Diaphragm pump

Abstract

A diaphragm pump has at least one pump chamber, the pump chamber being connected to an inlet chamber via an inlet valve and to an outlet chamber via an outlet valve. The inlet valve has an inlet opening which can be closed by an inlet valve body, and the outlet valve has an outlet opening which can be closed by an outlet valve body. The outlet opening surrounds the inlet opening, or the inlet opening surrounds the outlet opening.

Claims

1. A pump head, having a body, having defined therein: a plurality of pump chambers; an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of pump chambers via a plurality of outlet openings in each of the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of outlet valves, each of the plurality of pump chambers including a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet valves for opening and closing a corresponding plurality of outlet openings in the corresponding pump chamber by the corresponding one of the plurality of outlet valves; and an inlet chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of pump chambers via one or more inlet openings in each of the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of inlet valves, each of the plurality of pump chambers including a corresponding one of the plurality of inlet valves for opening and closing a corresponding one or more of the one or more inlet openings in the corresponding pump chamber by the corresponding one of the plurality of inlet valves; wherein: the plurality of outlet openings of a corresponding pump chamber are arranged at least partially around the one or more inlet openings of the corresponding pump chamber such that, with reference to a vertical axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pump head, in each of the plurality of pump chambers, (i) at least a first outlet opening of the plurality of outlet openings is positioned above at least a corresponding one of the one or more inlet openings, whereby at least the first outlet opening deaerates residual air present in the corresponding pump chamber, and (ii) at least a second outlet opening of the plurality of outlet openings is positioned at a bottom of the corresponding pump chamber, and at least a corresponding one of the one or more inlet openings is positioned above at least the second outlet opening positioned at the bottom of the corresponding pump chamber, whereby at least the second outlet opening drains residual liquid present in the corresponding pump chamber; wherein the plurality of pump chambers, the plurality of outlet openings, and the one or more inlet openings are defined in a valve plate of the pump head.

2. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outlet openings comprise at least two outlet opening sections.

3. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the one or more inlet openings comprise at least two inlet opening sections.

4. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber have a common central axis.

5. The pump head of claim 1, wherein for each pump chamber a vertically lower region of the inlet chamber comprises a wall that is flush with a lower region of the one or more inlet openings of the corresponding pump chamber along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pump head.

6. The pump head of claim 1, wherein for each pump chamber a vertically lower region of the outlet chamber comprises a wall that is flush with a lower region of the plurality of outlet openings of the corresponding pump chamber along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pump head.

7. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the outlet chamber comprises a plurality of outlet chambers.

8. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outlet valves are defined in the valve plate of the pump head.

9. The pump head of claim 7, wherein the plurality of pump chambers and the plurality of outlet valves are defined in the valve plate of the pump head, wherein a number of the plurality of outlet valves corresponds to a number of the plurality of pump chambers.

10. The pump head of claim 9, wherein the inlet chamber is defined in a front plate of the pump head, the plurality of outlet chambers are defined in an intermediate plate of the pump head, and a plurality of pump diaphragms are defined in an end plate of the pump head; wherein the valve plate is arranged between the intermediate plate and the end plate.

11. The pump head of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of inlet channels defined in the intermediate plate of the pump head; wherein each one of the plurality of inlet channels is arranged between the inlet chamber and a corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers and wherein each one of the plurality of inlet channels is in fluid communication with the inlet chamber and the corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers; and wherein each one of the plurality of inlet channels includes one of the plurality of inlet valves arranged in the one of the plurality of inlet channels at one of a first end and a second end of the one of the plurality of inlet channels.

12. The pump head of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of outlet channels defined in the valve plate of the pump head; wherein each one of the plurality of outlet channels is arranged between a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet chambers and a corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers and wherein each one of the plurality of outlet channels is in fluid communication with the corresponding one of the outlet chambers and the corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers; and wherein each one of the plurality of outlet channels includes one of the plurality of outlet valves arranged in the one of the plurality of outlet channels at one of a first end and a second end of the one of the plurality of outlet channels.

13. The pump head of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pump chambers comprises four pump chambers, the plurality of outlet valves comprises four outlet valves, and the plurality of inlet valves comprises four inlet valves; and wherein an arrangement of the four inlet valves and the four outlet valves are defined in the valve plate.

14. The pump head of claim 1, wherein, for each pump chamber the plurality of outlet openings in the corresponding pump chamber that are arranged at least partially around the one or more inlet openings in the corresponding pump chamber, comprise an annular opening.

15. A diaphragm pump for conveying fluids, comprising: a pump head having a body defining: a plurality of pump chambers; an outlet chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of pump chambers via a plurality of outlet openings in each of the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of outlet valves, each of the plurality of pump chambers including a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet valves for opening and closing a corresponding plurality plurality of outlet valves; and an inlet chamber in fluid communication with the plurality of pump chambers via one or more inlet openings in each of the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of inlet valves, each of the plurality of pump chambers including a corresponding one of the plurality of inlet valves for opening and closing a corresponding one or more of the one or more inlet openings in the corresponding pump chamber by the corresponding one of the plurality of inlet valves; wherein: the plurality of outlet openings of a corresponding pump chamber are arranged at least partially around the one or more inlet openings of the corresponding pump chamber such that, with reference to a vertical axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pump head, in each of the plurality of pump chambers, (i) at least a first outlet opening of the plurality of outlet openings is positioned above at least a corresponding one of the one or more inlet openings, whereby at least the first outlet opening deaerates residual air present in the corresponding pump chamber, and (ii) at least a second outlet opening of the plurality of outlet openings is positioned at a bottom of the corresponding pump chamber, and at least a corresponding one of the one or more inlet openings is positioned above at least the second outlet opening positioned at the bottom of the corresponding pump chamber, whereby at least the second outlet opening drains residual liquid present in the corresponding pump chamber; wherein the plurality of pump chambers, the plurality of outlet openings, and the one or more inlet openings are defined in a valve plate of the pump head; a drive body attached to the pump head, the drive body having defined therein a drive chamber arranged adjacent to the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of pump diaphragms, each pump diaphragm being arranged between the drive chamber and a corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers, wherein each of the plurality of pump diaphragms is configured to seal the corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers from the drive chamber; and a wobble plate within the drive chamber, wherein the wobble plate is configured to be connected to a drive shaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the pump head, and wherein wobble motion of the wobble plate causes each of the plurality of pump diaphragms to perform a periodically axial pumping motion.

16. The diaphragm pump of claim 15, wherein the plurality of outlet openings and the one or more inlet openings defined in the pump head are substantially coplanar, and wherein the pump head further comprises a seal which prevents fluid communication between the plurality of outlet openings and the one or more inlet openings.

17. The diaphragm pump of claim 15, wherein the wobble plate is connected by a pin to the drive shaft; wherein the pin is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to cause the wobble plate to perform a circumferential wobbling motion.

18. A device comprising: a pump head, having a body, having defined therein: a plurality of pump chambers; an outlet chamber arranged proximate to the plurality of pump chambers, the outlet chamber including a plurality of outlet openings arranged to open into the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of outlet valves, each of the plurality of pump chambers Including a corresponding one of the plurality of outlet valves arranged on a corresponding plurality of outlet openings and configured to open and dose the corresponding plurality of outlet openings to control fluid communication between the outlet chamber and a corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers; an inlet chamber arranged proximate to the plurality of pump chambers, the inlet chamber including one or more inlet openings arranged to open into the plurality of pump chambers; and a plurality of inlet valves arranged on the one or more inlet openings, each of the plurality of pump chambers including a corresponding one of the plurality of inlet valves which is configured to open and close a corresponding one or more inlet openings to control fluid communication between the inlet chamber and a corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers; wherein the plurality of outlet openings and the one or more inlet openings have a common central axis, and wherein: the plurality of outlet openings of a corresponding pump chamber are arranged at least partially around the one or more inlet openings of the corresponding pump chamber such that, with reference to a vertical axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pump head, in each of the plurality of pump chambers, (i) at least a first outlet opening of the plurality of outlet openings is positioned above at least a corresponding one of the one or more inlet openings, whereby at least the first outlet opening deaerates residual air present in the corresponding pump chamber, and (ii) at least a second outlet opening of the plurality of outlet openings is positioned at a bottom of the corresponding pump chamber, and at least a corresponding one of the one or more inlet openings is positioned above at least the second outlet opening positioned at the bottom of the corresponding pump chamber, whereby at least the second outlet opening drains residual liquid present in the corresponding pump chamber; wherein the plurality of pump chambers, the plurality of outlet openings, and the one or more inlet openings are defined in a valve plate of the pump head.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the plurality of outlet openings comprises at least two outlet opening sections and wherein the one or more inlet openings comprises at least two inlet opening sections.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the plurality of outlet openings and the one or more inlet openings are substantially coplanar, and wherein the pump head further comprises a seal which prevents fluid communication between the plurality of outlet openings and the one or more inlet openings.

21. The device of claim 18, further comprising: a drive body attached to the pump head having defined therein a drive chamber arranged adjacent to the plurality of pump chambers; a plurality of pump diaphragms, each pump diaphragm being arranged between the drive chamber and a corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers and configured to seal the corresponding one of the plurality of pump chambers from the drive chamber; and a wobble plate within the drive chamber, the wobble plate being configured to be connected by a pin to a drive shaft extending along the longitudinal axis of the pump head, wherein the pin is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to cause the wobble plate to perform a circumferential wobbling motion when the drive shaft is rotated by a drive.

22. The pump head of claim 1, wherein the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber are oriented rotationally symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of the pump head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing representing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the figures,

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a pump head of a diaphragm pump (without drive) according to the invention, as well as a sectioned side view along the line A-A in plan view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective front view of the pump head of FIG. 1 with a valve plate,

(4) FIG. 3 shows both a front view and a rear view of a front plate of the pump head according to the invention of FIG. 1,

(5) FIG. 4 shows both a front view and a rear view of a valve plate of the pump head according to the invention of FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 shows both a front view and a rear view of an intermediate plate of the pump head according to the invention of FIG. 1, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a partial sectional view of a device with a diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows the pump head 2 of a diaphragm pump 1. The diaphragm pump 1 forms part of the device shown in FIG. 6.

(9) The pump head 2 has a front plate 3, an intermediate plate 4, also referred to as a chamber housing, a valve plate 5, and an end plate 6, also referred to as a diaphragm carrier, with pump diaphragms 7 which are connected to the wobble plate not shown in FIG. 2 via pump elements.

(10) Provided on the front plate 3 is a central inlet 10, which opens into a central inlet chamber 12 via an inlet channel 11 formed in the front plate 3. An outlet 13 is provided on the front plate 3, which outlet is connected to a likewise central outlet chamber 14 of the intermediate plate 4 via an outlet channel 15 which is partly formed in the front plate 3 and partly in the intermediate plate 4.

(11) The valve plate 5 is arranged between the intermediate plate 4 and the end plate 6. On its rear side 17 facing away from the intermediate plate 4, the valve plate 5 has four pump chambers 18. The pump chambers 18, which are open to the end plate 6, are each closed or delimited by a pump diaphragm 7. The pump diaphragms 7 are arranged between the end plate 6 and the valve plate 5. An annular bead 19 of the pump diaphragm 7 is arranged in a groove 20 of the valve plate 5 arranged around the pump chamber 18.

(12) The intermediate plate 4 closes the inlet chamber 12 of the front plate 3, but in each case has inlet channels 16 leading to inlet valves 22 which inlet channels pass through the outlet chamber 14 of the intermediate plate 4. The valve plate 5 has four inlet valves 22, which are formed as screen valves and which connect the inlet chamber 12 via the respective channels 16 to the pump chamber 18 associated with the respective inlet valve 22.

(13) The valve plate 5 also seals the central outlet chamber 14 of the intermediate plate 4. The valve plate 5 is essentially flat and has four outlet valves 24, which correspond to the outlet chamber 14, which outlet valves are also formed as screen valves. The outlet opening of the outlet valve 24 is formed by outlet opening sections 23a of the respective outlet valve 24 which surround the inlet opening sections 23b of the inlet valve 22 associated with the respective same pump chamber 18 which inlet opening sections form the inlet opening of the inlet valve 22. The outlet opening sections 23a preferably directly adjoin the inlet opening sections 23b with the respective outlet opening sections 23a and the inlet opening sections 23b separated from each other by a bead or wall.

(14) The wobble plate 9 shown in FIG. 6 is connected to a pin 26 of a drive shaft 27 via a ball bearing 25. The pin 26 is thereby inclined relative to the longitudinal axis 28 of the drive shaft 27 in order to produce a wobbling motion of the wobble plate 8. The connection between the drive axle and the wobble plate 8 is arranged in the region of a drive chamber 29 arranged upstream of the end plate 6.

(15) The inlet chamber 12 is sealed off from the intermediate plate 4 by a seal 30, which in the example is formed as a cord ring seal. The outer delimitation of the outlet chamber 14 is sealed by a seal 31, which is also formed as a cord ring seal in the example. The outlet openings 23a of the valve plate 5 are also sealed to the inlet channels 16 of the intermediate plate 4 by beads 34 arranged in a groove 33 at the screen-like valve body of the outlet valve 24.

(16) As a result of the rotation of the drive shaft 27 about its longitudinal axis 28, the wobble plate 8 is enabled to perform a circumferential wobbling motion due to the inclination of the pin 26 without co-rotating with the drive shaft 27. As a result of the wobble motion of the wobble plate 8, the pump diaphragms 7 are enabled to perform a periodically axial pumping motion by which in the pumping chambers 18 alternately negative pressure is generated in the intake stroke by a motion in the direction of the drive chamber 29 and positive pressure is generated in the discharge stroke by a motion in the direction of the front plate 3.

(17) Due to the respective downstream arrangement of the valve screen of the inlet valve 22, the inlet valve 22 opens and the corresponding outlet valve 24 closes automatically when there is negative pressure in the associated pump chamber 18. In the event of a positive pressure in the pump chamber 18, the associated inlet valve 22 closes and the corresponding outlet valve 24 opens automatically. As a result, the pumping medium is conveyed out of the pump chamber 18 through the outlet chamber 14 to the outlet 13.

(18) FIG. 2 shows a perspective front view of the pump head of FIG. 1 with a valve plate. The sequence of the components front plate 3, intermediate plate 4, valve plate 5 and end plate 6 can be seen in this perspective view.

(19) FIG. 3 shows both a front view and a rear view of the front plate 3 of the pump head according to the invention of FIG. 1. The inlet channel 11 as well as the outlet channel 15 and the inlet chamber 12 can also be clearly seen.

(20) FIG. 4 shows both a front view and a rear view of a valve plate 5 of the pump head according to the invention of FIG. 1. In these views, the annular outlet valves 24, the circular-segment-like outlet openings 23a and inlet openings 23b in the form of holes of the pump chamber 18, as well as the disc-like inlet valves 22.