JP5212987B2 - Pump unit, pump and pump device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and a pressurizing medium is supplied between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder to expand the inner cylinder in the centripetal direction and expand the outer cylinder in the radial direction to obtain liquid or slurry. The present invention relates to a pump unit for transporting a fluid such as a solid, a solid, or a solid-liquid mixture. The present invention also relates to a pump and a pump device using this pump unit.

  JP-A-49-804, JP-A-5-321842, and the like describe pumps that supply a pressurizing medium between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder to contract the inner cylinder and transport liquid or the like.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 49-804, three rubber valves, in which a rubber inner tube provided along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder is expanded in the centripetal direction by air, are connected in series. The inner tube is sequentially expanded to transfer the liquid.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-321842 also performs the same configuration and operation, and uses a silicon rubber tube as the inner cylinder.

JP-A 49-804 JP-A-5-321842

I. The above-described conventional pump is configured to transport liquid or the like by moving the closed part in the cylindrical pump stepwise by sequentially expanding the inner cylinder in the centripetal direction.

  It is a first object of the present invention to provide a pump unit, a pump, and a pump device in which a transport action by shortening the length in the longitudinal direction of the pump is superimposed on a transport action by the movement of such a closed portion. Objective.

II. The inner cylinder of the conventional pump is made of rubber or soft synthetic resin. In the case of this inner cylinder, when a pressurizing medium is press-fitted between the outer cylinder, it rarely expands in the centripetal direction evenly in the circumferential direction. It bends locally in a buckled manner. When the inner cylinder swells unevenly in this way, the cross section of the flow path is not sufficiently closed, and the transport efficiency of liquid or the like becomes low.

  In one aspect of the present invention, when a pressurizing medium is supplied to a pump unit including an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, the pump unit expands so that the inner cylinder sufficiently closes the cross section of the flow path; A second object is to provide a pump and a pump apparatus using this pump unit.

  The pump according to claim 1 includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder provided along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, and a passage for supplying a pressurizing medium between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. In the pump unit in which the inner cylinder is expandable in the centripetal direction by the pressure of the pressurizing medium, the outer cylinder is expandable in the radial direction by the pressure of the pressurizing medium, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder At least one is characterized by being substantially non-extensible in the axial direction of the cylinder.

  The pump according to claim 2 is the pump according to claim 1, wherein the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are substantially non-extensible in the axial direction of the cylinder, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are formed of a matrix made of rubber or elastomer, It is characterized by being composed of highly elastic fibers embedded in a matrix and oriented in the axial direction of the cylinder.

  A pump unit according to a third aspect is the pump unit according to the second aspect, wherein a plurality of restraining bodies extending in an axial direction of the inner cylinder and restraining deformation of the inner cylinder are spaced apart in a circumferential direction of the inner cylinder. It is characterized by being provided in pieces.

  A pump unit according to a fourth aspect is the pump unit according to the third aspect, wherein the restraint is embedded in the inner cylinder.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the pump unit according to the third or fourth aspect, wherein four to six of the restraining bodies are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder.

  A pump according to a sixth aspect comprises a connecting body in which a plurality of pump units according to any one of the first to fifth aspects are connected.

  A pump according to a seventh aspect is the pump according to the sixth aspect, wherein in at least some of the pump units, a tube for supplying and discharging the pressurizing medium to and from the other pump units is passed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. It is characterized by being.

  A pump device according to an eighth aspect includes the pump according to the sixth or seventh aspect, and a pressurizing medium supply / discharge unit that supplies and discharges the pressurizing medium between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder of each pump unit. It will be.

  When a pressurizing medium is supplied between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder of the pump unit of the present invention, not only the inner cylinder expands in the centripetal direction but also the outer cylinder expands in the radial direction. At least one of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is non-extensible with respect to the axial direction of the cylinder. Therefore, when the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are expanded, the length of the pump unit in the cylinder axis direction is shortened. Thereby, the to-be-transported body which existed in the pump is urged | biased in the direction pushed out from a pump. As described above, the transport action resulting from the expansion of the inner cylinder in the centripetal direction and the transport action resulting from the shortening of the pump length are superimposed, thereby improving the transport efficiency.

  In order to make the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder non-extensible in the cylinder axis direction, it is preferable that the highly elastic fiber is present in the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder so as to be oriented in the cylinder axis direction. It is.

  In the inner cylinder of the pump unit according to any one of claims 3 to 5, a plurality of restraining bodies extending in the cylinder axis direction are provided. When a pressurizing medium is supplied between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, a portion of the inner cylinder between the restraining bodies expands in the centripetal direction. A portion between the restraints is divided like a small chamber, and each small chamber-like portion expands equally in the centripetal direction due to the pressure of the pressurizing medium. Since each small chamber-like portion expands so as to reach the vicinity of the axis of the pump unit and the flow path is almost completely closed, the transport efficiency of fluids such as liquid and slurry, solids, or solid-liquid mixtures is improved. improves.

It is sectional drawing of the cylinder axial center direction of the pump unit which concerns on embodiment. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a perspective view of an inner cylinder. It is a partial expanded sectional view of an inner cylinder. It is sectional drawing of the pump unit at the time of expansion of an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. It is the VII-VII sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the pump which connected the pump unit. It is sectional drawing of the connection part of a pump unit. It is sectional drawing which shows the ventilation structure in the connection part of a pump unit. It is a side view of pump unit 1B vicinity of FIG. It is a side view of the same part as FIG. 11 which shows another structural example of the tube for ventilation | gas_flowing. It is sectional drawing explaining the action | operation of a pump. It is a figure which shows the shape before and behind expansion | swelling of an outer cylinder. It is a figure which shows the shape before and behind expansion | swelling of an inner cylinder. It is a perspective view of the pump unit which concerns on another embodiment. It is the perspective view which abbreviate | omitted the inner cylinder of the pump unit of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the connection method of the pump unit of FIG. It is a typical expanded view of the pump which connected the pump unit of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the pump which concerns on different embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, air is used as the pressurizing medium, but other gases may be used, and liquids such as water and oil may be used.

[First Embodiment]
The first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the pump unit according to the first embodiment in the cylinder axis direction. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inner cylinder of the pump unit. FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the inner cylinder. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pump unit when the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are expanded. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a pump connected to this pump unit. FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the connecting portion of the pump unit. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a ventilation structure in the connecting portion of the pump unit. FIG. 11 is a side view of the vicinity of the pump unit 1B of FIG. 8, showing a configuration example of the ventilation tube. FIG. 12 is a side view of the same part as in FIG. 11, showing another configuration example of the ventilation tube. FIG. 13 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the pump. FIG. 14 is a view showing the shape of the outer cylinder before and after expansion. FIG. 15 is a view showing the shape of the inner cylinder before and after expansion.

  FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the outer cylinder. FIGS. 11 (a) and 12 (a) show the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder before expansion, and FIGS. 11 (b) and 12 (b) show the expanded state of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. ing. FIG. 14 (a) is a side view before expansion of the outer cylinder, and FIG. 14 (b) is a view taken along the line BB in FIG. 14 (a). Fig. 14 (c) is a side view of the outer cylinder after expansion, and Fig. 14 (d) is a view taken along the line D-D in Fig. 14 (c). FIG. 15 (a) is a side view of the inner cylinder before expansion, and FIG. 15 (b) is a view taken along line BB in FIG. 15 (a). FIG. 15 (c) is a side view of the inner cylinder after expansion, and FIG. 15 (d) is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 15 (c). FIG. 15 (e) is a sectional view schematically depicting FIG. 15 (d). FIG. 15 (f) is a side view of the same part as FIG. 15 (c), showing a state where the inner cylinder has expanded so as to completely block the central portion of the pump unit.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pump unit 1 includes an outer cylinder 2 and an inflatable inner cylinder 3 provided coaxially along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 2. The outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are made of, for example, an expandable matrix material such as rubber or elastomer having a thickness of about 0.2 to 5 mm, and a large number of highly elastic fibers (not shown) oriented in the cylinder axis direction. Made of composite material. As this highly elastic fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber, aramid fiber and the like are suitable. By providing these highly elastic fibers oriented, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 do not substantially extend in the axial direction of the cylinder. The highly elastic fibers are blended at a high density in the matrix, so that the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are hard to break when expanded.

  The outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 only need to be inflatable by the pressure of the pressurizing medium, and the material and thickness thereof are not limited to those described above.

  A plurality (four in this embodiment) of constraint bodies 4 extending in the axial direction of the cylinder are embedded in the inner cylinder 3 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

  The restraint 4 is, for example, a fiber roving (a fiber in which fibers are aligned), a yarn (a twisted one), a cord (a yarn combined), a metal wire, or the like such as carbon fiber, glass fiber, or metal fiber. The tensile modulus is higher than that of the matrix material of the inner cylinder 3.

  The restricting body 4 extends from one end to the other end of the inner cylinder 3 in the cylinder axis direction.

  The inner cylinder 3 is formed by, for example, applying rubber latex to the outer periphery of the mandrel, then distributing high-elasticity fibers and the restraint 4, further applying rubber latex from above, crosslinking, and then pulling out the mandrel. Can be molded. However, the method of molding the inner cylinder is not limited to this, and it is also possible to mold by co-extrusion of a matrix material such as rubber or elastomer, a highly elastic fiber such as carbon fiber, and a restraint. .

  An annular end ring 5 is provided at both ends of the pump unit 1 in the cylinder axis direction. The outer cylinder 2 is superimposed on the outer peripheral surface of the end ring 5 and fixed by a presser ring 2a (see FIGS. 9 and 10). Both ends of the inner cylinder 3 wrap around the end face of the end ring 5. Each pump unit 1 has an empty chamber 8 surrounded by an outer cylinder 2, an inner cylinder 3 and a pair of end rings 5.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a circumferential concave step portion 5 a is provided at the outward corner of the inner periphery of the end ring 5 on one end side of the pump unit 1. A circular convex portion 5 b that protrudes outward in the cylinder axis direction protrudes from the outward corner edge of the inner periphery of the end ring 5 on the other end side of the pump unit 1. When the pump units 1 and 1 are arranged coaxially and face each other, the circumferential convex portion 5 b of one pump unit 1 engages with the circumferential concave step portion 5 a of the other pump unit 1.

  Both ends of the inner cylinder 3 are clamped by the convex portion 5b and the concave step portion 5a, respectively, and are firmly fixed to the end ring 5.

  A hole 6 is provided in the end ring 5 in the direction of the cylinder axis. A plurality of the holes 6 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the pump units 1 are connected to each other through bolts 7 in some holes 6. As shown in FIG. 10, a vent pipe 9 is passed through the other hole 6, and the vacant chambers 8 of the pump unit 1 are communicated with each other, or a tube 10 is connected to the vent pipe 9.

  A plurality of pump units 1 are connected coaxially as shown in FIG. When the pump units 1 are connected to each other, the circumferential positions of the restraining bodies 4 of the adjacent pump units 1 may coincide with each other (that is, the restraining bodies 4 of the pump units 1 may be aligned in a straight line. Well) it may be displaced in the circumferential direction.

  A pump device is configured by connecting a cylinder device or the like to the vent pipe 9 of the pump unit 1A on the left side of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when three pump units 1 are connected to form a pump, the vacant chamber 8 of the pump unit 1 (1A) at the left end of the figure is connected to the cylinder via the vent pipe 9 at the left end. It is connected to an air supply / discharge device (not shown) such as a device. The empty chamber 8 of the central pump unit 1 (1B) is connected to the air supply / discharge device via a tube 10 (10A) routed around the pump unit 1A. The vacant chamber 8 of the pump unit 1 (1C) at the right end is connected to the air supply / discharge device via a tube 10 (10B) routed in the pump units 1A and 1B. Note that both ends of the tubes 10A and 10B in the pump units 1A and 1B are connected to the vent pipe 9, respectively. The tubes 10A and 10B are made of a material that can be flexibly deformed, such as silicone rubber, have a required thickness, and are not substantially expanded or contracted depending on air pressure.

  Since the tubes 10A and 10B for ventilation are routed into the empty chambers 8 of the pump units 1A and 1B, the tubes 10A and 10B are not exposed to the outside of the pump units 1A to 1C. The external appearance of the units 1A to 1C is neat. Moreover, since these tubes 10A and 10B are prevented from being caught when the pump is transported, the pump is easy to handle.

  As clearly shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, in this embodiment, the tubes 10A and 10B (only the tube 10B is shown in FIG. 11) are arranged in the empty chambers 8 of the pump units 1A and 1B. The middle part in the extending direction is wound in a loop. Reference numeral 10r indicates a loop portion of the tubes 10A and 10B.

  As shown in FIG. 11 (a), when the pump units 1A and 1B are not expanded, the diameter t of the loop-shaped portion 10r of the tubes 10A and 10B is curved without buckling the tubes 10A and 10B. Is equal to or larger than the smallest diameter.

  As shown in FIG. 11 (b), when the pump units 1A and 1B are expanded, the lengths of the pump units 1A and 1B are shortened, so that the tubes 10A and 10B are loosened. , 10B are deformed so that the diameter of the loop-shaped portion 10r is increased, and the slack is absorbed by the loop-shaped portion 10r. Further, when each pump unit 1A, 1B contracts and the length of each pump unit 1A, 1B becomes longer, each tube 10A, 10B is deformed so that the diameter of this loop-shaped portion 10r becomes smaller. The pump units 1A and 1B extend in the cylinder axis direction.

  Thus, by providing the loop-shaped portion 10r in each tube 10A, 10B, even if the length of each pump unit 1A, 1B varies with expansion / contraction of each pump unit 1A, 1B, each tube 10A, 10B can be smoothly deformed following the variation in the length of each pump unit 1A, 1B without buckling.

  In the present invention, the ventilation tube itself may be configured to become longer or shorter following the change in the length of the pump unit. FIG. 12 is a side view of the same part as FIG. 11 showing an example of such a tube.

  In FIG. 12, bellows-shaped tubes 10 'are arranged in the vacant chambers 8 of the pump units 1A and 1B, respectively, instead of the tubes 10A and 10B having the loop-shaped portion 10r. Both ends of the tube 10 ′ in each pump unit 1 </ b> A, 1 </ b> B are respectively connected to a vent pipe 9 on one end side in the cylinder axis direction and a vent pipe 9 on the other end side of each pump unit 1 </ b> A, 1 </ b> B. The tube 10 ′ has a bellows-like portion 10j that can expand and contract in the cylinder axis direction at least in the middle of the cylinder axis direction (substantially the entire tube axis direction of the tube 10 ′ in FIG. 12). . At least the bellows-like portion 10j of the tube 10 'is made of a material that can be flexibly deformed, such as silicone rubber.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (b), the tube 10 ′ is compressed by the bellows-like portion 10j when the pump units 1A and 1B are expanded and the lengths of the pump units 1A and 1B are shortened. The length is shortened. Also, as shown in FIG. 12 (a), when the pump units 1A and 1B contract and the lengths of the pump units 1A and 1B become longer, the bellows-like portion 10j is stretched and the length becomes longer. become longer.

  Thereby, even if the length of each pump unit 1A, 1B fluctuates with expansion / contraction of each pump unit 1A, 1B, tube 10 'does not buckle, but the length of each pump unit 1A, 1B It can be smoothly deformed following the fluctuation.

  The tubes 10 and 10 ′ are only examples, and the configuration and arrangement of the ventilation tubes are not limited to this. For example, in the present invention, the ventilation tube may be directly connected to each pump unit by being routed outside the pump unit.

  When air is supplied or discharged into the vacant chamber 8 of the left pump unit 1A via the vent pipe 9 on the left end side, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 expand or contract.

  When air is supplied or discharged into the vacant chamber 8 of the central pump unit 1B via the tube 10A of the pump unit 1A, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 expand or contract. When air is supplied to or discharged from the vacant chamber 8 of the right pump unit 1C via the tube 10B of the pump units 1A and 1B, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 expand or contract.

  Note that the holes 6 that are not used for inserting the ventilation pipes and bolts are blocked by the blinds 13.

  In this embodiment, since the restraint 4 is provided in the inner cylinder 3, when air is supplied to the empty chamber 8, the portion between the restraints 4 in the inner cylinder 3 is the sixth and seventh. It expands in the centripetal direction as shown. Further, after the inner cylinder 3 is expanded, the pressurizing medium is discharged from the hole 6, so that the inner cylinder 3 contracts and returns to the original cylindrical shape as shown in FIGS.

  The operation of this pump will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 (a) to (e).

  In FIG. 13, three pump units 1 are connected as in FIG. (A) In the figure, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 of any pump unit 1 are contracted. (B) In the figure, only the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 of the left pump unit 1A are expanded, and in the figure (c), the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 of the left and center pump units 1A and 1B are expanded. d) In the figure, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 of the center and right pump units 1B and 1C are expanded, and in the figure (e), only the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 of the right pump unit 1C are expanded.

  By sequentially expanding each of the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 in this way, a fluid, a solid such as a liquid, a gas-liquid mixed fluid, a slurry, or a solid-liquid mixture (hereinafter referred to as a fluid) Etc.) are transported.

  In this embodiment, the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are made of a material that does not substantially extend in the cylinder axis direction. Therefore, when the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are expanded, the length of the pump unit 1 in the cylinder axis direction is shortened. Then, in addition to the action that the fluid etc. is sent out by the inner cylinder 3 of each pump unit 1 being contracted sequentially, the total length of the pump is shortened as shown in FIGS. The action of transporting the liquid occurs. By superimposing these actions, fluid or the like can be transported efficiently. In addition, since the length of each pump unit 1A-1C becomes short sequentially, even if it is solid objects other than a fluid, for example, a rod-shaped object, it can forward.

  In this embodiment, the inner cylinder 3 is divided into four in the circumferential direction by the four restraining bodies 4. Therefore, when air is supplied into the vacant chamber 8, each of the four compartments expands equally in the centripetal direction as shown in FIG. 7, and the tip in the expansion direction reaches near the center of the pump unit 1. For this reason, the flow path on the inner peripheral side of the inner cylinder 3 is substantially fully closed. Therefore, the fluid and the like are efficiently transported by switching the expanding inner cylinder 3 in order as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, a very small gap is generated at the tip of each expanded section, but the flow passage cross-sectional area of this gap is very small, which is substantially the same as in the fully closed state.

  Although three pump units 1 are connected in FIG. 13, it is obvious that four or more pump units 1 may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the inner cylinder 3 is divided into four sections by the four restraining bodies 4, but may be five or six sections. As a result of various experiments conducted by the inventor, in the two or three sections, each small section may not expand evenly in the centripetal direction. In the case of seven or more sections, the pressure of the pressurizing medium for expanding each section to the vicinity of the center of the pump unit becomes considerably high. Therefore, the number of sections, that is, the number of the restraining bodies 4 is preferably about 4 to 6, particularly 4 or 5.

  In the said embodiment, although the restraint body 4 is provided in the inner cylinder 3, you may abbreviate | omit the restraint body 4 in this invention.

[Preferred specification values of outer cylinder 2 and inner cylinder 3 and a method of calculating the number of restraining bodies 4]
The length (in the following, simply referred to as length) and diameter of the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 when the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are not expanded, and the number of the restraining bodies 4 are described below with reference to FIGS. The calculation method is described. In addition, since the thickness of the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 is very small with respect to these lengths and diameters, hereinafter, the thickness of the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 is assumed to be negligible.

<About the number (number) of the restraint bodies 4>
As FIG. 15 (a), the length in the non-expansion of the inner cylinder 3 and L _2, the diameter and D _2. As shown in FIG. 15 (d), i restraining bodies 4 (4 ₁ , 4 ₂ , 4 ₃ ,..., 4 _i ) are arranged in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 3 at substantially equal intervals. Yes. 15 (d) and 15 (e), the two-dot chain line indicates the inner cylinder 3 before expansion, the solid line indicates the inner cylinder 3 during expansion, and the one-dot chain line (only FIG. 15 (d) is shown) The final expansion shape of the cylinder 3 (a state in which the inner cylinder 3 is expanded so as to completely block the central portion of the pump unit) is shown.

From the geometrical consideration of FIG. 15 (d), the condition that the inner cylinder 3 expands so as to completely block the central portion of the pump unit is as follows.
iD ₂ ≧ πD ₂
That is,
i ≧ π
It is. Here, since i is an integer,
i ≧ 4 (book) (1)
Is guided.

<About the outer cylinder 2>
As in FIG. 14 (a), the length in the non-expansion of the outer tube 2 and L _1, if the diameter was D _1, the ratio N of the length L ₁ and the diameter D ₁ of the the outer tube 2 is It is expressed by the following formula.
N = L ₁ / D ₁ (2)

As in FIG. 14 (b), the outer tube 2 Assuming expands spherical, the maximum expansion diameter Dm ₁ of the outer cylinder 2, from geometrical considerations of FIG. 14 (b), holds the following equation .
Dm ₁ = (2N / π + 1) D ₁ (3)

Also, as in FIG. 14 (b), when the contraction amount of the cylinder axial direction at the outer tube 2 expands and X _1, the shrinkage rate X _{1 /} L ₁ of the outer cylinder 2 cylinder axial direction, following The following approximate expression holds.
_{X 1 / L 1 = α (} (Dm 1 -D 1) / L 1) 2 (4)
Α is an approximate constant.

Solving for X ₁ from the above equations (2), (3), (4), the following equation is obtained.
X ₁ = 4αND ₁ / π ² (5)

<About the inner cylinder 3>
A ratio n between the length L ₂ of the inner cylinder 3 and the diameter D ₂ is expressed by the following equation.
n = L ₂ / D ₂ (6)

As FIG. 15 (c), during the expansion of the inner tube 3, the inner diameter of the most narrowed portion of the inner cylinder 3 and D _3. When the inner cylinder 3 is expanded, as shown in FIG. 15 (e), it is assumed that the cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 3 in a direction orthogonal to the cylinder axial direction is circular, and FIG. 15 (c), As shown in (f), it is assumed that the cross-sectional shape of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 3 in the cylinder axis direction is a shape along a perfect circle. FIG. 15 (e) shows an example in which i = 4. As shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 15 (c), the maximum diameter of the virtual sphere (hereinafter referred to as the inner diameter) obtained by reversing the outer peripheral surface of the expanded inner cylinder 3 to the side opposite to the cylinder axis side. referred to as the maximum expansion diameter of the tube 3.) is defined as Dm _2. The shrinkage of the cylinder axial direction at the time of expansion of the inner tube 3 and X _2.

From the geometrical consideration of FIG. 15 (e), when the inner cylinder 3 is inflated, the inner peripheral surfaces of the inner cylinder 3 are in contact with each other and the inner side of the inner cylinder 3 is closed. There is a need.
iD ₃ ≧ πD ₂
From this formula, the following formula is derived.
D ₃ ≧ πD ₂ / i (7)

The contraction amount X ₂ during inflation of the inner cylinder 3 is maximum is when the equality in the above equation (7), that D _{3 =} πD 2 _{/ i.} Therefore, by using the D ₃ at this time, the maximum expansion diameter Dm ₂ of the inner cylinder 3 is represented by the following equation.
Dm ₂ = (2-π / i) D ₂ (8)

As shown in FIG. 15 (c), the following approximate expression holds for the contraction rate X ₂ / L ₂ of the inner cylinder 3 in the cylinder axis direction.
_{X 2 / L 2 = α (} (Dm 2 -D 2) / L 2) 2 (9)
Α is an approximate constant.

Solving for X ₂ from the above equations (6), (8), (9), the following equation is obtained.
X ₂ = (1−π / i) ² αD ₂ / n (10)

Further, from FIG. 15 (f), in order for the inner cylinder 3 to be closed when the inner cylinder 3 is expanded, the following equation must be satisfied.
L ₂ −X ₂ ≧ D ₂ (11)

Substituting the above equation (10) into this equation (11), the following equation is obtained.
L ₂ ≧ D ₂ {1 + α (1-π / i) ² / n} (12)

Furthermore, the following formula is obtained by substituting the formula (6) (n = L ₂ / D ₂ ) into the formula (12).
n ² −n−α (1-π / i) ² ≧ 0 (13)

When this equation (13) is solved for n, the following equation is obtained from n> 0.
n ≧ (1+ {1 + 4α (1-π / i) ² } ^1/2 ) / 2 (14)
Since α> 0, n> 1 is fixed.

  If the value of the approximate constant α is known in the above equation (14), the value of n in the equation (23) described later can be narrowed down.

As shown in FIG. 15 (d), the inner cylinder 3 is correctly deformed when expanded (that is, each section of the inner cylinder 3 divided by the respective restraining bodies 4 does not have a fold or the like, and each section is entirely In order to expand toward the center of the pump unit).
L ₂ −X ₂ ≧ πD ₂ / i (15)
Especially from the rule of thumb,
(L ₂ −X ₂ ) / (πD ₂ /i)=1.5
Is preferred.

Substituting the above equation (10) into this equation (15), the following equation is obtained.
L ₂ ≧ D ₂ {π / i + α (1-π / i) ² / n} (16)

Further, when the formula (6) (n = L ₂ / D ₂ ) is substituted into the formula (16), the following formula is obtained.
n ² −πn / i−α (1-π / i) ² ≧ 0 (17)

When this equation (17) is solved for n, the following equation is obtained from n> 0.
n ≧ (π / i + {(π / i) ² + 4α (1-π / i) ² } ^1/2 ) / 2 (18)
Since α> 0, n> π / i is fixed.

  In the above equation (18), if the value of the approximate constant α is known, the value of n in equation (23) described later can be narrowed down.

When the contraction amounts X ₁ and X ₂ at the time of expansion of the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 are equal, the following formula is obtained by solving the above formulas (5) and (10) and solving for D ₁ .
^{_{D 1 = π 2 (1-}} π / i) 2 D 2 / 4nN (19)

Here, when the ratio L ₁ / L ₂ of the length between the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 is k,
k = L ₁ / L ₂ (20)
It becomes.

When n in the equation (19) is eliminated using the above equations (2), (6), and (20), the following equation is obtained.
D ₁ = π (1-π / i) k ^1/2 D ₂ / 2N (21)

Here, from D ₁ > D ₂ ,
N <π (1-π / i) k ^1/2 / 2 (22)
It becomes.

Further, when N in the equation (19) is eliminated using the above equations (2), (6), and (20), the following equation is obtained.
n = π (1-π / i) / 2k ^1/2 (23)

By determining the length L ₂ and the diameter D ₂ of the inner cylinder 3 and the number i of the restraining bodies 4 so as to satisfy all of the above formulas (1), (14), and (18), The central portion of the pump unit can be configured to be substantially completely closed by the expanded inner cylinder 3.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  16 and 17 are perspective views of the pump unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a method of connecting the pump units. FIG. 19 (a) is a schematic development view of a pump connected to this pump unit, and FIG. 19 (b) shows how the vent holes of each pump unit in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows whether it is connected to.

  FIGS. 16 and 18 are perspective views of the outer cylinder. FIG. 17 is a view in which the inner cylinder is omitted from FIG. FIG. 19 (a) is a schematic developed view in which the pump unit is developed in the circumferential direction from the XIX line in FIG. Hereinafter, the right side of FIGS. 16 to 19 is referred to as the upstream side, and the left side is referred to as the downstream side.

  In the pump unit 20 of this embodiment, each end ring 5 is provided with a plurality of vent holes 21 to which the vent pipe 10 is connected and a plurality of bolt insertion holes 22 through which the bolts 7 are passed. Yes. In the first embodiment described above, the vent hole 21 and the bolt insertion hole 22 are collectively referred to as the hole 6. The vent hole 21 and the bolt insertion hole 22 respectively penetrate the end rings 5 in the cylinder axis direction of the pump unit 20.

  In this embodiment, each end ring 5 is provided with six vent holes 21 and six bolt insertion holes 22. These vent holes 21 and bolt insertion holes 22 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction of each end ring 5 at substantially equal intervals. Each vent hole 21 of one end ring 5 and each vent hole 21 of the other end ring 5 face each other substantially parallel to the cylinder axis direction of the pump unit 20, that is, the cylinder axis of the pump unit 20. They are arranged so as to be located on the same phase around the center. Hereinafter, when simply referred to as a phase, it is a phase around the cylinder axis of the pump unit 20. Each bolt insertion hole 22 of one end ring 5 and each bolt insertion hole 21 of the other end ring 5 are arranged so as to be positioned on the same phase. The number and arrangement of the vent holes 21 and the bolt insertion holes 22 are not limited to this.

  Hereinafter, in FIGS. 16 to 19, the end ring 5 disposed on the left end side of the pump unit 20 may be referred to as a downstream end ring 5D, and the end ring 5 disposed on the right end side may be referred to as an upstream end ring 5U. . In FIGS. 16 to 18, the vent hole 21 disposed below the center of the downstream end ring 5D is referred to as a vent hole 21a, and the vent holes 21b are sequentially arranged from the vent hole 21a counterclockwise in the figure. The air holes 21c, the air holes 21d, the air holes 21e, and the air holes 21f may be called. In addition, in FIGS. 16 to 18, the vent hole 21 disposed below the center of the upstream end ring 5U is referred to as a vent hole 21p, and each vent hole 21 is sequentially vented from the vent hole 21p counterclockwise in the figure. 21q, vent 21r, vent 21s, vent 21t, and vent 21u may be referred to.

  That is, the downstream side vent hole 21a and the upstream side vent hole 21p are arranged on the same phase, the downstream side vent hole 21b and the upstream side vent hole 21q are arranged on the same phase, and the downstream side vent hole 21p is arranged on the same phase. The air holes 21c and the upstream side air holes 21r are arranged on the same phase, the downstream side air holes 21d and the upstream side air holes 21s are arranged on the same phase, and the downstream side air holes 21e and the upstream side air holes 21r are arranged on the same phase. The vent hole 21t is arranged on the same phase, and the downstream vent hole 21f and the upstream vent hole 21u are arranged on the same phase.

  Cylindrical convex portions 23 project from the peripheral edge portions of the respective vent holes 21 of the downstream end ring 5D in the direction opposite to the upstream end ring 5U. An annular concave step 24 is provided on the plate surface of the upstream end ring 5U opposite to the downstream end ring 5D so as to surround each vent hole 21. When the pump units 20 and 20 are arranged coaxially and face each other, each cylindrical convex portion 23 of the upstream pump unit 20 engages with each annular concave step portion 24 of the downstream pump unit 20. Thereby, the vent holes 21 of the upstream pump unit 20 and the downstream pump unit 20 communicate with each other.

  In this pump unit 20, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the number of vent holes 21 of each end ring 5 is one less in the empty chamber 8 between the outer cylinder 2 and the inner cylinder 3 (that is, In this embodiment, five) venting tubes 10 are provided, and these venting tubes 10 connect the vent holes 21 of the downstream end ring 5D and the vent holes 21 of the upstream end ring 5U, respectively. Has been. That is, in this pump unit 20, each end ring 5D, 5U has one vent hole 21 to which the tube 10 is not connected.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, one end of the tube 10 is connected to the vent holes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d and 21e of the downstream end ring 5D, and the vent hole 21q of the upstream end ring 5U. , 21r, 21s, 21t, 21u are connected to the other end of the tube 10, respectively. These tubes 10 are not shifted from each other by the air holes 21 located on the same phase of the downstream end ring 5D and the upstream end ring 5U, but one by one in the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the downstream end ring 5D. The vent holes 21 are connected to each other.

  Specifically, the other end of the tube 10 whose one end is connected to the vent 21a is connected to the vent 21q, the other end of the tube 10 whose one end is connected to the vent 21b is connected to the vent 21r, and one end passes through. The other end of the tube 10 connected to the air hole 21c is connected to the air hole 21s, the other end of the tube 10 connected to the air hole 21d is connected to the air hole 21t, and one end is connected to the air hole 21e. The other end of the tube 10 is connected to the vent hole 21u.

  In this embodiment, the tube 10 is not connected to the vent hole 21f of the downstream end ring 5D and the vent hole 21p of the upstream end ring 5U.

  In addition, the position of the vent 21 which is not connected by the tube 10 is not limited to this.

  In this embodiment, each tube 10 is not provided with a loop-shaped portion 10r, but each tube 10 may be provided with a loop-shaped portion 10r as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the bellows tubular tube 10 ′ of FIG. 12 may be used instead of the tube 10.

  Other configurations of the pump unit 20 are the same as those of the pump unit 1 of the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

  A plurality of pump units 20 are coaxially connected as shown in FIGS. When the pump units 20 are connected, the vent holes 21a to 21f and 21p to 21u having the same reference numerals are arranged on the same phase between the upstream pump unit 20 and the downstream pump unit 20. Then, these pump units 20 and 20 are brought into contact with each other, and each cylindrical convex portion 23 and the circular convex portion 5b of the upstream pump unit 20 are connected to each annular concave step portion 24 and the circular concave step portion of the downstream pump unit 20. 5a is engaged.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 19B, the vent hole 21a of the upstream pump unit 20 communicates with the vent hole 21p of the downstream pump unit 20, and the vent hole 21b of the upstream pump unit 20 is downstream. The vent hole 21q of the upstream pump unit 20 communicates with the vent hole 21c of the upstream pump unit 20, and the vent hole 21r of the upstream pump unit 20 communicates with the downstream hole 21d of the upstream pump unit 20. The vent hole 21s of the upstream pump unit 20 communicates with the vent hole 21e of the upstream pump unit 20, and the vent hole 21f of the upstream pump unit 20 communicates with the downstream side. The pump unit 20 communicates with the vent hole 21u.

  After a predetermined number of pump units 20 are abutted, the bolts 7 (not shown) are inserted into the bolt insertion holes 22 of these pump units 20 to couple the pump units 20 together.

  The number of the pressure hoses 25 from a cylinder device (not shown) or the like is connected to the vent holes 21p to 21u of the pump unit 20 on the most upstream side of the pump. At this time, the pressure-resistant hose 25 is connected in the order of the vent holes 21p, 21q, 21r, 21s, 21t, and 21u, and the surplus vent holes 21 are closed by the blind 13. In addition, the vent hole 21 f of each pump unit 20 is also closed by the blind 13. Thereby, a pump apparatus is comprised.

  That is, in this embodiment, one pump is formed by connecting up to six pump units 20 (that is, the same number as the number of vent holes 21 provided in each end plate 5). FIG. 19 shows an example in which four pump units 20 are connected. Hereinafter, the pump units 20A, 20B, 20C, and 20D are sequentially called from the pump unit 20 arranged on the right end side (the most upstream side) in FIG. Pressure-resistant hoses 25 (25a to 25d) are connected to the vent holes 21p to 21s of the pump unit 20A, respectively. Note that a plurality of pumps formed by connecting a plurality of pump units 20 may be connected, and a pressure hose 25 may be connected to each pump to constitute a pump device. Thereby, the pump apparatus with which 6 or more pump units 20 were connected as a whole can be constructed.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the vent hole 21p of the pump unit 20A communicates with the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20A. Therefore, air supply / exhaust of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20A is performed via the pressure hose 25a connected to the vent hole 21p of the pump unit 20A.

  The vent hole 21q of the pump unit 20A communicates with the inside of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20B through the tube 10 connected thereto, the vent hole 21a of the pump unit 20A, and the vent hole 21p of the pump unit 20B. Therefore, air supply / exhaust of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20B is performed via the pressure hose 25b connected to the vent hole 21q of the pump unit 20A.

  The vent hole 21r of the pump unit 20A includes the tube 10 connected thereto, the vent hole 21b of the pump unit 20A, the vent hole 21q of the pump unit 20B, the tube 10 connected thereto, the vent hole 21a of the pump unit 20B, and It communicates with the inside of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20C through the vent hole 21p of the pump unit 20C. Therefore, the air supply / exhaust of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20C is performed through the pressure hose 25c connected to the vent hole 21r of the pump unit 20A.

  The vent hole 21s of the pump unit 20A includes the tube 10 connected thereto, the vent hole 21c of the pump unit 20A, the vent hole 21r of the pump unit 20B, the tube 10 connected thereto, the vent hole 21b of the pump unit 20B, the pump The air hole 21q of the unit 20C, the tube 10 connected thereto, the air hole 21a of the pump unit 20C, and the air hole 21p of the pump unit 20D communicate with the inside of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20D. Accordingly, the air supply / exhaust of the empty chamber 8 of the pump unit 20D is performed via the pressure hose 25d connected to the vent hole 21s of the pump unit 20A.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the vent holes 21t and 21u of the pump unit 20A that are not used for supplying and exhausting the vacant space 8 of the pump units 20A to 20D and the vent holes 21f of the pump units 20A to 20D are blind 13 respectively. It is blocked by

  When another (that is, the fifth) pump unit 20 is connected to the downstream side of the pump unit 20D, the vent hole 21t of the pump unit 20A is formed in the empty chamber 8 of the fifth pump unit 20. Communicate. Therefore, the pressure hose 25 is also connected to the vent hole 21t of the pump unit 20A. In this case, supply / exhaust of the empty chamber 8 of the fifth pump unit 20 is performed via the pressure hose 25 connected to the vent hole 21t. Further, when another pump unit 20 is connected downstream of the fifth pump unit 20, the vent hole 21u of the pump unit 20A is provided with the sixth pump unit 20. It communicates with 20 vacant rooms 8. Therefore, a pressure hose 25 is further connected to the vent hole 21u of the pump unit 20A. In this case, supply / exhaust of the empty chamber 8 of the sixth pump unit 20 is performed via the pressure hose 25 connected to the vent hole 21u.

  When only three pump units 20 are connected, the pressure hose 25 is connected only to the vent holes 21p, 21q, and 21r of the pump unit 20A, and the remaining vent holes 21s to 21u are closed by the blind 13.

  The operation of this pump device is the same as that of the first embodiment described above except that four pump units 20 are connected. That is, by expanding the pump units 20A to 20D in this order, a transported object such as a fluid is transported from the right side to the left side in FIG. In addition, by expanding the pump units 20D to 20A in this order, transportation is performed from the left side to the right side in FIG. Even in the pump device including the pump unit 20, the same effects as the pump device according to the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In the pump unit 20 having such a configuration, a plurality of the pump units 20 are connected to each other by aligning the positions of the respective vent holes 21a to 21f and 21p to 21u and fixed with bolts 7, and unnecessary vent holes are provided. A pump can be constructed simply by closing 21 with a blind. The pump unit 20 is a common product from the upstream side to the downstream side of the pump. Therefore, there is no need to change the type of the pump unit depending on the position of the pump or to separately redraw the ventilation tube 10 in the empty chamber 8 of each pump unit 20. The type is sufficient and rational, and the assembly work of the pump is easy.

[Third Embodiment]
A third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a pump connected to a pump unit according to the third embodiment.

  In the pump of this embodiment, the ventilation tube 10 or 10 'is not arranged in the empty chamber 8 of each pump unit 1 (1A, 1B). In this embodiment, the connection port 26 of the pressure hose 25 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of at least one end ring 5 on one end side or the other end side of each pump unit 1. As shown in FIG. 20, the connection port 26 communicates with the vacant chamber 8 of each pump unit 1.

  In this embodiment, after connecting the three pump units 1 to form a pump, by connecting a pressure hose 25 from a cylinder device (not shown) or the like to the connection port 26 of each pump unit 1, A pump device is configured.

  The other configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

  The operation of the pump device of this embodiment is the same as that of the pump device of the first embodiment described above except that the air supply / exhaust is performed directly from each pressure hose 25 to the empty chamber 8 of each pump unit 1. It is the same. Even in the pump device of this embodiment, the same operational effects as the pump device of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  In this embodiment, since the ventilation tube 10 or 10 ′ is not disposed in the empty chamber 8 of each pump unit 1, each pump unit 1 has a simple configuration and low cost. can do.

  In this embodiment, three pump units 1 are connected, but four or more pump units 1 may be connected. Each pump unit 1 may be provided with two or more connection ports 26 (for example, for air supply and exhaust).

  Each of the above embodiments is an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to each of the above embodiments.

  For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, an intake tube and an exhaust tube may be provided separately in each pump unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,20 Pump unit 2 Outer cylinder 3 Inner cylinder 4 Constraining body 5 End ring 5a Circumferential concave step part 5b Circumferential convex part 6 Hole 7 Bolt 8 Vacant chamber 9 Vent pipe 10, 10 'tube 21 Vent hole 22 Bolt insertion hole 23 Cylinder Convex part 24 Ring-shaped concave step part 25 Pressure-resistant hose 26 Connection port

Claims (8)

An outer cylinder, an inner cylinder provided along the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder, and a passage for supplying a pressurizing medium between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder,
In the pump unit that is expandable in the centripetal direction by the pressure of the pressurizing medium,
The outer cylinder is expandable in the radial direction by the pressure of the pressurizing medium,
At least one of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is substantially non-extensible in the cylinder axis direction. In Claim 1, the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are substantially non-extensible in the axial direction of the cylinder,
The outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are composed of a matrix made of rubber or elastomer, and a highly elastic fiber embedded in the matrix and oriented in the cylinder axial direction.   3. The restraint body according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of restraining bodies extending in an axial direction of the inner cylinder and restraining deformation of the inner cylinder are provided at intervals in a circumferential direction of the inner cylinder. The pump unit.   4. The pump unit according to claim 3, wherein the restraining body is embedded in the inner cylindrical body.   5. The pump unit according to claim 3, wherein four to six of the restraining bodies are provided at equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the inner cylinder.   A pump comprising a connecting body in which a plurality of pump units according to any one of claims 1 to 5 are connected.   7. The pump unit according to claim 6, wherein a tube for supplying and discharging the pressurizing medium to and from another pump unit is passed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. To pump.   8. A pump apparatus comprising: the pump according to claim 6; and a pressurizing medium supply / discharge means for supplying and discharging a pressurizing medium between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder of each pump unit.

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