WO2005033523A1

WO2005033523A1 - Method and device for conveying media

Info

Publication number: WO2005033523A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/010964
Authority: WO
Inventors: Georg Korfmacher
Original assignee: Georg Korfmacher
Priority date: 2003-10-01
Filing date: 2004-10-01
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: DE10345694A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for conveying media, particularly liquid media, during which the medium to be conveyed is guided through a conveying space having at least one wall element, which is provided in the form of a flexibly deformable membrane. According to the invention, a wave motion, which is steadily continual in one direction and which is preferably harmonic, is generated in the membrane. This wave motion forces, in the medium, a flow in the direction of the continual wave motion. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out said method.

Description

Method and device for conveying media

The invention relates to a method and a device for conveying media, comprising a conveying chamber with an inlet and an outlet, a wall element at least partially delimiting the conveying chamber from an elastically deformable material that can continue to perform undulating movements, and a drive for the generation of the wavy movements of the elastically deformable wall element. Pumps of this type are widely known, in particular diaphragm pumps, so-called pendulum piston diaphragm pumps, finger pumps and peristaltic pumps.

DE 637586 describes a device for conveying media of the type mentioned in the introduction, in which a drive acting on the elastically flexible wall part has an eccentric shaft with a large number of frame-shaped pressure bodies. These are permanently attached to membranes, which form pumping spaces with a tubular housing. In these, the medium is pressed by the wave-shaped movement of the membranes from the entrance to the exit, i.e. it is conveyed under high pressure. This is only possible because the membranes have pressure contact with the housing walls opposite them. The arrangement and sequence of the movements of the pressure body results in

Membranes have a more or less graded surface profile that can only be compensated for by the flexural strength of the relatively strong rubber membrane. The large number of pressure bodies also means a high oscillating mass and a very flat wave pattern in the membranes. It is therefore not possible with this type of pump to achieve waves with short periods and larger amplitudes.

A special type of diaphragm pump is described in DE 10146190 with an eccentric drive, in which, similar to DE 637586, a medium is conveyed by a wave-shaped movement of an elastically deformable wall. The special feature of this elastically deformable wall is its bending stiffness, which is significantly stronger than the membrane material offered on the market today, e.g. from a composite body made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and rubber and the heavy rubber membrane known from DE 637586. This bending stiffness also makes the formation of short and steep waves in the elastically deformable wall impossible. Essentially, only long, flat waveforms are possible, which, in contrast to the stepped deformation of the membrane according to DE 637586, enable the membrane to be deformed evenly because the membrane cannot collapse between the different excitation points because of its flexural rigidity. Therefore, a powerful contact between the rigid membrane and the corresponding counter surface of the delivery chamber is required for effective conveyance. Although it is described without further explanation that this known pump can also work without touching the counter surface, a drastic drop in the delivery capacity due to the flat wave movement cannot be avoided. In the case of sensitive liquids in particular, it is also possible because of the rigid membrane, with a correspondingly small wave amplitude and increased frequency, that particles floating in the liquid are swirled, stretched and / or torn. Furthermore, this pump also has the problem of oscillating masses similar to DE 637586, because here too the membranes e.g. be moved by frame-shaped pressure bodies.

With these two diaphragm pumps, the delivery essentially consists in the fact that during the delivery process a defined wave trough of the diaphragm extends from the inlet to the Outlet presses. Both prior publications teach either pressing through (DE 637586) or whipping (DE 10146190) of "shaft pockets".

Diaphragm pumps are also known as pendulum connecting rod pumps e.g. known from DE 19919908. Here, a connecting rod drive generates a wave-like movement pattern in a generally plate-shaped membrane. The membrane is very rigid in its central part, while it can be deformed along its circumference. The movement pattern generated in the diaphragm by the connecting rod drive with a combination of vertical stroke and eccentric-related tilting movement is a very complex, forced wave form with, in addition, very heterogeneous pressure and flow profiles in the delivery space formed between the diaphragm and the housing cover. In particular, it is not possible to generate uniform waves with a pronounced wave profile in the membrane. In this known pump, as also in the majority of the known diaphragm pumps, there is also a major disadvantage, especially for sensitive media, that the diaphragm is clamped asymptotically in the pump housing. As a result, particles in suspension in the medium can get caught, clumped and / or crushed at the asymptotic clamping points, while the rather rigid membrane moves in a wave-like manner to convey the medium.

In the case of peristaltic pumps (roller pumps), the pumping is effected in that the cross-section of an elastically deformable tube which is guided in a shaped channel is greatly reduced or squeezed by pressure rollers, the pinch point running over a certain distance of the tube length due to the pressure rollers moving. The pressure of the rollers leads to a pronounced frog-mouth-like deformation of the round tube cross-section with the associated crushing loads on the medium and the particles in it. Here, too, there is a contradiction between pump performance and protection of the medium. If the pump output is good to high, the undesirable squeezing of the medium is very high; if the pump output is gentle and the frog's mouth is not completely squeezed, the pump delivery rate is inadequate with correspondingly high energy losses.

Similar to the peristaltic pumps, in the case of so-called finger pumps, an elastically deformable tube is also acted upon in the longitudinal direction by plungers (fingers) acting one after the other on the tube, so that frog-like cross-sectional changes follow one another in the entire tube. (US 4482347)

In the case of finger pumps according to the prior art, in contrast to the invention, the entire cross section of the delivery space is always changed. This leads to considerable flexing movements in the entire tube body with corresponding material fatigue and deformations that cannot always be controlled. Furthermore, at the points where the roller or fingers hit the hose, there are abrupt cross-sectional changes with inevitable crushing of the medium, which can lead to the destruction of the typical consistency of the medium. These pumps are generally referred to as peristaltic pumps. However, this term is misleading in that it is not a wandering, ring-shaped constriction of a tube, but rather a bruise similar to the stripping of an intestine. For pumps with rigid diaphragms, be it connecting rod pendulum pumps or diaphragm pumps driven by eccentric shafts, the bending stiffness prevents the formation a harmonic vibration with the shortest possible period and with the movement pattern necessary for the creation of an effective flow. In addition, these pumps also only achieve their best efficiency when the wave crests touch the opposite chamber wall. This also leads to undesirable crushing of the medium at the contact points between the wave crests and the chamber wall.

The prior publications commented in more detail above also include the techniques and machines known from US Pat. Nos. 3,229,643, 3951576, 3981633, 4144001, 4715435 and 5620313.

All pumping techniques of the type described here and mentioned above are based without exception on the displacement principle (displacement machines).

The object of the invention is to propose a method and a pump for carrying it out, in which the conveying of the medium is brought about by generating an essentially uniform pipe flow, so that a media-specific, essentially vortex-free and thus gentle pumping is made possible, clumping and / or destruction of the particles suspended in the medium are largely avoided.

To achieve this object, the method according to the invention proposes that the amplitude and frequency of the wave-shaped movement be compared with the flow velocity of the medium being conveyed. It is advantageous if the waveform is determined according to the equation S _t x V = A x F. S _{t is} a dimensionless quantity to be described in more detail below, V is the average velocity of a mass (here the medium), A is the amplitude of a wavy movement and F is its frequency. While A and F can be determined by appropriate construction and V results from the geometry of the delivery chamber and the desired delivery volume, the wave movement is calculated according to the invention for an optimal energy yield with S _t = 0.3. In this way, the present invention enables the waveform to be brought into a controlled pattern and the waveform to be adjusted to the fluid to be conveyed.

The invention is essentially based on the so-called Strouhal parameter, which, in contrast to displacement and other flow machines, is based on an optimal ratio of amplitude and frequency of a wave movement.

The above-mentioned equation is used by the invention in that it keeps the frequency as low as possible with the aim of a flow that is as turbulent as possible and at the same time makes the amplitude large because the frequency represents a major cause of turbulent flows. The factor S _t described above also plays an important role here. In fluid mechanics, this factor is known as the so-called Strouhal number. If one now knows the optimal value for the Strouhal number S _t , then according to the invention, the amplitude of the wave can be optimally determined for a given V and the lowest possible frequency. Science has confirmed that the Strouhal number for the optimal energy yield in fish and birds that move over longer distances is 0.3. It seems to be an evolutionary optimum that applies across the universe.

Since the wave movements according to the invention are also vibrations, the invention provides for the wave movement for optimal energy gi yield to be calculated with the Strouhal number 0.3 and thus to achieve a delivery rate with optimal energy yield.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is therefore made in particular for the amplitude to be determined with the value 0.3 for the factor S _t .

In this way, the invention also differs from current turbomachines in the form of centrifuges. Here it is only possible to achieve satisfactory delivery rates when the number of revolutions is high to very high. However, this means highly turbulent flows, which can lead to disturbances or even destruction of the fluid structure, particularly in the case of sensitive fluids.

In contrast, it is possible with the method according to the invention to deliver relatively large volumes at relatively low frequencies. Low frequencies in turn mean low Reynolds numbers, so that according to the invention, with the appropriate choice of amplitude and frequency, exactly the flow behavior that is optimal for the fluid being conveyed can be controlled. Of particular interest here are low Reynolds numbers with essentially laminar flow up to Reynolds numbers in the transition range from laminar to turbulent flow.

Thus, the method according to the invention and the device for carrying it out essentially represent a turbomachine, which in this respect stands out clearly from displacement machines and, at the same time, also has the advantage over conventional turbomachines of being able to convey relatively large volumes at low frequencies.

The device for carrying out the method according to the invention has means for setting the amplitude and frequency of the advancing wave.

According to the invention, the means for changing the frequency comprise an adjusting device for the drive speed of the drive means actuating the membrane. This can e.g. be an adjustable speed motor.

According to the invention, the means for changing the amplitude comprise an adjusting device for changing e.g. the eccentric stroke of the eccentrics acting on the membrane on a drive shaft. This can e.g. be a backdrop on which the center distance of the eccentric relative to its drive shaft can be adjusted.

Another object of the invention is to generate wave movements with the shortest possible wavelength and at the same time high amplitude in the membrane. As a result, taking into account the optimal Strouhal number according to the invention, it is possible to achieve high delivery rates with comparatively low frequencies and thus to remain in the forced flow in the range of controlled Reynolds numbers. With short wavelengths it is possible to construct short machines. To achieve this object, the invention proposes in pumps of the type mentioned at the outset that in the membrane forming at least part of the delivery chamber wall, a continuously progressing and essentially harmonic wave movement is generated in the conveying direction, which flows in the medium in the direction of the progressive wave movement of the membrane forces. In a first approximation, it is irrelevant how large the distance between a wave crest and a wall profile opposite this is, because as the waves advance, the flow is essentially generated by the optimally coordinated interaction of amplitude and frequency. A particular advantage of the invention is in this Context, the best possible energy yield (efficiency) with an optimal Strouhal number. _For a given delivery rate, the amplitude and / or frequency can also be optimally adjusted to the medium to be delivered. Thus, according to the invention, it becomes possible to set the flow behavior in particular at low but also at high Reynolds numbers and also in the transition area in between.

These are preferably progressive waves that extend over almost the entire width of the delivery chamber. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the flow cross-section in the conveying direction at each point of the conveying path within the device according to the invention is essentially the same size, but can be changed in sections without a transition. This avoids turbulence or abrupt deflection of the medium as it passes through the delivery chamber.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the elastically deformable membrane has a support body that allows waveforms. The support body is preferably a permanently elastic deformable foam body, so that seamless changes in shape during the wave movement are possible in the membrane.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In these drawings: Figure 1 is a schematic view of wave formation in a pump according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a pump according to the invention;

3 shows schematic cross-sectional views of possible embodiments of a pump according to the invention;

4 shows a cross-sectional view of a pump according to the invention in another embodiment; 5 schematically shows a longitudinal sectional view of a pump according to the invention in a boxer design;

6 shows a cross section through a membrane according to the invention in an embodiment of the pump according to FIG. 5.

Fig. 7 shows a cross section through a pump according to the invention with three prismatically arranged delivery spaces and a central, common drive for all membranes.

8 possible wave patterns according to the invention, in particular in connection with embodiments according to FIG. 3 (3b and 3c) As shown schematically in FIG. 1, a continuing natural or essentially harmonic waveform is formed in at least part of the wall section of the delivery chamber forming the delivery chamber wall, which wave moves continuously or pulsating in one direction by a corresponding drive. As a result of these constantly continuing wave movements, the medium is carried in the direction of the wave movement, so that a flow is formed between the inlet and outlet of the device. The desired waveform is determined by the number and arrangement of the exciters, for example five eccentrics 1, 2, 3, 4 and 1 'in the case shown. for a full wave. The number and type of suggestions are arbitrary. Eccentric waves are possible as well as excitation by magnets, piezo fibers, giant magnet resistance etc. It is crucial that the oscillating masses of the excitation device are kept as small as possible.

Fig. 2 shows schematically in partial longitudinal section an inventive device. In the device 1, a delivery chamber 4 with an inlet 5 and an outlet 6 is formed between a base part 2 and a cover 3. At least a portion of the wall delimiting the delivery space is designed as an elastically deformable wall part. According to the invention, a membrane 7 is arranged in the base part 2 as an elastically deformable wall part, in which a continuously progressing shaft movement in the direction of the arrow F is generated by an eccentric shaft drive 8, which is only indicated schematically here. In this exemplary embodiment, the membrane 7 is arranged in the wall in the plane of the x-axis (FIG. 1) and is acted upon by eccentrics arranged on the shaft 8 for shaping the shaft which continues continuously in the direction of the arrow F. The operative connection between the eccentrics and the membrane can have a connecting rod ring or gripper which is advantageously articulated on the membrane and which slidably encompasses the assigned eccentric. A sliding bearing (ball, needle or roller bearing) is preferably provided between the connecting rod ring and the eccentric, so that friction between the drive and the diaphragm is largely avoided. To generate the waves, which extend essentially over the entire width of the delivery space, ribs or metal inserts are provided on the drive side of the membrane 7 in a manner known per se, which support the membrane linearly in the direction transverse to the wave movement.

For a uniform flow, it can be advantageous, in particular in the case of sensitive liquids (fruit juice, blood, milk, etc.), if the conveying space 4 has an essentially constant cross section from its inlet 5 to its outlet 6. The cross-section in the area of the sectional planes A and D (Fig. 2) can e.g. be circular, while in the active area of the conveying space 4 between the cutting planes B and C it is elliptical or racetrack-shaped (with two straight lines and two curves). The various cross-sectional shapes merge seamlessly into one another. In this way and in conjunction with an appropriate waveform, turbulent flows in the delivery chamber are avoided. It is also possible according to the invention that the membrane 7 is also arranged in the cover 3 of the device 1, while the smooth wall of the delivery chamber 4 is at the bottom.

For gentle pumping, the medium delivered at the inlet 5 is first sucked into a wave trough, the leading wave crest narrowing the flow cross section. With the wave advancing in the direction of arrow F, the medium is then carried along, while an essentially laminar tube flow is forced above the membrane. It is advantageous if several waves run in succession. To increase the delivery capacity, the device according to the invention can also be designed as a double-chamber pump, as shown schematically in cross section in FIG. 3 a in FIG. 3. This embodiment of the invention has the advantage that it has a minimal number of components and is therefore particularly suitable for miniaturization. Here the pump housing is formed from two half-shells 9 and 10, between which the membrane 7 is clamped. The conveying spaces 11 and 12 thus formed have a common entrance and exit. The membrane is stretched here like a sail. For the excitation of its wave movement, the membrane in this embodiment preferably has embedded magnets or piezo fibers, which are excited in a manner known per se, in order to produce deformations in the membrane to form wave movements. The two active delivery rooms 11 and 12 with their common entrance and exit have an overall cross-section which is essentially the same size, as described in connection with FIG. 2.

As shown schematically in FIG. 3b in FIG. 3, two opposite wall sections can also each have a membrane 15, 16 in a delivery chamber. The advancing waves generated in the membranes by suitable drives 13 can run in phase or out of phase, depending on the type of flow that is to be generated in the delivery chamber. The pump can work lying and standing. If the delivery chamber is particularly wide, several drivers can also be provided, as shown in dash-dot lines. In the case of such an embodiment with two or also with a membrane, the device according to the invention can also be used to skim off surface layers of liquids that are loaded with particles.

As shown in FIG. 3 c, membranes 17, 18, 19 can also be arranged in a triangle and form a prismatic delivery space 21. Rectangular or polygonal delivery cross sections are also possible, corresponding to the number of membranes provided in the delivery wall. Such polygonally arranged membranes allow the pumping of large amounts of liquid as well as liquids with heavy impurities, an uninterrupted flow being always maintained in the center of the delivery chamber. According to the invention, at least one complete, preferably harmonic, vibration with the shortest possible period is generated in the membrane 7, 14 or the membranes 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 by the eccentric drive 8 or 13 or by magnetic or piezo elements. The wave crests are preferably shaped up to their limit value. When pumping sensitive media, they do not touch or only come close to the delivery chamber wall or membrane opposite the membrane, but rather leave a gap that allows the liquid to be delivered to pass freely. When conveying insensitive media, the membrane can also be shaped into movement patterns such that the wave crests are in contact with the opposite wall or shaft of the delivery chamber.

For example, in the embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 3b in FIG. 3, it is possible for the movement patterns in the opposing membranes to run in phase in such a way that the wave crests touch and run in the conveying direction with rolling contact. Such a wave pattern results from the reflection of the wave shown in FIG. 1 on the axis spanned by points 4. In the event of a movement pattern of the membrane in contact with the wave crests, strong currents can also be generated in the delivery space without substantially swirling the medium or putting it under pressure. Through the movement pattern of the preferably harmonic wave in the membrane 7, 14, 15, 16, 17 , 18, 19 a flow is generated in the delivery chamber 4, 11, 12, 20, 21, which the takes liquid to be conveyed in the direction of the continuing wave, so generates a directional flow. The phases of the harmonic vibrations and their movement patterns are to be coordinated in such a way that a uniform flow is preferably generated in the delivery chamber. As explained in more detail later in connection with FIG. 8.

A pump according to the invention is shown schematically in cross section in FIG. 4. A conveying space 24 with the cross-sectional shape already described above is configured between the bottom 22 and the cover 23 of a housing. This is limited by a membrane 25 clamped between the bottom 22 and the cover 23. To excite the wave pattern in the membrane 25, a shaft 26 with eccentrics 27 is rotatably mounted in the bottom 22. The eccentrics 27 deform the diaphragm 25 in the dot-dash manner so that a plurality of e.g. eccentrics offset by 90 ° each time the shaft 26 rotates produce the progressive wave pattern shown in FIG. 1. When pumping sensitive media, it is provided according to the invention that the transition between the membrane and the housing at the clamping point of the membrane runs almost seamlessly at such an angle that no squeezing or catching of the medium is possible at the clamping point. 5 shows a possible embodiment of the invention in a boxer arrangement, with the advantage that a drive via two membranes 28 and 29 acts on two conveying spaces 30, 31 of essentially similar configuration to that described above. In this case, the preferably harmonic shaft is generated by an eccentric drive, the shaft 32 of which carries a plurality of eccentrics 33. When the shaft 32 rotates, the desired wave-like movement pattern then arises in the membranes. The two individual membranes 28, 29 are in operative connection with the eccentrics 33 in the manner described above.

FIG. 6 shows a special embodiment of a membrane 34 according to the invention schematically in cross section, in particular for a boxer drive. The membrane 34 here has an upper membrane skin 35 and a lower membrane skin 36 made of flexibly elastic material. Between the membrane skins 35 and 36 there is an essentially cylindrical bearing chamber 37 for receiving the eccentric shaft 32, 33 and a chamber 38 which at least partially surrounds the bearing chamber 37 and which is filled with a permanent foam material such as latex or neoprene. For clamping in the housing, the membrane 34 has extensions 39 along its circumference, in which a wave profile 40 is formed in a manner known per se. This profile prevents loss of flex when the membrane moves. In the case of a simple membrane, it is also possible for the lower extensions 39 in the sense of FIG. 6 to be eliminated and for the chamber 38 to have a different, suitable cross-sectional shape.

In this embodiment of the membrane 34 according to the invention, a membrane body that can be flexibly deformed is created. If the eccentric shaft 32, 33 is inserted into this diaphragm body, the diaphragm body deforms around it according to the pattern of the eccentric shaft. The membrane skins 35, 36 and the foam body ensure that a smooth waveform is formed without discontinuities. This makes it possible, for example, to generate different wave forms with the same diaphragm body by changing the eccentric shaft. According to the invention, such an embodiment as a boxer can also be expanded to a prismatic or polygonal arrangement of the membranes by the conveying capacity of the pump and at the same time save drive energy. A prismatic configuration is shown schematically in FIG. 7. Here, three membranes 42, 43, 44 are arranged prismatically around a central drive 41. These membranes each form the bottom of delivery spaces 45, 46, 47, which are formed in a three-part housing, for example.

All of the exemplary embodiments have in common that in each individual delivery chamber a flow is generated by the essentially harmonic vibration with the movement pattern generated by the drive, which flow produces a uniform, i.e. essentially allows vortex-free conveying of the medium. In addition, the pump power is adjusted to the medium or, e.g., by adjusting the wave amplitude, the wave frequency and / or the wavelength. when pumping blood, can be set to the performance individually specified by the patient.

Without leaving the scope of the invention, it is possible in all of the embodiments to insert an essentially flexible hose into the delivery chamber, which hose is destroyed after the pump has been used. This will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 2. If an essentially flexible tube, which has a cross-section equal to that of the conveyor chamber 4, 5 and 6, is placed in the delivery chamber 4 from its inlet 5 to its outlet 6, the membrane 7 generates a flow in this tube through its wave movement. In special cases with high hygienic requirements, the hose can then be re-used

Disposed of and replaced. In this context, it is possible that a check or non-return valve is installed in the inlet and / or outlet of the pump, which prevents backflow and / or interrupts the pumping process in the event of a malfunction, possibly with simultaneous shutdown of the drive.

In this sense, a device according to the invention can also be designed as a hinged pump. The cover 3 is hinged to the bottom part 2. So the pump can be cleaned or serviced very easily. The membrane 7 is easily accessible and flexible single-use hoses can be easily inserted or removed, while the membrane can remain permanently in the device.

FIG. 8 schematically shows the interaction of continuous waves formed in the membranes according to FIGS. 3b and 3c. 8a in FIG. 8, the two membranes 15, 16 are excited to continue and preferably harmonic waves in such a way that the wave crests are exactly opposite one another or even touch. So they have the same amplitude and wavelength and run in phase. A volume V is enclosed between the upper membrane 15 and the lower membrane 16 in their troughs, which is conveyed in the direction of the arrow. The wave crests of the opposing membranes roll against each other.

With a corresponding contact pressure on the contact combs, the medium can also be compressed if the cross section of the delivery space (4 in FIG. 2) is tapered. However, for compression it is also possible to maintain the wavelength λ of e.g. Shorten three successive waves (8c in Fig. 8) from wave to wave (λl> λ2> λ3). In this context, it is also possible according to the invention that the first shaft has contact with the counter surface, while a subsequent shaft runs at a distance from the counter surface.

It has already been shown that, according to the invention, a gap can remain between the membrane and the opposite wall of the delivery chamber in order to pump the medium in a largely gentle manner. According to 8b in FIG. 8, this can be done in one embodiment 3b in Fig. 3 to increase the efficiency but also happen that the upper membrane 15 is excited with respect to the lower membrane 16 - with the same amplitude and wavelength - slightly out of phase waves to progress. This creates a more or less large passage in the area of the opposing wave crests in order to avoid any squeezing of particles suspended in the medium. 8d schematically shows three possible variants according to the invention, namely the wave movement of a membrane at a distance from a smooth counter surface, two membranes at a distance from one another and opposing wave crests, and two membranes at a distance from one another, one wave crest lying opposite one wave trough.

For gentle pumping, the delivery chamber 20 (FIGS. 3, 3b) has a sufficiently large passage in its edge regions, in which particles in suspension in the medium are not squeezed, accelerated and / or substantially swirled. The formation of continued waves over the entire width of the pumping chamber favors the entrainment of the medium both in these edge areas and in the possible gap between the wave crest of the membrane and the counter surface. The continued waves shown in FIG. 8 are also conceivable in an embodiment according to FIGS. 3, 3c, it being possible in particular to pump large quantities and liquids permeated with particles. (Waste water, pulp, granules)

It is also possible according to the invention that the amplitude and period of the advancing waves in the upper and lower membrane are different. This can force a desired swirl in the medium. Likewise, the generation of the advancing waves can be pulsating or continuous. This is possible in particular when the diaphragm (s) are excited by a magnetic or piezo-electric drive, which can be tailored precisely to the desired pumping or compression. When compressing, an asymptotic clamping of the membrane will be used.

The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiments shown and described. Rather, it also includes other embodiments with the same result and all possible combinations from the given exemplary embodiments. In particular, the invention is not necessarily restricted to slavishly adhering to the value 0.3 for the factor S. Rather, all such values are conceivable that can arise from specific circumstances or conditions.

Claims

Claims:

I. Method for conveying media, comprising a conveying chamber with an inlet and an outlet, a wall element at least partially delimiting the conveying chamber from an elastically deformable material that can continue to perform undulating movements, and a drive for generating the undulating movements of the elastically deformable wall element characterized in that the amplitude and frequency of the wavy movement are related to the flow velocity of the medium being conveyed. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the waveform is determined according to the equation S _t x V = A x F.

3. The method according to Anspmch 2, characterized in that the wave motion is calculated with the factor S _t = 0.3.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the frequency is kept as low as possible and at the same time the amplitude is large.

5. Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a delivery chamber with input and output, a wall element at least partially delimiting the delivery chamber from an elastically deformable material that can continue to perform undulating movements, and a drive for generation the wave-shaped movements of the elastically deformable wall element, characterized in that it has means (8; 13; 26, 27; 41) for adjusting the amplitude and frequency of the advancing wave.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that it has means for changing the frequency, an adjusting device for the drive speed of the elastically deformable wall element (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 34,42, 43, 44) actuating drive means (8; 13; 26, 27; 41).

7. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for changing the amplitude on an adjusting device (Fig. 5, Fig. 6) for changing the eccentric stroke of the elastically deformable wall element (28, 29; 34) acting on the eccentric (27) have a drive shaft (26).

8. A method for conveying media, in particular liquid media, in which the medium to be conveyed is guided through a conveying space with at least one wall element designed as a flexibly deformable membrane, characterized in that in the membrane (7; 14; 15, 16 ; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) generates a continuous wave motion in one direction, which forces a flow (F) in the medium in the direction of the continued wave motion of the membrane.

9. The method according to Anspmch 8, characterized in that the membrane (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) continuously continues in one direction , generates essentially harmonic waves. 10. The method according to Anspmch 8 and 9, characterized in that the wave movement is generated essentially over the entire width of the delivery space (4; 11,12; 20; 21; 24; 30, 31; 45, 46, 47).

I I. Method according spoke 8, characterized in that in the membrane (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) a pulsating in one direction traveling waves generated.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that in the membrane (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) continuously in creates a direction traveling wave with a short period.

13. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that in the membrane (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) in generates high-amplitude traveling waves.

14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that in the membrane (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) continuously in waves traveling in a direction with wave crests up to the critical peak value.

15. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 8 to 14, comprising a delivery chamber for the medium with at least one wall section which is elastically deformable, characterized in that the wall section has a membrane (7; 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19; 25; 28, 29; 34; 42, 43, 44) made of an elastically deformable material, with which seamless wave forms, in particular of a harmonious nature, can be generated in the membrane. 16. The device according to spoke 15, characterized in that the conveying space (4; 11, 12; 20; 21; 24: 30, 31) has a substantially constant cross section from its entrance (5) to its exit (6), wherein the cross-sectional shape can be changed in sections without transition.

17. The device according to claim 15, characterized in that the conveying space (4; 11, 12; 20; 21; 24: 30, 31) has a tapering cross section from its input (5) to its output (6), wherein the cross-sectional shape can be changed seamlessly in sections.

18. Device according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that the membrane (14) is clamped centrally between two conveying spaces (11, 12) and that both conveying spaces (11, 12) each have a common entrance and exit. (Fig.3, 3a)

19. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that two opposing membranes (15, 16) are arranged in the wall forming the delivery chamber (20). (Fig. 3, 3b)

20. The device according spoke 15, characterized in that the conveying space (21) is formed by polygonally arranged membranes (17, 18, 19). (Fig. 3, 3c)

21. Device according to one of claims 18 and 19, characterized in that the membranes (15, 16; 17, 18, 19) can be acted upon by drives (13) on the side of the membranes facing away from the delivery chamber (20; 21). (Fig. 3, 3b and 3c)

22. Device according to one of claims 15 to 21, characterized in that the membrane (34) is a flexibly deformable body which has a receptacle (37) for an eccentric shaft (32, 33).

23. Device according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that three delivery spaces (45, 46, 47) arranged in a triangle are formed in the housing, the mutually facing bottom side of which each has a membrane (42, 43, 44) and that a common drive (41) is provided for these membranes (42, 43, 44) arranged in such a prism manner (FIG. 7).