VALVE ASSEMBLIES FOR A DIAPHRAGM PUMP

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve assembly for a diaphragm pump, the valve assembly having an inlet side and an outlet side. A first outlet channel (23) leads from an inlet opening (24) arranged on the inlet side to an outlet opening (25) arranged on the outlet side, and a second outlet channel (26) leads from an inlet opening (27) arranged on the inlet side to an outlet opening (28) arranged on the outlet side. An inlet channel (30) has a first part (31) and a second part (32), the second part (32) having an outlet opening (33), which is arranged on the inlet side, and the first part (31) extending at an angle to the second part (32). An inlet valve body (40) is provided at the outlet opening (33) of the second part (32) of the inlet channel (30), and a first outlet valve body (41) is provided at the outlet opening (25) of the first outlet channel (23). The outlet opening (28) of the second outlet channel (26) is closed and opened either by a second outlet valve body or also by the first outlet valve body (41).

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A valve assembly for a diaphragm pump, the valve assembly having an inlet side and an outlet side, comprising: a first outlet channel which leads from an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel; a second outlet channel which leads from an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel; an inlet channel comprising a first part and a second part adjoining the first part, wherein the second part has an outlet opening arranged on the inlet side, and wherein the first part extends at an angle to the second part; an inlet valve body at the outlet opening of the second part of the inlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; an outlet valve body on the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; and one of: a dedicated outlet valve body provided on the outlet opening of the second outlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; or the outlet valve body, which closes the outlet opening of the first outlet channel in a closed position and releases the outlet opening of the first outlet channel in an open position, is configured such that: in the closed position, in which it closes the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, it also closes the outlet opening of the second outlet channel; and in the open position, in which it releases the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, it also releases the outlet opening of the second outlet channel.

16. The valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein: the first outlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis; the second outlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis; the second part of the inlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis at least for part of its extension; and wherein: the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel is less than 90°; and/or the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°; and/or the angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

17. The valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein: the first part of the inlet channel runs along a longitudinal axis for at least part of its extension; and the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°; and/or the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel is less than 90°; and/or the angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

18. The valve assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

19. The valve assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

20. The valve assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

21. The valve assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the second part of the inlet channel is less than 90°; and the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel is less than 90°; and the angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel and the longitudinal axis of the first part of the inlet channel is less than 90°.

22. The valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first outlet channel is arranged above the second outlet channel.

23. The valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein the second part of the inlet channel is arranged between the first outlet channel and the second outlet channel.

24. The valve assembly according to claim 15, further comprising a coupler for coupling the inlet valve body to the outlet valve body that closes the outlet opening of the first outlet channel in a closed position and releases the outlet opening of the first outlet channel in an open position.

25. The valve assembly according to claim 15, wherein the inlet valve body and/or the outlet valve body is a valve body of an umbrella valve.

26. The valve assembly according claim 15, wherein the inlet valve body is configured as a screen having the shape of: (a) a circle from which at least one section has been removed; or (b) an ellipse from which at least one section has been removed.

27. A valve of a diaphragm pump comprising: a valve body; wherein the valve body is configured as a screen, and wherein the screen has the shape of: (a) a circle from which at least one section has been removed; or (b) an ellipse from which at least one section has been removed.

28. A valve plate of a diaphragm pump, said valve plate comprising: an inlet side; an outlet side; an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to a first outlet channel; an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to a second outlet channel; an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel; an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel; wherein the first outlet channel leads from the inlet opening on the inlet side assigned to the first outlet channel, to the outlet opening on the outlet side assigned to the first outlet channel; wherein the second outlet channel leads from the inlet opening arranged on the inlet side assigned to the second outlet channel, to the outlet opening on the outlet side assigned to the second outlet channel; an inlet channel comprising a first part and a second part adjoining the first part, wherein the second part has an outlet opening arranged on the inlet side, and wherein the first part extends at an angle to the second part; wherein the outlet opening of the first outlet channel is adapted to cooperate with an outlet valve body for closing the first channel outlet opening in a closed position and releasing the first channel outlet opening in an open position; and wherein either: the outlet opening of the second outlet channel is adapted to cooperate with a dedicated outlet valve body to close, thereby closing the second outlet channel in a closed position, and to release, thereby releasing the second outlet channel outlet in an open position; or the outlet opening of the second outlet channel is adapted to cooperate with the outlet valve body to close, thereby closing the second outlet channel outlet opening in a closed position when the first channel outlet is closed, and to release, thereby releasing the second channel outlet in an open position when the first channel outlet is open.

29. The valve plate according to claim 28, wherein the outlet opening of the second outlet channel is adapted to cooperate with a dedicated outlet valve body to close, thereby closing the second outlet channel in a closed position, and to release, thereby releasing the second outlet channel outlet in an open position.

30. A diaphragm pump comprising: a valve assembly having an inlet side and an outlet side, comprising: a first outlet channel which leads from an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel; a second outlet channel which leads from an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel; an inlet channel comprising a first part and a second part adjoining the first part, wherein the second part has an outlet opening arranged on the inlet side, and wherein the first part extends at an angle to the second part; an inlet valve body at the outlet opening of the second part of the inlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; an outlet valve body on the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; and one of: a dedicated outlet valve body provided on the outlet opening of the second outlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; or the outlet valve body, which closes the outlet opening of the first outlet channel in a closed position and releases the outlet opening of the first outlet channel in an open position, is configured such that: in the closed position, in which it closes the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, it also closes the outlet opening of the second outlet channel; and in the open position, in which it releases the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, it also releases the outlet opening of the second outlet channel.

31. The diaphragm pump of claim 30, wherein the valve body is configured as a screen having the shape of: (a) a circle from which at least one section has been removed; or (b) an ellipse from which at least one section has been removed.

32. The diaphragm pump according to claim 30, further comprising a plurality of said valve assemblies.

33. A method of operating a diaphragm pump having a pumping chamber adjoined to a movable diaphragm, comprising: causing movement of the diaphragm a) in a first direction defining a suction direction that increases the volume of the pumping chamber, and b) in the opposite direction defining a pressure direction that reduces the volume of the pumping chamber; wherein the diaphragm pump has a valve assembly having an inlet side and an outlet side, comprising: a first outlet channel which leads from an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the first outlet channel; a second outlet channel which leads from an inlet opening arranged on the inlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel, to an outlet opening arranged on the outlet side and assigned to the second outlet channel; an inlet channel comprising a first part and a second part adjoining the first part, wherein the second part has an outlet opening arranged on the inlet side, and wherein the first part extends at an angle to the second part; an inlet valve body at the outlet opening of the second part of the inlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; an outlet valve body on the outlet opening of the first outlet channel, which closes the outlet opening in a closed position and releases the outlet opening in an open position; wherein the inlet side of the valve assembly adjoins the pumping chamber, wherein when the diaphragm moves in the suction direction the inlet valve body is pulled towards its open position and when the diaphragm is moved in the pressure direction the inlet valve body is pressed towards its closed position.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising coupling the inlet valve body to the outlet valve body wherein the coupling causes movement of the inlet valve body to cause movement of the outlet valve body.

Description

[0062] The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing which merely shows exemplary embodiments. The figures show the following:

[0063] FIG. 1 a diaphragm pump in a perspective view;

[0064] FIG. 2 an exploded view of the diaphragm pump illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0065] FIG. 3 a perspective view from behind the front panel of the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1;

[0066] FIG. 4 a perspective view from the front of a valve plate of the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1;

[0067] FIG. 5 a front view of a valve plate of the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1;

[0068] FIG. 6 a perspective view from behind a valve plate of the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 7 a view from behind the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 8 a sectional view of the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1 along the line A-A in FIG. 7;

[0071] FIG. 9 a view from the front of the valve plate according to FIG. 5;

[0072] FIG. 10 a sectional view of the valve plate according to FIG. 7 along the line B-B in FIG. 9;

[0073] FIG. 11 a partially transparent perspective view of the valve plate according to FIG. 9;

[0074] FIG. 12 a sectional side view of a valve of the valve plate according to FIG. 9 and

[0075] FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 perspective views of the valve body according to the invention.

[0076] The diaphragm pump 1 particularly shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 8 has a front plate 2, a valve plate 3, and a diaphragm plate 4. The front plate 2, the valve plate 3, and the membrane plate 4 are screwed together by means of four screws 13.

[0077] An inlet adapter 5 and an outlet adapter 6 are screwed onto the front of the front plate 2. In the design shown here, the inlet adapter 5 and the outlet adapter 6 allow hoses to be pushed on and held simply and securely. However, other types of connection are also conceivable, such as smart couplings. O-ring gaskets seal the inlet adapter 5 and the outlet adapter 6 against the base body of the front plate 2.

[0078] On the back of the front panel 2 (see FIG. 3), an inlet volume 7 is formed. The inlet volume 7 partially extends into the valve plate 3 (see. FIGS. 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11). The inlet volume 7 is surrounded by a gasket 17. Furthermore, on the rear side of the front panel 2 (see FIG. 3), an outlet volume 8 is formed. The outlet volume 8 is surrounded by a gasket 18. The diaphragm plate 4 has three openings 9. A diaphragm 10 is arranged in each opening 9. As the sectional drawing in FIG. 8 shows, the respective diaphragm 10 lies with a circumferential bead 11 in a recess 12 formed on the front side of the diaphragm plate 4 and is held there by the screw connection of the diaphragm plate 4 to the valve plate 2 (screws 13). The respective diaphragm 10 has a drive pin 14. The respective drive pin 14 has an external thread with which it is screwed into an internal thread of an opening 15 in a support ring 16. The support ring 16 can be set in a tumbling motion with a drive (not shown), which causes the drive pins 14 of the diaphragm 10 to be moved alternately backwards (=away from the valve plate 2) or forwards (=towards the valve plate 2). As a result, the pump stroke of the respective diaphragm 10 is generated. Due to the tumbling motion, the respective pump strokes are offset in time so that the diaphragm pump pumps more evenly and pulsation in the pumped fluid is avoided or reduced.

[0079] The diaphragm pump 1 shown is designed with three pump chambers. It is conceivable that diaphragm pumps according to the invention are also designed with two pump chambers, but it is particularly preferable for them to have more than three pump chambers (with four, five, six, seven or even more pump chambers, for example). The more pumping chambers used, the higher the structural design and the number of parts to be installed, but the more the pulsation in the pumped fluid can be avoided or reduced.

[0080] The three holes also provided on the support ring 16 can be used to receive pins that are located on the driving swash plate and prevent relative rotation of the swash plate.

[0081] The valve plate 2 has three valve assemblies 20 according to the invention. Each valve assembly 20 has an inlet side 21 pointing towards the diaphragm plate 4 and an outlet side 22 pointing towards the front side 2. Each valve assembly 20 has a first outlet channel 23, which leads from an inlet opening 24 arranged on the inlet side 21 and assigned to the first outlet channel 23 to an outlet opening 25 arranged on the outlet side 22 and assigned to the first outlet channel 23. Each valve assembly has a second outlet channel 26, which leads from an inlet opening 27 arranged on the inlet side 21 and assigned to the second outlet channel 26 to an outlet opening 28 arranged on the outlet side 22 and assigned to the second outlet channel 26. Each first outlet channel 23 is arranged above the second outlet channel 26.

[0082] Each valve assembly 20 has an inlet channel 30. Each inlet channel 30 has a first part 31 and a second part 32 adjoining the first part 31. The second part 32 has an outlet opening 33 which is arranged on the inlet side 21. The first part 31 extends at an angle to the second part 32. The second part 32 of the inlet channel 30, viewed in the vertical direction, is arranged between the first outlet channel 23 and the second outlet channel 26.

[0083] At the outlet opening 33 of the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30, an inlet valve body 40 is provided, which closes the outlet opening 33 in a closed position (see FIG. 12) and releases the outlet opening 33 in an open position.

[0084] At the outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23, an outlet valve body 41 is provided, which closes the outlet opening 25 in a closed position and releases the outlet opening 25 in an open position. The outlet valve body 41, which closes the outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23 in a closed position and releases the outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23 in an open position, is designed in such a way that in the closed position, in which it closes the outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23, it also closes the outlet opening 28 of the second outlet channel 26, and that when in the open position, in which it releases the outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23, it also releases the outlet opening 28 of the second outlet channel 26.

[0085] The first outlet channel 23 runs along a longitudinal axis (see FIG. 8, FIG. 10). The second outlet channel 26 runs along a longitudinal axis (see FIG. 8, FIG. 10). The angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel 23 and the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel 26 is less than 90°, namely about 20° (see FIG. 10).

[0086] The second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 runs (at least for part of its extension) along a longitudinal axis. The angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel 23 and the longitudinal axis of the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 is smaller than 90°, namely about 10° (the longitudinal axis of the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 runs approximately horizontally in the embodiment shown here (see FIG. 8) and the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel 23 runs approximately 10° to the horizontal). The angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel 26 and the longitudinal axis of the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 is less than 90°, namely about 10° (the longitudinal axis of the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 runs approximately horizontally in the embodiment shown here (see FIG. 8) and the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel 26 runs approximately 10° to the horizontal).

[0087] The first part 31 of the inlet channel 30 runs along a longitudinal axis. The angle between the longitudinal axis of the first part 31 of the inlet channel 30 and the longitudinal axis of the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 is greater than 90° (see FIG. 8). The angle between the longitudinal axis of the first outlet channel 23 and the longitudinal axis of the first part 31 of the inlet channel 30 is greater than 90° (see FIG. 8). The angle between the longitudinal axis of the second outlet channel 26 and the longitudinal axis of the first part 31 of the inlet channel 30 is greater than 90° (see FIG. 8).

[0088] The inlet valve body 40 is coupled to the outlet valve body 41 of the respective valve assembly 20. Due to the coupling, the inlet valve body 40 is in the closed position when the outlet valve body 41 is in the open position. The coupling is effected by a web 42. The inlet valve body 40 is designed as an umbrella valve that has a screen 43 and the web 42. The screen 43 is designed in the form of a circle, with a circular segment 44 removed at the top and a circular segment 44 removed at the bottom. The outlet valve body 41 is designed as an umbrella valve with a circular umbrella 45 and the web 42. The web 42 thus forms part of the inlet valve body 40 and part of the outlet valve body 41.

[0089] The first part 31 of the inlet channel 30 has an inlet opening 34. This is provided on that part of the inlet volume 7 arranged in the valve plate 3. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, three inlet openings 34 are thus provided on the part of the inlet volume 7 arranged in the valve plate 3, namely for each first part 31 of the respective inlet channel 30 of the total of three valve assemblies 20.

[0090] For better clarity, the view in FIG. 11 shows only one valve assembly 20 with inlet valve body 40 and outlet valve body 41. In the case of the other two valve assemblies 20, the respective inlet valve body 40 and the respective outlet valve body 41 are not shown, in order to better illustrate the guidance of the first outlet channel 23, the second outlet channel 26, and the inlet channel 30. For better clarity, the view in FIG. 9 shows only two valve assemblies 20 with inlet valve bodies 40. In the case of the third valve assembly 20, the inlet valve body 40 is not shown, in order to be able to better illustrate the guidance of the first outlet channel 23, the second outlet channel 26, and the inlet channel 30.

[0091] During the operation of the diaphragm pump, a withdrawal of the diaphragm 10 (=a movement of the diaphragm 10 away from the valve plate 3) leads to a negative pressure in the pump chamber formed between the inlet valve body 40 and the diaphragm 10. The negative pressure causes the inlet valve body 40 to be pulled into its open position (=away from the front plate 2) and the outlet valve body 41 to be pulled into its closed position (=away from the front plate 2). The outlet opening 33 of the inlet channel 30 is thus released. The fluid to be pumped is conveyed by the negative pressure from the inlet volume 7 through the inlet opening 34 into the first part 31 of the inlet channel 30 and from there into the second part 32 of the inlet channel 30 and leaves the inlet channel 30 via the opened outlet opening 33. In this part of the pumping cycle, the fluid to be pumped cannot leave the pumping chamber, since both the outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23 and the outlet opening 28 of the second outlet channel 26 are closed by the outlet valve body 41. This fluid movement is indicated by the arrows provided in the lower part of FIG. 10 and the arrows indicated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 11.

[0092] The arrows in FIGS. 5, 10, and 11, which show the suction motion, serve solely to illustrate the flow movement of the fluid in the respective suction motion of the respective valve assembly 20. Since the suction motions—as stated above—of the respective valve assemblies 20 are offset in time, the respective flow movement is of course offset in time. The form of presentation selected for FIGS. 5, 10, and 11 is not intended to show that the suction movements take place at the same time (even if, for example, in FIGS. 5 and 11 the arrows are shown for all valve assemblies). The arrows serve solely to represent the fluid movement during the respective suction motion, without indicating that these suction motions take place at the same time; they are of course staggered. FIG. 10 shows through the arrows provided there, for example, that the lower valve assembly 20 carries out a suction motion (fluid is drawn from the inlet volume 7 into the pumping chamber), while the upper valve assembly 20 carries out an ejection motion (fluid is pumped through the first outlet channel 23 and the second outlet channel 26 into the outlet volume 8.

[0093] During operation of the diaphragm pump, advancing the diaphragm 10 (=a movement of the diaphragm 10 towards the valve plate 3) leads to an overpressure in the pumping chamber formed between the inlet valve body 40 and the diaphragm 10. The overpressure has the effect that the inlet valve body 40 is pushed into its closed position (=towards the front plate 2) and the outlet valve body 41 is pushed into its open position (=towards the front plate 2). The outlet opening 33 of the inlet channel 30 is thus closed. The outlet opening 25 of the first outlet channel 23 and the outlet opening 28 of the second outlet channel 26 are released. The fluid to be pumped is pressed by the overpressure from the pumping chamber through the inlet opening 24 of the first outlet channel 23 into the first outlet channel 23 and through the outlet opening 25 out of this into the outlet volume 8 and through the inlet opening 27 of the second outlet channel 26 into the second outlet channel 26 and pushed out of this through the outlet opening 28 into the outlet volume 8. This fluid movement is indicated by the arrows provided in the upper part of FIG. 10.