EP0992688B1 - Fittings for a household pump - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a liquid pump arrangement, in particular for use in the home and / or garden, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a liquid pump arrangement is known from EP 0 080 049 A1 known. The known liquid pump arrangement is a submersible pump with two different pump outputs, which are rigidly and immovably aligned relative to the pump housing. Depending on the application, one of the two pump outputs is used, which enables a variable pump insert.

Constantly increasing water charges and improved environmental awareness are prompting more and more homeowners and / or gardeners to install dual water-use systems and thus also use rainwater as an alternative or in addition to drinking water. Here you can to promote the water of collection points such as ponds, cisterns or the like. to consumers different fluid pump assemblies are used, such as submersible pumps, garden pumps, fountain pumps or the like. Mainly in permanently installed rain systems and domestic water works are used, for example, collected rainwater from a corresponding reservoir through a separate from the drinking water piping system to rainwater consumers such as toilets, washing machines, showers or the like. to promote.

Important criteria for the selection of a suitable pump for the respective use are economy, longevity, corrosion resistance and smoothness as well as ease of maintenance, for example, to be able to carry out cleaning work easily. Often it is also desirable to be able to use a liquid pump assembly without major modification for different applications and / or operating modes.

The invention has for its object to propose a liquid pump arrangement improved in this respect especially in this respect.

This object is achieved by a liquid pump arrangement having the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims, the wording of which is incorporated by reference into the content of the description.

A fluid pump arrangement according to the invention has a fluid pump with at least one pump inlet leading to a pump chamber of the fluid pump, through which fluid can be aspirated or introduced, and at least one pump outlet discharging from the pump chamber for dispensing pressurized fluid. According to the invention, at least two separate pump outlet connections are assigned to the pump outlet wherein at least one of the pump output ports is directionally variable with respect to a footprint of the fluid pump assembly. It is true that line branching is possible with all existing pump types in the form of distribution pieces in a connected line or a connected consumer network. A special feature of the invention, however, is to provide at least two, in particular exactly two, the pump's own, with respect to the water flow in parallel pump output connections already in the pump. This measure offers a number of advantages.

For example, to the pump directly, i. without installation of a separate line branch or the like., Several, in particular two consumers are connected, which may be advantageous to different consumers. For example, a fountain and a sprinkler may be connected together. In the case of a plurality of output terminals provided spatially separated from one another on the pump arrangement, a user can also select the output that is more favorably positioned for his application. Preferably, then the respective other connection can be shut off.

To facilitate the connection of components such as functional units, closure members or line pieces or the like. It is preferably provided that at least one of the pump output connections, preferably all pump output connections, have means for tool-free connection of the components, for which purpose preferably the pump connections are designed as outlet connections with external threads.

A preferred development is characterized in that the pump output ports are aligned at an angle to each other, preferably a right angle. The thus possible differently oriented flow directions of the outputs offer one Users a particularly convenient way to choose the most favorable for his application, positioned and / or aligned connection.

Particularly variable use is an embodiment in which the pivotable in a plane or in space freely directionally variable pump outlet connection with respect. The direction, in particular without tools, can be fixed. For this purpose, articulated parts can be frictionally held together, wherein an adjustment can be made by overcoming the adhesive forces. Another pump outlet connection can be immutable with respect to its direction and in particular serve the fixed connection of the liquid pump arrangement to a fixed line network, for example to a pipe system of a rainwater utilization system.

In a preferred embodiment, a pressure line is connected downstream of the pump outlet for realizing a directionally variable pump outlet connection and, in the course of the pressure line, in particular in its end region, a flow-through rotary joint with at least one lateral connection piece is provided. The end of the pressure line can form a fixed output connection and the connecting piece protruding, for example radially to the pressure line, forms the other movable pump output connection. The preferably infinitely and / or infinitely rotatable hinge can be formed in that the pressure line has a portion with, for example, slot-shaped wall openings, and that over the portion a sleeve carrying the connecting piece is pushed over sealed. A directionally variable pump outlet connection can also be realized by means of a flow-through ball joint.

A particularly compact design can be promoted in that a housing of the liquid pump arrangement in the region of a directionally variable pump outlet connection a Gehäuseaussparung or a similar receiving space for receiving the movable pump outlet port has. This offers the possibility of stowing an unneeded pump outlet connection to save space. The receiving space may preferably be sized so large that, for example, a screwed onto the pump outlet connection fitting with water stop or a closure cap or a shut-off valve or the like. protected is receivable.

A further advantageous possibility of use arises when the liquid pump arrangement is associated with a drain valve device which can be connected to one of the pump outlet connections. Then, a connection can be permanently connected, for example, to a domestic water supply network, and the preferably manually operable drainage valve device can be connected to the second connection. These can be used to empty the pipeline network, for example for maintenance work, without having to disconnect the connection between the pump and the pipeline network and without having to drain the pump itself. This is particularly advantageous because usually emptying the pump requires manual ventilation before recommissioning.

For another application, the liquid pump assembly may be associated with a connectable to one of the pump output ports of this again releasable pressure storage device. The pump can then be operated so that one pump outlet connection is connected to a supply line of a domestic water supply network and that the pressure storage device is connected to the other pump outlet connection. The preferably pneumatic pressure accumulator is expediently designed as a pressurized vessel or pressurizable vessel with a relatively small volume, for example an internal volume of less than approximately 1000 cm 3. Such a pressure accumulator can cause that at a low leak in a connected solid line network, the pressure also Maintained when the pump is switched off for a long time substantially. Without pressure accumulator, the pressure can quickly drop even with low leakage volume and the pump would often be switched on and off with appropriate pressure control, although no consumer requests water.

The possibility created by the second pump outlet connection of the connection of an easily removable pressure accumulator device, in contrast to permanently installed accumulator devices in particular also advantageous because it can easily come in accumulators with low water exchange microbial contamination. A removable pressure storage device is particularly easy to clean or replace with a clean or cleaned. In addition, depending on the application pressure accumulator devices of different volumes can be connected. An accumulator device can be constructed, for example, in the manner of a bladder accumulator, diaphragm accumulator or piston accumulator.

A pressure accumulator arrangement of this type is also advantageous for garden pump inserts, where frequently little leakage can be observed. Possibly. can also be given a pressure accumulation effect of a connected hose with slightly elastic stretchable hose wall. Such a hose can expand slightly under working pressure and slowly contract back to the original shape in the presence of a small leak while maintaining a fairly high pressure. An accumulator device can therefore also have an elastic tube or another container with elastically extensible container wall.

Fig. 1

eine schrägperspektivische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Flüssigkeitspumpe,

Fig. 2

einen teilweisen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch eine andere Ausführungsform einer Flüssigkeitspumpe ähnlich Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

einen Schnitt durch einen entnehmbaren Filterstutzen der Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

einen Längsschnitt durch eine entnehmbare Rückschlagventileinheit der Ausführungsform gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt durch die in Fig. 4 gezeigte Rückschlagventileinheit in einer um 90° versetzten Schnittebene,

Fig. 6

einen Schnitt durch eine entnehmbare Druckschaltereinheit der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 2,

Fig. 7

einen Schnitt durch einen als Handgriff dienenden Druckstutzen der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 2 und

Fig. 8

einen Schnitt durch das Ablaßventil der in Fig. 2 gezeigten Ausführungsform.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

an oblique perspective view of an embodiment of a liquid pump according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a partial vertical longitudinal section through another embodiment of a liquid pump similar Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

a section through a removable filter neck of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

a longitudinal section through a removable check valve unit of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 5

a longitudinal section through the in Fig. 4 shown check valve unit in a 90 ° offset cutting plane,

Fig. 6

a section through a removable pressure switch unit of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 7

a section through a serving as a handle pressure port of the embodiment according to Fig. 2 and

Fig. 8

a section through the drain valve of in Fig. 2 shown embodiment.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 are overall views of substantially identical embodiments of a liquid pump assembly 1 is shown, which is particularly intended for home and garden applications and is preferably used as a pump of a domestic waterworks. It has a largely made of sturdy, impact-resistant plastic housing 2, on the underside of recesses for three feet 3 are provided. They define a level of the pump and preferably consist essentially of rubbery soft material, such as a soft thermoplastic. The feet allow a sound-damped stable installation of the pump. In the housing an electromotively operated, by means of a fan 4 air-cooled liquid pump 5 is integrated, the pump impeller 6 rotates about the parallel to the level, normally horizontally oriented pump axis 7 within a pump chamber 8. The pump chamber 8 is limited by a substantially dome-shaped chamber housing 9, which in the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment of the same plastic material as the housing, in other embodiments, to increase the pressure resistance of metal, such as stainless steel, may exist. At the top of the chamber housing, parallel to each other and perpendicular to the pump axis 7, a leading into the chamber 8, round in cross-section pump inlet 10 and a leading out of the chamber 8, round in cross-section pump outlet 11 are arranged. In the bottom region of the chamber housing or in a foot attachment connected to the pump chamber ( Fig. 1 ) is a horizontal, parallel to the pump axis 7 nozzle 12 with an internal thread for receiving a screw-drain valve 13 is provided.

On the suction side of the pump is associated with Fig. 3 closer described, in the provided with internal threaded pump inlet screwed filter nozzle 15 is provided. At this also as Zulaufstutzen markable, interchangeable Plastic component is an upper, in the axial extension of the pump inlet and with respect to the level of the pump above the upper end of all pump chambers arranged, circular filling opening 16 is provided, via which, for example, before starting the pump liquid can be filled into the pump chamber. The inlet opening can be closed by a screw cap 17 provided with a seal. The diameter of the filling opening 16 is advantageously chosen so large that inserted into the filter neck 15 from above, cone-shaped debris screen 18 can be used with U-bow-shaped handle from above through the filling opening in the filter neck or removed upwards. When inserted filter or sieve 18 is an outwardly directed edge at the upper end of the screen body on an inner shoulder of the filter neck and the inside of the screw 17 presses lightly on the bracket 19, so that the filter element 18 is clamped wobble-free. Advantageously, a suction-side inlet opening 20 for sucking liquid above the upper edge of the pump chamber and above or upstream of the debris screen 18 is arranged. The inlet opening 20 is formed by a at the upper end portion of the filter stub 15 horizontally protruding, provided with external thread nozzle 21, the horizontal axis extends at fully screwed filter nozzle substantially parallel to the pump axis 7. Due to the advantageous arrangement of the suction-side filling opening and the likewise suction-side suction inlet opening in front of a dirt filter device 18, the interior of the pump can be reliably prevented from penetrating particles, such as dirt particles, pieces of wood or the like. to be protected. The filter 18 is easily removed after unscrewing the lid 17 for cleaning. The fact that the filter nozzle with inlet opening and filling opening and integrated filter device by unscrewing from the pump inlet easily removable and accordingly easily replaceable, the pump can in this area Screwing a possibly differently sized filter nozzle in a simple manner with respect. The dimensions can be modified, for example, to allow adaptation to specially dimensioned supply lines. It is created as a complete assembly removable or replaceable input filter module.

On the outlet side or pressure side of the pump 25 further advantageous functional modules in the form of interchangeable modules, ie in the form of assemblies that take one or more substantially self-contained functions provided in the pump outlet 11 downstream pressure line. In the embodiment shown is located directly or immediately downstream of the pump outlet 11 in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 in detail explained check valve unit 26 and, this immediately downstream, one in connection with Fig. 6 closer explained pressure switch unit 27, both of which are advantageously integrated into the housing shape. The check valve assembly 26 forms an angle of 90 ° enclosing angle connection between the upwardly discharging pump outlet 11 and the horizontal direction of the side leading away pressure line 25. Between a side outlet nozzle of the check valve unit 26 and the input of a pressure-serving as a pressure port 28 is with a transition piece the Inserted pressure switch unit 27, wherein the functional elements of the pressure switch are arranged laterally adjacent to the running in the pressure line liquid flow. The pressure switch unit is advantageously inserted in the space formed by the liquid flow through the check valve to the pressure line angle in a particularly space-saving manner.

Downstream of the pressure switch unit 27 is associated with Fig. 7 closer explained, designed as a rigid or rigid tube executed pressure port 28, the to form a handle opening 29 sections freely above the housing 2 parallel to the pump axis 7 runs. The free-floating section is located approximately above the center of mass of the overall pump assembly and can serve as a handle for the pump assembly. Following this flow-through handle 30, a rotary joint connection 31 is provided in the course of the leading-out pressure line, which has a side outlet connection 33 aligned radially with respect to the pressure line axis 32 leading through the handle. Another, of this separate output terminal 34 is in extension of the carrying handle 30 on the axis 32 and aligned in the example with the suction-side inlet opening 20. The structure of these various functional units will be described below together with the respective achievable functions and advantages.

Especially in the FIGS. 4 and 5 well recognizable embodiment of the check valve unit 26 has a substantially cylindrical plastic housing 40, at its lower end to form a radial shoulder serving as a valve inlet inlet port 42 are provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves for receiving O-ring seals. Serving as a valve outlet outlet nozzle 43 with external thread and circumferential groove for receiving a round cord seal protrudes in the upper region of the housing 40 at an angle of 90 ° to the inlet nozzle from the housing 40. Above the outlet nozzle, a further housing opening 41 with an internally threaded portion for receiving a screw cap 44 is provided on the housing which is open at the top. In the housing section between inlet nozzle and outlet nozzle is an in Fig. 5 good to be recognized, offset by 90 ° relative to the outlet nozzle, transversely through the housing receiving opening 45 for a below explained, manually operated by turning control member 46 is provided. Above the transverse opening 45 is at the level of the outlet nozzle 43, offset by 90 ° this, a Gehäusewandausnehmung for receiving a magnetic field-sensitive sensor 47, for example, a Hall sensor is formed.

Within the housing 40, a fully removable valve core 49 is arranged. This comprises a valve seat member 50 which has a cylindrical outer contour adapted to the cylindrical inner contour of the upper portion of the valve housing with two axially offset circumferential grooves, of which the upper for receiving a sealing against the housing inner wall serving Rundschnurdichtung 51 and the lower for introducing radially insertable through the housing wall Locking pins 52 is used. The valve seat member 50 is in the installed state on an inwardly directed abutment shoulder of the housing wall above the transverse opening 45 and is secured by the pins 52 against falling out. An inwardly directed shoulder 54 provided at the lower end of a cylindrical guide opening 53 of the valve seat element serves as a valve seat of the check valve.

A cooperating with the valve seat, serving as a shut-off spring-loaded, self-return valve body 55 has an internally hollow, cylindrical shaft 56 which has on the valve seat facing side below a web 57 a receiving groove for cooperating with the valve seat 54 elastic round cord seal 58. On the shaft 56, a radial, cylindrical receptacle for a permanent magnet 48 is formed on the side facing the magnetic field sensor 47, which is arranged with the valve closed below the magnetic field sensor and outside of its effective range. Between the circumferential collar 57 of the valve body and the cylindrical guide opening 53 of the valve seat member remains a small gap, which can serve as leakage current channel with slight lifting of the sealing ring 58 from the valve seat. This only for a line low leakage currents provided annular channel is given only by a short displacement of the valve body of the shut-off. As soon as the circumferential collar is lifted off into the area above the valve seat element 50, a significantly larger flow cross section is available between the inlet and outlet of the valve.

A conical tip 59 of the valve body protrudes when the valve is closed ( 4 and 5 At the opposite, open end of the valve body, an upwardly conically widening plate is provided which serves, inter alia, the support of a conically wound compression spring whose opposite, wider end is at the concave inwardly curved head portion 61 of the screw 44 is supported. The provided with an external thread and a disposed within the front-side concave recess handle web 62 screw cap has on its inner side an axially extending guide member 63 with cross-shaped cross-section which is inserted substantially free of play in the cylindrical interior of the valve body and the axially sliding guide of the valve body is used ,

The insertable into the transverse opening 45, multi-part control member 46 has an inside of the valve housing below the opening of the valve seat member anordenbares, durchströmbares ball member 65 to which a running around the axis of rotation of the control member, in section V-shaped cam contour 66 is provided with the conical tip 59 of the valve body for axial displacement of the valve body cooperates. The cam contour is designed so that in the in the Figures 2 . 4 and 5 No contact contact between ball element and valve body is shown, so that the compression spring 60 presses the valve body sealingly on the valve seat, while during a rotation of the Control member, for example, 120 ° of the valve body is lifted by the cam contour against the force of the compression spring from the valve seat, so that a flow path from the inlet nozzle 42 through the ball member and the valve seat portion to the outlet nozzle 43 and vice versa free. As a result, an opening of the valve is independent of the pressure relationships existing between the terminals possible, in particular even if in the region of the outlet nozzle 43, a higher pressure prevails than in the region of the inlet nozzle 42. The check valve effect is thus canceled by actuation of the control member 46.

The valve insert 49 can be removed as a possibly complete assembly after unscrewing the cover 44, with the switch cover 44 and the guided and carried by this valve body normally remain connected and the valve seat member may optionally remain in the housing 40. Particularly advantageous is the angular design of the check valve device, which allows a recess of the valve core in continuation of the direction of the inflowing fluid. This allows the valve insert to be removed if necessary with built-in check valve device without the rest of the structure of the pump assembly is affected, especially without further components must be removed. Also, the control member 46 can be removed because of its multi-part construction.

Thanks to the control member 46, the illustrated embodiment of the check valve unit is simultaneously formed as a drain valve. Thus, for example, at the beginning of the pump operation by opening the valve possibly in the intake and / or in the pump chamber located air initially be removed before the pure liquid feed operation is received. Due to the compressibility of air can be without this possibility at the beginning of the pump operation Functional impairments result. In normal operation of the pump, however, the control member is disengaged from the valve body, so that it can only be moved in the open position by sufficient inlet-side overpressure.

Furthermore, it is possible by manual opening of the valve by means of control member 46 to empty with the pump off a connected line system through the check valve means, for example, via the open drain valve or through the intake, so that the valve unit also forms a drain valve.

The illustrated embodiment of the check valve unit also acts as a flow sensor, which provides a simple weiterverarbeitbares by a pump control electrical flow signal. For this purpose, the displacement of the valve body 55 is detected by the magnetic field sensor 47, as soon as the permanent magnet 48 is moved into the effective range of the sensor 47. The embodiment shown is designed so that at low displacement of the valve body by the action of a low leakage current of the permanent magnet from the sensor is not yet detected. Only at a stronger displacement of the valve body, the degree of which depends on the current liquid flow, the permanent magnet is in the detection range of the magnetic field sensor and provides a dependent of the per unit time liquid amount flow signal. The advantageous embodiment in which low leakage currents do not generate a flow signal is of particular importance when the pump is controlled in accordance with the sensor signal of the flow sensor, in particular to turn the pump on or off. These switching operations are correspondingly not already caused by low leakage currents, but only by substantial withdrawals on the pressure side.

A flow sensor can also operate according to another principle, for example by means of a rotating water wheel arranged in the liquid flow, whose rotation is e.g. is monitored mechanically, electrically or magnetically or by other electrical, electromagnetic, magnetic or optical means. Alternatively or in addition to a flow sensor integrated in the check valve unit, a flow sensor can also be provided elsewhere in the discharging pressure line, for example directly in front of the outlet connections or on the inlet side of the pump.

The described embodiment of the check valve unit thus combines at least four functions in that it also provides a function as a drain valve, as a vent valve and as a flow sensor in addition to the function as a check valve. In other embodiments, these functions can also be provided by separate components or modules and / or elsewhere in the area of the discharging pressure line.

At the especially in Fig. 6 easily recognizable pressure switch unit 27, a transition piece 70 is provided, which is designed in the manner of a connecting pipe sleeve and at both axial ends 71, 72 provided with internal threads receiving openings for screwing pipe sections or the like. having. The functional elements of the pressure switch are accommodated laterally next to the liquid flow running between the ends 71, 72 on or in a pressure switch housing 73 formed integrally with the transition nozzle 70. A small radial passage 74 in cross-section connects the interior of the nozzle 70 with the interior of the housing 73 and is liquid-tightly sealed by a flexible membrane 75. On the channel side facing away from the diaphragm 75, a switch body axially movably mounted within the housing 73 is supported 76 from which is pressed by means of a coil spring to the membrane. This is based on an adjusting screw 77, which serves to adjust the spring pressure on the body 76 and is guided within a housing 73 which closes the outside screw cap 78. The switch body 76 acts via a hinged switch lever 79, which is guided through a recess of the housing wall to the outside, on an externally mounted on the housing electrical switch 80, which emits a dependent of the fluid pressure within the nozzle 70, further processed by a pump control pressure signal. Instead of the electromechanical switch, other pressure switches are possible. A pressure switch unit can also be firmly connected to the pump housing and structurally integrated into this. If a pressure switch unit is not or not at the example in Fig. 2 is shown, the pressure switch module can be replaced by a simple connecting pipe sleeve.

The downstream of the pressure switch unit 27, in Fig. 7 At the same time, pressure nozzle 28, which is particularly easy to recognize, simultaneously forms the handle or carrying handle 30 of the pump arrangement and can, for example, with longitudinal grooves or the like, improve the grip, at least in the encompassable area. ( Fig. 1 ) to have.

The arranged in the exit area swivel joint 31 has a sleeve with a lateral or radial port 33 which is rotatably mounted around the pressure line axis 32 infinitely and unlimited and is sealed with round cord seals 85. Via slot-shaped wall openings 86 in the pressure pipe, water can escape from the pressure line extending in the axial direction laterally to the radial outlet 33 of the rotary joint 31. Both the lateral outlet 33 of the rotary joint and the front outlet 34 in the direction of the axis 32 in the pressure line are, preferably separately, lockable, for example by screwing a screw cap. On both connections and common Anschlußstükke, in particular cock pieces are screwed with quick coupling nipples. On the one hand, the swivel joint offers the possibility of connecting a second consumer to the pump without a separate branch piece. In addition, the infinite and continuous rotation of the pivot joint, the second terminal 33 can be rotated in different, optimal for each application directions. For a position of the rotary joint with unused second output 33, a U-shaped housing recess 87 is provided in the example shown, in which the lateral connection 33 can be rotated. This is preferably sized so large that they can record, for example, a screwed onto the terminal fitting with water stop.

In the embodiment shown is also advantageous opposite, axially parallel alignment of the suction port 20 at the pump inlet and the axial output 34 of the outgoing pressure line at the pump outlet, which make it possible to install the liquid pump 1 in an otherwise straight line course.

An advantageous use of a pump arrangement with at least two separate pump outlet connections can also be seen in that an output, in particular the longitudinal axis output 34, has e.g. pneumatic pressure accumulator can be connected, which may be particularly advantageous for the operation of the pump as a domestic waterworks or in a comparable mode, for example, to effect a buffering.

The modular design, each with separately functional and individually or in groups installable or expandable units offers a particular advantage that instead of building units also simple line elements can be used. For example, for applications in which a check valve and / or a pressure switch are not needed, each component not required to be replaced by a simple conduit element with identical mounting dimensions. For example, the in Fig. 2 be replaced by the check valve unit 26 is replaced by a 90 ° elbow and the pressure switch unit 27 by a connecting pipe sleeve. , One connection can be permanently connected to a domestic water supply network and the other can be connected to a drain valve, via which the mains network, eg for maintenance, can be emptied without disconnecting the pump and without emptying the pump itself, which is normally requires a manual bleeding of the pump before recommissioning.

In the Fig. 2 In another embodiment, a contact pad is provided in this area, with which a detachable switching device can be mechanically attached to the pump and simultaneously connected electrically to the latter. In particular, the pump, in addition to or as an alternative to a mode selector switch, can be assigned a timer, which can be attached to the pump, for example, by being plugged on. A possibly existing pressure switch and / or an optionally existing sensor for the flow state of the check valve may be connected to the switch or the timer.

The signals of the pressure switch device and / or the check valve can be used advantageously for pump control, in particular for switching on and off of the pump become. Additionally or alternatively, a timer can be specified by a timer. A further advantageous control option, especially when using a pump assembly of the type mentioned in the garden, is the fact that with the help of a pressure switch unit, the pump is switched off when reaching a pressure in the vicinity of the maximum consumer pressure without reaching maximum pressure, with a restart advantageously not until strongly decreased pressure and / or detection of larger flow through a possibly existing check valve.

When a consumer is switched on, e.g. a garden sprayer, a sprinkler, a spray gun or the like, the pressure drops immediately and the pump turns on. During operation of the pump and operated consumer, the pressure remains below the threshold. Only after switching off the consumer, the pressure rises again very quickly above the switching threshold and the pump shuts off. Such a pressure control arrangement can be particularly simple, inexpensive and less prone to running, since normally the existing low switching hysteresis preferably used pressure switch and the time delay in the shutdown sufficient for such a pressure-controlled operation of the liquid pump. As mentioned, it is also possible to use a small pressure buffer and / or a pressure switch with two explicit, spaced switching thresholds to produce a larger hysteresis.

The exemplarily described control possibilities for the pump are advantageously possible with a pump with integrated control device, which can preferably be programmable. By a directly integrated into the structure of the pump assembly control device, which may be formed, for example, as an attachment to the pump housing, is eliminated the need to use controls via a separate supply line or for example via the insertion of a control device in the power supply line, such as a timer or the like. The control device may also be detachable from the pump arrangement as an electrical subunit or as a control module, so that different, specially designed control units may be provided depending on the intended application or, with the pump structure unchanged, also a variant with a conventional switch instead of a more complex control device is possible , The control device can be plugged in removable design in particular via plug contacts on a fixedly connected to the pump assembly contact field.

The preferably tool-free removability of the control device from the pump can also be advantageous for programming the control unit either via a portable programming device or via a possibly far away from the pump provided programming device, such as a computer, low. A control device of this kind may contain various functions individually or in combination, for example wireless control, e.g. via radio, a controller according to a timing and / or a control in accordance with at least one sensor signal. This may be provided independently of the pump by, for example, a precipitation sensor or soil moisture sensor, and / or by at least one sensor indicating the operating status of the pump, for example a pump outlet pressure sensor or switch and / or a flow rate sensor.

Claims (10)

1. Liquid pump arrangement, in particular for use in the house and/or garden, having a liquid pump (5) with at least one pump inlet (10) leading to a pump chamber (8) of the liquid pump, and at least one pump outlet (11) leading away from the pump chamber, the pump outlet (10) being assigned at least two separate pump outlet connections (33, 34), characterized in that at least one of the pump outlet connections (33) is variable in direction with respect to a standing surface of the liquid pump arrangement.
2. Liquid pump arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the pump outlet connections (33, 34), preferably all the pump outlet connections (33, 34), are designed for the tool-free connection of components, preferably at least one pump outlet connection being designed as a connection piece with an external thread.
3. Liquid pump arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pump outlet connections (33, 34) are oriented at an angle to one another, preferably at right angles.
4. Liquid pump arrangement according to Claim 1, characterized in that the direction of a pump outlet connection (33) of variable direction can be fixed, in particular in a tool-free manner.
5. Liquid pump arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump outlet (11) is followed by a delivery line (25), and in that a throughflow rotary joint (31) with at least one lateral connection piece (33) oriented preferably radially with respect to the delivery line is provided along the delivery line, the rotary joint (31) preferably being rotatable continuously and/or to an unlimited extent.
6. Liquid pump arrangement according to either one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that a housing (2) of the liquid pump arrangement has, in the region of movement of a pump outlet connection (33) of variable direction, a reception space (87) for receiving the pump outlet connection (33), the reception space preferably being dimensioned in such a way that a closing member, in particular a closing-off piece with a water stop, which closing member is connected to the pump outlet connection, can likewise be received in the reception space.
7. Liquid pump arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is assigned an emptying valve device connectable to one of the pump outlet connections (33, 34), and/or in that one of the pump outlet connections, in particular an immovable pump outlet connection (34), is connected or connectable to a line of a domestic water supply system, and in that an emptying valve device is connected to the other pump outlet connection (33).
8. Liquid pump arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is assigned a pressure accumulator device releasably connectable to a pump outlet connection, and/or in that one of the plump outlet connections (33, 34) is connected or connectable to a line of a domestic water supply system, and in that a pressure accumulator device is connected to the other pump outlet connection, preferably the pressure accumulator device having a small-volume pressure accumulator tank, preferably with an internal volume of less than approximately 1000 cm³.
9. Liquid pump arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has, upstream of the pump inlet (10), an inflow port (20) and preferably a filling port (16) separate from the inflow port, the inflow port (20) and preferably the filling port being arranged above the pump chamber (8) with respect to a standing surface of the liquid pump arrangement, a preferably exchangeable filter device (18) being arranged preferably between the inflow port (20) and/or the filling port and the pump inlet (10).
10. Liquid pump arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a line section, arranged downstream of the pump outlet (11), of a delivery line (25) is designed as a flexurally rigid pipe which, in order to form a handle (30), runs in a partially unsupported manner.

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