Manifold for controlling airflow within an explosion-proof enclosure

• US 9,553,435 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2011
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Manahan, Joseph Michael, DeCarr, Graig E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): TIGHE, DANA K
• Application Number:
  US13/331,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20120164933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 454/184, 454/251, 454/341, 454/188, 454/191, 454/193, 454/194
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/088 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings or inlets

Abstract

A manifold within an explosion-proof enclosure is described herein. The manifold can include an inlet duct coupled to an air moving device, where the inlet duct can receive exhaust air from the air moving device. The manifold can further include an outlet duct that includes a perimeter and at least one channel, where the outlet duct can send the exhaust air outside the explosion-proof enclosure, where the perimeter of the outlet duct is coupled to a first portion of an inner surface of an outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, and where the first portion of the inner surface includes at least one aperture that traverses the outer wall. The manifold can also include a body that includes a cavity, where the body couples the inlet duct to the at least one channel, and where the exhaust air flows from the inlet duct through the cavity to the outlet duct.

Claims

1. A manifold within an explosion-proof enclosure, the manifold comprising:

a housing having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end abuts against an inner surface of an outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure;

an inlet duct coupled to an air moving device and disposed within the first end of the housing, wherein the inlet duct is configured to receive exhaust air from the air moving device;

an outlet duct comprising a first perimeter and at least one channel, wherein the outlet duct is disposed within the second end of the housing, wherein the outlet duct is configured to send the exhaust air outside the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the first perimeter of the outlet duct is coupled to a first portion of the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the first portion of the inner surface comprises at least one aperture that traverses the outer wall;

a body comprising a cavity and disposed within the housing between the first end and the second end of the housing, wherein the body couples the inlet duct to the at least one channel, and wherein the exhaust air flows from the inlet duct through the cavity to the outlet duct; and

a bracket that abuts against and overlaps an outer surface of the outlet duct adjacent to the first perimeter of the outlet duct to secure the outlet duct to the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the bracket is coupled to a second portion of the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the second portion encompasses the first portion,

wherein the explosion-proof enclosure, when the bracket abuts against and overlaps the outer surface of the outlet duct, and when the bracket abuts against and is coupled to the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, meets applicable industry standards for the explosion-proof enclosure.

2. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the bracket further comprises a plurality of first fastening receivers positioned between a second perimeter of the bracket and the first perimeter of the outlet duct, wherein the plurality of first fastening receivers are configured to receive a plurality of fastening devices, wherein the plurality of fastening devices are configured to couple the bracket and the housing to the second portion of the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure.

3. The manifold of claim 2, wherein the bracket forms a seal against the second portion of the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the seal creates a positive pressure within the explosion-proof enclosure.

4. The manifold of claim 2, further comprising:

a gasket positioned between the second perimeter of the bracket and the second portion of the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure.

5. The manifold of claim 4, wherein the plurality of fastening devices are further configured to traverse a plurality of second fastening receivers in the gasket.

6. The manifold of claim 1, further comprising:

a gasket positioned between the first perimeter of the outlet duct and the first portion of the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure.

7. The manifold of claim 1, wherein at least one exhaust air filter assembly is coupled to and traverses the at least one aperture in the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the at least one exhaust air filter assembly is located within the first perimeter in the first portion, and wherein the least one exhaust air filter assembly is configured to receive the exhaust air from the at least one channel of the outlet duct and send the exhaust air outside of the explosion-proof enclosure.

8. The manifold of claim 7, wherein the exhaust air sent outside of the explosion-proof enclosure has a first temperature, wherein the first temperature is less than a second temperature of the exhaust air entering the inlet duct of the manifold.

9. The manifold of claim 7, wherein the at least one exhaust air filter assembly comprises a sintered material.

10. The manifold of claim 7, wherein the at least one exhaust air filter assembly is threadably coupled to the at least one aperture in the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure.

11. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed from at least one material selected from a group consisting of rubber, metal, and plastic.

12. The manifold of claim 11, wherein when the housing is constructed from rubber, the rubber comprises ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber.

13. The manifold of claim 1, wherein the inlet duct is vertically centered at a center of the first perimeter.

14. The manifold of claim 13, wherein the at least one channel comprises a plurality of channels, wherein each channel of the plurality of channels is spaced equidistantly from the center of the first perimeter.

15. The manifold of claim 14, wherein the at least one channel comprises a plurality of channels, wherein the housing further comprises at least one divider disposed at the second end of the housing, wherein the at least one divider separates each of the plurality of channels and is configured to increase flow of the exhaust air to the outlet duct.

16. A method for controlling flow of exhaust air through an explosion-proof enclosure using a manifold, the method comprising:

receiving, using an inlet duct disposed in a first end of a housing of the manifold, the exhaust air, wherein the manifold is located inside the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the exhaust air is generated by an air moving device;

channeling, through a body disposed in a portion of the housing of the manifold adjacent to the first end and using a positive pressure created by a seal formed between a second end of the housing of the manifold and a portion of an inner surface of an outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, the exhaust air toward the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure; and

sending, through an outlet duct disposed in the second end of the housing of the manifold, the exhaust air through at least one aperture in the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the at least one aperture in the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure is located within the portion of the inner surface of the outer wall, wherein a second end of the housing of the manifold abuts against the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the first perimeter of the outlet duct is encompassed by a bracket of the manifold, wherein the bracket abuts against and overlaps an outer surface of the outlet duct adjacent to the first perimeter of the outlet duct to secure the outlet duct to the explosion-proof enclosure, wherein the bracket is coupled to the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure,

wherein the explosion-proof enclosure, when the bracket of the manifold abuts against and overlaps the outer surface of the outlet duct, and when the bracket is coupled to the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure, meets applicable industry standards for an explosion-proof enclosure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one aperture in the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure is traversed by and coupled to at least one exhaust air filter assembly, wherein the exhaust air passes through the at least one air exhaust filter assembly to exit the explosion-proof enclosure.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the exhaust air is channeled using a divider to reduce turbulence of the exhaust air.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the seal is formed using the bracket that secures the outlet duct of the manifold against the inner surface of the outer wall of the explosion-proof enclosure.