EP3447290B1 - Replaceable pump head for a diaphragm pump - Google Patents

Description

Field of invention

The invention relates to a pump head for a diaphragm pump according to the preamble of claim 1 and a diaphragm pump according to the preamble of claim 18.

State of the art

From the DE 10 2008 035 592 B4 a diaphragm pump is known which essentially consists of a pump head connected to a drive and having a plurality of pump chambers. The pump chambers are each sealed off from a drive chamber by means of a pump membrane, the respective pump membrane being able to be set in a periodic axial pumping movement via an associated pump element. The pump chambers are connected to an inlet chamber via inlet valves and to an outlet chamber via an outlet valve. The inlet chamber is arranged centrally and the outlet chamber is concentric to the inlet chamber. A shoulder is provided in the valve plate of this diaphragm pump, in which a separate inlet valve plate, which has the inlet valves, can be inserted. This is upstream of the pump chambers. Also from the DE 101 17 531 A1 and DE 20 2006 020 237 U1 Diaphragm pumps are known which essentially consist of a pump head connected to a drive.

Another diaphragm pump is in US patent application US 2011/0070107 A1 described. This pump includes a disposable pump head with an inlet and outlet port. The pump head is easy to replace, so that maintenance, in particular cleaning and / or disinfection of the same, is not necessary. The advantage here is that the next application or the next procedure can be started with a short time delay.

Known diaphragm pumps of this type are used in the pharmaceutical sector for drug production, but also in chemistry and biotechnology. As is known, the manufacture of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry is a very cost-intensive area, so that it is desirable to achieve time savings in the area of cleaning diaphragm pumps, primarily with the aim of reducing costs. The production costs of diaphragm pumps are also very high due to the high sterility requirements, and so it is desirable to reduce the costs in the production of the pump elements.

The disadvantage of the known diaphragm pumps is that they have a pump head that is firmly connected to the drive, in particular the drive housing and the drive elements. In addition, the diaphragm pumps known in the prior art are made of metal, predominantly of high-alloy stainless steel, which makes production expensive and makes handling of these pumps difficult. Since the pump head is firmly connected to the other elements of the diaphragm pump, the pump head must be completely cleaned after each flow of liquid. This means that the pump head must be completely emptied and made sterile before a new batch of medication can run through the unit. As a result, after a test run for a special drug, for example, several days and further time-consuming cleaning steps are required in order to complete new test runs with this unit. The costs for the cleaning process alone are very high, since cleaning agents, personnel and considerable expenditure of time and the like have to be provided. Before using the diaphragm pump, validation processes must be carried out again each time, ie before each new drug run. This is time consuming. Pressure fluctuations also occur regularly in the known diaphragm pumps, as these were designed for standard applications and excess pressures arise that have a negative impact on the flow conditions.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving the previously known diaphragm pumps of the type mentioned in such a way that the pump head can be manufactured more cost-effectively, is lighter in weight and can be changed more quickly than the interchangeable pump heads known from the prior art and this cleaning and emptying of residues is no longer necessary, so that considerable time savings are possible in the manufacture of drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. The present invention is also intended to increase the speed until a drug is ready for the market and to reduce costs by eliminating process validation. The present invention is intended to dispense with complex cleaning processes. The manual attachment of the pump head to the drive and the replacement of the pump head should be made easier. In addition, an environmentally friendly pump head is to be provided that can be recycled. At the same time, an absolute tightness and greater safety of the pump head should be guaranteed due to the design of the pump head. In addition, the liquid pulsation in the pump head should be reduced.

This object is achieved in connection with the preamble of claim 1 by the characterizing part of claim 1 and in connection with the preamble of claim 18 by the characterizing part of claim 18.

The pump head according to the invention is characterized in that it is designed as a single-use variant for the manufacture of medicaments. The pump head is designed separately from the other elements of the diaphragm pump, namely the drive, in particular the drive unit and the drive housing, and is therefore individually exchangeable. The advantage is that the pump head can be changed relatively easily with two hand movements. This saves a lot of time. In addition, no tool is required to replace the pump head, which in any case causes problems in the sterile field. The pump head is preferably made in such a way that it is used only once for a liquid flow, in particular a test run for the production of a medicament or the production of the medicament itself. As a single-use item, the The pump head can be disposed of after use and a new pump head can be connected to the other elements of the diaphragm pump, more precisely the drive, during the next test run or the next drug production. This results in savings in the millions for the pharmaceutical industry because, for example, a one-week test for a future drug can save about three days, because the exchangeable pump head means that it no longer needs to be cleaned. The conventional pump head is usually completely emptied and made sterile before it can be used again for a new liquid run. Since residual emptying and sterile cleaning is no longer necessary with the pump head according to the invention as a single-use variant, several days of idle time for cleaning and residual emptying can be saved. Consequently, considerable cost savings are possible in the pharmaceutical industry due to the pump head according to the invention.

The pump head is self-contained and its inner workings are completely hermetically sealed from the outside. Only the inlet and outlet should preferably be closed finally. The interior is designed for small residual quantities after the end of the test runs.

The pump head is made entirely of plastic. Preference is given to using FDA-compliant plastics, in particular plastics that meet the requirements for drug production and that meet the mechanical loads. In comparison to the known pumps made of high-alloy stainless steels, a different material is used, namely plastic, which is lighter than metals and less expensive to manufacture. The construction of the pump head from plastic facilitates the manual attachment to the drive, the other elements of the diaphragm pump and thus the exchange of the pump head. In addition, the pump head can be recycled and thus represents a more environmentally friendly element of a diaphragm pump than the previously known pump head elements of diaphragm pumps. Disposal is cheaper and easier. Complex validation processes are no longer necessary for disposable plastic. The pump head housing is preferably made of polypropylene (PP), polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and / or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and thus has a high level of media resistance.

The pump head has a 5-chamber system compared to the 4-chamber systems known in the prior art. With the 5-chamber system, the liquid pulsation in the pump head, especially in the unit, can be reduced. This is an advantage over the 4-chamber system. In the following tables, 4-chamber systems are compared with 5-chamber systems. A total of five pump chambers are therefore provided in the valve receiving body, into which at least one inlet valve for each pump chamber opens. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the pumping chambers differ in their shape from the known circular pumping chambers, preferably in that they are designed in a piriform or pear-shaped manner. The area of the piriform pump chamber which tapers to a point at one end is arranged centrally in the valve receiving body, so that the larger-volume area rounded towards the other end closes off in the direction of the outer edge of the valve receiving body. The outlet valve, which is consequently arranged centrally, is preferably located in the tapered area of the pump chamber. In the larger-volume area of the pump chamber there is preferably an inlet valve, which is located from the bottom of the valve receiving body are arranged concentrically to the outlet valves as seen.

Four tables 1a, 1b and 2a, 2b are shown below, which show the differences between a 5-chamber system and a 4-chamber system. In a comparison of a 4-chamber system according to Tables 1a, 1b with a 5-chamber system according to Tables 2a, 2b, significantly reduced internal operating pressures can be determined in the 5-chamber system. The arrangement of the active connections in the respective examples and comparative examples, namely once for the liquid inlet and once for the liquid outlet, is provided in a first example and fourth comparative example at a 180 ° angle on the outside of the pump head. In a second example and fifth comparative example, these active connections are arranged at a 90 ° angle and in a third example and sixth comparative example on the front side (corresponds to the underside). Table 1a: Pressure and velocity values of a 4-chamber system with water 1st example 2nd example 3rd example Connection arrangement 180 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 180 degree position 90 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 90 degree position Front: Active inlet and active outlet on the bottom Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 809,302 814,047 (-237,403) (connection on side housing wall not used) Speed in mm / s, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 2472.94 2472.93 (23,3715) (connection on side housing wall not used) Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the bottom / front inlet (704,574) (front connection not used) (714,092) (front connection not used) 977.654 Speed in mm / s, measured at the bottom / front inlet (61.9302) (front connection not used) (55,3904) (front connection not used) 2472.77 Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the outlet 4912.81 4579.17 6073.68 Speed in mm / s, measured at the outlet 227.787 231.263 231.007 4th example 5th example 6th example Connection arrangement 180 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 180 degree position 90 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 90 degree position Front: Active inlet and active outlet on the bottom Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 787.718 782.738 (-230.959) (connection on side housing wall not used) Speed in mm / s, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 2471.72 2471.71 (0.0262517) (connection on side housing wall not used) Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the bottom / front inlet (707,783) (front connection not used) (710.07) (front connection not used) 979.036 Speed in mm / s, measured at the bottom / front inlet (56,3939) (front connection not used) (48,7154) (front connection not used) 2471.39 Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the outlet 4892.6 4558.85 6059.91 Speed in mm / s, measured at the outlet 233,393 236.664 236,405 1. Comparative example 2. Comparative example 3. Comparative example Connection arrangement 180 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 180 degree position 90 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 90 degree position Front active inlet and active outlet on the bottom Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 188.771 188.375 (-25.3943) (connection on side housing wall not used) Speed in mm / s, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 1633.25 1633.25 (27,9028) (connection on side housing wall not used) Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the bottom / front inlet (30,2918) (front connection not used) (30.0523) (front connection not used) 70.7398 Speed in mm / s, measured at the bottom / front inlet (103,997) (front connector not used) (104) (front connection not used) 1632.43 Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the outlet 2512.74 2680.44 4018.15 Speed in mm / s, measured at the outlet 135.315 136.758 136.7 4. Comparative example 5. Comparative example 6. Comparative example Connection arrangement 180 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 180 degree position 90 degrees: Active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 90 degree position Front active inlet and active outlet on the bottom Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 186.196 186.234 (2.05115) (connection on side housing wall not used) Speed in mm / s, measured at the inlet on the side of the housing wall 1632.91 1632.91 (0.528212) (connection on side housing wall not used) Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the bottom / front inlet (50,2839) (front connection not used) (50,5011) (front connection not used) 94.4495 Speed in mm / s, measured at the bottom / front inlet (95,2814) (front connection not used) (95,5958) (front connection not used) 1632.14 Static pressure in Pascal, measured at the outlet 2509.02 2690.27 4007.21 Speed in mm / s, measured at the outlet 137.59 139.013 138.928

In a connection arrangement of the active inlet to the active outlet on the side housing wall of the pump head in a 180 degree position, a static pressure (in Pascal) in the area of the inlet of the side housing wall is 809,302 in the case of a 4-chamber system and when using the medium water measurable (example 1). In this connection arrangement there is a speed at the same measuring point in the inlet area of the side housing wall, the measurement taking place inside the pump head at the inlet area (in mm / s) of 2,472.94 detectable. With a 4-chamber system and the use of water as a medium, these values are significantly higher in comparison with a 5-chamber system as shown in Table 2a (comparative example 1). With the same connection arrangement, the same measuring point and the medium water, the static pressure in a 5-chamber system is 188.771 Pascal and thus 620.531 Pascal lower. The speed in comparative example 1 is 1,633.25 mm / s in a 5-chamber system, with the same measuring point and the medium water. The speed in a 5-chamber system is almost twice as low as in a 4-chamber system. The liquid pulsation can thus be reduced significantly. The pump is used more efficiently.

Another alternative connection arrangement is preferably provided with an arrangement of the active inlet to the active outlet on the side housing wall of the pump head in a 90 degree position. The static pressure, which is measured in the inlet area inside the pump head, is 814.047 Pascal in example 2 of the 4-chamber system. The speed at the same measuring point with the same medium water in this arrangement is 2,472.93 mm / s. In comparison, the static pressure of Comparative Example 2, measured in a 5-chamber system, is significantly lower and is 188.375 Pascal, namely when it is measured at the same measuring point and using the medium water. The speed in a 5-chamber system is also significantly lower at 1,633.25 mm / s.

Particularly preferably, the arrangement of the active connections inlet and outlet at a 180 degree angle on the side housing wall of the pump head or at a 90 degree angle results in no difference in speed when using the medium water. The speed is preferably the same.

Since the pump head can preferably have several connections for possible use as an inlet and outlet, which are, however, preferably closed with a stopper when not in use, the inlet area within the pump head on the side housing wall can also be measured in terms of static pressure and speed, although the connection is not used and only the front connections, i.e. the front inlet and the front outlet, are used. In this case, the measurement in a 4-chamber system using the medium water results in the inlet area inside the pump head on the side housing wall at the measuring point, if this is not used Inlet and when using the front connections a static pressure value of -237.403 Pascal and a velocity value of 23.3715 of the liquid (comparative example 3). In comparison to this, in comparative example 3 in a 5-chamber system the static pressure value is -25.3943 and the speed value is 27.9028. The comparison shows that the static negative pressures in a 5-chamber system are lower than in a 4-chamber system.

With reference to Table 1a and the actively used connection arrangement 180 degrees from inlet to outlet on the side housing wall (example 1), values in the unused inlet area of the front connection (inlet connection on the underside) of 704.574 Pascal (static pressure) and 61, 9302 mm / s can be measured. At the same measuring point, in example 2, pressure values of 714.092 and speed values of 55.3904 result with a 90 degree positioning of the active connections inlet and outlet on the side housing wall.

If the inlet and outlet front connections are preferably used (example 3), the static pressure value in the active inlet area on the front, measured inside the pump head, is 977.654 Pascal and the speed value at the same measuring point is 2,472.77 mm / s. In comparison, with the same arrangement and measuring position and the same medium, namely water, the pressure value in a 5-chamber system according to comparative example 3 is 70.7398 Pascal and the speed value is 1,632.43 mm / s. The pressure values and speed values in the 5-chamber system are therefore significantly lower and ensure more efficient use of the pump.

In a 4-chamber system and the test medium water, a static pressure of 4,912.81 Pascal can be measured in the active outlet area within the pump head with a connection arrangement from active inlet to active outlet on the side housing wall in a 180 degree position. The speed with the same measuring position and the same medium is 227.787 mm / s in a 4-chamber system. In comparison, the values in a 5-chamber system according to comparative example 1 (with the same measuring position and the same medium) are 2,512.74 Pascals and 135.315 mm / s. This in turn shows the enormous increase in efficiency of a 5-chamber system.

The connection arrangement of an inlet to outlet on the side housing wall in a 90 degree position according to Example 2 results in a static pressure of 4,579.17 Pascal measured at the active outlet area within the pump head in a 4-chamber system when using the medium water. The speed is 231.263 mm / s in this preferred experimental set-up. In comparative example 2 of the 5-chamber system, the static pressure value is 2,680.44 Pascal and the speed value is 136.758 mm / s.

In a further alternative embodiment, which provides an active connection arrangement of the inlet and outlet on the front side according to Example 3, there are static pressure values of 6,073.68 Pascal, measured at the active outlet area within the pump head with a 4-chamber system and the medium Water. The speed value in this arrangement is 231.007 mm / s. In Comparative Example 3 of a 5-chamber system, the static pressure value is 4018.15 Pascal and the speed value is 136.7 mm / s.

With reference to Tables 1b and 2b, the same measurement positions and connection arrangements are shown in comparison as in Tables 1a and 2a, but using the medium blood. A comparison of these values also clearly shows the improvement in the static internal pressure and the speed in a 5-chamber system.

Towards the outlet chamber, the valve receiving body of the pump head preferably has five outlet valves. The outlet chamber is preferably located centrally on the inside in relation to the inlet chambers in the valve receiving body. The chamber geometry is preferably designed in a flow-favored manner by means of CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis.

In a further preferred embodiment of the pump head according to the invention, the pump head housing is designed in the shape of a cylinder, open at the top, preferably with a side housing wall and a bottom preferably closing off at the bottom, with at least two connections, preferably an inlet and an outlet, horizontally and at a 90 ° bend the side housing wall, particularly preferably three connections arranged horizontally and in a 90 ° bend on the side housing wall, as well as at least two front connections (connections on the underside in the figures), preferably an inlet and an outlet, are provided.

The connections, which can preferably be selected individually as outlets and outlets, can be used variably, depending on customer requirements. They are preferably multifunctional. The pump head housing preferably has three connections, preferably two outlets and one inlet, on the side housing wall. The pump head housing preferably has two connections, preferably an inlet and an outlet at the bottom of the pump head housing.

The connection openings that are not required must be closed. In a preferred embodiment, this takes place with a blind plug (plug or blind plug) which closes the opening leak-free by means of a snapper system or, particularly preferably, a seamlessly manufactured thread. This achieves a high level of tightness and long-term stability, as the seal is made using a sealing collar and additional parts such as O-rings are not required. Since the pump head is a single-use variant, the customer can preferably close the connection once with the blind plug. The blind plug can be attached via a click lock and then preferably no longer dismantled. The blind plug can optionally be attached via a thread, which is preferably made without seams and can be dismantled again. The customer can choose the connections that he needs for the liquid flow and then, since the pump head is a disposable version, close the connections that are not in use with the blind plugs before commissioning. The multifunctionality of the connections provides the customer with a high degree of flexibility in using the pump head.

Furthermore, the pump head according to the invention preferably comprises an overflow valve on the underside (corresponds to the front side) for reducing work-related or system-related overpressures. The overflow valve is preferably hermetically connected to the pump head housing and enables constant flow conditions. The overflow valve or pressure control valve relieves pressure peaks by relieving the system when the set pressure is exceeded. The overflow valve can advantageously be installed horizontally or vertically in the pump head housing, regardless of its position. It can therefore be used in many ways.

Furthermore, the overflow valve is preferably connected to the pump head housing by means of a simple screw connection, so that it can be easily and quickly assembled and disassembled.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the overflow valve of the pump head according to the invention is continuously adjustable. The setting ranges are preferably from 0.2 to 6 bar, in particular from 0.2 to 5 bar and particularly preferably from 0.4 to 5 bar. The pressure holding valve is preferably continuously adjustable. It can also be adjusted during the pumping process so that the valve setting is also possible under working pressure. Pressure peaks and pulsations are reliably reduced. The valve preferably has a small hysteresis. The housing of the overflow valve is preferably made of PP, PVDF and PTFE and thus has a high level of media resistance and corresponds to all approval standards for the biopharmaceutical sector. With normal internal pump pressure, the liquid or the product is preferably located in the respective part of the pump head, where it or it is guided to the respective outlets with normal delivery. As soon as the internal pump pressure increases, the membrane opens when the set upper value is reached and lifts against the spring. In this position, a channel is preferably released, which discharges the pressure peak to the inlet of the pump and thus provides a bypass delivery. The result is a constant delivery flow. The spring force can be set during operation and is finely adjustable due to the large membrane area.

In a further preferred embodiment, the overflow valve is made entirely of plastic, the adjusting spring preferably being provided as a disk spring assembly, preferably made of plastic. Alternatively, the adjusting spring can also be designed as a ring spring, preferably metallic, so that the valve is preferably made almost entirely of plastic. In the completely plastic version, the entire pump head is free of metal. But even with the metallic ring spring, the remaining components of the overflow valve are preferably made entirely of plastic. The permissible medium temperature in connection with the valve depends on the base material. For example, if the housing is made of PVDF, a temperature of 120 ° C is permissible and for a version made of PTFE, 150 ° C.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the membrane of the pump head unit is designed in such a way that it completely spans the valve body with the pump chambers. The outer edge of the membrane is preferably designed in such a way that it faces upwards and protrudes downward only a few millimeters from the membrane surface. The downwardly protruding projection of the membrane rim preferably engages in a groove which is provided accordingly on the upper side of the outer rim of the valve receiving body. The membrane surface itself preferably spans the entire inner area of the valve receiving body, starting from the outer edge of the valve receiving body. It is therefore not necessary, as is usually the case, to have five diaphragms, which are each arranged individually over the pump chambers, but rather only a membrane unit can be produced inexpensively and simply as one piece and arranged on the valve receiving body. In particular, the attachment of the membrane to the valve receiving body and in the pump head unit is simplified and can be done quickly, compared to five individual membranes, which each have to be arranged individually over the respective pump chamber. This also leads to time savings in the manufacture of the pump head insert.

In a further embodiment of the pump head, the membrane is made of a permanently elastic material, in particular a material that is suitable for whipping. The material is preferably plastic. As a result, the mobility of the membrane is excellent in terms of its suction and pressure properties.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the membrane is provided with surfaces that are bulged in the suction and pressure direction towards the respective pump chamber (on its underside), the bulging of which is preferably adapted to the shape and dimensions of the inlet valve disk. Particularly preferably, the membrane also has a plurality of downwardly protruding borders which engage in a groove which each surrounds the pump chambers on their upwardly open side. The membrane hermetically seals the respective pump chambers. The edging protruding downwards is preferably designed in a piriform shape corresponding to the respective pump chamber, the preferably piriform edging engaging in a corresponding preferably piriform groove which surrounds the pump chambers on its upwardly open side formed in the valve receiving body.

In a further preferred exemplary embodiment, several, preferably five, annular bulges which protrude upward are provided on the upper side of the membrane. The inner diameter of the highest point of these annular bulges is preferably the same size as the outer diameter of the downwardly bulging surfaces.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a preferably plasticized pressure piece is provided in the center of the respective annular bulges of the membrane, which cooperates with a plunger which is attached to a swash plate of a drive unit in order to be set in a pumping movement. The membrane with the pressure piece, which is preferably cast vertically in a preferably advantageous manner and which preferably specifies a closing dimension of 3.5 °, is structurally designed in such a way that an optimal degree of efficiency can be achieved. The preferred closing dimension of 3.5 ° relates to the idle state of the membrane. The closed dimension can also be more or less, but in particular between 2.0 ° and 6.5 °. The closed dimension relates to the bulging surfaces of the membrane that protrude downwards and the annular bulges that protrude upwards from the membrane. The horizontal cross-section line of the membrane is the starting point for the dimensioning at 0 °. The aforementioned bulges are at a 3.5 ° angle. The angle of attack is preferably dependent on the position of the eccentric shaft and can be changed individually to a certain extent. This allows the delivery rate to be regulated, since the stroke is reduced or increased, which means that the delivery rate is variable.

The invention also preferably provides a diaphragm pump which has a drive which is connected to the pump head described above. In this case, the pump head is preferably releasably fastened to the drive by means of several holding clamps or tensioning straps, preferably two holding clamps. This quick-release mechanism is advantageous for the time-saving assembly of the exchangeable pump head on the other pump elements, in particular the drive. In addition, a functionally reliable assembly of the pump heads is ensured. The dismantling is just as quick as the assembly of the pump head, which is releasably attached to the drive housing via the retaining clips.

According to a preferred embodiment, the retaining clamps are equipped with a snap clip which preferably engages in a groove on the pump head. The groove is provided circumferentially on the side wall of the pump head housing, so that at the same time great individuality is possible in the position of the inlets and outlets of the connections.

When the retaining clamps are closed, the snap clamp pulls the pump head so close to the drive via the groove that the pump head and drive are hermetically sealed to one another.

The membrane pump according to the invention preferably has an electronic-hydraulic drive. Due to the hydraulics, the fluids flow better.

Brief description of the drawings

Figur 1

eine Explosionsansicht einer Membranpumpe bestehend aus einem Antrieb und einem Pumpenkopf

Figur 2

eine Explosionsansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Pumpkopfs bzw. der Pumpenkopfeinheit

Figur 3

eine Explosionsansicht des Pumpenkopfeinsatzes

Figur 4

eine Seitenansicht des Pumpenkopfgehäuses mit Überströmventil

Figur 5

eine Seitenansicht auf die Membranpumpe mit Antrieb und Pumpenkopf sowie Überströmventil

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht der in Figur 5 gezeigten Membranpumpe, entlang der Linie A-A geschnitten

Figur 7

eine Seitenansicht der Pumpenkopfeinheit mit Überströmventil sowie der in Fig. 9 gezeigten Antriebseinheit, entlang der Linie K-K der in Figur 7a gezeigten Membranpumpe geschnitten

Figur 7a

eine Unteransicht der Membranpumpe

Figur 7b

eine vergrößerte Darstellung der Einkreisung L aus Fig. 7

Figur 8

eine perspektivische Ansicht von schräg oben auf die Membran und den Ventilaufnahmekörper

Figur 8a

eine perspektivische Querschnittansicht von schräg unten auf eine Hälfte der in Figur 8 gezeigten Membran und den Ventilaufnahmekörper

Figur 8b

eine Seitenansicht der Membran, im Querschnitt

Figur 8c

eine Seitenansicht des Ventilaufnahmekörpers, im Querschnitt

Figur 9

eine Explosionsansicht der Antriebseinheit

In the drawings show:

Figure 1

an exploded view of a diaphragm pump consisting of a drive and a pump head

Figure 2

an exploded view of the pump head according to the invention or the pump head unit

Figure 3

an exploded view of the pumphead insert

Figure 4

a side view of the pump head housing with overflow valve

Figure 5

a side view of the diaphragm pump with drive and pump head and overflow valve

Figure 6

a side view of the in Figure 5 diaphragm pump shown, cut along line AA

Figure 7

a side view of the pump head unit with overflow valve and the in Fig. 9 drive unit shown, along the line KK of the in Figure 7a Diaphragm pump shown cut

Figure 7a

a bottom view of the diaphragm pump

Figure 7b

an enlarged view of the encirclement L. Fig. 7

Figure 8

a perspective view obliquely from above of the membrane and the valve receiving body

Figure 8a

a perspective cross-sectional view obliquely from below on one half of the in Figure 8 shown membrane and the valve receiving body

Figure 8b

a side view of the membrane, in cross section

Figure 8c

a side view of the valve receiving body, in cross section

Figure 9

an exploded view of the drive unit

In the Figure 1 Diaphragm pump 2 shown consists of a drive 4 with an in Fig. 9 drive unit 3 shown and a pump head unit 1, on the underside of which an overflow valve 5 is arranged. The drive 4 consists of a drive or motor housing 6 in which the drive unit 3 is located. On two opposite sides of the drive housing 6 there is a retaining clip 7 (only one visible here) for fastening the drive housing 6 to a pump head housing 8. The retaining clip 7 comprises a clamping bracket 9, the lower, inwardly bent end 10 of which is inserted into a groove 11 on the Pump head 1 engages. When the closure element 12 is folded up, the clamping bracket 9 pulls the pump head housing 8 firmly towards the drive housing 6. The drive unit 3 is connected to the eccentric disk 14 of the pump head unit 1 by means of a screw connection via a centering disk 13. The in Fig. 2 The pump head unit 1 shown in detail consists of the eccentric disk 14, a tappet plate or swashplate 15 with five tappets 16, a frame 17 with five circular frame openings 18 for receiving the tappets 16, a membrane 19, a valve receiving body 20, a centering ring 21, a pump head housing 8 with several connections 22 and an overflow valve 5. The centering ring 21 is fastened to the pump head housing 8 by means of countersunk screws 23 and centers the upper end 24 of the pump head housing 8 in the drive housing 6.

In Figure 2 the pump head elements are shown in an exploded view. In this embodiment, the pump head housing 8 has a total of five openings 25 for five multifunctional connections 22, each of which can be closed with a stopper 26. Two of the connection openings 25 are located on the underside (not visible), three of them on the side of the housing (two of them visible). The overflow valve 5 is arranged on the underside in the area of the base 27 of the pump head housing 8. In this embodiment, five pump chambers 28 are arranged concentrically in the valve receiving body 20. The five pump chambers are pear-shaped, the round, large-volume area of the chamber being on the outer edge of the valve receiving body and the tapered area of the chamber being centrally located in the valve receiving body. In Fig. 8 the piriform is described in more detail. The membrane 19 is arranged above the valve receiving body 20. This shows five annular bulges 29 around a push button 30 each, which point in the direction of the frame 17 and hermetically close the respective frame openings 18 there. The annular bulges 29 drop downward in the area of their inner diameter in the direction of the push button 30. On the underside of the membrane 19, five correspondingly curved surfaces 31 (not visible) are also formed. These downward bulging surfaces 31 are shown in FIG Fig. 8 described in more detail. The annular bulge 29 towards the top is in Fig. 8 clearly visible. In an assembled arrangement of a pump head insert 32 shown in FIG Fig. 3 As is described and shown, the push button 30 cast into the membrane 19 protrudes vertically upwards through the respective frame openings 18 of the frame 17, so that the recess 33 in the plunger 16 encompasses the protruding part of the push button 30. Located above the tappet plate 15 is the eccentric disk 14, which is screwed to the tappet plate 15 with five countersunk screws 34.

Five pump chambers 28 are shown in the valve receiving body 20. The diaphragm 19 provides a total of five pressure pieces 30 which protrude from the top of the diaphragm 19 and come into contact with the respective tappets 16 of the swash plate 15. The frame 17 has five frame openings 18 which are sealed at the bottom with the annular bulges 29 of the membrane 19. The upper part of the pressure piece 30, which is firmly cast in the membrane 19, extends into the frame opening 18. The eccentric disk 14 is connected to the tappet plate 15 with the five countersunk screws 34.

Figure 3 shows the pump head insert 32, which consists of eccentric disk 14, tappet plate 15, frame 17, membrane 19 and valve receiving body 20 including sealing ring 38. In this exemplary embodiment, the inlet valves 35 are arranged on the outside and the outlet valves 36 are arranged on the inside. A sealing ring 38, which seals the outlet chamber 55 in the housing 8, is provided on the underside of the valve receiving body 20.

The pump head housing 8 together with the side view of the overflow valve housing 37 is shown in FIG Fig. 4 shown. The exploded view shows three multifunctional connections 22 arranged laterally and two connections 22 arranged on the underside of the pump head housing 8. The connections 22 are each connected to the pump head housing 8 with a sealing ring 50. Four of the connections 22 are provided with a plug 26. The overflow valve 5 is arranged decentrally on the underside 27 of the pump head housing 8 and is fastened to the housing 8 by means of a screw connection.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the diaphragm pump 2. Two lateral connections 22 on the pump head housing 8 and two connections 22 (shown closely offset from one another in perspective) on the underside 27 of the pump head housing 8 are visible. The overflow valve 5 is located decentrally on the underside 27 of the pump head housing 8. The clamping bracket 9 of the retaining clamp or tensioning strap 7 shown in the drawing engages in a groove 11 of the pump head housing 8, which surrounds the side wall of the housing 8 and fixes the pump head housing 8 to drive 4. The locking lever 12 of the terminal 7 is in the closed state.

Figure 6 shows a side view in longitudinal section AA of FIG Fig. 5 Diaphragm pump 2 shown. The flange 39 of the cylinder head 40 of the drive 4 is fastened to the drive housing 6 with several cylinder head screws 41. The pump head 1 is fastened to the lower side of the drive 4 by means of retaining clips 7. The lower end 10 of the clamping bracket 9 of the holding clamps 7 engages in the laterally circumferential groove 11 of the pump head housing 8. The pump connections 22 are connected with the sealing ring 50 to the pump head housing 8. The valve receiving body 20 with the membrane 19 and the frame 17 is completely received in the pump head housing 8, the centering ring 21 functioning as an interface between the pump head housing 8 and the drive housing 6. The eccentric disk 14 protrudes into the drive housing 6.

In Fig. 7 FIG. 11 shows the pump head 1 with the drive unit 3 without cylinder head 40 in a side view, along the line KK of FIG Figure 7a Diaphragm pump 2 shown cut, shown. The eccentric 42 extends through the opening in the upper side of the motor housing 6 into the motor compartment 43. The elements of the drive unit 3 can be seen including ball bearings 43, 44 and are shown in detail in Fig. 9 shown. A membrane 45 of the overflow valve 5 is shown together with the spring 46 in the valve 5.

Figure 7b is an enlarged view of the overflow valve 5, according to enlargement L of FIG Fig. 7 . The overflow valve 5 is arranged on the underside 27 of the pump head housing 8. The membrane 45 seals an outlet 47 and an inlet 48 towards the liquid chamber 49 of the pump head 1. The spring 46 is arranged below the membrane 45 in the valve housing 37. When an increased internal pump pressure is reached, the membrane 45 opens and lifts off against the spring 46. As a result, a channel or ring channel 51 is released, which discharges the pressure peak to the inlet 48 of the pump 2. A constant delivery flow in the pump 2 can thus be maintained.

Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the membrane 19 and the valve receiving body 20. Three of the five pump chambers 28 of the valve receiving body 20 are clearly visible in an oblique top view. The with reference numeral 28 in Figure 8 directly marked pumping chamber has a kind of piriform. The large-volume area of the piriform chamber is arranged on the outer edge of the valve receiving body. The pump chamber then tapers towards the center of the valve receiving body so that it has a pear-like shape. One side that connects the large-volume area with the tip of the tapering of the pump chamber is straight (that is the side identified by reference numeral 28) and the opposite side is in its center, between the lower end of the large-volume area at the outer edge and the top End of the tapered area, curved slightly inward. At this slightly inwardly curved central point of the with reference numeral 28 in Figure 8 directly marked pumping chamber borders the upper end of the taper of the fully visible pumping chamber of the Figure 8 at. Five annular bulges 29 of the membrane 19, which encircle the respective pressure piece 30 arranged centrally within the respective bulge 29 and protrude upward, are visible. A piriform or pear-shaped groove 52, which surrounds the individual pump chambers 28 on their side which is open at the top in the valve receiving body 20, can also be clearly seen in the case of three pump chambers 28. The respective corresponding one engages in this groove 52 a piriform enclosure 53, which is provided on the underside (not visible here) of the membrane 19.

Figure 8a shows a sectional view through the in Figure 8 The membrane 19 shown and the valve receiving body 20. The outlet chamber 55 is shown on the underside 54 of the valve receiving body 20, into which the outlet valves 36 (three visible here) open. The outlet valves 36 are preferably designed as membrane valves. An outlet valve 36 is shown in section. An inlet valve 35 is also shown in section, with an inlet chamber 56 provided on the underside 54 of the valve receiving body 20 in front of the inlet valves 35 (three visible here). The inlet valves 35 are preferably also designed as a membrane valve. The preassembled pressure piece 30 is firmly cast (plasticized) with the membrane 19. On the underside 57 of the membrane 19, one of the plurality of piriform rims 53 of the membrane 19 protruding downward from the membrane surface 58 is shown in its entirety. The outer edge 59 of the membrane has projections 59 ', 59 ″ protruding upwards and downwards from the membrane surface 58 and encircling the outer edge 59 of the membrane can engage in a correspondingly formed matching groove 60 on the valve receiving body 20, which is provided on the upper side of the outer edge of the valve receiving body 20. The groove 60, which is provided on the upper side of the outer edge of the valve receiving body 20, is shown in FIG Figure 8a shown.

Figure 8b shows the membrane 19 in cross section and in the state of rest. The pressure piece 30, which is cast vertically into the membrane 19 and which specifies the closing dimension, is in the idle state. In this exemplary embodiment, there is an illustrated closed component of 3.5 degrees. The annular bulge 29 visible in the outer edge region of the membrane 19 protrudes upwards at an angle of 3.5 degrees from the horizontal membrane surface 58 (= 0 °).

Figure 8c shows the valve receiving body 20, which has an outlet chamber 55 and several inlet chambers 56 (one shown here) in the lower region. An inlet valve 35 and an outlet valve 36 are also shown in section.

Figure 9 shows an exploded view of the drive unit 3. This comprises several drive elements. Including the eccentric 42, several retaining rings 61, 61 ', two ball bearings 43, 44, the centering disk 13 and a bearing pressure disk 63 which is fastened to the eccentric 42 with a countersunk screw 64.

List of reference symbols

1

Pump head unit / pump head

2

Diaphragm pump / pump

3

Drive unit

4th

drive

5

Overflow valve / valve

6th

Drive or motor housing

7th

Retaining clamp / clamp / tensioning strap

8th

Pump head housing / housing

9

Clamp bracket

10

lower, inwardly bent end of the clamping bracket

11

Groove

12th

Locking element / locking lever of the retaining clip

13th

Centering disc

14th

Eccentric disc

15th

Tappet plate or swash plate

16

Plunger

17th

frame

18th

Frame opening

19th

membrane

20th

Valve receiving body

21

Centering ring

22nd

Connections / pump connections

23

Countersunk screws

24

upper end of the pump head housing

25th

Opening in the pump head housing

26th

Plug

27

Bottom or underside of the pump head housing

28

Pumping chamber

29

annular bulge

30th

Push button / pressure piece

31

bulging surface

32

Pump head insert

33

Tappet recess

34

Countersunk screws

35

Inlet valves

36

Exhaust valves

37

Overflow valve housing / valve housing

38

Sealing ring

39

flange

40

Cylinder head

41

Cylinder head bolts

42

eccentric

43

lower ball bearing

44

upper ball bearing

45

Diaphragm of the overflow valve

46

feather

47

Outlet

48

Inlet / enema

49

Liquid chamber

50

Sealing ring

51

channel

52

piriform groove

53

piriform edging

54

Underside of the valve receiving body

55

Outlet chamber

56

Inlet chamber

57

Underside of the membrane

58

Membrane area

59

Outer border of the membrane

59 '

downward protrusion

59 "

upwardly protruding projection

60

Groove

61, 61 '

Retaining rings

63

Bearing pressure washer

64

Countersunk screw

Claims (18)

1. Pump head (1) for diaphragm pumps (2), comprising
   a pump head housing (8) having a plurality of terminals (22), which are formed on the pump head housing (8) and provide both inlets and outlets,
   a centring ring (21) for centring the pump head housing (8) in a drive housing (6),
   and a pump head insert (32), comprising
   a valve receiver body (20), having a plurality of inlet and outlet valves (35, 36) and a plurality of pump chambers (28), the pump chambers (28) being connected to an inlet chamber (56) via the inlet valves (35) and to an outlet chamber (55) via the outlet valves (36), and the pump chambers (28) being formed on the upper face in the valve receiver body (20),
   a pump diaphragm (19), which is arranged above the pump chambers (28) of the valve receiver body (20) and seals them in a leak-proof manner,
   a wobble plate (15),
   an excentric plate (14) arranged above the wobble plate (15), and
   a frame (17) having a plurality of preferably circular frame openings (18) for receiving a plurality of tappets (16) arranged on the lower face of the wobble plate (15),
   the pump head (1) being formed separately from a drive (4) and thus being replaceable individually,
   characterised in that
   the pump head forms an intrinsically hermetically sealed unit, the valve receiver body (20) having five pump chambers (28) each having at least one inlet valve (35), and
   the pump head (1) being formed from plastics material and being recyclable.
2. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the valve receiver body (20) has five outlet valves (36) towards the outlet chamber (55).
3. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the pump head housing (8) is preferably formed cylindrical and upwardly open, having a lateral housing wall and a downwardly sealed floor (27) and at least two terminals (22), preferably an inlet and an outlet, on the lateral housing wall as well as at least two terminals (22), preferably an inlet and an outlet, on the lower face (27) of the pump head housing.
4. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the terminals (22) are replaceable individually and are preferably formed as multifunctional terminals.
5. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the terminals (22) which are not in operation can be sealed in a leak-proof manner by a plug (26), preferably a blind plug.
6. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the pump head housing (8) has an overflow valve (5) preferably on the lower face (27) for dissipating overpressures related to the operation or to the system, said valve being hermetically connected to the pump head housing (8).
7. Pump head (1) according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the overflow valve (5) is fixed to the pump head housing (8) by screw connection.
8. Pump head (1) according to either claim 6 or claim 7
   characterised in that
   the overflow valve (5) can be adjusted continuously, preferably under operating pressure during the pumping process, from 0.2 to 6 bar, in particular from 0.2 to 5 bar, particularly preferably from 0.4 to 5 bar.
9. Pump head (1) according to any of claims 6, 7, or 8,
   characterised in that
   the adjusting spring (46) of the overflow valve (5) is formed as an annular spring or as a disc spring assembly, preferably from metal or plastics material.
10. Pump head (1) according to any of claims 6, 7 or 8,
    characterised in that
    the overflow valve (5) is formed from plastics material.
11. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
    characterised in that
    the diaphragm (19) fully spans the valve receiver body (20) having the pump chambers (28).
12. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
    characterised in that
    the diaphragm (19) is made of a permanently resilient, in particular deformable, plastics material.
13. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
    characterised in that
    the diaphragm (19) has faces (31) which bulge out in the suction and pressure directions towards the respective pump chambers (28) and which are adapted to the shape and size of the inlet valve discs, and the diaphragm has a plurality of downwardly projecting rims (53), preferably formed piriform, which engage in a groove (52), preferably formed piriform, which borders the individual pump chambers (28) on the face thereof formed upwardly open in the valve receiver body (20), and which hermetically seal the pump chambers (28).
14. Pump head (1) according to claim 1,
    characterised in that
    the diaphragm (19) has on the upper face thereof a plurality, preferably five, of annular bulges (29), the internal diameter of which at the highest point of the annular bulge (29) is equal to the external diameter of the downwardly bulging faces (31).
15. Pump head (1) according to claim 14,
    characterised in that
    in the centre of each of the annular bulges (29) a preferably plasticised pressure piece (30) is provided, which cooperates with a tappet (16), attached to a wobble plate (15) of a drive unit (3), so as to be set in a pumping movement.
16. Diaphragm pump (2) formed from a pump head (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims connected to a drive (4),
    characterised in that
    the drive (4) comprises a drive unit (3) arranged inside a drive housing (6),
    the pump head (1) being detachably fixed with respect to the drive (4) by a plurality, preferably two, of holding clamps (7), which are arranged on opposite lateral housing faces of the drive housing (6).
17. Diaphragm pump (2) according to claim 16,
    characterised in that
    the plurality, preferably two, of holding clamps (7) are equipped with a snap bracket (9) which engages in a groove (11) on the pump head (1) in such a way that when the holding clamps (7) are closed the snap bracket (9) pulls the pump head (1) onto the drive (4) and hermetically seals it to the drive (4).
18. Diaphragm pump (2) according to claim 16,
    characterised in that
    it has an electronic hydraulic drive (4) and operates in a pulsation-free manner.

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