IES63486B2 - Multi-purpose enclosure for manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-purpose enclosure for manufacturing comprises a substantially closable compartment (1) locatable within a manufacturing plant. The compartment has air supply (4) and venting means (5,6) which are independent of those of the manufacturing plant, whereby contaminated air resulting from a manufacturing operation conducted within the compartment is prevented from entering the manufacturing plant. The compartment is thermally isolated from the plant and is provided with a roof, walls (2) and doors (3) incorporating insulating material. It is provided with a spray booth having a water pump means and wash back, whereby a water cascade may be created during a spraying operation. The enclosure includes at least one of spraying, linishing, grinding or heating means.

Description

MULTI-PURPOSE ENCLOSURE FOR MANUFACTURING » The present invention relates to a multi-purpose enclosure for use in a manufacturing environment where different manufacturing operations can be carried out within the enclosure at different times during a manufacturing process. It has particular application in, but it is not limited to, use in the production and refurbishment of electric motors.

In a factory environment such as a manufacturing plant for rewinding and refurbishment of electric motors, various operations must be carried out at different stages during the manufacturing process. For example, spraying, heating and cooling, grinding, burning and linishing steps are performed. It is desirable that such steps be conducted in a physically separate location in the plant. As an example, metallic dust is generated during the grinding, burning and linishing steps, and the rest of the plant needs to be kept free of this dust. Thus, the locations where these operations are conducted must be physically separated from the rest of the factory, or these steps must be carried out in batch, punctuated by workshop cleans-ups to allow other process steps to be done.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a manufacturing environment suitable for carrying out a multi-step process where physical separation of at least one of the process steps is required.

* The present invention provides a multi-purpose enclosure for manufacturing comprising a substantially closable compartment locatable within a manufacturing plant, the compartment having air supply and venting means which are - 2 independent of those of the manufacturing plant, whereby contaminated air resulting from a manufacturing operation conducted within the compartment is prevented from entering the manufacturing plant.

Advantageously, the compartment is thermally isolated from the plant and is provided with a roof, a wall or walls and a door or doors incorporating insulating material.

Advantageously, the multi-purpose enclosure is provided with a spray booth having a water pump means and a wash back, whereby a water cascade may be created during a spraying operation.

Advantageously, the enclosure includes at least one of a spraying, linishing, grinding or heating means.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only, one embodiment of a multi-purpose enclosure for manufacturing according to the invention.

In the drawings : Figure 1 is a plan view of a plant for the production and 20 refurbishment of electric motors, including a multi-purpose enclosure according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the enclosure of Figure 1 fitted out as a spray booth; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the enclosure 25 adapted for use with a linishing machine.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 with the enclosure adapted for use as an oven or drying unit; * Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2, with the enclosure • adapted for use with a grinding machine.

Referring now to Figure 1, a plant for the production and refurbishment of electric motors has a multi-purpose enclosure 1 which can be fitted out in different ways as required for any particular job. Other process steps can be carried out, as normal, in the remaining areas of the plant.

As can be seen more clearly in Figures 2 to 5, the enclosure 1 is provided with insulated walls 2 and doors 3, which are hinged so as to open outwardly. The enclosure 1 is also provided with an insulated roof; thus it will be appreciated that the enclosure can be substantially sealed off from the rest of the plant when required. For example, when the enclosure 1 is fitted out with heating elements H in the manner shown in Figure 4, the enclosure can be closed off and effectively turned into an oven.

The roof includes channel elements 15 which are designed so as to be easily removable so that the chains of an overhead crane or gantry may travel through the enclosure so that the crane can place into and remove through the opened doors 3 any large workpiece.

The enclosure 1 is provided with a blower 4 for receiving air from an intake in an external wall of the plant and for supplying the air in the interior of the enclosure 1.

A main extractor 5 extracts air from the interior of the enclosure 1 and vents it to the atmosphere. A secondary extractor 6 with its own filter 7 is provided as a back-up extraction system and/or to assist removal of air from a region of the enclosure remote from the main extractor 5. Equipment whose use produces metallic dust may conveniently be placed in the region of the secondary extractor 6 to facilitate removal of the dust (see Figure 3 in which a linishing machine L is located close to the extractor 6).

It will be appreciated that as the enclosure 1 can be substantially closed off from the rest of the plant physically, thermally and atmospherically, it can be conveniently used for many different purposes for which such separation is desirable or necessary.

Exemplary use of the enclosure 1 will now be described with reference to Figures 2 to 5. In Figure 2, the enclosure 1 contains a spray booth S which includes a water cascade at which any desired spraying operation can be conducted. If spraying is not being effected then use may be made of a linishing machine L (Figure 3) or a grinding machine G and work benches W (Figure 5). As shown in Figure 4, portable infra-red heater units H may be installed to turn the enclosure 1 into an oven or drying unit, and to facilitate such use being compatible with other uses, the enclosure 1 is provided with flame proof lighting 7.

While the invention has been particularly described with reference to a plant for manufacturing and refurbishing electric motors, it will be appreciated that the enclosure of the invention can be used in any manufacturing plant which calls for separation of any process step from the other steps.

Compressed air is supplied to the enclosure by means of an compressed air supply line 20.

The enclosure 1 can also be used as a mini-workshop for use during times when the full plant is not in full operation. In this way, only the enclosure would have to be supplied with the necessary heat, light and ventilation for the task in hand.

In the embodiment shown, the dimensions of the enclosure are approximately 5.6 m x 6.1 m. An external power point and external electrical switching are provided on an outside wall 3 of the enclosure.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope 15 of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS :

1. A multi-purpose enclosure for manufacturing comprising a substantially closable compartment locatable within a manufacturing plant, the compartment having air supply and venting means which are independent of those of the manufacturing plant, whereby contaminated air resulting from a manufacturing operation conducted within the compartment is prevented from entering the manufacturing plant.

2. An enclosure according to Claim 1, in which the compartment is thermally isolated from the plant and is provided with a roof, a wall or walls and a door or doors incorporating insulating material.

3. An enclosure as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, which is provided with a spray booth having a water pump means and a wash back, whereby a water cascade may be created during a spraying operation.

4. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, including at least one of spraying, linishing, grinding or heating means.

5. A multi-purpose enclosure for manufacturing, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.