wall8shows at least one opening21, which is arranged such that the air suctioned by the ventilator11through the air openings12of the rear wall8can be guided, after flowing through the flow restrictor31and the opening21, into the interior chamber7. The flow restrictors31,32are therefore arranged between the ventilator openings12, on the one side, and the openings21at the rear wall8, on the other side. The rear wall8particularly shows several openings21, as discernible particularly fromFIG. 2. The openings21are each embodied as slots, for example, which show a greater extension in the direction bottom-top x than in the direction side wall-side wall y. Two openings21each may form a pair22of openings, with the slots of each pair22extending parallel in reference to the direction bottom-top x. In a rear wall8, showing in each corner at least one pair22of openings21, two flow restrictors31,32arranged at both sides of the ventilator11have proven particularly advantageous.

In one exemplary embodiment, the proximities41,42,43of a first intersection s1, second intersection s2, and third intersection s3lateral edges k1, k2, k3, k4, of the rear wall i.e. from the edges of the rear wall8, precisely one pair22of openings21are arranged each. In a proximity44of a fourth intersection s4of the lateral edges k3, k4of the rear wall three pairs22of openings21are arranged, with a distance between two adjacent pairs22in the bottom-top direction x potentially being identical. Using such an asymmetrical arrangement of pairs22of openings21in the rear wall8an asymmetrical air distribution of the ventilator22in the interior chamber7can be compensated. A longitudinal extension of the environments41,42,43,44is preferably smaller than ⅓ of the length of the lateral edge k1, k2, k3, k4of the rear wall. This longitudinal extension ensures that the openings are arranged in the edge sections of the rear wall8.

Slots51and/or52,53may be arranged between the rear wall8and the top wall5and/or between the rear wall8and the bottom wall4, through which respectively the air flow14can flow from the enclosure between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6into the interior chamber7.FIG. 6shows for example a slot51between the rear wall6and the top wall4.FIG. 7shows for example two slots52,53between the rear wall8and the bottom wall4.

Additionally, simulation cabinets1are also possible, showing several ventilators11between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6.FIG. 9shows for example a rear wall8with two arrangements of ventilator openings12according toFIGS. 2, 3. A ventilator11and/or11′ is arranged behind every air opening12between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6, with respectively a separating wall being arranged between the ventilators11and11′. The enclosure between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6may be divided by the separating wall, for example extending in the direction side wall-side wall y, into an upper chamber9and a lower chamber10. The separating wall may for example be embodied as an angular element. In the upper chamber9, directly behind the ventilator openings12, a first ventilator11is arranged. A second ventilator11′ is arranged in the lower chamber10directly behind the ventilator openings12. The upper chamber9and the lower chamber10may respectively show a similar design for the simulation cabinet with a ventilator11according toFIG. 1. Several ventilators11are particularly advantageous for larger-scale simulation cabinets1.

The rear wall8may show slots, preferably two slots54,55, arranged preferably arranged on a straight line g. The slots54,55are particularly arranged between the separating wall and the ventilator opening12of the upper chamber9. The air flow14can flow through each of the slots54,55out of the enclosure between the rear wall8and the exterior wall6into the interior chamber7.

FIG. 9shows a symmetrical arrangement of pairs22of openings21with six pairs of openings21, for example, in each corner of the rear wall8, with a distance between two adjacent pairs22potentially being identical in the bottom-top direction x. However, other, particularly asymmetrical arrangements of pairs22of openings21are also possible in a simulation cabinet with several ventilators11, particularly similar to a simulation cabinet1with one ventilator11.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

The references recited herein are incorporated herein in their entirety, particularly as they relate to teaching the level of ordinary skill in this art and for any disclosure necessary for the commoner understanding of the subject matter of the claimed invention. It will be clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art that the above embodiments may be altered or that insubstantial changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is determined by the scope of the following claims and their equitable equivalents.