Vaccum pump

Abstract

A vacuum pump, e.g. a rotary vane vacuum pump, generates a vacuum, in a suction device, with an air intake device and an air exhaust device, as well as a motor for driving the vacuum pump. The air exhaust device is provided with a discharge valve. The exhaust air is downstream of the discharge valve divided into two partial flows that are respectively associated with a pipe section.

Claims

1: A vacuum pump (2), e.g. a rotary vane vacuum pump, for generating a vacuum, e.g. in a suction device, with an air intake device (9) and an air exhaust device (10), as well as a motor (1) for driving the vacuum pump (2), wherein the air exhaust device (10) is provided with a discharge valve (13), wherein the exhaust air is downstream of the discharge valve (13) divided into two partial flows that are respectively associated with a pipe section (17, 18).

2: A vacuum pump (2) according to claim 1, wherein the discharge valve (13) is arranged above the motor (1) and the vacuum pump (1) relative to a normal operating state of the combination of motor (1) and vacuum pump (2), and wherein a pipe section (17, 18), which conveys the exhaust air from the region above the motor (1) and the vacuum pump (2) into a region underneath the motor (1) and the vacuum pump (2), is connected to the discharge valve (13), wherein the pipe section (17, 18) is partially or completely arranged within the outside contour of the motor (1) and/or the vacuum pump (2) relative to a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (x) of the motor and/or pump shaft.

3: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 1, wherein a pipe section (17, 18) for a partial flow features a discharge opening (29, 30) into the surroundings, and wherein the discharge opening (29, 30) into the surroundings is provided with an (additional) discharge valve (31, 32).

4: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 1, wherein the motor (1) features a motor flange (8), and wherein the pipe section (17, 18) is integrated into the motor flange (8).

5: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 4, wherein the motor flange (8) comprises a metallic material, and wherein the pipe section (17, 28) is formed by the metallic material of the motor flange (8).

6: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 4, wherein the pipe section (17, 18) integrated into the motor flange (8) extends along a segment of a circle, the center of which is associated with the geometric axis (x) of the motor and/or pump shaft.

7: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 1, wherein the combination of motor (1) and vacuum pump (2) is mounted on a base plate (3) that is supported by means of legs (4), and wherein the discharge opening (29, 30) of a pipe section (17, 18) leads into the surroundings underneath the base plate (3) relative to a normal operating state of the combination.

8: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 7, wherein the base plate (3) is supported by means of vibration-cushioned legs (4).

9: The vacuum pump (2) according to claim 8, wherein a vibration-cushioned leg (4) features an elastomer or rubber part.

10. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings that merely show an exemplary embodiment. In these drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a combination of motor and vacuum pump that is mounted on a base plate supported by means of legs;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows an individual perspective view of a motor flange that can be arranged between the motor and the vacuum pump and features pipe sections, as well as three discharge valves;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the motor flange according to FIG. 2, in which the installation position is illustrated with dot-dash lines;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows the motor flange with the line sections and the discharge valves in the form of a perspective exploded view;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows the section along the line V-V in FIG. 3;

[0036] FIG. 6 shows an illustration corresponding to FIG. 5 during the operation of the vacuum pump;

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a perspective bottom view the combination according to FIG. 1 mounted on a base plate;

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a perspective exploded bottom view of the base plate, the legs and the motor flange, in which the motor and the vacuum pump are illustrated with dot-dash lines;

[0039] FIG. 9 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 5, in which the combination is arranged on the base plate; and

[0040] FIG. 10 shows the section X-X in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0041] A combination of a motor 1, particularly an electric motor, and a vacuum pump 2, preferably a rotary vane vacuum pump, is initially described with reference to FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, this combination is mounted on a base plate 3 that is supported on the ground by means of legs 4.

[0042] The vacuum pump 2 features a pump housing 5, in which a rotary vane chamber with a rotary vane rotor is arranged. With respect to the design and function of the vacuum pump 2, we refer to the initially cited literature, e.g. to DE 101 06 111 A1. The content of this patent application is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure of the present invention, namely also for the purpose of incorporating characteristics of this patent application into claims of the present invention.

[0043] During the operation of the vacuum pump 2, the rotary vane rotor rotates radially offset to the geometric axis x of a motor shaft 6. The rotary drive is realized by means of the motor 1 that rotatively acts upon the pump shaft. The motor shaft 6 of said motor longitudinally penetrates a central opening 7 of a motor flange 8 arranged between the motor 1 and the vacuum pump 2.

[0044] The opening 7 of the motor flange 8 may simultaneously serve for supporting the motor shaft 6 (see FIG. 5).

[0045] The vacuum pump 2 features an air intake device 9 and an air exhaust device 10 associated with the rotary vane chamber.

[0046] The air intake device 9 may feature a connecting piece 11. This connecting piece produces the fluidic connection with the rotary vane chamber. A suction hose 12, e.g. of a rubber material, may be connected to the connecting piece 11 as indicated.

[0047] The air exhaust device 10 is also fluidically connected to the rotary vane chamber.

[0048] Both thusly formed air intake and exhaust openings of the vacuum pump are positioned above the motor 1 and the vacuum pump 2 during the normal operation of the vacuum pump 2, particularly the normal operation of the aforementioned combination. Accordingly, the suction hose 12 of the air intake device 9 also extends above the vacuum pump 2.

[0049] A discharge valve 13 is provided in the region of the air discharge opening of the pump housing 5. This valve may consist of a check valve with a valve seat 14 and a valve disk 16 that is spring-loaded into a closed valve position by means of a spring 15. In a normal position according to FIG. 5, this valve disk is seated on the valve seat 14 in a sealed fashion. The valve disk 16 is only raised into an open position according to FIG. 6 when a pressure greater than the restoring force of the spring 15 is exceeded.

[0050] The exhaust air is divided into two partial flows in the flow direction (see arrows a in FIG. 6). For this purpose, two pipe sections 17 and 18 are arranged downstream of the discharge valve 13. The valve cover 19 that bridges the cooperating region of the valve seat 14 and the valve disk 16 may feature corresponding connecting pieces for connecting the pipe sections 17 and 18. The valve cover wall is provided with correspondingly positioned discharge openings 20.

[0051] The pipe sections 17 and 18 convey the partial flows from the region above the motor 1 and the vacuum pump 2 into a region underneath the motor 1 and/or the vacuum pump 2 (see FIG. 5).

[0052] Each pipe section 17, 18 may be composed of two partial sections that are arranged behind one another in the flow direction as shown. A rigid partial section 21, 22, which is integrated into the motor flange 8, is thereby respectively provided.

[0053] The motor flange 8 may accordingly serve for terminating the motor 1 on its end face and, if applicable, for supporting the motor shaft 6, as well as for conveying the air flow from the discharge valve 13 arranged on the upper side of the vacuum pump 2 into a region underneath the motor 1 and/or the vacuum pump 2.

[0054] Referred to a cross section transverse to the axis x according to FIG. 5, the motor flange 8 consisting of a metallic material, which is manufactured, e.g., in a sand casting process, accordingly features two partial sections 21, 22 of the pipe sections 17, 18, wherein said partial sections respectively extend along a segment of a circle, the center of which is associated with the geometric axis x, such that they lie diametrically opposite of one another referred to the axis x.

[0055] The two partial sections 21 and 22 end in connecting pieces 23, 24 on the upper side of the motor flange 8 facing the discharge valve 13. Hose pipes 25 and 26 that respectively form first partial sections are arranged on these connecting pieces in a fluidically tight fashion. On their ends that face away from the partial sections 21 and 22, these hose pipes are fixed on the valve cover 19 in association with the discharge openings 20.

[0056] A hose pipe 25 or 26 respectively forms one of the pipe sections 17 or 18 together with the corresponding partial section 21 or 22 on the flange side.

[0057] On the underside of the motor flange 8, the partial sections 21 and 22 of the pipe sections 17 and 18 on the flange side end in downwardly open connecting pieces 27, 28. The latter respectively form discharge openings 29, 30 into the surroundings, which are respectively provided with an additional discharge valve 31, 32.

[0058] Each discharge valve 31, 32 features a housing with a valve seat 33. This housing can be fixed in the associated connecting piece 27, 28, e.g., by means of a screw joint as shown.

[0059] A valve disk 34 is also guided in the housing and acts against the valve seat 33 in a sealing fashion in order to close the discharge opening 29. The valve disk 34 is spring-loaded into this valve seat position by means of a spring 35, e.g. a cylindrical pressure spring.

[0060] The valve disk 34 may furthermore cooperate with the valve seat 33 via a sealing layer 36 as shown. The sealing layer 36 may consist, e.g., of a felt layer.

[0061] The air discharge opening plane E resulting in the region of the valve seat 33 can preferably extend underneath the base plate 3 that carries the combination of motor 1 and vacuum pump 2 (see especially FIG. 9). For this purpose, the partial sections 21 and 22 on the flange side or their connecting pieces 27, 28 with the discharge valves 31, 32 respectively extend through correspondingly positioned passage openings 45 in the base plate 3 (see FIG. 9).

[0062] The base plate 3 may consist, e.g., of a formed sheet steel component. The combination is mounted thereon, particularly by means of screws. For this purpose, only a screw joint in the region of the connecting pieces 27 and 28 on the motor flange side may be provided as shown (see FIG. 8). The corresponding screws are identified by the reference symbol 37.

[0063] The motor 1 and the vacuum pump 2 are mounted on the motor flange 8 such that a stable combination of motor 1 and vacuum pump 2 is achieved. Due to the support of the entire combination on the base plate 3 by means of the motor flange 8, the motor 1 and the vacuum pump 2 may extend at a (vertical) distance from the facing surface of the base plate 3.

[0064] The base plate 3 realized, if applicable, in the form of a sheet metal component is supported on a surface such as, e.g., a floor 39 by means of the legs 4. The figures show an arrangement of four legs 4 in the respective corner regions of the base plate 3, the horizontal projection of which otherwise has an elongate rectangular shape.

[0065] The legs 4 are vibration-cushioned. They essentially consist of an elastomer material or a rubber material. According to the figures, a solid rubber or a solid elastomer material is essentially provided, wherein each leg 4 has an altogether diabolo-shaped design with two parallel end faces that are vertically spaced apart from one another in the operating position and between which the material extends such that a constriction is formed.

[0066] A disk 38 of a hard material, e.g. of metal or hard plastic, may be respectively inserted in the region of the end faces as shown and encased with the elastomer or rubber material by means of injection molding.

[0067] In the preferred rotationally symmetrical design of a leg 4, each disk 38 is likewise realized circularly.

[0068] The support on the underside of the base plate 3 is realized by means of the end faces, particularly the disks 38, and the support on the ground 39, e.g. on the bottom of a movable frame or the like, is realized by means of the downwardly directed end face.

[0069] Each leg 4 is mounted on the base plate 3 in association with a mounting opening 40, preferably in a captive and operatively inseparable fashion. The figures show a mounting 41 in the form of a rivet joint.

[0070] The base plate 3 with the combination of motor 1 and vacuum pump 2 mounted thereon can be supported on the ground 39 in a vibration-cushioned fashion by means of the legs 4.

[0071] In this context, it is furthermore conceivable, for example, to mount this unit consisting of the combination and the base plate 3 with the legs 4 on the ground 39, wherein the bottom disk 38 of a leg 4 is for this purpose held in the leg 4 such that it extends through a threaded sleeve 42 and is encased with the elastomer or rubber material by means of injection molding in order to cooperate with a screw 44 that is screwed through the ground 39 from underneath in the region of bores 43.

[0072] All disclosed characteristics are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combinations with one another). The content of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the priority application) is hereby fully incorporated into the disclosure of this application, namely also for the purpose of incorporating characteristics of these documents into claims of the present application. The characteristics of the dependent claims characterize independent inventive enhancements of the prior art, particularly for submitting divisional applications on the basis of these claims.

TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Symbols 1 Motor 2 Vacuum pump 3 Base plate 4 Leg 5 Pump housing 6 Motor shaft 7 Opening 8 Motor flange 9 Air intake device 10 Air exhaust device 11 Connecting piece 12 Suction hose 13 Discharge valve 14 Valve seat 15 Spring 16 Valve disk 17 Pipe section 18 Pipe section 19 Valve cover 20 Discharge opening 21 Partial section 22 Partial section 23 Connecting piece 24 Connecting piece 25 Hose pipe 26 Hose pipe 27 Connecting piece 28 Connecting piece 29 Discharge opening into surroundings 30 Discharge opening into surroundings 31 Discharge valve 31 Discharge valve 33 Valve seat 34 Valve disk 35 Spring 36 Sealing layer 37 Screw 38 Disk 39 Ground 40 Mounting opening 41 Mounting 42 Threaded sleeve 43 Bore 44 Screw 45 Passage opening a Arrow x Axis E Opening plane