EP3492752B1 - Impeller pump - Google Patents

Description

Field of application and state of the art

The invention relates to an impeller pump as it is used in particular in a water-bearing household appliance such as a washing machine or a dishwasher.

From the DE 10 2007 017 271 A1 such an impeller pump is known. In a housing cover of a pump chamber, a central suction nozzle is provided in the axial direction as an inlet into the pump chamber. Radially outside of this, a pressure port is provided as an outlet from the pump chamber, starting from the pump chamber in a tangential direction. The disadvantage of this impeller pump as well as other similar impeller pumps is that emptying the pump chamber often requires the use of a further, possibly smaller pump. Furthermore, towards the end of the work process, dirty water is to be pumped out of the water-carrying household appliance into a drainage line, for which purpose a further pump may then be necessary.

From the JP 2010281310 A an impeller pump is known with a pump chamber including inlet and outlet. An additional outlet from the pump chamber is provided, which can be closed by an additional outlet flap. The additional outlet flap has two stable positions. Depending on the direction of rotation of an impeller of the impeller pump, the additional outlet flap is held stably in a closed position or stably in an open position, with fluid then being able to be pumped out to the additional outlet or not.

From the FR 2 655 599 A1 shows another impeller pump with a pump chamber and an impeller therein, in which additional outlets from the pump chamber together with closure means are shown. The closure means here is a type of spring-loaded piston that can be moved in the longitudinal direction.

From the GB 1 200 197 A an impeller pump is known with an inlet into and an outlet from a pump chamber. An additional outlet from the pump chamber is provided. An impeller can turn in two directions of rotation. In one direction of rotation, it conveys fluid out to the outlet and closes the additional outlet by means of a movable flap made of elastic material. In the other direction of rotation, the fluid flow pushes the elastic flap away from the additional outlet so that it is open and fluid can be conveyed through here.

From the JP H06 249179 A Another impeller pump with a pump chamber, inlet and outlet is known. An impeller in the pump chamber can work in both directions of rotation, an outlet being open in each of the directions of rotation and an additional outlet being closed or vice versa. A closure means for the outlet or for the additional outlet is in each case moved by fluid pressure, but can also be pressed against one of the outlets, preloaded by a spring force, in order to close it when there is no pumping.

From the U.S. 4,753,570 an impeller pump is known for a dishwasher, which has an additional outlet at an outlet from a pump chamber. This is spring-loaded. An opening is closed by an elastic membrane body which is held in the closed position under spring tension.

From the JP H10227297 A Another impeller pump is known with a pump chamber that rotates approximately in a ring around an impeller. An additional outlet, which is closed by means of an additional outlet flap, extends in the lateral direction from an outer circumferential wall of the pump chamber. If the impeller rotates in a main direction of rotation, a flow is generated in the pump chamber that holds the additional outlet flap in a closed position, whereby the additional outlet is and remains closed. If the impeller rotates in the opposite direction, the flow opens the additional outlet flap and releases the additional outlet. The additional outlet flap opens so far that it closes the main outlet from the pump chamber. This is achieved by arranging the additional outlet and the additional outlet flap in a region of the outer wall of the pump chamber which lies outside the impeller in the radial direction.

Task and solution

The invention is based on the object of creating an impeller pump mentioned at the beginning, with which the problems of the prior art can be solved and, in particular, it is possible to pump water out of a household appliance in which the impeller pump is installed as simply and efficiently as possible at the same time . to be able to empty the pump chamber.

This object is achieved by an impeller pump having the features of claim 1. Advantageous and preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the further claims and are explained in more detail below. The wording of the claims is made part of the content of the description by express reference.

It is provided that the impeller pump has a pump chamber on or in which an inlet into the pump chamber and an outlet from the pump chamber are provided. An impeller rotates in the pump chamber, usually driven by a pump motor flanged to or attached to the pump. The impeller has a direction of rotation to pump fluid from the inlet to the outlet. This is a preferred direction of rotation, the blades of the impeller being particularly preferably shaped or bent in such a way that they can convey the fluid particularly efficiently from the inlet to the outlet in this direction of rotation of the impeller.

An additional outlet from the pump chamber is provided including an additional outlet flap on it or for it. The additional outlet flap has a closed position and at least one open position. Between these two positions it is movable, advantageously designed to be rotatable, or alternatively bendable. It is preferably designed to be rotatable about an axis, that is to say is rotatably mounted and is not only designed to be elastically movable and deflectable, for example by bending or twisting. In the closed position, the additional outlet flap closes the additional outlet, advantageously largely or even completely. For this purpose, the additional outlet flap can be approximately the same size as the additional outlet, advantageously somewhat larger. In each of the open positions, the additional outlet is at least partially open or the additional outlet flap at least partially releases or opens it. Depending on the open position, the additional outlet can therefore be more or less open. In addition, an adjusting means is provided, whereby the additional outlet flap is so force-loaded that it is automatically moved from the closed position to one of the open positions when no fluid or water is pumped from the inlet to the outlet or when the additional The outlet flap is free of fluid flow in the direction of rotation of the impeller for pumping the fluid during normal operation. The actuating means can therefore bring the additional outlet flap at least into the first open position or into the least open open position. Under certain circumstances it can therefore be sufficient if the actuating means open the additional outlet flap only a little.

This ensures that, in the closed position, no fluid escapes through the additional outlet or is pumped out of the pump chamber during pumping. After all, the fluid should be conveyed normally from the inlet to the outlet. The fluid flow can even help to keep the additional outlet flap in the closed position, since it depresses it, for example. If there is no fluid flow, the additional outlet flap should automatically open at least partially. Then, by reversing the direction of rotation of the impeller, as will be explained below, at least partially into the opened additional outlet flap are conveyed or past this into the now at least partially open additional outlet and thus fluid can be brought to another outlet of the impeller pump, preferably to a drain line.

Due to the special design of the additional outlet flap including the actuating means, which are advantageously passive actuating means, with the automatic opening, actuators such as electromagnets, piezo drives or electric motors that need to be controlled specifically can be dispensed with. This considerably simplifies the construction of the impeller pump and its operation. Furthermore, installation space can also be saved.

In an embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the additional outlet flap can be moved by the actuating means into that open position from the group of several open positions that is as wide as possible and / or in which it is as far as possible from the closed position. Position is removed. It can thus be achieved that the additional outlet flap is in the closed position. Starting in this closed position, a movement can be provided for opening, in which the additional outlet flap is initially slightly opened, for example after a rotation through only a few degrees of arc angle. However, the actuating means tries to open the additional outlet flap even further, in particular to open it as far as possible. Then, even if the direction of rotation of the impeller is reversed, as much fluid or water as possible can be pumped to the additional outlet from the pump chamber. For this maximally wide open open position it can apply that for this purpose the additional outlet flap has rotated through an angle of 10 ° to 45 °, preferably 15 ° to 30 °. If the fluid flows in the opposite main direction of rotation of the impeller, i.e. if its direction of rotation is reversed, towards the open additional outlet flap and through the additional outlet, a particularly high efficiency can be achieved by the additional outlet flap. It not only closes the additional outlet in the closed position, but also directs the fluid as well as possible into the additional outlet when the impeller is rotating in the opposite direction in the open position, in particular in the open position that is as wide as possible.

There can be several possibilities for the formation of the actuating means. They are advantageously designed to be resilient or have spring means as adjusting means in order to load the additional outlet flap with force so that it moves out of the closed position. The spring means should be installed in such a way that they impede a fluid flow as little as possible.

On the one hand, plastic spring means can advantageously be used as the spring means. These have the advantage that they do not corrode in permanent contact with water. Such spring means can advantageously have a voluminous block body, which can particularly advantageously have a cylindrical shape. For example, the spring means can have the shape of a cuboid and consist of elastic material, in particular plastic. A suitable plastic here is silicone, and possibly also rubber.

As an alternative to a plastic spring means, on the other hand, a conventional spring can be used, for example a leaf spring, a helical spring, a spiral spring or a combined helical spiral spring. For example, a spring can also be wound around an axis of rotation and, through twisting or twisting, build up a torque which then tries to open the additional outlet flap.

As yet another alternative, the additional outlet flap itself can be soft or elastic or consist of such an elastic material, in particular an elastomer, that it itself forms the adjusting means or the spring means by which it is opened. The spring or the spring action is then integrated into the additional outlet flap, so to speak. It can be slightly open in a normal position without fluid flow, that is to say in a relatively slightly open open position. Depending on the direction of flow, it is then pushed open or closed or pushed into the closed position, thus closing the additional outlet.

In an embodiment of the invention, the pump can have sealing means on the additional outlet and / or on the additional outlet flap. These are advantageously designed to run around the additional outlet, but at least along one side, for example close to the impeller. The additional outlet flap can thus be kept relatively simple. Provision can be made for a sealant to be injected onto the pump housing, for which a multi-component injection molding process is particularly advantageously suitable. This is particularly advantageous when the sealant has a type of sealing lip, round cord seal or the like. is. The sealing means can then namely also have a sealing rubber which, due to its elasticity, ensures a sealing effect in the closed position. These sealing means can also be formed by the aforementioned design of the additional outlet flap made of elastic material, so that the flap itself also seals sufficiently due to its soft material.

As an alternative to a sealing means made of elastic material, a labyrinth seal can also be provided between the additional outlet flap and the edge of the additional outlet on or near which the flap runs. Such a labyrinth seal can have a stepped course of a sealing surface between the additional outlet and the additional outlet flap, for example with one to three angular steps. In this case, the sealing effect may not be as good as that of an elastic rubber seal, but it is sufficient for the impeller pump to operate.

According to the invention it is provided that the additional outlet flap in the closed position negatively affects the operation of the pump and the efficiency of the pump as little as possible. It should also have as little or no additional flow resistance as possible represent when the impeller is pumping fluid from the inlet to the outlet of the pump chamber.

In that case, so to speak, it does not exist at all. For this purpose, it is provided according to the invention that the additional outlet flap in the closed position continues the course of the pump chamber or a wall of the pump chamber in this area around the flap, in particular also curves and / or bulges corresponding to the area surrounding the additional outlet of the pump chamber determine the design of the additional outlet flap at least on its outside. If the surrounding area of the pump chamber is flat, then the outlet flap can also be designed to be flat on the outside. Thus, in the closed position, the pump chamber, in particular its wall, should have a shape as if the additional outlet flap did not even exist.

In the invention, the additional outlet flap has an inside which, in the closed position, points towards the additional outlet. It therefore faces away from the pump chamber, while the aforementioned outside of the additional outlet flap covers the additional outlet or is the surface on which the fluid flows from inlet to outlet during pumping, especially in the closed position. The inside can advantageously be convexly curved, namely convexly away from the additional outlet or towards the pump chamber. This special shape is intended to ensure that in the open position of the additional outlet flap or the maximum open position, the fluid that flows through the opened additional outlet flap into the additional outlet when the impeller rotates in the opposite direction flows into the additional outlet as quickly and efficiently as possible. Through this curvature, the pumped fluid should be captured as well as possible, so to speak, and directed into the additional outlet.

A lateral wall can advantageously be provided on the inside of the additional outlet flap, which has an angle between 60 ° and 120 ° to the outside. If the outside is flat or is largely flat, this angle can also be between 80 ° and 100 °. It can particularly advantageously be 90 ° or a little less.

It can be provided that said lateral wall is never completely moved out of the opening of the additional outlet when the pump is in operation. For this purpose, a stop can be provided, advantageously on the lateral wall itself, which can hit an inner edge of the additional outlet. The lateral wall can preferably have a longitudinal outer edge which, in the maximally wide open position, runs over a large part of its length in a direction away from the axis of rotation of the additional outlet flap, in particular over its entire length, within the additional outlet. In this way, on the one hand, a certain guidance of the additional outlet flap can be achieved or a support in the open positions and especially in the fully open position. This prevents damage to the additional outlet flap and also prevents it from bending or deforming if the impeller is to pump out fluid from the inlet into the pump chamber to the additional outlet, counter to its main direction of rotation. On the other hand, it can be achieved in this way that in this area, so to speak, no fluid can escape between the lateral wall and the additional outlet and flow past the additional outlet.

A projection or the like can be provided on the lateral wall. be provided for the aforementioned stop, in particular on the named free longitudinal outer edge of the lateral wall, particularly preferably as far away as possible from the axis of rotation of the additional outlet flap, which just forms the stop on the pump housing or on the wall of the pump chamber. As a result, the maximum wide open open position is precisely limited. In this way, an opening that is too wide can be avoided, which would possibly no longer be favorable in terms of flow. The additional outlet flap can also be prevented from being torn out.

It can advantageously be provided that the lateral wall runs parallel to a circumferential outer wall of the pump chamber. The lateral wall can therefore also be curved in its longitudinal course away from the axis of rotation of the additional outlet flap.

In a maximally wide open open position of the additional outlet flap, preferably in every open position, the lateral wall can extend at a distance from a circumferential outer wall of the pump chamber that is between 0.5 cm and 2 cm. This means that the lateral wall can have a relatively small distance from the outer wall of the pump chamber, but that this distance is already given. This is particularly advantageous when the impeller pump has a heated outer wall of the pump chamber. In addition, the additional outlet flap still has to be integrated into the existing installation space in the pump chamber.

In the invention, the pump chamber runs annularly around the impeller. The additional outlet is arranged in an annular end face of the pump chamber in the axial direction along the axis of rotation of the impeller. This is a bottom surface or a top surface of the pump chamber. Such an end face is arranged in such a way that it runs approximately in a plane of one of the two top faces of the impeller. It can particularly advantageously be provided that this end face is remote from the outlet from the pump chamber, see FIG DE 102013211180 A1 . It can thus be achieved that the fluid flow behaves quite differently when pumping fluid out of the outlet than when pumping out of the additional outlet. The provision of the additional outlet flap on one of the named End faces of the pump chamber and not on a radially outer wall of the pump chamber has the advantage that this wall can thus be designed to be closed, for example made of metal with external heating conductors.

The arrangement of the additional outlet in an end surface of the pump chamber, which runs in a plane of one of the two top surfaces of the impeller, has the advantage that when pumping fluid with the direction of rotation of the impeller for pumping out of the additional outlet, the between the Fluid flowing out of both top surfaces of the impeller can flow relatively directly to the additional outlet. Since the additional outlet flap is close to the impeller in the fully open position, in particular in the radial direction, for example with a maximum radial distance of 1 cm, fluid can also be pumped out to the additional outlet as well as possible.

In the invention, an aforementioned inside of the additional outlet flap is approximately at the axial height and radially outside the other top surface of the impeller, in such a way that fluid from the impeller is directed radially outward into the additional outlet flap and thus into the additive -Outlet flows. A type of flow channel for the fluid is thus formed between the end surface of the pump chamber in which the additional outlet flap is provided and the additional outlet flap itself or its previously described inside. These two surfaces can then roughly coincide with the plane in which the aforementioned top surfaces of the impeller run, so that fluid can be pumped out of the additional outlet as well as possible.

In an embodiment of the invention, the additional outlet can lead out of the pump chamber in the radial direction or in a plane perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the impeller. The additional outlet then advantageously also leads out of an entire housing of the impeller pump, for example on a pipe socket which is well suited for connecting water lines or hoses, in particular elastic hoses.

It is generally provided that the additional outlet flap is held down by the pumped fluid during the main direction of rotation of the impeller and thus held in the closed position so that the additional outlet is closed, preferably only by the pumped fluid. In this way it is achieved that after the impeller has stopped rotating or at low Speeds and thus low fluid flow, the aforementioned actuating means presses the additional outlet flap from the closed position during the pumping of the fluid into an open position. The actuating means can advantageously try to push the additional outlet flap into the open position, which is open to the maximum extent, but this does not have to be the case. Even the opening of the additional outlet flap with a small opening path can be regarded as sufficient, namely if the fluid moved by the impeller in the other direction of rotation opens the additional outlet flap completely or pushes it open into the maximally wide open position. In this case, the spring means can therefore ensure a certain, relatively slightly open, open position. The complete opening of the additional outlet flap is then brought about by the flow of the fluid in the pumping direction for pumping out of the pump.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine Schrägansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Impellerpumpe im geschlossenen Zustand,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht in ein Pumpengehäuse der Impellerpumpe aus Fig. 1 von einem Antriebsteil aus gesehen,

Fig. 3

eine teilgeschnittene Schrägansicht in eine Pumpenkammer mit Kammerwandung und Bodenfläche, über der ein Impeller rotiert, und mit einer daneben angeordneten Zusatz-Auslassöffnung ohne Klappe,

Fig. 4

die Ansicht aus Fig. 3 mit eingesetzter Zusatz-Auslassklappe in Geschlossen-Stellung,

Fig. 5 und 6

zwei verschiedene Ansichten der Zusatz-Auslassklappe aus Fig. 4,

Fig. 7

die Darstellung der Fig. 4 mit der Zusatz-Auslassklappe in der maximal weit geöffneten Offen-Stellung,

Fig. 8

die Darstellung der Fig. 7 gedreht in Seitenansicht

Fig. 9

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer vereinfacht dargestellten Zusatz-Auslassklappe mit einem separaten Federmittel in einer Pumpenkammer in der Bodenfläche und

Fig. 10

ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer vereinfacht dargestellten Zusatz-Auslassklappe, die selber federnd ausgebildet ist, in einer Pumpenkammer in der Bodenfläche.

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

an oblique view of an impeller pump according to the invention in the closed state,

Fig. 2

a view into a pump housing of the impeller pump Fig. 1 seen from a drive part,

Fig. 3

a partially sectioned oblique view into a pump chamber with chamber wall and bottom surface, above which an impeller rotates, and with an additional outlet opening arranged next to it without a flap,

Fig. 4

the view Fig. 3 with inserted additional outlet flap in closed position,

Figures 5 and 6

two different views of the additional outlet flap Fig. 4 ,

Fig. 7

the representation of the Fig. 4 with the additional outlet flap in the fully open position,

Fig. 8

the representation of the Fig. 7 rotated in side view

Fig. 9

an embodiment of a simplified illustrated additional outlet flap with a separate spring means in a pump chamber in the bottom surface and

Fig. 10

an embodiment of a simplified illustrated additional outlet flap, which itself is designed to be resilient, in a pump chamber in the bottom surface.

Detailed description of the exemplary embodiments

In the Fig. 1 an impeller pump according to the invention is shown as a pump 11 in an oblique view, as it is technically and structurally largely a pump corresponding to the aforementioned DE 102013211180 A1 is equivalent to. The pump 11 has a pump housing 12 including an axial inlet 14 and a radial outlet 16. At the rear of the pump housing 12, a drive part 18 is connected, which in particular contains a drive motor. In this regard, too, reference is made to the prior art mentioned above. In addition, an additional outlet 37 is provided at the front of the pump housing 12 directly next to the inlet 14. Its direction of extension is approximately parallel to that of the outlet 16, but this does not have to be the case. The additional outlet 37 is a short pipe, at the end of which different connection options for further lines such as pipes or hoses can be provided. This does not need to be explained further to the person skilled in the art.

In the Fig. 2 A view into a pump chamber 22 is shown from the viewing direction of the distant drive part 18. The additional outlet 37 from the pump chamber 22 can be seen on the left-hand side. In the pump chamber 22, a chamber wall 24 is shown as a circumferential and closed ring, advantageous Made of metal with external heating conductors or heating elements. This is also known in the aforementioned prior art. Guide vanes 25 are shown within the chamber wall 24. These are attached or molded on the outside of a drive receptacle 27, into which in particular an aforementioned drive motor can protrude. The impeller and also the additional outlet are provided below the drive receptacle 27 in the plane of the drawing.

The structure from the can be seen more precisely Fig. 3 with the partially cut oblique representation. The drive receptacle 27 is also here Fig. 2 removed, and it can be clearly seen that a circumferential bottom surface 29 is provided within the lower or front end of the chamber wall 24. This bottom surface 29 runs largely in one plane or is flat and can be approximately at right angles to the chamber wall 24, but of course it does not have to be. The ring-shaped bottom surface 29 surrounds, so to speak, an impeller 30 or, as will be explained in more detail below, is arranged slightly sunk in a central recess in the bottom surface 29.

The impeller 30 has a bottom disk 32 and a cover disk 33 as top surfaces. Later in the Fig. 8 it can be seen that this bottom disk 32 runs largely sunk in the bottom surface 29, so that its upper side only protrudes slightly above the plane of the bottom surface 29. Five curved impeller blades 35 run between the bottom disk 32 and the cover disk 33.

During normal operation of the pump 11 for conveying fluid that enters through the inlet 14 out to the outlet 16, the impeller 30 rotates to the right or clockwise in the conveying direction FR shown with a thick arrow. The conveyed fluid or water then rotates in this direction within the chamber wall 24 or circulates and can optionally be heated. It then exits the pump chamber 22 again in a tangential direction at an end region remote from the bottom surface 29, specifically through the outlet 16.

If the impeller 30 is now driven the other way around, namely in the emptying direction ER, which is represented by a thin arrow, then fluid that can flow in through the inlet 14 is not conveyed out to the outlet 16, if possible. Rather, this fluid should then be conveyed out of the pump chamber 22 through an additional outlet opening 39 to the additional outlet 37. The additional outlet 37 can lead to a sewer pipe or a sewer hose from a water-carrying household appliance in which the pump 11 is installed, and from there to a drain or a drain pipe in the house.

In the representation of the Fig. 3 Without a flap, it can be seen that the additional outlet opening 39 has an elongated shape and is curved. Its curvature corresponds exactly to the course of the impeller 30 radially inside it and the chamber wall 24 radially outside it, so its longitudinal edges are, so to speak, parallel to both. Their length is about three to four times as great as their width. At one end, namely the in Fig. 3 At the rear, the additional outlet opening 39 has two axle bearing depressions 40. These serve for the articulated mounting of the flap. Furthermore, a step edge 42 is provided along the radially inner edge or the radially inner longitudinal side. This need not be provided on the radially outer edge. The transition from the additional outlet opening 39 to the additional outlet connection 37 underneath is not shown exactly, but should be optimally shaped in terms of fluid technology.

Even if only a single additional outlet opening 39 is shown here, it could also be several, for example two or three. Instead of a single additional outlet connection, these additional outlet openings could then each lead into an annular space, which is attached to the bottom surface 29 from the front, so to speak. A single connecting piece can then be guided out of this annular space, so that a connection is more easily possible.

In the Fig. 4 it is shown how the additional outlet opening 39 is closed by means of an additional outlet flap 44. The additional outlet flap 44 closes the additional outlet opening 39 very well fitting or closes it, so that only a thin edge is visible. Furthermore, this connection is actually already sufficiently tight. In the radially inner area, the step edge 42 is provided as an additional sealing means or as a kind of simple labyrinth seal, as mentioned at the beginning. At this step edge 42 an elastic sealing material or a sealing rubber could very well be provided, for example also by injection molding. Alternatively, such a separate seal made of elastic material or conventional sealing material could also be provided on a corresponding edge or side of a flap. Finally, the additional outlet flap 44 itself could also consist of such an elastic material as a seal and thus itself effect the sealing function.

The additional outlet flap 44 has an outer side 45 which is a continuation of the surfaces of the pump chamber 22 that surround it. Since the additional outlet opening 39 lies completely within the planar annular bottom surface 29, this outer side 45 is also planar and does not protrude beyond this bottom surface 29. Since the chamber wall 24 is a separate component of its own here and consists in particular of metal because of the heat conductors attached to the outside, integration of the additional outlet flap 44 into the throat or the transition area between the bottom surface 29 and the chamber wall 24 is not possible. Theoretically, however, this would be conceivable and also easily feasible in and of itself.

The additional outlet flap 44 is mounted on the additional outlet opening 39 by means of two molded short stub axles 48 which are located in the axle bearing depressions 40. Under certain circumstances, they can be held therein by latching means, for example by more than 180 ° circumferential axle bearing recesses, so that they do not jump out by themselves and the additional outlet flap 44 is possibly lost.

As the conveying direction FR shows, during normal conveying of fluid in a rotating direction to the right, the fluid exiting from the impeller 30 flows over the additional outlet flap 44 in such a way that it or its outside 45 is pressed down, whereby the additional outlet opening 39 is closed . This closure is not necessarily completely watertight, especially if fluid pressure were applied. However, this is also not necessary in normal operation for conveying fluid, since the fluid exits from the impeller 30 in clockwise rotating movement rotates a few times within the pump chamber 22 until it exits to the outlet 16 again.

In the Figures 5 and 6 the additional outlet flap 44 is shown in detail, on the one hand from the front and above and on the other hand from the side and above. It can be seen that the additional outlet flap has an inner side 46 opposite the outer side 45. The two aforementioned stub axles 48 are integrally formed at the rear end. A lateral wall 50 is provided on the outside and is connected in one piece to the flat flap or manufactured in one piece. This curved lateral wall 50 has an inner surface 51 and an outer surface 52. It should be noted that the lateral wall 50 is at an angle α of approximately 80 ° to the outer surface 52. As follows from the Fig. 7 can be seen, the advantage that it then remains, so to speak, within the radially outer edge of the outer side 45 when pivoting and thus does not jeopardize free mobility, since the axis of rotation of the additional outlet flap is parallel to the outer side 45. The purpose of this lateral wall 52 is it is mainly to capture the fluid emerging from the impeller 30 in the radial direction or with a large radial directional component, so to speak, and to divert it downward into the additional outlet opening 39, as in FIG Fig. 7 shows.

At the front at the bottom of the lateral wall 50, an optionally provided projection 54 is shown in dashed lines. This can reach under a front edge of the additional outlet opening 39 when swiveling open or when swiveling the additional outlet flap 44 upwards, that is to say towards the maximally wide open open position. By striking this projection 54 below the bottom surface 29, this open position, which is open to the greatest possible extent, can be defined or reached. Since the projection 54 is not arranged within the direct fluid flow, it also does not interfere with the flow. Furthermore, the lateral wall 50 is always within the additional outlet opening 39 for a good introduction of the fluid into it.

As the adjusting means according to the invention for opening the additional outlet flap 44 with pivoting about the axis of rotation through the stub axle 48, different spring means could be provided, for example known torsion springs in the manner of a helical spring with one or two turns and very long free legs. These could on the one hand be supported on the inside 46 and on the other hand below the additional outlet opening 39. Likewise, on the left edge of the additional outlet flap 44, for example in the area towards the step edge 42, a block-shaped body of resilient plastic or foam mentioned at the beginning could be be provided. This could also be provided on the lower edge of the lateral wall 50, where it is in the closed position according to FIG Fig. 4 runs. In the case of such actuating means, it could also be sufficient if the additional outlet flap 44 is only opened slightly is, for example, a few degrees of rotation angle or a few millimeters at the front end, opposite the end with the stub axles 48. When the fluid flow then circulates in the direction of rotation ER, it can, so to speak, reach under the slightly opened additional outlet flap 44 and tear it open or push it open completely .

The representation of the Fig. 7 and 8th shows the maximally wide open open position of the additional outlet flap 44. It can be seen that it is open so wide that the inside 46 is even a little above the plane of the underside of the cover disk 33, whereby the impeller 30 in FIG fluid conveyed or thrown out in the radial direction or at least in a partially radial direction is thrown in this area directly against this inner side 46 and the inner surface 51 of the lateral wall 50. In this way, fluid is captured particularly well in this area and conveyed through the additional outlet opening 39 to the additional outlet connection 37, that is to say out of the pump 11.

Furthermore, however, fluid circulating in the direction of rotation ER is also captured from this circulation, so to speak, by the additional outlet flap 44 and passed out to the additional outlet connection 37. The provision of several such additional outlet flaps in the pump chamber 22 could of course increase this effect, so that pumping or emptying could take place even more quickly. At the same time, of course, this means greater structural effort and more numerous possible points of failure in the event of material breakage or problems.

According to Fig. 8 it can also be seen that the radial distance between the additional outlet flap 44 or its lateral wall 5 including the outer surface 52 is quite large here. Thus, the fluid forced outwards by centrifugal force due to the circulation in the pump chamber 22 could also relatively frequently run past the additional outlet flap 44 during emptying, which would make complete emptying somewhat more difficult. In the specific embodiment, however, it can be seen that due to the arrangement of the chamber wall 24 of the pump chamber 22 including the complex sealing in the lower area, a certain spacing of the bottom surface 29 in the radial direction is necessary and therefore no widening or relocation of the additional outlet flap 44 further outwards to the chamber wall 24 is possible. In other designs of pumps according to the invention, however, this is possible and could then also be provided.

The aforementioned convex curvature of the additional outlet flap 44 on its inside 46 is formed by the angle α between the surface or the outside 45 and the lateral wall 50, where α = approx. 80 °. Especially in the inner area between the inner side 46 and the inner surface 51 a rounding or a groove could be provided. This could have advantages in terms of flow technology, but does not have to be so.

The distance in the radial direction between the impeller 30 and the additional outlet flap 44 or its rounded, radial inner edge is like that Fig. 4 and 7th show relatively low. It is, for example, 1 mm to 3 mm, precisely enough that sufficient stability of the bottom surface 29 is also ensured in this area.

In the Fig. 9 In one exemplary embodiment, it is shown how an additional outlet flap 144, shown in a simplified manner, is arranged in a pump chamber 122 or within the bottom surface 129. The additional outlet flap 144 is rotatably mounted at the left end by means of a corresponding axle stub 148 in an axle bearing recess 140. The additional outlet flap 144, which is designed to be flat here, has an outer side 145 which is advantageously flat and smooth, as in the previous exemplary embodiment, in order to offer little water resistance. A spring receptacle 156 is provided on an inner side 146, which has, for example, 50% of the width of the additional outlet flap 144 and is arranged centrally. The spring receptacle 156 has a wide and flat slot which is open at least at the lower end and into which a leaf spring 159 is inserted as an adjusting means according to the invention with an upper spring end 158. This upper spring end 158, which is shown in dashed lines here, could have one or more punched-out prongs or elevations by which it is held in place after being inserted into the spring receptacle 156 and can no longer be pulled out or does not come out by itself . The leaf spring 159 is advantageously made of a stainless steel or spring steel with, for example, about a third of the width of the additional outlet flap 144. Alternatively, it can be made of plastic. Their spring force can be relatively small. In a central area it is slightly curved, and with a lower spring end 160, which is bent again somewhat more strongly at the very end, the leaf spring 159 rests against a wall of the additional outlet opening 139 or is supported against it.

It is easy to see that in the in Fig. 9 The open position shown above is the fluid flow with the direction of rotation ER, so it is important that the additional outlet flap 144 is open. According to the invention, it has been pressed open by the spring force of the leaf spring 159. This spring force is in Fig. 9 in the lower illustration, in which the additional outlet flap 144 is in the closed position, shown as an upward arrow at the free end of the flap. The significantly stronger fluid flow with the direction of rotation FR is present here. The additional outlet flap 144 can be opened even further or too far, as previously explained, by means of a projection Fig. 6 can be prevented, which is not shown here for the sake of clarity.

From a comparison of the representations in the Fig. 9 Above and below it is easy to see that when the leaf spring 159 is bent accordingly, it tries to push the additional outlet flap 144 upwards. This is also quite possible if there is no fluid flow in the pump chamber 122 or a fluid flow with the direction of rotation ER, as shown above. If like in the Fig. 9 below the fluid flow with the direction of circulation FR for conveying according to the normal pumping function is present, the additional outlet flap 144 is also pressed against the spring force of the leaf spring 159 into the closed position shown there. The bottom surface 129 is then closed or closed off relatively tightly.

It is not a significant problem to design the spring force of the leaf spring 159 accordingly. For this purpose, a correspondingly thin material can be provided for the leaf spring 159; alternatively, lateral incisions or the like can also be used. be provided.

Fastening the leaf spring 159 is considered to be advantageous, particularly advantageous by inserting it into the spring receptacle 156 at the top. In a modification of the illustration in FIG Fig. 9 it could also be attached to the left inner wall of the additional outlet opening 139, for example with a similarly designed spring receptacle, and then be supported with a free end on the inside 146 of the additional outlet flap 144 and possibly slide along it a little.

In yet another embodiment, not shown here, a helical spring made of spring wire with long protruding legs could be arranged around an axis corresponding to the stub shafts 148, which presses open the additional outlet flap 144 and is supported on the same inner wall of the additional outlet opening 139. Then just such a spring, the type of which is basically known, would be fastened to these stub axles or a corresponding axis of rotation for pressing open or closed by means of torque.

Yet another embodiment is in the Fig. 10 shown, in which an additional outlet flap 244 is not rotatably mounted about a defined axis of rotation by means of stub axles, but is arranged in a receptacle 241 by means of a rectangular bearing end 249. The receptacle 241 has a corresponding shape and is designed in principle similar to the axle bearing recesses 40 and 140, only with a flat cross-section. The angular bearing end 249 sits in the receptacle 241 so that it is non-rotatable, and the additional outlet flap 244 itself is so soft or elastic or consists of such an elastic material that it itself forms the actuating means through which it is opened, i.e. the spring, so to speak or the spring action is integrated into the flap. For example, rubber is suitable for this. The upper solid representation in Fig. 10 shows the additional outlet flap 244 in one Open position with fluid flow with the direction of rotation ER as in Fig. 9 above. It can be clearly seen that a sufficiently large inlet for the fluid into the additional outlet opening 239 is possible here. The additional outlet flap 244 can therefore itself have and fulfill a sealing function through a suitable choice of material, because it and especially its free end is flexible and can cling to the edge of the additional outlet opening 239 Providing a seal, in particular a seal made of a different material, closes the additional outlet or the additional outlet opening 239. A stepped edge does not even need to be provided so that the additional outlet flap 244 disappears flush and seals off better, but the additional outlet flap 244 can rest around the additional outlet opening 239 on the bottom surface 229.

Shown in dashed lines in the Fig. 10 at the top is a position into which the additional outlet flap 244 moves independently by its own spring force when there is no fluid flow at all. It can be seen from this that the additional outlet flap 244 opens here only a relatively small amount due to its own spring force, that is to say, as it were, as its own actuating means. The further opening into the open position shown in solid lines then takes place precisely through the fluid flow with the direction of rotation ER, which presses it open a little further or bends it open a little further.

In the Fig. 10 Below is shown how the additional outlet flap 244 closes the additional outlet opening 239 in the closed position. This is shown here not quite as smooth or flat as in the Fig. 9 below, because the additional outlet flap 244 has a slight curvature or bend. Finally, the fluid flow with the direction of rotation FR from the in Fig. 10 The dashed position shown above is pressed downwards. However, since the aforementioned spring force for opening the additional outlet flap 244 or for moving it can be relatively small, which also applies to the other described embodiments of adjusting means or spring means, this can be technically well implemented.

The advantage of such an additional outlet flap 244 according to FIG Fig. 10 compared to that of the Fig. 9 is clearly recognizable in the fact that it is considerably simpler in terms of structure and assembly. There are also no parts that are potentially susceptible to corrosion or springs that could break or even fail.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, based on the Fig. 10 a relatively rigid additional outlet flap have an angular bearing end, which is partially resiliently encased and then so to speak in the receptacle against this Spring elasticity rotates. For example, an angular bearing end can be surrounded by a layer of relatively soft plastic or foam and can be rotated against its resilience into the closed position by a relatively strong fluid flow in the direction of rotation FR. If this fluid flow stops, the resilient plastic can press open the additional outlet flap 244.

Claims (12)

1. Impeller pump (11) having

   - a pump chamber (22, 122, 222) with an inlet (14) into the pump chamber and with an outlet (16) out of the pump chamber,

   - an impeller (30) in the pump chamber (22, 122, 222),

   wherein the impeller has a direction of rotation (FR) for pumping fluid from the inlet (14) to the outlet (16), and wherein the pump chamber (22) is formed in a ring-shaped fashion around the impeller (30),

   - an auxiliary outlet (37) out of the pump chamber together with an auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244),

   wherein the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244):

   - has a closed position and at least one open position,

   - is designed to be movable between the closed position and the at least one open position,

   - in the closed position, closes off the auxiliary outlet (37) and, in each of the open positions, at least partially unblocks or opens the auxiliary outlet,

   - has an actuating means (159, 244) and is subjected to force loading by the actuating means such that the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) is moved automatically from the closed position into one of the open positions if the auxiliary outlet flap is free from fluid flow in the direction of rotation (FR) of the impeller for pumping fluid from the inlet (14) to the outlet (16),

   - in the closed position, forms a continuous continuation of the profile of the pump chamber (22) or of a wall (24, 29, 129, 229) of the pump chamber in the region around the auxiliary outlet (37),

   - has an inner side (46, 146, 246) which, in the closed position, points toward the auxiliary outlet (37),

   characterized in that

   - the auxiliary outlet (37) is arranged in an end surface (29, 129, 229) of the pump chamber in an axial direction along an axis of rotation of the impeller (30), wherein the end surface is a base surface (29, 129, 229) or a cover surface of the pump chamber (22),

   - an outer side (45, 145, 245) opposite to the inner side (46, 146, 246) of the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) extends, in the closed position, in a continuous fashion in said end surface (29, 129, 229),

   - the impeller (30) has two cover surfaces (32, 33), and the end surface (29, 129, 229) with the auxiliary outlet (37) runs approximately in a plane of one of said cover surfaces (32),

   - the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244), in an open position with the maximum degree of opening, is situated close to the impeller (30), and the inner side of the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) is at least on the axial level of and radially outside the other cover surface (33) of the impeller (30), such that fluid flows out of the impeller (30) directly outward in a radial direction into the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) and the auxiliary outlet (37).
2. Impeller pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) is moved by the actuating means (159, 244) into that open position of the multiple open positions which has the maximum degree of opening and/or in which the auxiliary outlet flap is at the maximum distance from the closed position.
3. Impeller pump according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the impeller pump has spring means (159, 244) as actuating means for subjecting the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) to force loading for the movement.
4. Impeller pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring means (244) has a voluminous block body.
5. Impeller pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring means is a leaf spring (159), helical spring, spiral spring or helical-spiral spring.
6. Impeller pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (11) has sealing means (42) at the auxiliary outlet (37) surrounding the auxiliary outlet.
7. Impeller pump according to claim 6, characterized in that the sealing means are formed as a labyrinth seal (42) with a stepped profile of a sealing surface between the auxiliary outlet (37) and the auxiliary outlet flap (44).
8. Impeller pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244), in the closed position, forms a continuous continuation of the profile of the pump chamber (22) or of a wall (24, 29, 129, 229) of the pump chamber in the region around the auxiliary outlet (37) with roundings and/or archings corresponding to the region of the pump chamber surrounding the auxiliary outlet.
9. Impeller pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner side (46, 146, 246) of the auxiliary outlet flap (44, 144, 244) has a lateral wall (50) with an angle of between 60° and 120° with respect to the outer side (45, 145, 245), which is opposite to the inner side and extends away from the pump chamber (22) in the direction of the auxiliary outlet (37) or into the auxiliary outlet, wherein the lateral wall (50), in an open position with the maximum degree of opening, at least partially still projects into the auxiliary outlet (37).
10. Impeller pump according to claim 9, characterized in that the lateral wall (50) runs parallel to an encircling outer wall (24) of the pump chamber (22).
11. Impeller pump according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the lateral wall (50), in the open position with the maximum degree of opening, runs with a spacing of between 0.5 cm and 2 cm to an encircling outer wall (24) of the pump chamber (22).
12. Impeller pump according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the auxiliary outlet (37) leads out of the pump chamber (22) in a radial direction or in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the impeller (30).

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