A multi-port metering pump assembly includes a manifold coupled to a metering pump. The manifold defines a central passage in fluid communication with a plurality of intermediate passages defined in the manifold. The manifold includes a plurality of outer passages. Each intermediate passage provides fluid communication between the central passage and a corresponding outer passage. A plurality of valves is coupled to the manifold. Each valve of the plurality of valves is located between an intermediate passage and a corresponding outer passage, and is configured to enable or prevent passage of fluid between a corresponding intermediate passage of the plurality of intermediate passages and a corresponding outer passage. The multi-port metering pump assembly also includes an electronic controller coupled to the plurality of valves, the electronic controller having an associated electronic interface and being programmable to selectively and independently open and close the valves of the plurality of valves.

A diagnostic apparatus for a powder coating material pump includes a detector that uses pressure or flow to detect a fault in the pump, the diagnostic apparatus being external the pump, internal the pump or a combination of external and internal the pump. Another diagnostic device is provided for a powder coating material pump, and includes a light source in close proximity to the pump, the light source having an on condition and an off condition wherein one or both of the on condition and off condition provides information about the pump performance. An exemplary pump is a dense phase powder coating material pump.

A powder conveying chamber for a dense-phase powder pump for conveying powder, in particular coating powder, has an end region via which the powder conveying chamber is or can be fluidically connected to a powder line, wherein the end region of the powder conveying chamber is configured as a transition region and designed to reduce an effective flow cross-section of the powder conveying chamber to an effective flow cross-section of the powder line and/or to an effective flow cross-section of a valve arranged between the powder conveying chamber and the powder line, in particular a pinch valve. In particular, a cleaning system is associated with the end region, with which the end region can be supplied with cleaning air in the form of pressurized air, in order to keep the end region free of powder deposits or in order to remove powder deposits in the end region.

A dense-phase powder pump for conveying powder-type materials, in particular coating powder, includes at least one powder conveying chamber with a filter element that has at least regions thereof accommodated in a casing body and at least one pinch valve that is or can be connected to an end region of the powder conveying chamber. In particular, the pinch valve includes a valve element with at least regions that are sleeve-like, wherein the peripheral wall thereof can be squeezed together transverse to the valve element longitudinal axis in order to change the through-flow cross-section, and also includes a substantially tubular support structure, in which at least regions of the valve element are accommodated, wherein the support structure consists of multiple shell elements which are arranged one after another around the peripheral wall in the peripheral direction of the peripheral wall of the valve element, each having an arched cross-section, and which are placed on the outside of the valve element in a radial direction relative to the valve element longitudinal axis.

A dense-phase powder pump for conveying powder has at least one powder conveying chamber with a gas-permeable filter element that has at least regions thereof accommodated in a casing body and at least one pinch valve that is or can be connected to an end region of the powder conveying chamber. In particular, the dense-phase powder pump has a pinch valve housing formed as the end piece of the powder conveying chamber, which pinch valve housing has a first region facing the powder conveying chamber and an opposing second region, wherein the first region of the pinch valve housing is designed to be connectable to the end region of the powder conveying chamber by means of a plug connection, in particular a sole plug connection, and wherein the second region of the pinch valve housing is designed to exchangeably accommodate the pinch valve.

The invention relates to a dense-phase powder pump for conveying coating powder from a first powder reservoir to a second downstream powder reservoir or to a downstream powder spray-coating gun or similar device for spraying coating powder. The dense-phase powder pump has at least one powder conveying chamber, which is/can be fluidically connected to the first powder reservoir via a powder inlet, and to the second powder reservoir or to the powder spray-coating gun or similar device for spraying coating powder via a powder outlet. At least one powder inlet valve is provided at the powder inlet and at least one powder outlet valve is provided at the powder outlet. According to the invention, in order to make the dense-phase powder pump less prone to require maintenance during operation and, in particular, to constantly guarantee a continuous and uniform conveying of the powder, regardless of the type of powder, the at least one powder inlet valve and/or the at least one powder outlet valve has/have an effective flow cross-section in the respective open state, which corresponds to at least 35% of the effective flow cross-section of the at least one powder conveying chamber.