, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present disclosure generally relates to a fume extraction system for a heating arrangement in manufacturing. More particularly, the present invention relates to fume extraction system in the hot bending machine such as a system bender used for bending of tubes and pipes. These tubes and pipes are further used in power plant fabrication.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION
[002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[003] A system bender is a highly automated bending machine used for the purpose of bending of tubes which are used for the manufacturing of panel and coils for high-pressure boiler application. By loading the data pre-set through the operation board, this tube bending machine automatically bends rightward and leftward when long-length tubes are inserted in the forwarding unit in an uninterrupted manner. A system bender is capable of uninterrupted multiple numbers of bending modes including the cold bending and hot bending process in a full-fledged manner. A bending machine contains mainly the main bender, auxiliary bender, and hot bender. The main bender and auxiliary benders are being used for cold bending of the tubes but the hot bender is being used for bending of a tube in heated condition. A bending machine is equipped with the high-frequency heating system to bend the thick-walled tubes as well as to implement the highly sophisticated bending process.
[004] A system bender machine is capable of bending a tube having a diameter in the range of 31.8 mm to 63.5 mm and thickness in the range of 3.2 mm to 12.0 mm. The length of the base tube that can be bent on this machine can be up to a length of 72 meters. A composition of carbon steel, low alloy steel, and stainless steel is used as a base tube for bending in the bending machine.
[005] If the bending radius (where R/D ratio varies from 1.0 to 1.1) and the bending thickness are small, or the bending thickness is large and the bending capacity is insufficient, the predefined bending shape can be obtained by heating the inner lateral side of the tube. A tube support roller and a clamping roller are mounted in front and back of the heater coil. A heating system and a support roll are moved forward and backward, or upward and downward, by each hydraulic cylinder. The maximum heating temperature which can be generated through an inbuilt induction heating coil is up to 1100 degree centigrade.
[006] Now, reference may be made to the following prior arts: -
[007] EP3249479A1, discloses a fume extraction apparatus comprising an extraction pump, and the apparatus comprises a first interface for connection to a process equipment, and a second interface for connection to a system controller, wherein the apparatus comprises an intra-connection to enable signals to be communicated between the first interface and the second interface.
[008] US5788918A discloses a dross press enclosed within a cabinet which is normally maintained at a negative pressure relative to ambient air pressure. The cabinet is provided with locked doors to prevent egress of explosive gases or pieces of metal. The cabinet is also equipped with safety vents at a high level to prevent the destruction of the cabinet by internal explosions. The cabinet also is provided with a fan for extracting fumes therefrom. The fan is connected to a purifier to treat the extracted fumes and air inlet holes in the press head so that the fan may draw air through the head for cooling.
[009] US8892222B2 discloses a fume extraction system which includes a fume hood located at the end of an articulated exhaust duct robotic arm. Three pairs of photoelectric sensors are provided on the fume hood to sense the presence of an electric welding arc. The system includes a control unit that generates command signals for the arm based on signals received from the sensors so as to automatically position the hood over the arc and maintain a predetermined height distance between them.
[010] The above-cited prior art(s) is broadly based on the conventional fume extraction process but there has been no mention of a fume extraction system in the tube or pipes bending process carried out through a system bender machine. Also, it has still been observed that harmful fumes evolve during heating of tubes and pipes during an induction heating of tube undergoing the bending process. The cause of fumes may be attributed to tube heating carried out at high temperatures, burning off paint coated on tubes and pipes or any other foreign particle burning. The fumes generated during heating may cause some severe health problems to a machine operator in the longer run. All the generated fumes accumulate in the working environment and thus create unpleasant and harmful circumstances. Therefore, operators who operate the bending machine do not feel comfortable to work in such circumstances due to the accumulated fumes.
[011] In the view of the above-cited problems, there is a need for an advanced fume extraction system in a hot bending machine such as a system bender used for bending of tubes and pipes.
[012] However, none of the above can fulfill the requirements of the present invention for which it is designed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[013] It is an object of the present disclosure to propose fume extraction system for a hot bending process which obviates shortcomings of prior art and is simple in construction.
[014] An object of the invention is to propose fume extraction system for a hot bending process that can extract fumes from a hot bending area.
[015] Another object of the invention is to propose fume extraction system for a hot bending process to provide a safe environment to an operator during a hot bending process.
[016] Still another object of the present invention is to provide fume extraction system for a hot bending process having at least one important aspect of the Health Safety and Environment (HSE) policy.
[017] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[018] One or more drawbacks of conventional systems and process are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the apparatus and a method as claimed in the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be part of the claimed disclosure.
[019] According to this invention, there is provided a fume extraction system, for removal of fumes during a hot bending process in a bending machine, comprises:
a fume collector bracket for the collection of fumes generated from the bending machine;
a plurality of nozzles are provided on a header, accommodated inside the fume collector bracket;
a hose, upper end of which is connected to the fume collector bracket through a pipe connector for the flow of fumes and lower end of which is connected to a blower for sucking of generated fumes; and
a chimney is connected to the blower for the flow of fumes from the chimney to an open atmosphere.
[020] The fume collector bracket comprises a guiding plate placed on the header.
[021] The hose creates negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure at the entry of the nozzle and the blower creates a negative pressure at the entry point of the nozzle so that fumes can be collected efficiently through the nozzle.
[022] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
[023] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[024] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPAYING DRAWINGS
[025] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein: -
FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic arrangement of a fume extraction system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate the various components of a fume extraction system in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[026] The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[027] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[028] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a",” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[030] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[031] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[032] Embodiments explained herein pertain to the present invention is directed towards providing for fume extraction system for a hot bending process.
[033] A fume extractor is a system utilizing a fan to pull fumes and particulate into a filtration system cleaning the air of harmful chemicals and particulates. Industrial processes create fumes or particles such as welding, sanding, grinding, spraying, powder filling, and chemical applications. Fume extractors use a variety of filters while some systems, depending upon the application, use multiple filters in line. The combination of the powerful fan and high-quality filtration media creates a recirculating air pattern for ductless units. Because of the airflow, ductwork or costly replacement air is not required. These units take up less space, weigh less, are more energy-efficient, and have easy access to change filters.
[034] Now, reference may be made to FIG. 1 illustrating a schematic arrangement of a fume extraction system (100) in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system (100) as shown in FIG.1 has a nozzle–header type arrangement comprising of different components connected in a systematic manner depending upon the individual functionality of such components.
[035] Disclosed herein and as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a fume collector bracket (102) comprises of a nozzle – header arrangement wherein a set of nozzles (101) is provided on a header (103) through a guiding plate (108) placed on the surface of the header (103). The guiding plate (108) as illustrated in FIG. 4 has an advantage that it prevents the leakage and spreading of fumes once they are collected via the nozzles (101). The nozzle (101) is made for the collection of fumes and located near to the heating zone during bending of tubes or pipes in a bending machine. Further, the fumes received from the nozzles (101) are collected in the header (103) and supplied through a hose (105) connected to the header (103) via a pipe connector (104).
[036] In an example, the fume collector bracket (102) is an arrangement of 8 nozzles and the guiding plate (108) to collect fumes during heating operation. The purpose behind the use of a set of 8 nozzles is to cover a maximum possible heating area on the bending machine which releases the fumes during the bending process. Thus, the number of nozzles is determined according to heating area coverage. Thus, the number of nozzles may increase or decrease accordingly. The nozzle – header arrangement is placed below the heating system in such a manner that it does not disturb the electrical heating system and other arrangements in the bending machine.
[037] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the header (103) where the fumes are collected from the nozzles is connected to the hose (105) through the pipe connector (104) made of a flexible material. The hose (105) is thereby connected to a blower (106) so as to create negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure at the entry of nozzle (101) to collect the fumes. Also, the blower (106) creates a negative pressure at the entry point of the nozzle so that fumes can be collected efficiently through the nozzle (101). Thereafter, the collected fumes are blown out by a chimney (107), which receives the fumes from the blower (106), in which the chimney is placed in the open atmosphere.
[038] The fume extraction system (100) has been designed and developed in such a way that the system (100) is very compact does not disturb any arrangement in the existing system of operation of the bending machine.
[039] Certain precautions become mandatory during the installation of the fume extractor system (100) so that bending operation, electrical and hydraulic line is not disturbed. The precautionary measures can be listed hereinunder:-
[040] The system (100) is made in such a way that it must not restrict the tubes or pipe movement from a carriage to a heating coil because space is very concise at the tube heating area.
[041] The exhaust system should not disturb the electrical line of heating arrangement.
[042] The system should not disturb the carriage movement from one end to other end.
[043] The exhaust system is very compact and in line with machine bender terminal movement and matched fully with machine available space.
OBSERVATION
[044] From above we observe that the fume generated during tube / pipe heating is not spreading in the working atmosphere and fully collected. Earlier all the generated fume was in the working environment and create unpleasant and harmful circumstances. Therefore, operators were not feeling easy to work here. It also helped to increase the output of the machine. The newly developed fume extraction system is working very successfully.
Reference numerals
Reference Number Description
100 Fume extraction system
101 Nozzle
102 Fume collector bracket
103 Header
104 Pipe Connector
105 Hose
106 Blower
107 Chimney
108 Guiding plate

[045] Further, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its scope.
[046] Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to form new embodiments.
[047] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
EQUIVALENTS:
[048] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention. When a single device or article is described herein, it will be apparent that more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), it will be apparent that a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article or a different number of devices/articles may be used instead of the shown number of devices or programs. The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of the invention need not include the device itself.
[049] The specification has described a fume extraction system in the hot bending machine such as a system bender machine used for bending of tubes and pipes which are further used in fabrication of power plants.
[050] Finally, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based here on. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

Claims:1. A fume extraction system (100), for removal of fumes during a hot bending process in a bending machine, comprises:
a fume collector bracket (102) for the collection of fumes generated from the bending machine;
a plurality of nozzles (101) are provided on a header (103), accommodated inside the fume collector bracket (102);
a hose (105), upper end of which is connected to the fume collector bracket (102) through a pipe connector (104) for the flow of fumes and lower end of which is connected to a blower (106) for sucking of generated fumes; and
a chimney (107) is connected to the blower (106) for the flow of fumes from the chimney (107) to an open atmosphere.
2. The fume extraction system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fume collector bracket (102) comprises a guiding plate (108) placed on the header (103).
3. The fume extraction system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hose (105) creates negative pressure with respect to the atmospheric pressure at the entry of the nozzle (101) and the blower (106) creates a negative pressure at the entry point of the nozzle so that fumes can be collected efficiently through the nozzle (101).