Pump System and Method for Operating a Pump System

Abstract

The invention is based on pump system (10), in particular a self-suction pump system, with a liquid conveying unit (12) for conveying a liquid (56) and with a vacuum pump unit (14) which is, at least in an initial operation state, configured to supply the liquid conveying unit (12) with the liquid (56).

In order to improve a construction, it is proposed that at least in the initial operation state, the vacuum pump unit (14) is configured to transport a gas along the liquid conveying unit (12).

Claims

1. A pump system, in particular a self-suction pump system, with a liquid conveying unit for conveying a liquid and with a vacuum pump unit which is, at least in an initial operation state, configured to supply the liquid conveying unit with the liquid, wherein at least in the initial operation state, the vacuum pump unit is configured to transport a gas along the liquid conveying unit.

2. The pump system according to claim 1, comprising a housing unit, in which the liquid conveying unit arranged so as to be spaced apart by a gap, wherein the vacuum pump unit conveys the gas through the gap, at least in the initial operation state.

3. The pump system according to claim 1, comprising a drive unit which, at least in the initial operation state, drives the liquid conveying unit and the vacuum pump unit.

4. The pump system according to claim 3, wherein in a continuous operation state that follows the initial operation state, the drive unit drives the liquid conveying unit and the vacuum pump unit.

5. The pump system according to claim 3, wherein the drive unit comprises a drive shaft, which is configured for driving the liquid conveying unit and the vacuum pump unit.

6. The pump system according to claim 5, wherein the liquid conveying unit and the vacuum pump unit are operatively connected to the drive shaft directly.

7. The pump system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid conveying unit comprises at least one liquid conveying rotor.

8. The pump system according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump unit comprises at least one gas conveying rotor.

9. The pump system according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump unit self-sealing by means of a liquid.

10. The pump system according to claim 1, comprising a non-return valve, which is arranged at a liquid outlet of the liquid conveying unit.

11. The pump system according to claim 10, wherein at least in the initial operation state, the vacuum pump unit provides a negative pressure which keeps the non-return valve closed.

12. The pump system according to claim 10, wherein a gas outlet of the vacuum pump unit is arranged with respect to a liquid conveying path downstream of the non-return valve.

13. A method for operating a pump system, in particular a pump system according to claim 1, with a liquid conveying unit, by which a liquid is conveyed, and with a vacuum pump unit, by which the liquid conveying unit is supplied with the liquid, at least in an initial operation state, wherein at least in the initial operation state, a gas is transported along the liquid conveying unit by the vacuum pump unit.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0026] Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. in the drawings an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the features separately and will find further expedient combinations.

[0027] It is shown in:

[0028] FIG. 1 a pump system during an initial operation state,

[0029] FIG. 2 the pump system during a continuous operation state, and

[0030] FIG. 3 a flow chart of a method for operating the pump system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0031] Of objects which are present multiple times, only one is given a reference numeral.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a pump system 10 in an initial operation state. The pump system 10 is implemented as a self-suction pump system. The pump system 10 is utilized in drainages.

[0033] The pump system 10 comprises a liquid conveying unit 12. The liquid conveying unit 12 serves for a conveying of a liquid 56. Depending on a field of application, the liquid 56 could be embodied as residue water and/or rain water and/or foreign water and/or slack water.

[0034] The pump system 10 comprises a liquid feed conduit 44. The liquid feed conduit 44 connects a remaining pump system fluidically to the liquid 56. The liquid feed conduit 44 is embodied as a flexible tube. Alternatively, the liquid feed conduit 44 could be embodied as a piece of tube. The liquid feed conduit 44 is immerged in a region (not shown) filled with the liquid 56. The region could, for example, be a cellar that must be pumped and/or a liquid tank that must be maintained. It would also be conceivable that the pump system 10 could be free of liquid feed conduits 44 and be connectable to a separate liquid feed conduit. Alternatively or additionally, the liquid feed conduit 44 could be embodied as a reservoir conduit 46. The reservoir conduit 46 also serves for retaining a portion of the liquid 56 after operation of the liquid conveying unit 12 in order to prevent a dry run when re-starting the liquid conveying unit 12.

[0035] The pump system 10 comprises a liquid output conduit 48. The liquid output conduit 48 is embodied as a flexible tube. Alternatively, the liquid output conduit 48 could be embodied as a piece of tube. The liquid output conduit 48 connects a remaining pump system to a conduit system (not shown) for a disposal of the conveyed liquid 56. The conduit system could, for example, be part of a sewerage. Alternatively, the liquid output conduit 48 could connect the remaining pump system to a liquid reservoir, for example a standing water body or a disposal tank. Furthermore, the pump system 10 could be free of liquid output conduits 48 and be connectable to a separate liquid output conduit.

[0036] The liquid conveying unit 12 defines a liquid conveying path 34 from the liquid feed conduit 44 to the liquid output conduit 48. The liquid conveying unit 12 is embodied as a centrifugal pump. The liquid conveying unit 12 comprises a liquid conveying rotor 24. The liquid conveying rotor 24 has a spiral shape.

[0037] The pump system 10 comprises a vacuum pump unit 14. In the initial operation state, the vacuum pump unit 14 serves for supplying the liquid conveying unit 12 with the liquid 56. The vacuum pump unit 14 serves for a transport of a gas along the liquid conveying unit 12. The gas is embodied as air. The vacuum pump unit 14 is embodied as a screw pump. The vacuum pump unit 14 comprises a gas conveying rotor 26. The gas conveying rotor 26 has a helical shape. The vacuum pump unit 14 is implemented as a known type of vacuum pump, of the kind that is in particular used for vacuum toilets.

[0038] The vacuum pump unit 14 is self-sealing by means of a liquid, which is preferentially equivalent to the liquid 56. In this context it is conceivable that in the initial operation state a small quantity of the liquid is introduced into the region of the vacuum pump unit 14, for example via a separate filling nozzle (not shown). Furthermore, if the liquid feed conduit 44 is implemented as a reservoir conduit 46, the retained portion of the liquid 56 could provide a continuous sealing of the vacuum pump unit. Alternatively, the vacuum pump unit 14 could as well be realized to be not self-sealing, and a certain leakage of gas could be permitted.

[0039] The pump system 10 comprises a housing unit 16. The housing unit 16 accommodates the liquid conveying unit 12. The housing unit 16 accommodates the gas conveying rotor 26. The housing unit 16 defines a liquid inlet 42 of the liquid conveying unit 12. The housing unit 16 defines a liquid outlet 30 of the liquid conveying unit 12. The liquid conveying unit 12 is spaced apart from the housing unit 16 by a gap 18. The gap 18 separates a first receiving space 36 of the housing unit 16, in which the liquid feed unit 44 is arranged, from a second receiving space 38, in which the gas conveying rotor 26 is arranged. The gap 18 realizes a gas inlet of the vacuum pump unit 14.

[0040] The pump system 10 comprises a drive unit 20. The drive unit 20 is embodied as an electrical motor. Alternatively, the drive unit 20 could be embodied as a combustion motor. The drive unit 20 could furthermore also comprise a plurality of motors arranged in a common housing. The drive unit 20 drives the liquid conveying unit 12 and the vacuum pump unit 14. The drive unit 20 comprises a drive shaft 22. The drive shaft 22 serves for driving the liquid conveying unit 12 and the vacuum pump unit 14.

[0041] The liquid conveying unit 12 and the vacuum pump unit 14 are operatively connected to the drive shaft 22 directly. The liquid conveying rotor 24 is mounted to the drive shaft 22 via a hub 40. The gap 18 is arranged between the hub 40 and the housing unit 16. The liquid conveying rotor 26 is embodied as a helix-shaped elevation of the drive shaft 22.

[0042] The pump system 10 comprises a non-return valve 28. The non-return valve 28 is arranged at a liquid outlet 30 of the liquid conveying unit 12. The non-return valve 28 prevents a backflow of the liquid 56 from the liquid output conduit 48. The non-return valve 28 comprises a non-return element 50. The non-return element 50 is embodied as a non-return ball. Alternatively, the non-return element 50 could be embodied as a non-return flap or as a non-return disk. In a resting state, the non-return element 50 lies upon a seat (not shown).

[0043] The vacuum pump unit 14 comprises a gas outlet 32. The gas outlet 32 is arranged downstream of the non-return valve 28 with respect to the liquid conveying path 34. The vacuum pump unit 14 comprises a conduit 52. The conduit 52 connects the second receiving space 38 to the gas outlet 32.

[0044] In order to bring the pump system 10 into the initial operation state like the one shown in FIG. 1, first the liquid feed conduit 44 is immerged into the region and the liquid output conduit 48 is connected to the conduit system. Then the drive unit 20 is activated. After activation of the drive unit 20, the initial operation state is established.

[0045] The following explanations explicitly refer to the initial operation state of the pump system 10. The vacuum pump unit 14 transports the gas along the liquid conveying unit 12 and through the gap 18. A pump effect of the liquid conveying unit 12 is negligible due to lack of liquid 56 to be conveyed. The vacuum pump unit 14 transports the gas along the liquid conveying unit 12 in order to bring about a subsequent flow of the liquid 56 from the liquid feed conduit 44. The gas flows through the gap 18, through the vacuum pump unit 14 and out of the gas outlet 32 into the liquid output conduit 48. The liquid 56 accumulates in the first receiving space 36. The vacuum pump unit 14 provides a negative pressure, which keeps the non-return valve 28 closed. The negative pressure induces a pressing of the non-return element 50 to its seat.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows the pump system 10 in a continuous operation state that follows the initial operation state. The continuous operation state follows the initial operation state directly. The following explanations refer explicitly to the continuous operation state of the pump system 10. The drive unit 20 continues to drive the liquid conveying unit 12 and the vacuum pump unit 14. The liquid conveying unit 12 is surrounded by the liquid 56. The liquid conveying unit 12 conveys the liquid 56 from the liquid feed conduit 44 to the liquid output conduit 48. A pump effect of the vacuum pump unit 14 is herein negligible. The gap 18 is to a large extent sealed by the liquid 56. The gap 18 is sealed by the liquid 56. Alternatively or additionally, the gap 18 could be sealed by a further liquid, which may in particular be a portion of the liquid 56, which is arranged within the second receiving space 38 and which is transported toward the gap 18 by the gas conveying rotor 26. Furthermore, in case the liquid feed conduit 44 is embodied as a reservoir conduit 46, the retained portion of the liquid 56 could provide a continuous sealing of the vacuum pump unit 14. The non-return valve 28 is open. The non-return element 50 is pressed into a receiving space 54 of the non-return valve 28 by the flowing liquid 56.

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a schematic flow chart of a method for operating the pump system 10. In a first operation step 100 the pump system 10 is in the initial operation state. The first operation step 100 is initiated by switching on the drive unit 20. In the first operation step 100 the gas is transported by the vacuum pump unit 14. In the first operation step 100 the pump effect of the liquid conveying unit 12 is equal to zero. The first operation step 100 finishes with the sealing of the gap 18 by the subsequently flowing liquid 56. In a second operation step 110 the pump system 10 is in the continuous operation state. The second operation step 110 follows the first operation step 100 directly. In the second operation step 110 the liquid conveying unit 12 conveys the liquid 56. In the second operation step 110 the pump effect of the vacuum pump unit 14 is equal to zero.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048] 10 pump system [0049] 12 liquid conveying unit [0050] 14 vacuum pump unit [0051] 16 housing unit [0052] 18 gap [0053] 20 drive unit [0054] 22 drive shaft [0055] 24 liquid conveying rotor [0056] 26 gas conveying rotor [0057] 28 non-return valve [0058] 30 liquid outlet [0059] 32 gas outlet [0060] 34 liquid conveying path [0061] 36 first receiving space [0062] 38 second receiving space [0063] 40 hub [0064] 42 liquid inlet [0065] 44 liquid feed conduit [0066] 46 reservoir conduit [0067] 48 liquid output conduit [0068] 50 non-return element [0069] 52 conduit [0070] 54 receiving space [0071] 56 liquid [0072] 100 first operation step [0073] 110 second operation step