Integrated Explosion Protection Apparatus For Supervision And Control Of Advanced Electrical Apparatuses

Abstract

The invention refers to an explosion protection system for electrical apparatuses and machineries, such as manipulators or industrial robots, located in hazardous environments, i.e. environments containing explosive concentrations of inflammable gases, dusts or vapours, comprising an air supply that applies internal pressurized air into an explosion proof enclosure. The invention is achieved by a flow- and pressure sensor arranged as an integrated unit and designed to stand high dynamic forces by having low inertia, balanced arrangement of moving parts and a movement guide, e.g. an axle with a support guide, with low friction.

1 . An explosion protection system for electrical apparatuses and machineries located in hazardous environments comprising:
 an air supply for applying internal pressurized air into at least one explosion protected proof enclosure having serial coupled sub-compartments and;   a flow and pressure sensor arranged as an integrated purge and pressure unit, having a relief valve with a balanced arrangement of moving parts, a valve movement guide, a leak air flow system for establishing a leak air flow along the valve movement guide for reducing friction within the valve, and a membrane symmetrically arranged with respect to the guide;   said system conducting a purge sequence from time to time.   
   
   
       2 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the integrated purge and pressure unit includes a purge and pressure controller unit for controlling the flow and pressure level within the enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the integrated purge and pressure unit includes a detector that detecting leak air flow before conducting a purge sequence. 
   
   
       4 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1  further comprising a feedback sensor for monitoring the pressure within the enclosure, comparing it to the pressure outside of the enclosure, and generating a feedback signal. 
   
   
       5 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a regulator valve for controlling the air pressure level and consumption within the enclosure during operation mode by activating the air supply when the pressure within the enclosure reaches a minimum level. 
   
   
       6 . A flow and pressure sensor for an explosion protection system for electrical apparatuses and machineries comprising:
 a flow and pressure sensor arranged as an integrated purge and pressure unit having a relief valve with a balanced arrangement of moving parts, a valve movement guide, a device for establishing a leak air flow along the valve movement guide for reducing the friction within the valve, and a membrane symmetrically arranged with respect to the guide.   
   
   
       7 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1  wherein said electrical apparatuses and machineries comprise manipulators 
   
   
       8 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1  wherein said electrical apparatuses and machineries comprise industrial robots. 
   
   
       9 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1  wherein said hazardous environments contain explosive concentrations of inflammable gases. 
   
   
       10 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1  wherein said hazardous environments contain explosive concentrations of dusts. 
   
   
       11 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 1  wherein said hazardous environments contain explosive concentrations of vapours. 
   
   
       12 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 4  further comprising a preventative maintenance system having at least one input. 
   
   
       13 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 12  wherein said feedback sensor further controls leak air flow to prevent uncontrolled downtime of the explosion protection system by applying the feedback signal as an input for the preventive maintenance system. 
   
   
       14 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6  wherein said system further conducts a purge sequence from time to time. 
   
   
       15 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6 , wherein the integrated purge and pressure unit includes a detector that detects leakages before conducting a purge sequence. 
   
   
       16 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6  wherein said electrical apparatuses and machineries comprise manipulators 
   
   
       17 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6  wherein said electrical apparatuses and machineries comprise industrial robots. 
   
   
       18 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6 , wherein the integrated purge and pressure unit includes a purge and pressure controller unit for controlling the flow and pressure level within the enclosure. 
   
   
       19 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6  further comprising a feedback sensor for monitoring the pressure within the enclosure, comparing it to the pressure outside of the enclosure, and generating a feedback signal. 
   
   
       20 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 19  further comprising a preventative maintenance system having at least one input. 
   
   
       21 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 20  wherein said feedback sensor further controls leak air flow to prevent uncontrolled downtime of the explosion protection system by applying the feedback signal as an input for the preventive maintenance system. 
   
   
       22 . An explosion protection system according to  claim 6 , further comprising a regulator valve for controlling the air pressure level and consumption within the enclosure during operation mode by activating the air supply when the pressure within the enclosure reaches a minimum level.