GB2487641A

GB2487641A - Peristaltic pump with releasable head

Info

Publication number: GB2487641A
Application number: GB201200787A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sieghard Amann; Joao Jorge Bergner; Dirk Beisheim; Dominik Maurer
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2011-01-25
Filing date: 2012-01-17
Publication date: 2012-08-01
Also published as: GB201200787D0; DE102011003120A1; CN102619733B; CN102619733A

Abstract

A peristaltic (hose) pump 10 e.g. for paint comprises a pump housing 12 that receives a drive motor driving deformation bodies (16, figure 3) and a pump head 14 that holds a hose against the deformation bodies in order that medium is pumped through the hose. The pump head 14 is slidably held by guides 36 so that it can be moved between an active position (figure 1) and an inactive position in which the hose is uncompressed, to facilitate cleaning. The head may be moved by a manual fast-lock mechanism 44. There may be a stop 54 that prevents complete removal of the pump head 14 when the fast locking mechanism is released. The stop 54 may be removed to allow the head 14 to be completely removed e.g. for hose replacement. Removal of stop 54 may activate a safety switch, preventing operation of the motor with the head removed.

Description

Hose pump The present invention relates to a hose pump comprising a pump housing that receives a drive motor as well as a pump head that comprises deformation bodies drivable by the drive motor and a pump hose supported on the pump housing, wherein the pump hose during operation of the hose pump is mechanically deformed by the deformation bodies in order to move the medium to be fed through the pump hose. 1.0

Such hose pumps are known in various forms from the -background art. They are suitable in particular for * feeding low-viscosity dispersion paints, latex paints, primers that are dilutable with water, oils and water-based wood preservatives. For this reason they are often fitted in paint applying devices known as electric paint rollers Hose pumps are moreover advantageous because of their simple and economical construction, their low expenditure of maintenance and their uniform and relatively surge-free feed properties.

For long-term and trouble-free operation it is important that the components of the hose pump involved in the feeding of paint are thoroughly cleaned after use.

Cleaning operations are known, in which the suction line of the pump is dipped into a container filled with tap water so that the components involved in the feeding of paint, while the pump is running, are rinsed with tap water drawn in from the container. The drawback of this cleaning operation is however that paint residues cannot be completely rinsed out because of the low discharge pressure of the pump, even at an increased pump speed.

In a further known cleaning operation the suction line of the pump is connected to a pressure water line. In this case, a valve switches the supply through a bypass and rinses the paint residues out of the pressure line of the hose pump. A perceived drawback is that the pump hose run through the hose pump is only inadequately cleaned.

Furthermore, parts of the valve additionally have to be cleaned.

Proceeding from this background art an object of the present invention is to provide a hose pump of the type described in the introduction, in which all of the pump components involved in the feeding of paint, including the pump hose run through the pump, are subjected to a thorough cleaning operation. Furthermore, the components involved in the feeding of paint are easily exchangeable.

In order to achieve this object the present invention * provides a hose pump of the type described in the introduction, which is characterized in that the pump head is fastened detachably to the pump housing by means of an in particular manually actuable fast-locking mechanism, wherein upon transfer of the fast-locking mechanism from its unlocked position into its locking position the pump hose is increasingly loaded with pressure by means of the deformation bodies.

This construction is notable for the fact that two cleaning variants of the components involved in the feeding of paint are possible in dependence upon the degree of fouling. In the first variant the hose. pump is connected to an external pressure water line so that after transfer of the fast-locking mechanism from the locking position into the unlocked position the components involved in the feeding of paint may be cleaned with the rinsing medium. As the pump hose in the unlocked position is not loaded with pressure by the deformation bodies, it may be cleaned efficiently.

Alternatively the pump head after actuation of the fast-locking theqhanism may be completely disassembled and the pump hose may be removed from the pump head. The pump hose may accordingly be cleaned even more carefully or may alternatively be entirely exchanged.

According to a first variant of the present invention the fast-locking mechanism comprises at least one locking lever that is disposed pivotably on the pump housing and in its locking position immobilizes the pump head. Such a locking lever is particularly advantageous in that it is easy to operate manually.

In a preferred manner the locking lever in its locking position interacts with at least one stop defined on the pump head, with the result that a simple construction is achieved.

According to a further variant of the present invention the fast-locking mechanism comprises a rotatably disposed eccentric that is movable between a locking position and an unlocked position and in its locking position immobilizes the pump head. This variant is advantageous particularly if the locking-and unlocking process is to be carried out automatically, i.e. with the assistance of a motor.

In a preferred manner the pump head is fixed by means of at least one stop and/or by means of at least one guide on the pump housing.

According to a development of the present invention there are provided on the pump housing parallel-running guides, by means of which the pump head is received so as to be movable to and fro in a direction of displacement, wherein on the pump housing a stop is provided, which limits this to-and-f ro movement in one direction. With regard to the movement of the pump head there accordingly remains only one degree of freedom, which for the purpose of assembling or disassembling the pump head may then be selectively blocked or released by means of the fast-locking mechanism according to the invention.

A safety switch is advantageously provided, which is configured and disposed in such a way that it is activated during disassembly of the pump head and deactivated during assembly of the pump head. It may accordingly be ensured that, once the pump head has been disassembled, the pump cannot be operated in order in this way not to expose the user to any unnecessary risk.

According to a development of the present invention the safety switch is integrated into a manually removable stop, which is disposed in such a way that it has to be removed in order to disassemble the pump head. It is accordingly impossible to disassemble the pump head without actuating the safety switch.

There is advantageously formed in the interior of the pump head at least one guide device, which clampingly receives the pump hose and guides the pump hose in a defined manner in the interior of the pump head. On the one hand, it is possible in this way to ensure a proper arrangement of the pump hose. On the other hand, the pump hose may be disassembled together with the pump head.

In a preferred manner there are fastened to the pump hose S by corresponding coupling elements a suction line at one end and a pressure line at the other end. This is particularly advantageous in that the pump hose, which because of the deformation bodies acting upon it is subject to the greatest mechanical loads and hence the greatest wear, may be exchanged separately. Furthermore suction line, pressure line and pump hose may be manufactured from various materials. In particular, the demands placed on the material of the pump hose normally differ from those placed on the material of the suction line and the pressure line.

According to a development of the present invention a control device for adjusting the drive motor speed and hence the volume rate of flow delivered by the pump is provided, in particular in the form of a remote operator control unit, thereby enabling easy actuation of the hose pump.

Further advantages and features of the present invention emerge from the following description of a hose pump according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show in: Figure 1 a perspective view of a hose pump according to an embodiment of the present invention with the fast-locking mechanism closed; Figure 2 a perspective view of the hose pump represented in Figure 1 with the fast-locking mechanism open; -Figure 3 a perspective view of the hose pump with the pump head removed; and Figure 4 a bottom view of the pump head.

Figures 1 to 4 show a hose pump 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention that may be used for example as a feeding means of a paint applying device, often also referred to as an electric paint roller, in order to feed in particular low-viscosity dispersion paints, latex paints, primers that are dilutable with water, varnishes, oils and water-based wood preservatives.

The hose pump 10 comprises a pump housing 12, which receives a drive motor that is not represented in detail, as well as a pump head 14, which is disposed on the pump housing 12 and comprises deformation bodies 16 in the form of pressure rollers that are drivable by means of the drive motor as well as a pump hose 18 that is supported on the pump housing 12 and during operation of the hose pump is mechanically deformed by the deformation bodies 16 in order to move the medium to be fed through the pump hose 12.

There are fastened by corresponding coupling elements 20 to the pump hose 18 a suction line 22 at one end and a pressure line 24 at the other end. During operation of the hose pump 10 the suction line 22 is dipped for example into a paint reservoir, while the pressure line 24 is connected to a paint applying device. The paint applying device may comprise for example a paint distributor, by means of which the paint supplied via the pressure line 24 is distributed uniformly onto a paint roller.

The pump head 24 is driven directly or via intermediate gearing by the motor shaft of the drive motor. The drive motor in this case may be operated either by means of an a.c. system or cordlessly by means of accumulator, which is not represented in detail. The pump head 24 comprises a rotating carrier 26 that receives the deformation bodies 16 lQ in a freely rotatable manner on bearings 28. The pump hose 18 is supported on a sub-region of the inner wall 30 of the pump head housing 32 and is guided inside the pump head housing 32 by means of two substantially groove-shaped guide devices 34. The pump hose 18 is made of a highly flexible and wear-resistant plastics material that is appropriate for the loads acting upon the pump hose 18.

Formed along the opposing edges of the top of the pump housing 22 are guides 36 with an L-shaped cross section, which extend parallel to one another and are interrupted in each case in the central region by a clearance zone 38.

These guides 36 receive upwardly protruding projections 40, which are correspondingly formed in the bottom region of the pump head 14, in such a way that the pump head 24 is positioned on the pump housing 12 so as to be movable to and fro in a direction of displacement X. Further provided are upwardly protruding stops 42, which are formed on the pump housing 12 and limit this to-and--fro movement.

For finally fixing the pump head 14, which is received in the guides 36 and rests against the stops 42, on the pump housing 12 a fast-locking mechanism 44 is provided, which in the present case is formed by a locking lever 46 and a stop 48. The locking lever 46 is mounted on the pump housing 12 at bearing blocks 50 connected in a fixed manner to the housing 12 so as to be pivotable about a swivelling axis 52. The stop 48 is formed on the top of the pump head 14 and defines the locking position of the locking lever 46.

A further stop 54, which is insertable by means of two cylindrical pins that are not represented in detail into corresponding bores 56 provided at the top of the pump housing 12 and may be manually removed, is disposed in such a way that it has to be removed in order to disassemble the pump head 14. The stop 54 is coupled to a safety switch, which is not represented in detail and which during assembly of the stop 54 is deactivated and during disassembly of the stop 54 is activated. The pump may accordingly be operated only if the stop 54 is disposed in the pump housing 12.

As the basic function of the hose pump 10 is prior art, it is not described in detail below. Control of the drive motor speed and hence of the volume rate of flow delivered by the hose pump 10 is effected by means of a remote operator control unit, which is not represented in detail, in order to guarantee ease of handling of the hose pump 10.

In order to clean the components of the hose pump 10 that are involved in the feeding of paint, i.e. the pump hose 18, the suction line 22 and the pressure line 24, the locking lever 46 is transferred from the operating pos'ition represented in Figure 1, in which it fixes the pump head 14 in an operating position, in which the pump hose 18 is loaded with pressure by the deformation bodies 16, into its unlocked position represented in Figure 2 in that it is swivelled about the swivelling axis 52. Upon transfer of the locking lever 46 from its locking position into the unlocked position the pressure line 24 is relieved of pressure, wherein the pump housing 12 is moved automatically in the direction of the stop 54. In the course of this movement the deformation bodies 16 move out of engagement with the pump hose 18, which is consequently no longer loaded with pressure. The suction line 22 or the pressure line 24 may then be connected to an external pressure water line so that paint residues may be flushed out of the pump hose 18, the suction line 22 and the pressure line 24.

If the pump hose 18 is heavily fouled or has become damaged during operation, it may be disassembled without difficulty. For this purpose, starting from the arrangement represented in Figure 2, in a first step the stop 54 is removed from the pump housing 12. The pump body 16 may then be displaced further in the direction of the bearing blocks 50 until the projections 40 of the pump head 14 move out of engagement with the guides 36 formed on the pump housing 12. The pump head 14 may then be lifted off the pump housing 12. In a further step the pump hose 18 may then be removed from the guide devices 34 provided in the pump head 14 and may be separated from the suction line 22 and the pressure line 24. The pump hose 18 can then be cleaned or exchanged without difficulty.

The safety switch, which is not represented in detail and is activated during the removal of the stop 54, ensures that the hose pump 10 cannot be operated once the pump head 14 has been removed. In this way the risk of injury to the user is sharply reduced.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present invention that is not represented in detail here, the fast-locking mechanism is formed, not by a locking lever, but by an eccentric that is disposed on the top of the pump housing 12 and is movable between a locking position and an unlocked position and in its locking position immobilizes the pump head in an analogous manner to the locking lever.

The safety switch may also be disposed on the eccentric in such a way, after the eccentric has been rotated by a defined angular amount, the electric circuit associated with the pump is interruptedbefore the unlocked position is reached.

Claims

IIClaims 1. A hose pump comprising a pump housing that receives a drive motor as well as a pump head that comprises deformation bodies drivable by the drive motor and a pump hose supported on the pump housing, wherein the pump hose during operation of the hose pump is mechanically deformed by the deformation bodies in order to move the medium to be fed through the pump hose, wherein the pump head is fastened detachably to the pump housing by means of an in particular manually actuable fast-locking mechanism, wherein upon transfer of the fast-locking mechanism from. its unlocked position into its locking position the pump hose is increasingly loaded with pressure by means of the deformation bodies.
2. The hose pump according to claim 1, wherein the fast-locking mechanism comprises at least one locking lever that is disposed pivotably on the pump housing and in its locking position immobilizes the pump head on the pump housing.
3. The hose pump according to claim 2, wherein the locking lever in its locking position interacts with at least one stop defined on the pump head.
4. The hose pump according to claim 1, wherein the fast-locking mechanism comprises a rotatably disposed eccentric that is movable between a locking position and an unlocked position and in its locking position immobilizes the pump head on the pump housing.
5. The hose pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pump head is fixed by means of at least one stop and/or by means of at least one guide on the pump housing.
6. The hose pump according to claim 4, wherein there are provided on the pump housing parallel-running guides, by.means of which the pump head is received so as to be movable to and fro in a direction of displacement, and that on the pump housing a stop is provided, which limits said to-and-fro movement in one direction.
7. The hose pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a safety switch is provided, which is configured and disposed in such a way that during disassembly of the pump head it is activated and during assembly of the pump head it is deactivated.
8. The hose pump according to claim 7, wherein the safety switch is integrated into a manually removable stop, which is disposed in such a way that it has to be removed in order to disassemble the pump head.
9. The hose pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein formed in the interior of the pump head is at least one guide device that clampingly receives the pump hose.
10. The hose pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein there are fastened to the pump hose by corresponding coupling elements a suction line at one end and a pressure line at the other end.
11. The hose pump according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a control device for adjusting the drive motor speed and hence the volume rate of flow delivered by the hose pump is provided, in particular in the form of a remote operator control unit.
12. The hose pump substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.