EXHAUST ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: The invention relates to a suction operated gas evacuating arrangement, particularly for evacuating vehicle exhaust gases, wherein the arrangement includes a suction hose (1) having on a first end (2) thereof a device (3) for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle (100), and wherein the other end (4) of the hose (1) communicates with a suction channel (5). The arrangement further includes a carriage (40) that can move in the longitudinal direction of the channel (5), wherein the second end (4) of the hose (1) is connected to the carriage (40). The carriage (40) includes means (70) for temporarily lifting a free edge (27) of a seal (24) that extends along the suction channel (5), so as to establish desired communication between the carriage (40) and the channel (5). The seal (24) is orientated so that the weight of the seal will coact in establishing an effective sealing function.

Description: EXHAUST ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to a suction operated gas evacuating arrangement, and then particularly, but not exclusively, to a vehicle exhaust gas evacuating arrangement, wherein the arrangement includes a suction hose having at one end a device for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, and wherein the other end of the hose communicates with a suction channel. It is known to use so-called exhaust gas evacuating arrangements in vehicle testing systems and vehicle repair shops to evacuate vehicle emission gases from the premises concerned, so as to keep the emission of gases into said premises at the lowest possible extent. These arrangements normally include a hose which carries at one end a device for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, while the other end of the hose is connected to a suction channel. The exhaust gases are transported through the hose and channel to an outlet point located externally of the building for instance, with the aid of a fan or fan system. Naturally, the gas evacuating arrangement shall be leakage-free to the greatest possible extent, while enabling a hose connection to be fitted to the vehicle as the vehicle enters the premises and to enable the vehicle to be moved within the premises until it leaves said premises, wherewith the suction hose is disconnected from the vehicle. One object of the present invention is to provide a highly effective gas evacuating arrangement. This object is achieved with the arrangement defined in the following Claims. The inventive arrangement has many advantages over known arrangements of this kind. For instance, the inventive arrangement provides a highly impervious means for effectively transporting gas between the suction hose and the suction channel. The inventive sealing device is designed to provide an effective sealing function with the aid of gravity and suction power. In addition, the invention allows a number of different embodiments to be implemented with regard to the method in which the hose or hoses is/are transported along the suction channel. The inventive arrangement can readily be combined with different types of auxiliary devices, such as balancing blocks and parallel guide rails that are inclined to enable suction hoses to slide back automatically to an initial position. The inventive arrangement may, of course, also be used in combination with means for returning the suction hose or hoses mechanically. The inventive arrangement thus provides both technical and economical advantages. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates an inventive arrangement in perspective; and Fig. 2 is a partially open perspective view of the inventive arrangement in larger scale. The inventive arrangement includes a flexible suction hose l which carries on a first end 2 a device 3 for connection to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle, for instance an automobile 100. The other end 4 of the hose 1 communicates with a suction channel 5 through the medium of a carriage 40 that iε movable in the longitudinal direction of said channel, wherein said other hose end 4 is connected to the carriage 40. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, a balance block 6 acts between the carriage 40 and the hose l and enables the hose to be hoisted from a low position of use to a higher position in which the hose can be moved along the channel 5 without colliding with objects present in the premises. The arrangement also includes a guide rail 10, normally a ceiling-mounted rail, wherein the rail can also be used to support the suction channel 5 if so desired. The suction channel 5 of the illustrated embodiment is divided into two part-channels 5a and 5b, which are mirror images of each other. Although not shown, the part-channels 5a and 5b may be connected to an evacuation pipe and to a fan system or the like that provides the suction-operated evacuating arrangement with the requisite suction force. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide rail 10 includes a forward transport rail 10a and an outer rail loop 10b that functions as a return transport rail, said rails 10a and 10b being positioned above the part-channels 5a and 5b. The cross-sectional shape of the transport rail/guide rail 10 will best be seen from Fig. 2. The part-channels 5a and 5b are supported by the transport rail 10 through the medium of attachments ll. As before mentioned, the part-channels 5a and 5b are of mutually identical construction and are the mirror image of each other, and consequently only one, 5a, of the part- channels will be described in detail. The part-channel 5a of the illustrated embodiment has a chute-like or gutter-like configuration and includes a bottom 20, an outer side wall 21 and an inner side wall 22. The part-channel 5a also includeε a sealing end-cover 23 at respective ends thereof. The top of the part-channel 5a is closed by means of a flexible seal 24, for instance a rubber or plastic seal. The seal 24 extends along the full length of the part-channel 5a and also overlaps the end-covers 23 of said channel. The outer side edge 25 of the seal 24 that lies proximal to the outer side wall 21 is sealingly attached to an attachment part 26 of the part-channel 5a. The seal 24 has a free edge 27 which faces towards the inner side wall 22 and which rests on a ledge 28 provided at the upper edge of the inner wall 22. The free side edge 27 of the seal 24 rests on the ledge 28 under the weight of the seal while the sub-pressure prevailing in the channel acts on the seal 24 to provide a particularly effective sealing effect. A downward sloping climber plate 29 is mounted at both end-parts of the part-channel 5a. As earlier mentioned, the part-channel 5b is an identical mirror-image of the part-channel 5a and consequently those parts of the part-channel 5b that find correspondence in the part-channel 5a have been identified with the same reference signs in the drawings. The inventive arrangement also includes a box-like carriage 40 that can be moved along the length of the channel 5. Mounted on the bottom surface 42 of the carriage 40 is a socket connector 41 which enables the suction hose 1 to be connected to the arrangement with the upper end 4 of said hose communicating with said carriage 40. The carriage 40 includes a bottom 42, two side walls 43, 44 and two end walls 44, 46. The side wall 43 of said carriage 40 carries a guide rail 50 which slides on the ledge 28, but underneath the sealing edge 27 as the carriage 40 is moved along the part- channelε 5a and 5b. The side wall 44 also carries correspondingly a guide rail 50 which slides along the part- channel 5b in the aforedescribed manner. The carriage 40 also includes a carrier frame 60 which carries rotatable guide wheels 61, 62 whose size and positioning are adapted to enable the wheels to roll guidingly between the inner walls 22 of the part-channels 5a and 5b. The frame 60 also carries further guide wheels 63-66 which roll guidingly within the guide rail 10 such as to enable the carriage 40 to be moved along the guide rail 10 in an effectively guided manner in relation to the part-channels 5a and 5b. The carriage 40 alεo carries on its upper surface an arcuate cover plate 70. The cover plate 70 is anchored to the upper edges of the walls 45, 46, and the end-parts 71, 72 of said cover plate project beyond respective end walls. The free end-edges of respective end-parts 71, 72 are located essentially on the same height level as the guide rails 50. The width of the cover plate 70 is such as to enable the edge-parts of said plate to slide beneath the free edge 27 of the seals 24. Because of the arcuate shape of the cover plate 70, there is defined between the upper edge of the side wall 43 and the cover plate 70 an air gap 73. An air gap 74 is formed correspondingly between the upper edge of the εide wall 44 and the cover plate 70. When the carriage 40 is moved in a direction towards the channel 5, i.e. towards the part-channels 5a and 5b, the relevant end-part 71 or 72 of the cover plate and the guide rails 50 will enter between the seals 24 and the supportive ledge parts 28 by virtue of the presence of the climber plates 29 and a certain seal overhang, as evident from Fig. 2. As the carriage 40 moves along the part-channels 5a and 5b, the arcuate cover plate 70 functions to slidingly lift the seals 24, as a result of relevant seal sections sliding on the upper surface of the cover plate 70, so as to obtain mobile communication between the inner space of the carriage 40 and the inner space of respective part-channels 5a and 5b. It will be evident from this that the aforesaid mobile sealing function is particularly effective and beneficial. It will also be evident from the aforegoing that exhaust gases evacuated by suction through the hose 1 via the carriage 40 and the gaps 73, 74, is able to pass into the part-channels 5a and 5b. Naturally, the seals 24 will close and communication between the carriage 40 and the part-channels cease, when the carriage 40 is manoeuvred out of contact with the part-channels 5a and 5b. It will be understood that the arrangement may include an automatically functioning throttle or valve that closes the hose 1 when the suction arrangement is not in use, so as to avoid applying suction to the apparatus in the absence of exhaust gases. The inventive suction arrangement may be used in the following manner. The hose connection device 3 is connected to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle 100 in- the premises concerned, whereafter movement of the vehicle in the premises will cause the carriage 40 to be drawn along the channel 5. This movement causes the cover plate 70 to lift the seals temporarily, such that the exhaust gases are able to pass from the carriage 40 and into the part-channels 5a and 5b via the gaps 73 and 74, for further transportation of the gases from the premises. When the vehicle 100 leaves the premises, the hose connector 3 is removed from the vehicle exhaust pipe and the hose 1 is hoisted to a higher level, e.g. through the medium of a balance block or counterweight 6, and the carriage 40 with the hose 1 hanging therefrom is returned to a position adjacent the entrance to the premises in readiness for connection to the next vehicle, for instance. The hose and carriage can be returned to said position in a number of different ways. This has been exemplified in Fig. 1 with a return rail 10b which forms an additional loop. This method of returning the hose and carriage is particularly advantageous, particularly when a plurality of individual carriages 40 and suction hoses 1 are arranged to act along a channel 5. The guide rail 10b may be inclined so as to enable return of the carriages 40 and suction hoses 1 suspended therefrom to be effected under the force of gravity. However, this method of returning carriages 40 and suction hoses suspended therefrom to a starting position is only one of a number of different alternatives. For instance, when only one carriage and one suction hose is used in coaction with the suction channel 5, the carriage and the hose may be returned mechanically, wherein the carriage 40 need not leave the guide rail 10a mounted above the part-channels 5a and 5b. The carriage may, of course, also be returned manually, by gripping the hose and dragging the carriage to its starting position for connection to another vehicle. It will also be understood that the means for guiding and longitudinally transporting the carriage 40 with a suction hose l suspended therefrom may be modified in many ways within the scope of the inventive concept. It will also be understood that the carriage 40 may also be constructed to function when the channel 5 is an undivided single channel, e.g. a channel similar to part-channel 5a. In this case, the gap 74 will, of course, be closed by a cover plate and the guiding of the carriage 40 in relation to the par -channel 5a will be further supplemented with a counterpressure roll that rolls along the outer channel wall 21. It will also be understood that the illustrated means for guiding the carriage relative to the channel 5 may be modified or varied in many different ways. The invention thus provides a highly effective sealing function between the carriage 40 and the part-channels 5a and 5b, wherewith highly effective sealing is ensured between the carriage 40 and the channels 5a and 5b through the combined effect of gravity and suction subpressure as the carriage 40 is moved along the part-channels 5a and 5b as the vehicle is moved. The described and illustrated embodiments therefore have no limiting effect on the invention since changes and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the following Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A suction operated gas evacuating arrangement, particularly for evacuating vehicle exhaust gases, wherein the arrangement includes a suction hose (1) having provided on a first end (2) a device (3) for connecting the hose to the exhaust pipe of a vehicle (100) for instance, and wherein the other end (4) of the hose (1) communicates with a suction channel (5) , characterized in that the arrangement further includes a carriage (40) which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the channel (5) ; in that said second end (4) of the hose (l) is connected to the carriage (40) ; and in that the carriage (40) includes means (70) for lifting temporarily a free edge (27) of a seal (24) mounted along the suction channel (5) , such as to effect desired communication between said carriage (40) and said channel (5) . 2. An arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that one long side edge (25) of the seal (24) is connected to the channel (5); in that the other long side edge (27) of the seal (24) abuts a supportive ledge (28) ,- and in that the seal (24) is adapted to coact in the abutment of said other long side edge (27) with the supported surface (28) by virtue of the weight of said seal. 3. An arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the channel (5) is comprised of two part-channels (5a, 5b) ,- and that each part-channel (5a, 5b) carries an individual seal (24) . 4. An arrangement according to any one of Claimε 1-3, characterized in that the channel (5) or the part-channels (5a, 5b) has/have a gutter-like configuration; and in that the seal is adapted to cover an opening in the upper surface of the channel or part-channelε. 5. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that the carriage (40) has essentially a box-like configuration that includes an upwardly facing opening; in that said opening is covered by a generally arcuate cover plate (70) whose edge part or edge parts causes or cause the free edge (27) of the seal (24) to be lifted temporarily; and in that at least one gas communication gap (73, 74) or like means is provided between the cover plate (70) and the side-part (43, 44) of the box-like carriage (40) . 6. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterized in that the carriage (40) includeε means (50, 61-66) for guiding said carriage in its longitudinal movement relative to the channel (5) or the part-channels (5a, 5b) . 7. An arrangement according to any one of Claims 1-6, characterized in that the arrangement includes a rail (10) for transporting or guiding the carriage (40) .

Inventors: LARSSON BENGT, LARSSON, BENGT
Applicants: BELIMA I SKELLEFTEAA AB, LARSSON BENGT, LARSSON, BENGT
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B08B15
IPC codes: B08B15