Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Packing element for use, in particular in mass transfer
and/or heat transfer columns or towers
Description
The invention relates to a Packing element, in particular for use in mass
transfer and/or
heat transfer columns or towers, through which a gas and/or liquid flows,
wherein the
packing element confined by a first and a second outside comprises a plurality
of
exchange surfaces which are essentially formed by the surfaces of wave-shaped
strips
having half-waves, wherein the packing element comprises at least one first
group of
strips, comprising at least one half-wave-shaped and/or wave-shaped strip with
a first
periodic length Ii, and at least one adjoining second group of strips,
comprising at least
one wave-shaped strip with a second periodic length 12, wherein the wave-
shaped strips
extend along an imaginary axial plane of the packing element and at least one
strip
extends between a first end bridge and a second end bridge, the two end
bridges
extending in a transverse direction of the packing element, wherein the
periodic length
of a strip of the first group of strips adjoining the second group of strips,
and the periodic
length 12 of a strip adjoining said strip of the first group of strips, are
matched to each
other in such a way, that the two adjoining strips are in operative contact
with each other
at at least one point, enabling a liquid transfer between these two strips,
wherein at
least one strip extends from a first end bridge to a second end bridge, and
wherein the
two end bridges run along the transverse direction of the packing element.
Such packing element is known from EP 0 764 462 B1 of the applicant. It
provides in an
advantageous manner a highly even distribution of the liquid over the
individual strips,
thus over the exchange surfaces of the packing element: The half-wave-shaped
and/or
wave-shaped structure of the strips, which essentially form the packing
element, causes
the liquid to distribute easily over the strips. The matching of the periodic
lengths of the
strips causes adjoining strips to cross at at least one point, enabling a
transfer of liquid
from one strip to the adjoining strip. The half-wave-shaped or wave-shaped
form of
each strip has the advantage that thereby an especially open structure of the
packing
element is provided which results in a smaller pressure drop in the column.
2 =
From EP 1 541 229 Al ,a packing element for mass and/or heat exchange is
known, in
particular for mass and/or heat exchange columns, through which a gas flow
and/or a
liquid flow passes, wherein the packing element is produced from a plate and
has got at
least one indentation in the plate for forming two elongate strips between
traverse
portions of the plate. The strips between these traverse portions are being
bent out of
the plane passing through the traverse portions. At least one orifice is
formed between
the bent strips, as seen perpendicularly to the plane passing through the
traverse
portions. It is provided that individual strips of the known packing element
are not in
contact with each other.
WO 2013/143629 describes a packing element for use in mass transfer and/or
heat
transfer processes, through which at least one liquid can flow. The packing
element has
an outer surface, comprising three or more outwardly bending strip elements,
and two
edge elements connecting these strip elements. The packing element is shaped
generally spherical or ellipsoidal.
GB 1573745 describes an essentially cylindrical packing element. Cylindrical
packing
element fingers are cut out of a basic element, which are bent inside towards
the
cylinder axis. The fingers extend in an angle between 4 and 45 degrees to the
cylinder
axis. According to an embodiment disclosed in this document, there are three
rows of
fingers with eight fingers respectively set in a row, wherein the intermediate
of these
three finger ¨ rows runs parallel the cylinder axis and the upper as well as
the lower row
are arranged in a torsioned manner, so that their fingers have an angle of
approximately
degrees in relation to the cylinder axis.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the packing
element
described in EP 0 764 462 B1 mentioned before , so that an even smaller
pressure drop
is provided in a column or tower using the packing elements according to the
invention.
This object is achieved according to the invention in that at least one strip
of the packing
element is torsioned about a torsion line running in the longitudinal
direction of the
packing element, wherein the torsion of the strip along said torsion line
increases
starting from the first end bridge, is at maximum in the area of a first
amplitude
maximum of the strip, decreases in the area between said amplitude maximum and
the
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central section of the packing element, increases, starting from said central
section, up
to a second amplitude maximum of said strip and decreases in the area between
said
amplitude maximum and the second end bridge , and that all strips are in
contact with
each other in this central section in such a way that a persistent connection
for the liquid
is formed from the first outside to the second outside of the packing element.
By the measures according to the invention a packing element is achieved in an
advantageous manner, which has a "more open" structure compared to the known
packing element described in EP 0 764 462 B1, which results in a higher gas
permeability and therefore a smaller resistance for the gas flow traversing
the columns
or towers using the packing element according to the invention.
The torsion provided according to the invention to a corresponding number of
strips of
the inventive packing element brings forth that the packing element has a
smaller flow
resistance for the impacting gas flow in a direction orthogonal to the before
mentioned
axial plane too, because by the torsion of the strips about their longitudinal
direction,
provided according to the invention, openings between adjoining strips of the
packing
element are formed, through which the gas flow can pass through. By the torted
arrangement and forming of the strips of the inventive packing element, it is
achieved
that the edges of the individual strips are not ¨ as is the case of the known
packing
element ¨ parallel and therefore close to each other, but by the torsion of
the respective
strips the afore-mentioned openings are formed, through which the gas flow can
pass
through and the resistance, which the inventive packing element subtends the
gas flow,
is reduced.
Another advantage of the inventively provided torsion of one or more,
preferably of all
strips of the inventive packing element is that hereby an increased torsional
stiffness of
the packing element can be obtained, resulting in a higher stability.
An advantageous improvement of the invention provides that the last strip of a
group of
strips and the adjoining first strip in the following group of strips are
formed alternatingly
toned. Such a measure has the advantage that between these two strips and thus
between adjoining groups of strips a vast space is provided, resulting in a
smaller gas
flow resistance.
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Another advantageous improvement of the invention provides that adjoining
strips of a
group of strips are formed alternatingly torsioned.
Another advantageous improvement of the invention provides that the packing
element
comprises at least one strip having its first halfwave oppositely orientated
to the second
halfwave of this strip, wherein it is preferred that all strips in at least
one group of strips
of the packing element are formed as described before. Such a measure has the
advantage that hereby again a particularly vast space between adjoining strips
is
formed.
Another advantageous improvement of the invention provides that the amplitude
of the
strip or the strips of at least of one of the group of strips is smaller than
the amplitude of
the strip or the strips of group of strips adjoining this group of strips.
Such a measure
has the advantage, that hereby an 'egg-shaped' or 'ball-shaped' outer contour
of the
packing element is formed, resulting in an enhanced pouring ability of the
packing
element according to the invention.
Another advantageous improvement of the invention provides that at least one
strip of
the packing element according to the invention comprises a stiffening element,
in
particular a bead, which preferably runs in longitudinal direction, and/or at
least one of
the end bridges and the central section of the packing element comprises such
a
stiffening element, again in particular a bead. Hereby the torsional stiffness
of the
packing element according to the invention is increased in an advantageous
manner.
Further details and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the preferred
embodiments, which are described in the following on the figures. The figures
show:
Figure 1: a perspective view of a first embodiment;
Figure 2: a view of the first embodiment, looking in the direction of arrow
II of Fig. 1;
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Figure 3: a view of the first embodiment, looking in the direction of arrow
III of Fig. 2;
Figure 4: a view of the first embodiment, looking in the direction of arrow
IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 5: a view of a second embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 6: a view of the second embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 7: a view of a third embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to arrow
III of Fig. 2;
Figure 8: a view of the third embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 9: a view of a fourth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 10: a view of the fourth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 11: a view of a fifth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to arrow
III of Fig. 2;
Figure 12: a view of a fifth embodiment, looking in a direction corresponding
to arrow
IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 13: a view of a sixth embodiment, looking in a direction corresponding
to
arrow III of Fig 2;
Figure 14: a view of the sixth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 15: a view of a seventh embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 16: a view of the seventh embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
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Figure 17: a view of an eighth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 18: a view of the eighth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 19: a view of a ninth embodiment, looking in a direction corresponding
to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 20: a view of the ninth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 21: a view of a tenth embodiment, looking in a direction corresponding
to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 22: a view of the tenth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 23: a view of an eleventh embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 24: a view of the eleventh embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2;
Figure 25: a view of a twelfth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow III of Fig. 2;
Figure 26: a view of the twelfth embodiment, looking in a direction
corresponding to
arrow IV of Fig. 2.
The packing elements described in the following, which are called õrandom
packing
elements" in the English language, are ¨ contrary to õstructured packing
elements" ¨
introduced in a column, in particular a mass transfer and/or heat transfer
column, in a
not orientated way by ¨ for example ¨ pouring the packing elements into the
column.
Therefore they are also called "pourable packing elements".
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The first embodiment of such a packing element, generally referenced with 1,
shown in
figures 1 to 4, comprises three groups 2a, 2b and 2c (see Figure 3) of wave-
shaped
strips 3a and 3b, 3c and 3d, 3e and 3f, which surfaces form exchange surfaces
4a-4f of
the packing element 1. The strips 3a, 3b or 3c, 3d or 3e, 3f of the first or
second or third
group of strips 2a or 2b or 2c have a periodic length 11 or 12 or 13. From the
following
description it is evident for a skilled person, that the three groups are not
mandatory.
Rather it is possible to provide ¨ depending on the desired purpose of use ¨
more or
less than three such group of strips 2a-2c having at least one strip 3a-3f. In
a minimal
version, the packing element is made of only two group of strips, each
comprising only
one strip. In the shown first embodiment the periodic length 11 of both strips
3a, 3b of the
first group of strips 2a is equal to periodic length 13 of the third group of
strips 2c, while
both wave-shaped strips 3c, 3d of the second group of strips 2b have a
periodic length
12, which, in this case, is half of the periodic length h or 13 of the strips
3a, 3b or 3e, 3f of
the first or third group of strips 2a or 2c. Generalizing this construction
principle, it has to
be mentioned that the second periodic length 12 of the strips 3c, 3d of the
second group
of strips 2b adjoining the first group of strips 2a, is related with the
periodic length 11
preferably by 12 = 11/n, where n = 1, 2, etc., which means that the periodic
length 11 is a
multiple, in particular an even numbered multiple, of the periodic length 12
or is
essentially equal to this periodic length 12.
In this way it is achieved that all strips 3a-3f of the packing element 1 ¨
starting from its
end bridges 6a, 6b ¨ comprise a minimum amplitude in its central section 6c,
so that ¨
as it can be seen best in figure 2 ¨ all strips 3a-3f are in operative contact
with each
other in this central section 6c in such a way, that a persistent connection
for the liquid
is formed from the left outside to the right outside of the packing element,
which allows
the liquid on the exchange surfaces formed by the surfaces of the strips 3a-3f
to spread
over the entire packing element.
With regard to the gas permeability of the packing element 1, it is
advantageous that
adjoining strips 3a and 3b, 3c and 3d, 3e and 3f are arranged inversely
phased. This
can best be seen in figures 1 to 3, which show for example that in the first
embodiment
of the packing element 1 the top half wave 3a' of the first wave-shaped strip
3a is
alternatingly arranged in respect to the top half wave 3b' of the second wave-
shaped
strip 3b. In a corresponding manner, the bottom half wave 3a" of the first
wave-shaped
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strip 3a is arranged alternatingly in its spatial orientation in respect to
the bottom half
wave 3h" of the second strip 3b of the two strips 3a, 3b belonging to the
first group of
strips 2a. It is also possible that this inversely phased arrangement is only
provided for
the opposing half waves 3a', 3b' or 3a", 3h" of two adjoining strips 3a, 3b in
a group of
strips 2a or 2b. It is evident for a skilled person that ¨ depending on the
designated
purpose of use of the packing element 1 ¨ a plurality of possibilities of the
formation of
the half waves 3a'-3f' of the strips 3a-3f in the group of strips 2a-2c is
given. The above
statements are also valid for the further group of strips 2b-2c of the packing
element 1.
Preferably, the alternating arrangement extends beyond the group-borders,
meaning ¨
as can be seen in figure 2 ¨ it is preferred that the half waves 3b', 3h" of
the last strip 3b
in the first group of strips 2a and the half waves 3c', 3c" of the first strip
3c of the second
group of strips 2b are arranged alternatingly. In a corresponding manner, it
is preferable
that also the last strip 3d of the second group of strips 2b and the half
waves of the first
strip of the third group of strips 2c are arranged alternatingly. Another
possible variant of
the packing element 1 is that the strips 3a-3f of the respective group of
strips 2a-2c are
arranged in phase inside the respective group of strips 2a-2c, but the strips
of each
individual group of strips are then arranged in antiphase, which means that
for example
the strips 3a,3b in the first group of strips 2a are arranged in phase, but
the strips 3c, 3d
of the second group of strips 2b are inversely phased to the strips 3a, 3b of
the first
group of strips 2a.
To further improve the gas permeability of the before described packing
element 1 in
relation to the known packing element described at the beginning, it is
provided that the
strips 3a-3f of the three group of strips 2a-2c of the packing element 1 do
not ¨ as for
the known packing element ¨ run flat, but exhibit a torsion. It can be seen in
particular in
figures 2 and 4 that the first half wave 3a' of the first wave-shaped strip 3a
¨ seen in
running direction of the strip from the upper end bridge 6a to the lower end
bridge 6b ¨
exhibit in the region between the first end bridge 6a and the central section
6c of the
packing element 1 a positive, meaning clockwise, torsion which increases from
the first
end bridge 6a, is at its maximum at the amplitude maximum and decreases in the
region between this amplitude maximum and the central section 6c of the
packing
element 1. The torsion of the strip 3a occurs about a ¨ again seen in running
direction of
the strip 3a from top to bottom ¨ left edge 5a" of the strip 3a, so that this
edge 5a" forms
the torsion line for the torsion of strip 3a. This results in that a right
edge 5a' of the strip
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3a is not running parallel to the left edge 5a" of the strip 3a anymore, but
runs
arcuatedly. Since the first half wave 3b' of the second strip 3b adjoining the
first strip 3a
runs in the same way as to the first half wave 3a', the left edge 5h" of the
second strip 3b
¨ as does the left edge 5a" of the first strip 3a' ¨ runs straight, while the
right edge 5b' of
the second strip 3b runs arcuatedly. The right edge 5a' of the first strip 3a
runs therefore
arcuatedly in respect to the left edge 5b" of the second strip 3b, so that in
this area an
opening 0 is formed, which causes a more open structure of the packing element
in this
section, which results in a higher gas permeability and therefore a lesser
resistance for
the gas flow, which flows through a column or tower using the packing element
1.
The second half waves 3a" and 3h" of the first strip 3a and of the second
strip 3b run ¨
which can be again seen in figure 4 ¨ like the first half waves 3a' and 3b'
between the
central section 6c and the bottom bridge 6b positively torsioned. The
explanations made
for half waves 3' and 3b' therefore apply mutatis mutandis. The right edge 5a'
of the
second half wave 3a" of the first strip 3a is therefore again arcuatedly bent
away from
the straight running left edge 5h" of the second strip 3b, so that also in
this area an
opening 0 of the packing element 1 is formed, which increases the open
structure of the
packing element 1 in this area and therefore also reduces the flow resistance
in this
area.
As it can be seen in particular from figure 4, the strips 3e and 3f of the
third group 2c are
formed like the strips 3a, 3b of the first group of strips 2a, so that a
repeated explanation
is not necessary.
The two strips 3c and 3d of the second group of strips 2b, which in the shown
case ¨ as
mentioned before ¨ have a periodic length 12 = 11/2, have therefore in their
extent
between the top end bridge 6a and the bottom end bridge 6b of the packing
element 1
two waves, respectively, with a first half wave 30' and a second half wave
3c". The first
half wave of the first, in the figures top wave therefore runs in its section
between the
top end bridge 6a and its amplitude minimum ¨ again seen from a direction
running top
to bottom ¨ positively torsioned, therefore like the first half wave 3a' of
the first strip 3a,
but only with a smaller length of 12/2. The second half wave 3c" of the, in
the figures, top
wave of the two waves of the third strip 3c runs adjoiningly up to the central
section 6c
of the packing element 1 and is again positively torsioned, thus the same as
the second
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half wave 3a" of the first strip 3a, but again with proviso that this torsion
of the third strip
3c occurs over the shorter section 12/2.
The, in the figures, bottom wave of the third strip 3c of the second group of
strips 2b is
formed as the, in the figures, top wave described before, wave of the third
strip 3c of the
packing element 1, so that the design of this section of strip 3c of the
packing element 1
does not need to be described in detail. This is also valid for the formation
of the fourth
strip 3d in the second group of strips 2b, because this ¨ as can be seen in
the figures ¨
is formed like the third strip 3c.
The respective right edges 5c' and 5d' of the strips 3c and 3d of the second
group of
strips 2b run in the area of the first half waves 3c' and 3d' arcuatedly bent
towards the
respective left edges 5c1" and 5e" of the strips 3d or 3e adjoining the strips
3c or 3d, so
that in the area between the first end bridge 6a and the central section 6c
two openings
0 are respectively formed, which have the before mentioned properties and
effects. The
same applies to the respective right edges 5c' and 5d'of the second half waves
3c" and
3d" of the strips 3c and 3d in the area between the central section 6c and the
second
end bridge 6b. The extent of each half wave 3c', 3d' as well was 3c" and 3d"
of the
second group of strips 2b corresponds thus with the extent of the strips 3a,
3b or 3e, 3f
of the first or the third group of strips 2a or 2c, respectively, with the
proviso that the
strips 3c, 3d in the second group of strips 2b only have the periodic length
12.
The embodiment above shows a packing element 1 with three group of strips 2a-
2c with
each two strips 3a and 3b, 3c and 3d, 3e and 3f, which are orientated in phase
and
torsioned respectively. Thus each strip 3a-3f is torsioned in the same
direction, that
means within each group of strips 2a-2c the strips 3a-3f have the same torsion
direction. This is, however, not mandatory.
In figures 5 and 6 a second embodiment of a packing element 1 is shown,
wherein the
packing element 1 has again three group of strips 2a-2c, each having two
strips 3a, 3b
or 3c, 3 or 3e, 3f. As can be seen when comparing figures 5 and 6 to the
figures 3 and
4, the strips 3a, 3b and 3e, 3f of the first and of the third group of strips
2a and 2c are
formed the same in the first and in the second embodiment, so that the design,
function
and effect of these strips 3a, 3b and 3e, 3f require no further explanation.
The difference
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between the two embodiments is, that the strips 3c and 3d in the second group
of strips
2b ¨ as can be seen in figure 5 in particular - are not ¨ as the corresponding
strips 2c,
2d of the second group of strips 2b of the first embodiment ¨ torsioned
clockwise in their
running direction, therefore positively torsioned, but are negatively
torsioned, therefore
anticlockwise. The strips 3c, 3d in the second group of strips 2b are thus
oppositely
orientated in respect to their torsion to the strips 3a, 3b of the first group
of strips 2a and
the strips 3e, 3f of the third group of strips 2c. This causes that ¨ as can
best be seen in
figure 6 ¨ the packing element 1 has, in particular in its transition area
between the first
group of strips 2a and the second group of strips 2b, in an advantageous
manner an
especially open structure: as can be seen easily from the afore-mentioned
figure, the
second strip 3b of the first group of strips 2a adjoins the first strip 3c of
the second
group of strips 2b runs in such a manner, that its right edge 5b' is bent away
from the
left edge 5c" of the third strip 3c, while additionally the left edge 5c" of
the third strip 3c
is bent away in opposite direction from the right edge 5b' of the second strip
3b, so that
there is ¨ as indicated by the big openings 0' in figure 6 ¨ a vast space
between these
two strips 3b, 3c, resulting in a small gas flow resistance.
As can be seen further from figures 5 and 6, a liquid transfer between the two
strips 3c,
3d is possible, despite of the torsioned design of the strips 3c, 3d, because
the left edge
5d" of the strip 3d and the right edge 5c' of the strip 3c contact each other
or at least are
close to each other in one or more areas, so that a capillary liquid transfer
between the
strips 3c and 3d is possible.
In figures 7 and 8 a third embodiment of a packing element 1 is shown, which
corresponds in its basic design with the one of the first embodiment.
Corresponding
parts of the packing element 1 are therefore provided with the same reference
signs as
in the first embodiment; thus, their design, function and effect are not
described further.
The packing element again comprises three group of strips 2a-2c with two
strips 3a, 3b
or 3c, 3d or 3e, 3f each. The difference to packing element 1 of the first
embodiment is
that the first half waves 3a'-3f' of each strip 3a-3f and the second half
waves 3a"-3f" of
these strips 3a-3f are orientated oppositely in respect to their torsion: the
first half waves
3a', 3b' of the strips 3a, 3b of the first group of strips 2a and the first
half waves 3e', 3f'
of the strips 3e,3f of the third group of strips 3c of the packing element 1
of the third
embodiment are formed like the first half waves 3a', 3b', 3e', 3f' of the
strips 3a, 3b, 3d,
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3e of the packing element 1 of the first embodiment, exhibit therefore a
positive
clockwise torsion, seen in their running direction, so that the respective
left edges 5a",
5b", 5e", 5f" of the first half waves 3a', 3b', 3e', 3f' - as can best be seen
in figure 8 -
run straight, while the respective right edges 5a', 5b', 5e', 5f of these half
waves of the
strips 3a, 3b, 3e, 3f, in the projection of figure 8, have a left-bent course.
The second
half waves 3a", 3b", 3e", 3f" of the strips 3a, 3b, 3e, 3f are now oppositely
orientated,
meaning they have an anticlockwise, therefore negative torsion. Consequently,
as can
be seen in figure 8, their respective right edges 5a', 5b', 5e', 51', in the
projection of
figure 8, are running straight in the area of the second half waves 3a", 3b",
3e" and 3f",
while the respective left edges 5a", 5b", 5e", 51" in this area have a right-
bent course.
The same applies to the strips 3c, 3d of the second group of strips 2b, which
have a
periodic length 12, which is - in the here described embodiment - only half of
the
periodic length 11 of the strips 3a, 3b, 3e, 31 of the group of strips 2a, 2c.
The respective
first half waves 3c', 3d' of the two waves of the strips 3c, 3d have a
clockwise torsion,
while the respective adjoining half waves 3c", 3d" are torsioned
anticlockwise. The
openings 0 of figure 8 show that, in comparison to the known packing element,
where
the strips are running straight, an increased gas permeability is given.
In figures 9 and 10 a fourth embodiment is shown, corresponding in its basic
design to
the one of second embodiment, so that corresponding components are provided
with
the same reference signs and are not explained further regarding their design,
function
and effect. The essential difference between the second and the fourth
embodiment is,
that the strips 3a, 3b and 3e, 3f of the first and the third group of strips
2a and 2c are
torsioned alternatingly. While in the second embodiment the afore-mentioned
strips 3a,
3b and 3e, 31 show a positive torsion each, in the fourth embodiment it is
provided that
the first strips 3a or 3e of the first or the third group of strips 2a or 2c
are positively
torsioned, while the adjoining strip 3b or 3f is negatively torsioned. Such a
measure has
the effect - as can best be seen in figure 10 - that the described packing
element 1 -
as can easily be seen from figure 10 - has in the area of the outer group of
strips 2a,
2c, as a result of the afore-mentioned formation of the respective strips in
the first and
the third group of strips 2a, 2c particularly, large openings 0' between
adjoining strips
3a, 3b and 3e, 31 of the group of strips 2a, 2c, therefore a particularly open
structure in
these areas.
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13
In figures 11 and 12 a fifth embodiment is shown, wherein again corresponding
elements are provided with the same reference signs and are not further
described
regarding their design, effect and function. The packing element 1 of the
fifth
embodiment has three group of strips 2a-2c, wherein the first and the third
group of
strips 2a and 2c each only have one strip 3a or 3f. As can best be seen from
figure 12,
the two outer strips 3a and 3f of the packing element 1 comprise each two
waves with a
first and a second half wave 3a', 3a" and 3f', 3f" respectively. The design of
the strips 3a
and 3f of the fifth embodiment therefore corresponds to the one of the strips
3c, 3d of
the second group of strips 2b of the first embodiment. The second group of
strips 2b
has four strips 3c1, 3d2, 3d1, 3d2, their design corresponds to the one of the
strips 3a, 3b
or 3e, 3f of the first and third group of strips 2a and 2c of the afore-
mentioned
embodiments. As can best be seen in figure 12, via the design of the 'edge
strips' 3a
and 3f of the packing element 1 with a smaller amplitude than the one of the
'central
strips' 3c1-3d2 of the second group of strips, a packing element 1 is formed
which, due
to its "egg-shaped" outer contour, provides in an advantageousl,i manner not
only a
minor flow resistance, but also an enhanced pourability.
In figures 13 and 14 a sixth embodiment of a packing element 1 is shown,
wherein
again corresponding elements are provided with the same reference signs and
are not
described further regarding their design, function and effect. The packing
element 1
shown in these figures is a variation of the packing element of the fifth
embodiment and
comprises again three group of strips 2a-2c with each having two strips 3a,
3b, 3c, 3d,
and 3e, 3f respectively. While in the fifth embodiment it is provided that the
first and the
third group of strips 2a and 2c each have only one strip, and the second group
of strips
2b has four strips 3c1-3d2, in the sixth embodiment of the packing element 1
again the
design known from the first four embodiments is accomplished, namely, each of
the
three group of strips 2a-2c has two strips 3a, 3b or 3c, 3d or 3e, 3f. While
now the strips
3a, 3b and 3e, 3f of the respective outer group of strips 2a and 2c are
provided ¨ as in
the before mentioned embodiment ¨ with a smaller amplitude than the strips of
the
middle group of strips 2b, again an enhanced pourability is achieved, because
the such
formed "ball shaped" packing element 1 has a "round" outer contour, when seen
in the
projection of figure 13.
CA 02924992 2016-03-21
14
In figures 15 and 16 a seventh embodiment of the packing element is shown,
which
corresponds in its basic design to the first embodiment, so that again
corresponding
elements are provided with the same reference signs and are not described
further
regarding their design, function and effect. The essential difference between
the first
and the seventh embodiment is that ¨ as a comparison of figures 3 and 4 as
well as 15
and 16 shows ¨ the torsion of the strips 3a-3f is no more occurring about a
torsion line,
which coincides with the left edge 5a"-5f'' of the strips 3a-3f, but that it
is provided that
the torsion of these strips occurs about a ¨ imaginary ¨ torsion line, which
runs centrally
through the respective strips 3a-3f. This can be seen from a comparison of
figures 15
and 16 with figures 3 and 4. The difference to the first embodiment is that
the respective
left edges 5a"-5f" of the strips 3a-3f of the packing element 1 of those
embodiments do
not run ¨ as the left edges 5a"-5f" of the strips 3a-3f of the packing element
1 of the first
embodiment ¨ straight, but have ¨ corresponding to the right edges 5a'-5f' of
the strips
3a-3f of the first embodiment ¨ a bent course.
In figures 17 and 18 an eighth embodiment of a packing element is shown, the
basic
structure of which corresponds to the second embodiment of figures 5 and 6.
Corresponding elements are therefore again provided with the same reference
signs
and are not described further regarding their design, function and effect. The
essential
difference between the second and the seventh embodiment is again given by the
fact
that in this embodiment ¨ as in the sixth embodiment ¨ the torsion of the
strips 3a-3f is
not ¨ as in the second embodiment ¨ occuring about a torsion line coinciding
with the
respective left edge 5a"-5f" of the individual strips 3a-3f, but again is
about an
(imaginary) torsion line, which lies in the central section of each strip 3a-
3f.
In figures 19 and 20 a ninth embodiment is shown, which corresponds in its
basic
structure to the one of the third embodiment of the figures 7 and 8, so again
corresponding elements are provided with the same reference signs and are not
described further regarding their design, function and effect. Again, the
essential
difference between the ninth embodiment of figures 19 and 20 and the third
embodiment of figures 7 and 8 is ¨ as in the afore described embodiments ¨
that the
torsion of the strips is not occurring about a torsion line, which is
coinciding with the left
edge 5a"-5f" of each of the strips 5a-5f, but
again is carried out about a torsion line approximately lying in the middle of
each strip 3a-3f.
CA 02924992 2016-03-21
In figures 21 and 22 a tenth embodiment of a packing element 1 is shown, which
corresponds in its basic structure to the figures 11 and 12 of the fifth
embodiment, so
that again corresponding elements are provided with the same reference signs
and are
not described further regarding their design, function and effect. Again, the
difference
between the two before mentioned embodiments is that the torsion of the strips
3a-3f
occurs about a torsion line lying in the middle of the respective strip.
The same applies to the eleventh embodiment of a packing element 1 shown in
figures
23 to 24, which corresponds in its basic structure to the embodiment of
figures 13 and 14.
In figures 25 and 26 a twelfth embodiment is shown, which corresponds in its
basic
structure to the fourth embodiment figures 9 and 10, so that, again as in
before
mentioned embodiments, corresponding components are provided with the same
reference signs and are not described further regarding their design, function
and effect.
The essential difference between the two before mentioned embodiments is that
in the
tenth embodiment the strips 3c, 3d of the second group of strips 2b are no
longer
torsioned, but are planar as in the known packing element. Such a measure has
the
advantage that hereby a simplified production of the packing element 1 is
possible. Of
course, it is also possible, that also for the packing elements of other
embodiments one
or more strips of one or more group of strips 2a-2c can be planar. The
modifications to
be made are apparent to the skilled person, therefore they require no further
description.
In particular it is not mandatory that ¨ as in the embodiment of figures 25
and 26 ¨ the
strips 3a, 3b and 3e, 3f of the outer group of strips 2a and 2c are opposingly
orientated.
An orientation of these strips in the same direction, for example as in the
second
embodiment of figures 2 and 4, is possible.
The torsional stiffness of the described packing elements 1 of the afore-
mentioned
twelve embodiments can be further increased, if one or more strips 3a-3f have
a
stiffening element, in particular an appropriately formed bead. This
stiffening element
runs preferably in the longitudinal direction of the corresponding strips 3a-
3f. Also, it can
be provided that alternatively or additionally to the before mentioned
stiffening elements
of the strips 3a-3f at least one of the end regions 6a and 6b and preferably
the central
CA 02924992 2016-03-21
16
region 6c too have an appropriate stiffening element, again in particular a
stiffening
bead. Those run preferably in longitudinal direction of the corresponding end
bridges
6a, 6b and the central region 6c, therefore preferably essentially orthogonal
towards the
stiffening elements of the strips 3a-3f.
By the described measures packing elements 1 are formed, wherein the described
torsion of the strips 3a-3f in the respective group of strips 2a-2c causes an
opening of
the geometry of the packing element in all visible orientations. This is what
distinguishes
the described packing elements from the ones known from EP 0 764 762 B1 and
leads
to an increased gas permeability and therefore a decreased flow resistance of
the
same. Furthermore, the torsion of the strips 3a-3f causes an increased
stability and
therefore an increased torsional stiffness of the geometry of packing element
1.
