Multifunctional sleeve for a premix heat exchange cell, sleeve and support assembly, and premix heat exchange cell

Abstract

A multifunctional sleeve ( 5 ) for a premix heat exchange cell ( 1 ), said cell ( 1 ) comprising a casing ( 10 ) adapted to contain a liquid/gas heat exchanger ( 14 ) and a combustion space ( 15 ) adjacent to the exchanger ( 14 ); a door ( 20 ) adapted to be removably fastened to the casing ( 10 ) for closing the casing, in use, and adapted to be removed from the casing ( 10 ) to allow access inside the casing ( 10 ) for maintenance operations; said door ( 20 ) comprising a mixture feeding duct ( 21 ) having a first duct end ( 21′ ) fastened to the door ( 20 ) and ending up, in use, inside the casing ( 10 ) at the combustion space ( 15 ) through a door through opening ( 23 ), and a free second duct end ( 21″ ) adapted to receive an incoming fuel gas/combustion air mixture from a premixer ( 3 ), said multifunctional sleeve ( 5 ) comprising a tubular portion ( 51 ); a first fluid connection portion ( 52 ) at a first tubular portion end ( 53 ) adapted to be removably fastened to the duct end ( 21″ ); a second fluid connection portion ( 54 ) at a second tubular portion end ( 55 ), opposite to the first end, adapted to be removably fastened to a premixer outlet ( 31 ); a fastening device ( 61 ) adapted to removably fasten the multifunctional sleeve ( 5 ) to the casing ( 10 ), outside the casing ( 10 ).

1 . A multifunctional sleeve for a premix heat exchange cell, said cell comprising a casing adapted to contain a liquid/gas heat exchanger and a combustion space adjacent to the exchanger;
 a door adapted to be removably fastened to the casing for closing the casing, in use, and adapted to be removed from the casing to allow access inside the casing for maintenance operations;   said door comprising a mixture feeding duct having a first duct end connected to a door through opening and ending up inside the casing at the combustion space, said mixture feeding duct having a free second duct end suitable for receiving an incoming fuel gas/combustion air mixture from a premixer;   said multifunctional sleeve comprising:   a tubular portion;   a first fluidic connection portion at a first tubular portion end, adapted to be removably fastened to the second duct end;   a second fluidic connection portion at a second tubular portion end, opposite to the first end, suitable for being removably fastened to the premixer;   a fastening device adapted to removably fasten the multifunctional sleeve to the casing, outside the casing.   
     
     
         2 . A sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening device comprises sliding engagement means adapted to fasten the multifunctional sleeve to the casing by means of at least one sliding movement between the multifunctional sleeve and the casing along a predefined sliding direction between an insertion position and a locking position. 
     
     
         3 . A sleeve according to  claim 2 , wherein the sliding engagement means comprise a connection portion defined by a sliding surface, an opposite retaining surface, a sliding slit passing through the connection portion between the sliding surface and the retaining surface and extending along the sliding direction. 
     
     
         4 . A sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the fastening device comprises reference means for guiding the sleeve along the sliding direction and preventing further movements of the sleeve when it is in the locking position. 
     
     
         5 . A sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic connection portion comprises a first flange defining a first flange end surface, said first flange end surface being an at least partially flat surface. 
     
     
         6 . A sleeve according to  claim 5 , wherein the first flange end surface is substantially parallel to the sliding surface. 
     
     
         7 . A sleeve according to  claim 5 , wherein the first flange end surface is inclined with respect to the sliding surface. 
     
     
         8 . A sleeve according  claim 1 , wherein the first fluidic connection portion comprises a valve seat for receiving a check valve therein. 
     
     
         9 . A sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fluidic connection portion comprises a second flange, said second flange having a second flange inner cross-section formed by two rectangles rotated to each other. 
     
     
         10 . A sleeve according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular portion has a tubular portion inner cross-section gradually varying from a first geometric shape at the first fluidic connection portion to a second geometric shape at the second fluidic connection portion, which is different from the first geometric shape. 
     
     
         11 . A multifunctional sleeve and multifunctional sleeve support assembly comprising:
 a multifunctional sleeve according to  claim 1 ;   a multifunctional sleeve support comprising a support coupling portion which can be removably coupled to the fastening device for removably retaining the multifunctional sleeve, said multifunctional sleeve support being integral with, or adapted to be integral with, the casing.   
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the sliding engagement means can be slidably engaged with the support coupling portion by means of at least one sliding movement between the multifunctional sleeve and the multifunctional sleeve support along a predefined sliding direction between an insertion position and a locking position. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the support coupling portion comprises a sliding counter-surface along which the sliding surface may slide, and a pin portion projecting from the sliding counter-surface adapted to be slidably engaged in the sliding slit, said pin portion comprising a widened end head adapted to be engaged by an undercut against the retaining surface. 
     
     
         14 . A premix heat exchange cell comprising:
 a casing adapted to contain a liquid/gas heat exchanger and a combustion space adjacent to the exchanger;   a door adapted to be removably fastened to the casing for closing the casing, in use, and adapted to be removed from the casing to allow access inside the casing for maintenance operations;   said door comprising a mixture feeding duct having a first duct end connected to a door through opening and ending up inside the casing at the combustion space, said mixture feeding duct having a free second duct end adapted to receive an incoming fuel gas/combustion air mixture from a premixer;   a multifunctional sleeve comprising:   a tubular portion;   a first fluidic connection portion at a first tubular portion end, adapted to be removably fastened to the second duct end;   a second fluidic connection portion at a second tubular portion end, opposite to the first end, suitable for being removably fastened to the premixer;   a fastening device adapted to removably fasten the multifunctional sleeve to the casing, outside the casing.   
     
     
         15 . A premix heat exchange cell comprising:
 a casing adapted to contain a liquid/gas heat exchanger and a combustion space adjacent to the exchanger;   a door adapted to be removably fastened to the casing for closing the casing, in use, and adapted to be removed from the casing to allow access inside the casing for maintenance operations;   said door comprising a mixture feeding duct having a first duct end connected to a door through opening and ending up inside the casing at the combustion space, said mixture feeding duct having a free second duct end suitable for receiving an incoming fuel gas/combustion air mixture from a premixer;   a multifunctional sleeve and multifunctional sleeve support assembly according to  claim 11 .   
     
     
         16 . A cell according to  claim 15 , wherein the door can be removed from the casing along a predefined removal direction, and wherein the first flange end surface is substantially parallel, in use, to the predefined door removal direction. 
     
     
         17 . A cell according to  claim 15 , wherein the door can be removed from the casing along a predefined removal direction and wherein the predefined sliding direction of the sleeve is substantially parallel, in use, to the predefined removal direction. 
     
     
         18 . A cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the door can be removed from the casing along a predefined removal direction, and wherein the first flange end surface is substantially parallel, in use, to the predefined door removal direction. 
     
     
         19 . A cell according to  claim 14 , wherein the door can be removed from the casing along a predefined removal direction and wherein the predefined sliding direction of the sleeve is substantially parallel, in use, to the predefined removal direction.