EP1438514A1

EP1438514A1 - Valveless pump

Info

Publication number: EP1438514A1
Application number: EP02778979A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Wilhelm Zackl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-23
Filing date: 2002-10-21
Publication date: 2004-07-21
Anticipated expiration: 2022-10-21
Also published as: US20050031474A1; ATA16872001A; US7101159B2; ATE516442T1; EP1438514B1; AT412416B; WO2003036098A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pump which comprises a tube (4) through which a fluid is delivered, and a device (2) for producing transverse oscillations in the fluid. On the inlet side (5), the tube (4) has a first section (1) with an invariable delivery cross-section and on the outlet side (6) a second section (3) with a variable delivery cross-section. The inventive pump functions according to the following principle: the fluid, when induced to oscillate, performs transverse oscillations in the second section (3) with the variable delivery cross-section and can thereby expand or flow in said oscillating system, while in the first section (1) with the invariable delivery cross-section the fluid oscillates not at all or only to a much lesser extent depending on the compressibility of the medium. The waves caused by the oscillation produced in the fluid therefore substantially expand in the direction of the second section (3) with the variable delivery cross-section so that the fluid inevitably flows from the first section (1) to the second section (3).

Description

Vntilleless pump

The invention relates to a pump with a tube through which a fluid is conveyed, the tube having a first section on the inlet side with a non-changeable conveying cross section, and with a device for generating transverse vibrations in the fluid.

In pumps, the fluid to be pumped is usually conveyed via parts that are moved in translation, e.g. Pistons, or rotatory pump wheels conveyed. It is also known to displace fluid in a deformable hose, e.g. by squeezing the tubing to cause the fluid to pump.

However, these known pumps have the disadvantage, apart from the latter type of pump, that there are signs of wear and possibly contamination of the fluid in the area of the fluid to be pumped, or sealing problems have to be solved. It is also not possible to use rotating parts or valves e.g. Coarse sludges, e.g. Stones to promote.

Pumps are known from US Pat. No. 2,888,877 and DE 956 020 C which have a rigid pipe on the inlet side. Pump devices are also provided. In US-A-2 888 877 this is a sinusoidal element and in DE 956 020 C a piston or an elastic piece of pipe that can be squeezed together. In the ÜS-A-2 888 877, the pumping action takes place in that the cross section of the tube is always closed at one point by the sinusoidal wave-shaped element and repeated, progressive movement of this point produces the pumping action. In DE 956 020 C, the pumping action takes place through different frictional resistances and inertial forces in the two pipe sections with different diameters.

A pump is described in WO 00/62838 A2, in which elastically deformable pipes are located on both sides of a central section in which the pumping action is generated by external force. or hose sections. The different elasticity behavior of these two sections creates different pressures in these sections, so that the elastic contraction of the two sections creates a pumping action in one direction or the other. Any two, ie both rigid and elastic, pipes can be connected to the two elastic sections.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a pump which avoids the disadvantages described as far as possible.

This object is achieved with a pump with the features of claim 1.

The pump according to the invention works on the principle that the fluid, when it is set into vibration, can carry out transverse vibrations in the second section with the variable delivery cross-section and can thus spread or flow in this oscillatory system, whereas in the first section with the unchangeable delivery cross-section, depending on the compressibility of the medium, vibration does not occur or only to a much lesser extent. The waves of the vibration generated in the fluid will therefore largely spread in the direction of the second section with the variable delivery cross section, so that the fluid inevitably flows from the first section to the second section.

The device for generating vibrations in the fluid is ideally located approximately in the connection area of the first section to the second

Section arranged, wherein there are several ways to generate vibrations in the fluid. If there are no particularly high demands on the purity of the fluid, there is the possibility of using parts which can be displaced relative to one another, such as pistons, telescopically displaceable pipe sections or the like. If this requirement does not apply, there is the possibility of causing the fluid to vibrate, for example, by means of a piston acting from the outside on an, for example, elastically deformable section of the pipe or by a device which narrows or widens the pipe cross section in a ring-shaped manner. With regard to the changeable conveying cross section, on the one hand there is the possibility of being able to change the conveying cross section of the second section to the outside, which is the case, for example, with hoses or pipes with an elastically stretchable wall or an elastically deformable wall section. However, there is also the possibility of changing the conveying cross section in the interior of the tube by, for example, a deformable insert being located in the interior of the tube.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, however, is characterized in that the conveying cross section of the second section has partial cross sections, the conveying cross section of which can be changed. The total cross-section of the second section can be unchangeable in each cross-sectional plane, but the conveying cross-section of the partial cross-sections can be changed such that the sum of the changeable partial cross-sections in each cross-sectional plane always results in the unchangeable total cross-section in this cross-sectional plane.

Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings.

It shows:

1 shows a schematic section through a first embodiment of the invention,

2 is a side view of the embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1,

3 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 2;

4 is a longitudinal view of the embodiment of FIG. 3,

5 to 9 schematically show further preferred embodiments of the inventions,

10 and 11 schematically the application of the pump according to the invention as a drive, for example for ships, in a side view and a top view and

12 and 13 further embodiments of the invention.

1 to 4 show a first preferred embodiment of a pump according to the invention, which essentially consists of a pipe 4 with a first section 1 with a non-changeable delivery cross section and a second section 3 with a changeable delivery cross section. The wall of the tube 4 has a negligible deformability under pressure or the action of vibrations within the scope of the invention, but can be flexible if required, as e.g. of hydraulic hoses is known.

The total cross section of the tube 4 is, as can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, divided into partial cross sections 4a, 4b. This subdivision takes place in the first section by means of a rigid partition 7. This rigid partition 7 merges at 8 into an elastic membrane. On this membrane 9, a device 2 for generating vibrations engages, which has a pressure plate 10 attached to the membrane 9 and a piston rod 11 or the like. has, which is driven by any suitable drive device. The back and forth movement of the pressure plate 10 causes the membrane 9, which is attached at 8 and at the tube outlet, to oscillate, as shown schematically in FIG. 1. The end can also be free. The membrane only has to be suspended on at least two sides. Due to the vibration of the membrane 9, the conveying cross section of the partial cross sections 4a, 4b is further changed, although the overall cross section of the tube 4 remains unchanged.

Since the waves or vibrations through the elastic membrane 9 will essentially only move in the direction of the outlet 6, since the first section 1 of the tube 4 does not permit any significant oscillation of substantially incompressible fluids, a flow in the direction of the arrows inevitably results 12 from inlet 5 to outlet 6 of tube 4.

Depending on the type of medium to be conveyed, the membrane 9 can either be a thin, elastic membrane, or it can also be a link chain composed of stable and wear-resistant plates if, for example, fluids with highly wear-promoting ingredients how mud or debris should be extracted.

If necessary, a rigid plate or extension can be connected to the diaphragm 9 after the outlet 6 in order to prevent the flow around the edge of the diaphragm 9 at the outlet 6 as much as possible, which could reduce the efficiency of the pump according to the invention.

5 shows a further embodiment of a pump according to the invention, in which the pipe 4 in turn has a first section 1 with an essentially rigid or pressure-resistant pipe or hose. The second section 3 consists of a double-walled tube, the outer tube wall 13 being rigid, whereas the inner tube wall 14 is elastic. In the area of the connection between the second section 3 and the first section 1, a device 2 for generating vibrations is again provided, which can consist of a device (not specified in more detail) which generates vibrations in the fluid. This can either be a device which, as shown by the arrows 15, deforms the transition region mechanically and elastically, for example by means of pressure stamps which press on the outer tube 13, which in this case is elastic. Alternatively, it is also possible to double the pipe in the transition area, e.g. to be pressurized with a pressure cuff so that the inner wall 14 is periodically pressed inward in the transition area and the fluid is thus displaced in this area, so that the vibration of the inner wall 14 of the pipe, symbolically indicated in FIG. 5 by the dashed line, occurs ,

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the changeable conveying cross section of the second section 3 is created in that a sealed, deformable insert 16 is arranged within a rigid outer tube 13 and is filled, for example, with air or another compressible medium. The pipe end of the first section 1 is received concentrically in the pipe 13, an annular gap being formed between the pipe 1 of the first section and the pipe 13, in which a sleeve 25 is sealed and slidably mounted. By axially displacing the sleeve 25 in the direction of the double arrows 17, an oscillation is again generated in the fluid, which causes the fluid to be conveyed from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6 of the tube 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the tube of the second section is elastically deformable, but has an extension 18 in the transition area to section 1 which is rigid. In this extension 18, the pipe end of the first section is received concentrically. The tube end of the first section also has an increased wall thickness in the transition area within the sleeve 18, so that a relative movement of the first first section 1 and second section 3 leads to a pumping movement, which in turn causes the vibrations in the fluid and subsequently the forced fluid flow from inlet 5 to outlet 6 causes.

In the simplified embodiment according to FIG. 8, a rigid first section with an unchangeable conveying cross section is connected to a second section 3 with a changeable conveying cross section. The tube 4 could, for example, have a square, rectangular or elliptical cross-sectional shape, one, in the exemplary embodiment the top wall of the second section, being designed to be elastically deformable. If a mechanical force periodically acts on this wall section from the outside, as symbolically represented by the double arrow 19, an oscillation in the fluid and thus a pumping action is again generated.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which a type of piston pump 23 is connected between the first section 1 and the second section 3, which produces the oscillation in the second section 3, which in turn is designed as an elastic tube.

In Fig. 12 an embodiment is shown in which a plate 10, with which the vibrations are generated according to Fig. 1, is not arranged in the membrane 9 but in the rigid partition 7 and by means of a piston rod 11 or the like transverse to the longitudinal extension of the Tube can be moved.

Finally, FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of the invention in which plates 24 are movably arranged on opposite sides of tube 3. These plates are moved synchronously in such a way that the lower plate 24 and the upper plate 24 move simultaneously up and down together, whereby a corresponding flow or vibration is generated in the fluid, which also is transferred to the membrane 9.

10 and 11 show a side view and a top view of a pump according to the invention in the form of a tube 4 which is fastened to a ship's hull 21 via a holder 20. The holder 20 serves on the one hand to pivot the tube 4, as indicated by the arrow 22 in FIG. 11, and on the other hand to carry out the technically necessary devices for generating the vibrations in the fluid. The pumping action creates a fluid flow from inlet 5 to outlet 6, which naturally causes the ship to move in the opposite direction.

As can be seen from the explanations above and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is essential for the function of the pump according to the invention that a section of the pipe has a non-changeable delivery cross section, so that the vibrations generated in the fluid are not or only in it continue to a lesser extent than in the second section with a variable delivery cross section, in which transverse vibrations of the fluid are permitted. As a result, the vibrations that run back and forth in the second section in the longitudinal direction of the tube are practically reflected on the first section (due to the inertia of the fluid and the rigidity of the first section), so that there is an overall flow in the tube 4 which is from Inlet 5 flows to outlet 6. If it cannot be avoided in the area of the outlet 6, in particular in the case of pipes with elastic outer walls, that this is clamped there and therefore there is also a short area in which the conveying cross section cannot be changed, this does not contradict the idea of Invention, as long as this section is so short that there is no impediment to the vibration or flow to an extent as is done by the first section of the tube.

It is essential that the vibration takes place in the vicinity of the collision between the first and second sections.

By appropriately matching the lengths and conveyor cross sections of the first and second section (the total cross section of the first

Section does not necessarily have to be the same size as the total cross section of the second section) and the frequency with which the Vibration is generated in the fluid, and the elasticity or the shape change behavior of the second section, the delivery behavior of the pump can be adapted very well to the respective requirements. It is also possible to subdivide the overall cross-section of the second section not only into two, but also into several partial cross-sections, whereby an almost pulse-free flow can be achieved by suitable excitation of the fluid in the individual partial cross-sections. It is also possible to install one or more low-pass elements after the outlet 6 in order to smooth the fluid flow. The use of higher oscillation frequencies also has a positive effect on the smoothing of the fluid flow.

There is also little risk of injury from mechanically moving parts in the invention, which the invention e.g. as a propulsion system for lifeboats. If the pressure fluctuations generated are not too great, aquatic animals such as fish or marine mammals can also be pumped without suffering any damage. It also shows that most designs are very insensitive to dirt and wear and also e.g. water contaminated with mud and stones can be pumped without damaging or clogging the pump.

Appropriate dimensioning and coordination of the pump make it possible to pump gases.

In summary, an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be represented as follows:

A pump has a tube 4, through which a fluid is conveyed, and a device 2 for generating transverse vibrations in the fluid. The tube 4 has on the inlet side 5 a first section 1 with an unchangeable conveying cross section and on the outlet side 6 a second section 3 with a changeable conveying cross section.

The pump according to the invention works on the principle that the fluid, when it is set in vibration, can carry out transverse vibrations in the second section 3 with the variable delivery cross-section and can thus spread or flow in this vibratory system, whereas in the first Section 1 with the non-changeable delivery cross-section, depending on the compressibility of the medium, vibration does not occur or only to a much lesser extent. The waves of the vibration generated in the fluid will therefore largely spread in the direction of the second section 3 with the variable delivery cross section, so that there is inevitably a flow of the fluid from the first section 1 to the second section 3.

Claims

Claims:

1. Pump with a pipe (4) through which a fluid is conveyed, the pipe (4) on the inlet side (5) having a first section (1) with an unchangeable delivery cross section, and with a device (2) for generating transverse vibrations in the fluid, characterized in that the tube (4) on the outlet side (6) has a second section (3) with a variable delivery cross section.

2. Pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the delivery cross section of the second section (3) has partial cross sections (3a, 3b), the delivery cross section of which is variable.

3. Pump according to claim 2, characterized in that the total cross section of the second section (3) is not changeable and that the sum of the changeable partial cross sections (3a, 3b) in each cross-sectional plane gives the total cross section.

4. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second section (3) has at least one in the longitudinal direction of the tube (4) extending membrane (9).

5. Pump according to claim 2 or 3 and 4, characterized in that the membrane (9) the second section (3) of the tube in the

Partial cross sections (3a, 3b) divided.

6. Pump according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that an extension (7) of the membrane (9) extends as a rigid part into the first section (1).

7. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an inner, deformable tube is arranged in the second section (3).

8. Pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second section has a deformable tube wall.

9. Pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the second section has a deformable insert (16).

10. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device (2) for generating vibrations is arranged approximately in the connection area of the first section (1) to the second section (3).

11. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the device (2) for generating vibrations changes the delivery cross section in the second section (3).

12. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first section (1) and the second section (3) are movable relative to each other.

13. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device (2) for generating vibrations is a transversely displaceable part (10) in the second section.

14. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device (2) for generating vibrations is an axially displaceable part in the second section (10, 23).

15. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device (2) for generating vibrations changes the delivery cross section in a ring shape.

16. Pump according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the changeable delivery cross-section is limited by an element under tension, preferably tensile stress, the tension of which is changeable or adjustable.