Abstract
A conveying device at least for conveying a fluid, includes at least one conveying space, with at least one conveying space element, which at least partly delimits the conveying space and is embodied in a rigid fashion, and with at least one elastically deformable conveying element, which forms the conveying space together with the conveying space element, at least the conveying space element and the conveying element together form an exchangeable unit. The conveying element is arranged on the conveying space element in an at least partly convexly curved fashion, following a deformation, the conveying element automatically seeks to re-assume a basic shape, and the conveying element is connected to the conveying space element in a non-releasable manner.
Claims
1. A conveying device at least for conveying a fluid, with at least one conveying space, with at least one conveying space element, which at least partly delimits the conveying space and is embodied in a rigid fashion, and with at least one elastically deformable conveying element, which forms the conveying space together with the conveying space element, wherein at least the conveying space element and the conveying element together form an exchangeable unit, wherein the conveying element is arranged on the conveying space element in an at least partly convexly curved fashion, wherein the conveying element is embodied in a spring-elastic fashion, wherein, following a deformation, the conveying element automatically seeks to re-assume a basic shape, wherein the conveying element is connected to the conveying space element in a non-releasable manner, wherein the conveying space element comprises at least one concave recess for at least partly forming the conveying space, wherein an inner surface of the conveying space element, which delimits the concave recess, forms a wall of the conveying space, wherein the conveying element comprises, in a load-free state of the conveying element, a conveying surface which, viewed in a cross section of the conveying element, has a maximum transverse extent that is equivalent to a maximum transverse extent of the rigid wall of the conveying space element, which wall at least partly delimits at least the conveying space, wherein the conveying surface is utilizable in a targeted fashion for a conveyance of a fluid in the conveying space and/or through the conveying space.
2. The conveying device according to claim 1, comprising at least one conveying medium store unit for storage of a conveying medium, wherein the conveying medium store unit forms the exchangeable unit together with the conveying space element and the conveying element.
3. The conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the conveying medium store unit is connected to the conveying space element in an at least substantially non-releasable manner.
4. The conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the conveying element is configured for sealing at least one edge region of the conveying space element, which delimits the conveying space.
5. (canceled)
6. A pump device with at least one conveying device according to claim 1, and with at least one drive unit for driving the conveying device, wherein the drive unit is embodied as a helical drive unit, wherein at least one drive axis of a drive element of the drive unit extends at least substantially parallel to a conveying direction of the conveying device.
7-10. (canceled)
11. A pump device with at least one conveying device according to claim 1, and with at least one drive unit for driving the conveying device, wherein the drive unit is implemented as a paternoster drive unit comprising at least one force action element, which is drivable, for the purpose of an action of a drive force, in particular a direct action of a drive force, onto the conveying element, in a circulating fashion, wherein, for an action of a drive force onto the conveying element, the force action element extends at least substantially parallel to a circulation plane, in particular in the circulation plane in which the force action element is drivable in a circulating operation, wherein the force action element of the drive unit, which is embodied as a paternoster drive unit, is arranged on a wrap-around element of the drive unit embodied as a paternoster drive unit.
12. The pump device according to claim 11, wherein at least one drive axis of a drive element of the drive unit extends at least substantially transversely to a conveying direction of the conveying device.
Description
DRAWINGS
[0026] Further advantages emerge from the following description of the drawings. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. The drawings, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will expediently also consider the features individually and combine these to form further meaningful combinations.
[0027] In the drawings:
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a pump device according to the invention with at least one conveying device according to the invention in a schematic illustration,
[0029] FIG. 2 shows the pump device according to the invention with a removed exchangeable unit in a schematic illustration,
[0030] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through a conveying space of the conveying device according to the invention, which conveying space is formed by a conveying element and by a conveying space element of the conveying device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,
[0031] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the conveying space in a load-free state of the conveying element in a schematic illustration,
[0032] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through the conveying space in a loaded state of the conveying element in a schematic illustration,
[0033] FIG. 6 shows a detailed view of a drive unit of the pump device according to the invention, which is provided for driving the conveying device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,
[0034] FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of an alternative drive unit of the pump device according to the invention, which is provided for driving the conveying device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,
[0035] FIG. 8 shows a detailed view of a further alternative drive unit of the pump device according to the invention, which is provided for driving the conveying device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,
[0036] FIG. 9 shows a detailed view of a further alternative drive unit of the pump device according to the invention, which is provided for driving an alternative conveying device according to the invention, in a schematic illustration,
[0037] FIG. 10 shows a detail view of a motor unit of the further alternative drive unit of the pump device according to the invention from FIG. 9, in a schematic illustration,
[0038] FIG. 11 shows a detail view of a drive element, arranged on the motor unit, of the further alternative drive unit of the pump device according to the invention from FIG. 9, in a schematic illustration,
[0039] FIG. 12 shows an exploded view of the alternative conveying device according to the invention from FIG. 9 in a schematic illustration, and
[0040] FIG. 13 shows a detail view of a conveying element of the alternative conveying device according to the invention from FIG. 9, in a schematic illustration.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0041] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a pump device 24a with at least one conveying device 10a and with at least one drive unit 26a for driving the conveying device 10a. The pump device 24a comprises at least one housing unit 34a in which at least the drive unit 26a is arrangeable. The conveying device 10a is arrangeable on the housing unit 34a, in particular is arrangeable on the housing unit 34a in a releasable fashion. For an arrangement of the conveying device 10a on the housing unit 34a, the pump device 24a has at least one receiving unit 36a. The receiving unit 36a is arranged on the housing unit 34a. The receiving unit 36a comprises at least one receiving element 38a in which the conveying device 10a can be at least partly received. The receiving element 38a is implemented as a receiving recess into which the conveying device 10a can be at least partly placed. It is however also conceivable for the receiving unit 38a to be of some other design that appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, for example to be designed as a projection, as a rib, as a magnet or the like. For a fastening of the conveying device 10a in a state arranged on the housing unit 34a, the pump device 24a has a fastening unit 40a. The fastening unit 40a is arranged on the housing unit 34a. The fastening unit 40a is provided for fastening, in particular releasably fastening, the conveying device 10a to the housing unit 34a by means of a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection. The fastening unit 40a may be implemented as a clamping unit, as a detent unit, as a screw unit or as some other unit that appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, which unit is provided for fastening the conveying device 10a to the housing unit 34a by means of a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection.
[0042] The conveying device 10a is configured at least for conveying a fluid. The conveying device 10a comprises at least one conveying space 12a, at least one conveying space element 14a, which at least partly delimits the conveying space 12a and is embodied in a rigid fashion, and at least one elastically deformable conveying element 16a, which forms the conveying space 12a together with the conveying space element 14a. At least the conveying space element 14a and the conveying element 16a together form an exchangeable unit 18a. The exchangeable unit 18a is arrangeable on the housing unit 34a by means of the receiving unit 36a. The exchangeable unit 18a can be at least partly placed into the receiving element 38a. By means of the fastening unit 40a, the exchangeable unit 18a can be fastened to the housing unit 34 in a releasable fashion, in particular in a state arranged in the receiving unit 36a. FIG. 2 illustrates the pump device 24a with the exchangeable unit 18a of the conveying device 10a removed from the housing unit 34a.
[0043] Furthermore, the conveying device 10a comprises at least one conveying medium store unit 20a for storing a conveying medium, wherein the conveying medium store unit 20a forms the exchangeable unit 18a together with the conveying space element 14a and the conveying element 16a. The conveying medium store unit 20a is connected to the conveying space element 14a in an at least substantially non-releasable manner. It is however also conceivable, in an alternative embodiment of the conveying device 10a which is not illustrated in any more detail here, for the conveying medium store unit 20a of the conveying device 10a to not be a constituent part of the exchangeable unit 18a, and to be fluidically connectable, in particular connectable in a releasable manner, to the exchangeable unit 18a, in particular at least to the conveying space 12a, by means of a conveying line, such as for example a hose, of the conveying device 10a and for the exchangeable unit 18a to be removable from the housing unit 34a separately from the conveying medium store unit 20a.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section through the conveying space 12a of the conveying device 10a, which conveying space is formed at least by the conveying element 16a and by the conveying space element 14a of the conveying device 10a. The conveying element 16a is of a polygonal, in particular rectangular, design. The conveying space element 14a is of a polygonal, in particular rectangular, design. The conveying medium store unit 20a is not illustrated in FIG. 3. The conveying element 16a is provided for sealing at least one edge region of the conveying space element 14a, which delimits the conveying space 12a. A fluid which can be conveyed in and/or through the conveying space 12a by means of an interaction of the fluid-conveying element 14a and of the conveying element 16a can be introduced into the conveying space 12a via a conveying space inlet 42a of the conveying device 10a. The conveying space inlet 42a is arranged on the conveying space element 14a, and is in particular formed in one piece with the conveying space element 14a. The conveying space inlet 42a is fluidically connected to the conveying medium store unit 20a, and in particular is fluidically connected to a storage space outlet (not illustrated in any more detail here) of the conveying medium store unit 20a. A fluid can be conveyed in and/or through the conveying space 12a by means of a reversible deformation of the conveying element 16a. A fluid can be conveyed from the conveying space inlet 42a through the conveying space 12a to a conveying space outlet 44a of the conveying device 10a by means of a reversible deformation of the conveying element 16a. The conveying space inlet 44a is arranged on the conveying space element 14a, and is in particular formed in one piece with the conveying space element 14a. The conveying space outlet 44a is fluidically connected to a further unit (not illustrated in any more detail here). The further unit may in this case be a part of the pump device 24a, a part of an administration device on which the pump device 24a is arranged, a part of a household appliance on which the pump device 24a is arranged, or the like. In an embodiment of the pump device 24a as part of an administration device, it is in particular conceivable for the further unit to be in the form of an injection unit, in particular in the form of a needle or syringe unit. The further unit may be directly connected to the conveying space outlet 44a, or the further unit may be fluidically connected to the conveying space outlet 44a by means of a separate conveying line, for example a hose. Further fluidic connections of the further unit to the conveying space outlet 44a that appear expedient to a person skilled in the art are likewise conceivable.
[0045] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the conveying space 12a, wherein the conveying element 16a is illustrated in a load-free state. In particular, no conveyance of a fluid occurs in an unloaded state of the conveying element 16a. The conveying element 16a is arrangeable on the conveying space element 14a in an at least partly convexly curved fashion. The conveying element 16a is, at least in a load-free state, in particular in a state in which it is not loaded by the action of a drive force that can be generated by means of the drive unit 26a, arranged on the conveying space element 14a in an at least partly convexly curved fashion. The conveying space element 14a has at least one concave recess 46a for at least partly delimiting and/or for at least partly forming the conveying space 12a. An inner surface, which delimits the recess 46a, of the conveying space element 14a forms a wall of the conveying space 12a. The conveying element 16a is deformable such that, for a conveyance of a fluid, the conveying element 16a is movable in the direction of the recess 46a and is in particular movable at least partly into said recess (FIG. 5). The conveying element 16a is of spring-elastic form. The conveying element 16a is connected to the conveying space element 14a in an at least substantially non-releasable manner, in particular in an edge region, which delimits the recess 46a, of the conveying space element 14a. The at least substantially non-releasable connection of the conveying element 16a to the conveying space element 14a forms, in particular, a seal between the conveying element 16a and the conveying space element 14a. It is however also conceivable for an additional seal element of the conveying device 10a to be arranged between the conveying element 16a and the conveying space element 14a. The conveying space 12a can preferably be sealed in fluid-tight fashion preferably as a result of a connection and/or arrangement of the conveying element 16a to and/or on the conveying space element 14a.
[0046] The conveying element 16a comprises at least one conveying surface 22a which, viewed in a cross-section of the conveying element 16a, in particular in a cross-section of the conveying space 12a, has a maximum transverse extent which is at least substantially equivalent to a maximum transverse extent of the wall of the conveying space element 14a, which wall delimits the conveying space 12a, in particular of the inner surface, which delimits the recess 46a, of the conveying space element 14a (FIGS. 4 and 5). It is particularly preferable if the conveying element 16a comprises at least one conveying surface 22a which, viewed in a cross-section of the conveying element 16a, has a maximum transverse extent which is equivalent to a maximum transverse extent of a rigid wall of the conveying space element 14a, which wall at least partly delimits at least the conveying space 12a. For a conveyance of a fluid in and/or through the conveying space 12a, the conveying surface 22a can, as a result of the action of a drive force that can be generated by the drive unit 26a, be caused to bear, in particular be caused to bear entirely, against the wall of the conveying space element 14a, which wall delimits the conveying space 12a, in particular against the inner surface, which delimits the recess 46a, of the conveying space element 14a (FIG. 5).
[0047] FIG. 6 shows a detail view of the drive unit 26a. For control and/or regulation of the drive unit 26a, the pump device 24a comprises at least one control and/or regulation unit (neither of which is illustrated here), which is of a design already known to a person skilled in the art. The drive unit 26a is implemented as a helical drive unit. At least one drive axis 28a of a drive element 30a of the drive unit 26a runs at least substantially parallel to a conveying direction 32a of the conveying device 10a, in particular at least substantially parallel to a conveying direction 32a through the conveying space 12a. The drive element 30a is implemented as a drive helix. The drive element 30a is supported rotatably in the housing unit 34a. The drive axis 28a is configured as an axis of rotation of the drive element 30a. The drive element 30a is provided for deforming the conveying element 16a for a conveyance of a fluid. The drive element 30a is provided for generating a traveling-wave movement of the conveying element 16a along a longitudinal axis of the conveying element 16a. Here, it is conceivable for the drive element 30a to act directly on the conveying element 16a, or for an exciter element (not illustrated in any more detail here) to be arranged between the drive element 30a and the conveying element 16a, which exciter element is acted on directly by the drive element 30a, wherein the exciter element transmits an action of drive forces to the conveying element 16a, which bears at least partly against the exciter element.
[0048] For a movement, in particular a rotation, of the drive element 30a, the drive unit 26a comprises at least one motor unit 48a. The motor unit 48a is formed as an electric motor unit. It is however also conceivable for the motor unit 48a to be of some other design that appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, for example to be designed as a combustion engine unit, as a hybrid motor unit or the like. The drive unit 26a furthermore has at least one sprocket element 50a which is arranged rotationally conjointly on a rotor shaft 52a of the motor unit 48a. The rotor shaft 52a has an axis of rotation 54a which runs at least substantially parallel to the drive axis 28a of the drive element 30a. The sprocket element 50a is implemented as a pinion. Here, the sprocket element 50a may be formed in one piece with the rotor shaft 52a, or the sprocket element 50a may be implemented separately from the rotor shaft 52a, wherein the sprocket element 50a is connected rotationally conjointly to the rotor shaft 52a by means of a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection. Furthermore, the drive unit 26a comprises at least one transfer element 56a which is provided for transmitting a rotational movement of the rotor shaft 52a and of the sprocket element 50a to the drive element 30a. The transfer element 56a is implemented as a sprocket which meshes with the sprocket element 50a. The transfer element 56a is supported rotatably in the housing unit 34a. An axis of rotation of the transfer element 56a runs at least substantially parallel to the axis of rotation 54a of the rotor shaft 52a and in particular, axially with respect to the drive axis 28a of the drive element 30a. Furthermore, the transfer element 56a is connected rotationally conjointly to the drive element 30a.
[0049] FIG. 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a drive unit 26a′ for driving the conveying device 10a. By contrast to the drive unit 26a illustrated in FIG. 6, the drive unit 26a′ illustrated in FIG. 7 is configured so as to be decoupled from the sprocket element 50a and from the transfer element 56a. A drive element 30a′ of the drive unit 26a′ illustrated in FIG. 7 is connected rotationally conjointly to a rotor shaft 52a′ of the drive unit 26a′ illustrated in FIG. 7. With regard to further features and functions of the drive unit 26a′ illustrated in FIG. 7, reference may be made to the drive unit 26a described in the description of FIGS. 1 to 6, in particular of FIG. 6.
[0050] FIGS. 8 to 13 show further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions and drawings are restricted substantially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein, with regard to components with identical designation, in particular with regard to components with the same reference numerals, reference may basically also be made to the drawings and/or to the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular of FIGS. 1 to 7. To distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the alphabetic character a has been added as a suffix to the reference numerals of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 7. In the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 8 to 13, the alphabetic character a has been replaced by the alphabetic characters b and c.
[0051] FIG. 8 shows a detail view of an alternative drive unit 26b of a pump device 24b for driving a conveying device 10b. The pump device 24b and the conveying device 10b are in each case of an at least substantially analogous embodiment in relation to the pump device 24a and the conveying device 10a described in FIGS. 1 to 6, such that here, the embodiment of the pump device 24a and the embodiment of the conveying device 10b will not be discussed in any more detail here. The drive unit 26b is implemented as a paternoster drive unit. At least one drive axis 28b of a drive element 30b of the drive unit 26b runs at least substantially transversely with respect to a conveying direction 32b of the conveying device 10b, in particular at least substantially transversely with respect to a conveying direction 32b in and/or through a conveying space 12b of the conveying device 10b. The drive element 30b is implemented as a rotor shaft 52b of a motor unit 48b of the drive unit 26b. At least one axis of rotation, which forms the drive axis 28b, of the rotor shaft 52b preferably runs at least substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction 32b in and/or through the conveying space 12b. The motor unit 48b is formed as an electric motor unit. It is however also conceivable for the motor unit 48b to be of some other design that appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, for example to be designed as a combustion engine unit, as a hybrid motor unit or the like. The drive unit 26b comprises at least one force action element 58b. The force action element 58b is arranged on a wrap-around element 60b of the drive unit 26b, and in particular is formed in one piece therewith. Altogether, the drive unit 26b may have a multiplicity of force action elements 58b, which are arranged on the wrap-around element 60b. Here, it would be possible for the force action elements 58b, viewed along an overall longitudinal profile of the wrap-around element 60b, to be arranged on the wrap-around element 60b so as to be spaced apart from one another uniformly or spaced apart from one another non-uniformly. The wrap-around element 60b may be formed as a belt, in particular as a toothed belt, as a band, as a chain, as a cord or the like. The wrap-around element 60b can be tensioned and/or driven in circulating fashion by means of at least two deflection elements 62b, 64b, in particular sprockets, of the drive unit 26b. It is preferable for at least one of the at least two deflection elements 62b, 64b to be connected rotationally conjointly to the rotor shaft 52b of the drive unit 26b. One of the at least two deflection elements 62b, 64b is rotatably mounted without a drive. The force action element 58b or the force action elements 58b extend(s) at least substantially parallel to a circulation plane in which the wrap-around element 60b can be driven in circulating fashion. With regard to further features and functions of the drive unit 26b illustrated in FIG. 8, reference may be made to the drive unit 26a described in the description of FIGS. 1 to 6, in particular of FIG. 6.
[0052] FIGS. 9 to 13 show an alternative pump device 24c with an alternative conveying device 10c and with an alternative drive unit 26c for driving the conveying device 10c. The conveying device 10c at least for conveying a fluid comprises at least one conveying space 12c, at least one conveying space element 14c, which at least partly delimits the conveying space 12c and is embodied in a rigid fashion, and at least one elastically deformable conveying element 16c, which forms the conveying space 12c together with the conveying space element 14c. The conveying space element 14c and the conveying element 16c together form an exchangeable unit 18c. A mode of operation of the conveying device 10c illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 is at least substantially analogous to a mode of operation of the conveying device 10a illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6. By contrast to the conveying device 10a illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the conveying device 10c illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 has the conveying element 16c, which has a circular-disk-shaped form (FIG. 12). Furthermore, by contrast to the conveying device 10a illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, the conveying device 10c illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13 has the conveying element 14c, which has a circular-disk-shaped form (FIG. 12). The conveying space element 14c and the conveying element 16c delimit the conveying space 12c, which is of annular-segment-shaped form. To form the conveying space 12c, the conveying element 16c has a convexly curved region. Viewed along a circumferential direction of the conveying device 10c, the convexly curved region extends over less than 360°. To form the conveying space 12c, the conveying space element 14c has a concave recess 46c. Viewed along the circumferential direction, the concave recess 46c extends over less than 360°. Viewed along the circumferential direction, the conveying space 12c extends over less than 360° from a conveying space inlet 42c of the conveying device 10c to a conveying space outlet 44c of the conveying device 10c (FIG. 13). A conveying-space-free region exists between the conveying space outlet 44c and the conveying space inlet 42c as viewed along the circumferential direction. The circumferential direction runs at least substantially parallel to a conveying direction 32c of the conveying device 10c in and/or through the conveying space 12c. With regard to further features and functions of the conveying device 10c illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13, reference may be made to the conveying device 10a described in the description of FIGS. 1 to 6, wherein a conveying medium store unit of the conveying device 10c is not illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13.
[0053] The drive unit 26c is implemented as a plate disk drive unit. At least one drive axis 28c of a drive element 30c of the drive unit 26c runs at least substantially transversely with respect to the conveying direction 32c of the conveying device 10c, in particular at least substantially transversely with respect to a conveying direction 32c in and/or through a conveying space 12c of the conveying device 10c. The drive element 30c is implemented as a cam (FIG. 11). The drive element 30c is arranged on a rotatably mounted plate element 66c of the drive unit 26c, and is in particular formed in one piece with the plate element 66c. The plate element 66c is arranged so as to be rotationally conjoint with a rotor shaft 52c of a motor unit 48c of the drive unit 26c. The rotor shaft 52c comprises a rotary entrainment region by means of which the plate element 66c is connectable rotationally conjointly to the rotor shaft 52c (FIG. 10). The rotary entrainment region is provided for a form-fitting and/or force-fitting connection between the rotor shaft 52c and the plate element 66c. The motor unit 48c is formed as an electric motor unit. It is however also conceivable for the motor unit 48c to be of some other design that appears expedient to a person skilled in the art, for example to be designed as a combustion engine unit, as a hybrid motor unit or the like. Altogether, the drive unit 26c has a plurality of drive elements 30c, in particular at least two drive elements 30c, which are arranged on the plate element 66c. With regard to further features and functions of the drive unit 26c illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 13, reference may be made to the drive unit 26a described in the description of FIGS. 1 to 6, in particular FIG. 6.
