CN107448438B

CN107448438B - Diffuser and diffuser assembly for pressurized fluids

Info

Publication number: CN107448438B
Application number: CN201610373033.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王伟; 马毅; 孔德强
Original assignee: Bosch Rexroth Changzhou Co Ltd
Current assignee: Bosch Rexroth Changzhou Co Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-30
Filing date: 2016-05-30
Publication date: 2020-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-30
Also published as: CN107448438A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a diffuser for a pressurized fluid, comprising: a container for receiving pressurized fluid, the container having an opening, a bottom wall opposite the opening, and a sidewall extending between the opening and the bottom wall; a plurality of discharge channels formed on a sidewall of the container; and a first cone disposed within the container and on the bottom wall, a tip of the first cone facing an opening of the container. The invention also relates to a diffuser assembly comprising a plurality of such diffusers. According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the generation of bubbles or reduce bubbles in the discharged fluid and to avoid or reduce the spread of dirt.

Description

Diffuser and diffuser assembly for pressurized fluids

Technical Field

The present invention relates to pressurised fluids, and in particular to a diffuser for pressurised fluids and a diffuser assembly comprising a plurality of such diffusers.

Background

The pressurized fluid typically flows out of the pipeline at a relatively high velocity, which generates a large number of bubbles and agitates the previously expelled fluid. For example, in a hydraulic system, hydraulic oil returning from a return line to a tank may, due to a large flow rate, exert a large flow impact pressure on the hydraulic oil in the tank, which may result in turbulence in the tank and the generation of a large number of air bubbles. If the time for the hydraulic oil to recirculate is too short or the tank size is small, air bubbles are less likely to escape from the hydraulic oil, which can lead to the diffusion of air bubbles and dirt in the tank and into the lines of the hydraulic system, creating a harsh beep of hydraulic oil flow and causing cavitation of the hydraulic pump. To avoid these problems during operation of the hydraulic system, it is common practice to increase the volume of the tank. However, the increase in the volume of the fuel tank is also restricted due to the limitations of cost and installation space.

To solve this problem, for example, CN203614515U discloses a hydraulic system oil bubble eliminator for bulldozer. However, the effect of eliminating bubbles by such an oil bubble eliminator is not ideal.

Accordingly, there is a need for improvements to existing diffusers for pressurized fluids.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art described above and to propose a diffuser for a pressurized fluid. Such a diffuser for pressurized fluid can reduce the flow rate of the pressurized fluid, thereby avoiding or reducing the generation of air bubbles and reducing the impact on previously discharged fluid.

To this end, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diffuser for a pressurized fluid, comprising:

a container for receiving pressurized fluid, the container having an opening, a bottom wall opposite the opening, and a sidewall extending between the opening and the bottom wall;

a plurality of discharge channels formed on a sidewall of the container; and

a first cone disposed within the container and on the bottom wall, a tip of the first cone facing an opening of the container.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diffuser assembly for a pressurized fluid, comprising:

a cylindrical flow splitter having an opening formed at a top end, a bottom wall at a bottom end, and a side wall extending between the top end and the bottom end; and

a plurality of diffusers as described above, uniformly circumferentially connected to the side wall of the flow splitter and in fluid communication with the inside of the flow splitter.

According to the diffuser for pressurized fluid of the present invention, when the pressurized fluid flows onto the first cone, the pressurized fluid is uniformly dispersed in the circumferential direction of the first cone and divided into a plurality of divided flows through the discharge passage on the container. Since the area of the discharge channel is significantly increased, the flow rate of each partial flow will be drastically reduced, and the pressurized fluid uniformly flows out from the diffuser mainly in a laminar state. As a result, the pressurized fluid flowing out of the diffuser is gently mixed with the previously discharged fluid, which will significantly reduce the impact on the previously discharged fluid, and thus, no air bubbles will be generated or the generated air bubbles will be significantly reduced, and the dirt in the fluid will not be easily spread.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a diffuser for returning hydraulic oil to a tank in a hydraulic system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the diffuser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a diffuser assembly for returning hydraulic oil to a tank in a hydraulic system according to the present invention; and

fig. 4 is a front view of the diffuser assembly shown in fig. 3.

Detailed Description

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to examples. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that these exemplary embodiments are not meant to limit the invention in any way.

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a diffuser for returning hydraulic oil to a tank in a hydraulic system according to the present invention, and fig. 2 is a front view of the diffuser shown in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a diffuser 1 for returning hydraulic oil to a tank in a hydraulic system according to the present invention includes a tank 3 for receiving hydraulic oil from a return line (not shown), the tank 3 having an opening 3a, a bottom wall 3b opposite to the opening 3a, and a side wall 3c extending between the opening 3a and the bottom wall 3 b. The side wall 3c is provided with a plurality of discharge passages 5 for discharging hydraulic oil from the reservoir 3, for example, to a tank (not shown). The diffuser 1 further comprises a first cone 7 located inside the container 3 and arranged on the bottom wall 3b of the container 3 and a joint 9 arranged at the opening 3a of the container 3. The tip of the first cone 7 is directed towards the opening 3a of the container 3. The connection 9 is used to connect the diffuser 1 to, for example, a return line.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 1 and 2, the container 3 is shown as comprising a base plate 11 forming the bottom wall 3b of the container 3 and a plurality of annular plates 13 concentrically superposed to form the side walls of the container 3. The annular plate 13 is preferably a galvanized steel plate or a stainless steel plate. The container 3 is formed by joining a plurality of annular plates 13 and the base plate 11 together by bolts 15 passing through holes 13a in the annular plates and holes 11a in the base plate 11 and nuts 17 screwed onto the bolts 15. In the figures the bolts 15 and the corresponding nuts 17 are shown as three each, but it will be appreciated that the bolts 15 and the corresponding nuts 17 may be two or more than three. In order to form the discharge channel 5 on the side wall of the container 3, spacers 19 are provided between adjacent annular plates 13 and around the bolts 15, through which the bolts 15 pass, so that a circumferential gap 21 is formed between adjacent annular plates 13, which gap constitutes the discharge channel 5. The container 3 thus formed can be changed in the number of discharge passages 5 and the size of the discharge passages 5 as needed by increasing or decreasing the number of the annular plates 13 and increasing or decreasing the thickness of the spacers 19. It will be appreciated that the base plate 11, annular plate 13 and spacer 19 may also be fixedly connected together, such as by a welded connection. Of course, the container 3 may also be formed as a one-piece container, with discharge channels such as circumferentially elongated openings being formed uniformly in the container side wall.

Although the nipple 9 with the internal thread 9a may be welded to the uppermost annular plate 13 forming the side wall of the vessel 3, it is preferable that the bolt 15 also passes through the through hole 9b on the nipple 9 to connect the nipple 9 to the vessel 3. In use, the internal threads 9a of the fitting 9 engage with external threads on the return line to connect the diffuser 1 to the return line. It will be appreciated that the fitting 9 may be externally threaded and the return line internally threaded to connect the diffuser 1 to the return line. Of course, in the case where the container 3 is formed as a one-piece container, an internal thread or an external thread may be directly formed at the opening of the container, so that the joint 9 may be omitted.

The first cone 7 is preferably a cone, although the cross-section of the first cone 7 taken perpendicular to the plane of the paper as shown in fig. 2 may be a polygon, in particular a regular polygon. The first cone 7 may be integrally formed with the bottom wall 3b of the container 3, i.e. the base plate 11, but the first cone 7 is preferably detachably mounted to the bottom wall 3b of the container 3, i.e. the base plate 11. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom surface of the first cone 7 projects with a threaded extension shaft 7 a. The extension shaft 7a of the first cone 7 passes from inside the container 3 through the bottom wall 3b of the container 3, i.e. the central hole 11b in the base plate 11, so that the first cone 7 is fixed to the bottom wall 3b of the container 3, i.e. the base plate 11, by means of a nut 23 screwed onto the extension shaft 7 a. Of course, it is also possible to form an internally threaded recess on the bottom surface of the first cone 7, into which a bolt is screwed that passes through the bottom wall 3b, i.e. the central hole 11b in the base plate 11, to fix the first cone 7 to the bottom wall 3b, i.e. the base plate 11, of the container 3.

As mentioned above, in use, the diffuser 1 is connected to the return line by the joint 9 and is immersed in the hydraulic oil in the tank. Hydraulic oil from the return line flows into the diffuser 1 at an extremely high velocity in the direction indicated by arrow a in fig. 2. When the hydraulic oil flows onto the first cone 7, the hydraulic oil is evenly dispersed in the circumferential direction of the first cone 7 and divided into a plurality of partial flows through the discharge passage 5 on the container 3. Since the area of the discharge passage 5 is significantly increased, the flow rate of each divided flow will be sharply decreased, and the hydraulic oil will uniformly flow out from the diffuser 1 mainly in a laminar state. As a result, the hydraulic oil flowing out from the diffuser 1 is gently mixed with the hydraulic oil existing in the tank, which will significantly reduce the impact on the hydraulic oil existing in the tank, and thus, no air bubbles will be generated in the tank or the generated air bubbles will be significantly reduced, and dirt in the tank will not easily spread.

The diffuser shown in fig. 1 and 2 has a particularly good effect on reducing air bubble generation and preventing dirt from spreading when the hydraulic oil in the return line enters the tank at a relatively low flow rate, for example, less than 300L/min, but the effect becomes progressively worse as the flow rate is progressively increased when the flow rate is greater than 300L/min. To provide good results in terms of reducing air bubble generation and preventing dirt diffusion at high flow rates, a diffuser assembly 25 as shown in fig. 3 and 4 may be employed.

Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a diffuser assembly for returning hydraulic oil to a tank in a hydraulic system according to the present invention, and fig. 4 is a front view of the diffuser assembly shown in fig. 3. As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the diffuser assembly 25 includes a generally cylindrical flow splitter 27, the flow splitter 27 being formed with an opening 27a at a top end, a bottom end opposite the top end being closed by a bottom wall 27b, and a side wall 27c extending between the top and bottom ends. Inside the flow splitter 27 is a second cone 29 on the bottom wall 27 b. At least two diffusers 1 as described above are provided on the side wall 27c of the flow divider 27, uniformly arranged along the circumferential direction. The number of diffusers may vary according to the flow rate of the returned hydraulic oil. In the preferred embodiment, four diffusers 1 are uniformly circumferentially connected to the side wall 27c of the flow divider 27 and are in fluid communication with the inside of the flow divider 27 through the openings 3a of the diffusers 1. The diffuser 1 may be threaded or welded to the side wall 27c of the flow splitter 27.

Although the flow divider 27 may have an internal or external thread at its opening 27a for threaded connection with the return line, in high flow conditions, due to the relatively thick return line, a flange 31 is provided at the opening 27a of the flow divider 27 for bolted interconnection with a corresponding flange on the return line for connecting the diffuser assembly 25 to the return line.

The second taper 29 is preferably a cone, although the cross section of the second taper 29 taken perpendicular to the paper surface may be a polygon, particularly a regular polygon. The second cone 29 may be integrally formed with the bottom wall 27b of the flow splitter 27, but preferably the second cone 29 is removably mounted to the bottom wall 27b of the flow splitter 27. Of course, it is also possible to not provide the second cone 29 in the diffuser assembly 25.

In use, the diffuser assembly 25 is connected to the return line by a flange 31 and immersed in the hydraulic oil in the tank. When the hydraulic oil from the return line flows into the diffuser assembly 25 at a large flow rate, the hydraulic oil 2 is first uniformly dispersed in the circumferential direction of the second cone 29 and then flows into the plurality of diffusers 1. The hydraulic oil flowing into the diffuser 1 is evenly dispersed and divided into a plurality of partial flows in the same manner as in the preferred embodiment described above with respect to fig. 1 and 2. Thus, even if the flow rate of the hydraulic oil from the oil return line is large, no air bubbles will be generated in the oil tank or the generated air bubbles will be significantly reduced through two times of dispersion and diversion, and dirt in the oil tank is not easily spread.

The present invention has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments. It is to be understood that both the foregoing description and the embodiments shown in the drawings are to be considered exemplary and not restrictive of the invention. For example, although in the preferred embodiment the diffuser and diffuser assembly is described as being used to reduce air bubbles from hydraulic oil from a return line of a hydraulic system and to avoid or reduce the spread of contaminants in a tank, it will be appreciated that the diffuser and diffuser assembly according to the present invention may be used to reduce air bubbles from any pressurized fluid, such as a high pressure water stream, and to avoid or reduce the spread of contaminants caused thereby. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, and these changes and modifications do not depart from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A diffuser (1) for a pressurized fluid, comprising:

a container (3) for receiving a pressurized fluid, the container (3) having an opening (3a), a bottom wall (3b) opposite the opening (3a), and a side wall (3c) extending between the opening (3a) and the bottom wall (3 b);

a plurality of discharge channels (5) formed on the side wall (3c) of the container (3); and

a first cone (7) arranged inside the container (3) and on the bottom wall (3b), the tip of the first cone (7) facing the opening (3a) of the container (3);

wherein the container (3) comprises a base plate (11) forming a bottom wall (3b) of the container (3), a plurality of annular plates (13) concentrically superposed to form a side wall (3c) of the container (3), and a gasket (19) located between adjacent annular plates (13) so as to define the discharge channel (5) on the side wall (3c), the base plate (11), the plurality of annular plates (13) and the gasket (19) being fixed together to form the container (3);

the base plate (11), the plurality of annular plates (13), and the spacer (19) are fixed together by a bolt (15) passing through them and a nut (17) screwed onto the bolt (15).

2. Diffuser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said diffuser (1) further comprises a joint (9) provided at the opening (3a) of said container (3), said joint (9) being also connected to said container (3) by said bolts (15).

3. Diffuser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said first cone (7) is a cone.

4. Diffuser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said plurality of discharge channels (5) is a plurality of circumferentially elongated openings uniformly formed on a lateral wall (3c) of said container (3).

5. Diffuser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pressurized fluid is hydraulic oil returned to a tank from a return line of a hydraulic system.

6. A diffuser assembly (25) for a pressurized fluid, comprising:

a tubular flow diverter (27), the flow diverter (27) having an opening (27a) formed at a top end, a bottom wall (27b) at a bottom end, and a side wall (27c) extending between the top end and the bottom end; and

a plurality of diffusers (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, uniformly circumferentially connected to the side wall (27c) of said flow splitter (27) and in fluid communication with the inside of said flow splitter (27).

7. The diffuser assembly (25) as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a second cone (29) disposed inside the flow splitter (27) and on the bottom wall (27b) of the flow splitter (27), the tip of the second cone (29) facing an opening (27a) of the flow splitter (27).

8. The diffuser assembly (25) as set forth in claim 6 further including a flange (31) disposed at an opening (27a) of said flow splitter (27).

9. The diffuser assembly (25) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second cone (29) is a cone.