Drive of a pump

Abstract

A pump includes a cylinder having a working chamber which contains a fluid. A drive system including at least two linear motors which are connected electrically and/or mechanically in parallel moves a piston in the working chamber to bound the working chamber in the cylinder and to pressurize the fluid in the working chamber. A piston rod is connected to the piston and bundles a force applied by the drive system.

Claims

1. A pump, in particular a fuel pump, comprising: a cylinder having a working chamber which contains a fluid, in particular fuel; a drive system including at least two linear motors which are connected electrically and/or mechanically in parallel; a piston movable in the working chamber by the drive system to bound the working chamber in the cylinder and to pressurize the fluid in the working chamber; and a piston rod connected to the piston and bundling a force, in particular feed force, applied by the drive system.

2. The pump of claim 1, wherein the drive system includes a measuring system configured to determine a position and/or speed of the linear motors, a control unit for activating the linear motors, and a system linked to the measuring system and control unit for data transmission between the control unit and the measuring system.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein the linear motors are arranged in parallel on a support.

4. The pump of claim 1, wherein each of the linear motors is embodied as a linear motor with a moving magnet.

5. The pump of claim 1, further comprising converters operably connected to the linear motors in one-to-one correspondence.

6. The pump of claim 1, wherein the drive system includes at least 20 of said linear motors and at most 128 of said linear motors.

7. The pump of claim 1, wherein the linear motors are of a same construction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The invention is explained below on the basis of an example in which FIG. 1 shows a drive system for driving a pump.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(2) FIG. 1 shows a drive system 3 comprising five linear motors 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 1e, which can be moved forwards and backwards on a track 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d and 2e in each case, in order to drive a pump 4, in particular a fuel pump. The linear motors are arranged in parallel and are mechanically connected so that the forces of the linear motors 1a to 1e are bundled by means of a piston rod 7.

(3) Each one linear motor 1a to 1e is coupled in each case with a converter 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d and 30e to an electrical power supply network 40. The linear motors 1a to 1e are connected via electric energy supply lines 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d and 31e to the respectively associated converter 30a to 30e. The converters 30a to 30e are connected to the electric energy supply network 40 by way of further electrical energy supply lines 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d and 32e.

(4) The force of the linear motors 1a to 1e is bundled by means of a piston rod 7. The individual linear motors 1a to 1e advantageously move with the same speed. The piston rod 7 moves a piston 6, in this way, which bounds a working chamber 5 in a cylinder of a pump 4.

(5) Fluid present in the working chamber 5, in particular fuel such as oil or gas, is pressurized as a result. To this end, in an exemplary sequence, fuel is drawn into the working chamber 5 through an inlet vale 11 preferably activated by the control unit 21 by way of a system for data transmission 25, by the drive system 3 comprising linear motors 1a to 1e—and thus each individual linear motor 1a to 1e—receiving the command from the control unit 21, at a rear end of the respective track 2a to 2e which faces away from the pump 4. The working chamber 5 achieves its maximum size as a result and an emerging vacuum in the working chamber 5 draws the fuel in by way of the inlet valve 11.

(6) A measuring system 20 identifies, if each one linear motor 1a to 1e has reached an end position, whereupon the control unit 21 stops the linear motors 1a to 1e. The measuring system 20 is connected to the linear motors 1a to 1e by way of a system for data transmission 26. The measuring system 20 advantageously moreover acquires a speed and position of each one linear motor 1a to 1e and can transmit this data to the control unit 21 via a system for data transmission between the control unit and measuring system 20. The control unit 21 therefore has the possibility to respond, by it braking or accelerating the linear motors 1a to 1e for instance.

(7) The control unit 21 preferably closes both the inlet valve 11 and also the outlet valve 10 when the end position of the liner motors 1a to 1e is reached. To this end an optional system for data transmission is available between the control unit 21 and valves 29.

(8) The drive system 3 comprising linear motors 1a to 1e is prompted by the control unit 21 to move in the direction of a front end of the respective track 2a to 2e which faces the pump. As a result, the fuel located in the working chamber 5 is pressurized. If the pressure is sufficiently large, the control unit 21 opens the outlet valve 10. An extent of the pressure is advantageously detected by means of the measuring system 20 by way of an optional system for data transmission between the measuring system and valves 28.

(9) The control unit 21 and the measuring system 20 can have separate computer units or a shared computer unit. The systems for data transmission 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 can be connected by means of lines or also wirelessly.

(10) The drive system 3 comprising linear motors shown by way of example in FIG. 1 has just five linear motors 1a to 1e. In accordance with the invention, depending on the application area a larger or smaller number of linear motors can however form a drive system comprising linear motors.