Sine wave pump with blocking slider and method of manufacture

Abstract

The invention relates to a blocking slide (38) for a pump, comprising: a rotor contact region (48) designed to abut against a wave-shaped rotor collar of the pump, in which the rotor contact region (48) comprises: a lateral rotor contact surface (50) designed to abut against a lateral surface of the rotor collar in each case; and an upper rotor contact surface (52) designed to bear against a radially outward shell surface of the rotor collar, the side rotor contact surfaces (50) being each embodied as a conically rounded surface, a first radius of curvature (R1) in a lower region of the side rotor contact surface (50) facing away from the upper rotor contact surface (52) is smaller than a second radius of curvature (R2) in an upper region of the side rotor contact surface (50) adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface (52).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a sinusoidal pump and a method for manufacturing a blocking slider for the sinusoidal pump. The sinusoidal pump is characterized by a rotor having a ring that extends radially and rotates in a wave-like or sinusoidal manner. A common inlet / outlet cavity is provided within the pump housing, and a blocking device is formed within this cavity. This blocking device engages around the rotor ring and prevents backflow of the fluid to be pumped within the common inlet / outlet cavity. The blocking device may include a blocking slider placed on the rotor ring and having a groove through which the rotor ring slides. Background Technology

[0002] These sliders are typically milled from plastic blanks. To seal the pump chamber, it is essential to ensure the best possible (fluid-sealed) contact between the slider and the rotor ring. However, milling sliders, under various conditions, only allows for a flat contact surface. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved blocking device and an improved manufacturing method for a sinusoidal pump, which can further reduce backflow of the fluid to be pumped. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a blocking slider for a pump that can be used in the food industry.

[0004] These objectives are achieved by the blocking slider according to claim 1, the pump according to claim 2, and the manufacturing method according to claim 8 or claim 10.

[0005] According to one embodiment, a blocking slider for a pump (such as a sinusoidal pump) includes a rotor contact area designed to abut against the wave-shaped rotor sleeve of the pump. The blocking slider may be a generally cuboid component with a groove on one side forming the rotor contact area and designed to rest on the rotor sleeve.

[0006] The rotor contact area includes side rotor contact surfaces designed to abut against the side surfaces of the rotor ring under various conditions; and an upper rotor contact surface designed to abut against the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring. Thus, the side rotor contact surfaces and the upper rotor contact surface form the aforementioned groove in the blocking slider, which can be placed on the rotor ring and contact the rotor ring during pump operation to seal the pump chamber and prevent the fluid to be pumped from flowing back from the outlet region to the inlet region.

[0007] The side rotor contact surfaces are all conically rounded surfaces, wherein the first radius of curvature of the lower region of the side rotor contact surface away from the upper rotor contact surface is smaller than the second radius of curvature of the upper region of the side rotor contact surface adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface. This allows for large-area contact between the side rotor contact surfaces and the wave-shaped rotor ring, because in the radially outwardly extending wave-shaped rotor ring, the radially inner region has a shorter perimeter compared to the radially outer region where the waveform is stretched along a longer circumference, thus exhibiting a greater waveform curvature.

[0008] According to another embodiment, the pump is provided with: a rotor rotatable about a rotation axis, the rotor including a rotor hub and a rotor ring extending radially from the rotor hub and rotating in a wave-like manner; a pump housing, which together with the rotor forms a pump cavity connecting a first inlet / outlet chamber and a second inlet / outlet chamber; and a blocking device disposed between the first inlet / outlet chamber and the second inlet / outlet chamber and including a blocking slider that axially blocks the pump cavity on both sides of the rotor ring. This sinusoidal pump is particularly suitable for food conveying because the pump cavity is easy to clean and because by positioning the pump cavity radially outside the rotor between the rotor and the pump housing, contamination of the pumped fluid by, for example, lubricating oil or wear particles from the pump's drive shaft or drive unit can be avoided.

[0009] The blocking slider has side rotor contact surfaces that abut against the side surfaces of the rotor ring, and also has an upper rotor contact surface that abuts against the radially outward outer surface of the rotor ring. The side rotor contact surfaces of the blocking slider are all conically rounded surfaces, wherein a first radius of curvature in the radially inner region of the side rotor contact surface near the rotor hub is smaller than a second radius of curvature in the radially outer region adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface. Therefore, a smooth contact can be achieved throughout the entire radial range of the rotor ring, allowing the blocking slider to effectively prevent unwanted backflow of fluid against the pump's flow direction.

[0010] According to a further embodiment, the upper rotor contact surface of the blocking slider can be a concave surface with a third radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring. Therefore, a smooth contact between the blocking slider and the rotor ring can be achieved at the radially outer end of the rotor ring, thereby achieving good pump chamber sealing.

[0011] According to a further embodiment, the lower rotor contact surface of the blocking slider can contact the radially outward shell surface of the rotor hub, wherein the lower rotor contact surface of the blocking slider is a concave surface having a fourth radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of curvature of the radially outward shell surface of the rotor hub. Therefore, an improved seal can also be achieved at the radially inner end of the blocking slider.

[0012] The blocking slider can be made of plastic material and can include a shell and reinforcing ribs, forming a cavity within the blocking slider. Such a blocking slider, essentially composed of a relatively thin-walled frame, can be manufactured, for example, by injection molding or 3D printing. Therefore, in some embodiments, plastic materials approved only for use in the food industry during injection molding, such as polyamide, can be used.

[0013] In some embodiments, the housing and / or reinforcing ribs of the blocking slider may be made of a plastic material with a glass fiber content, such as glass fiber reinforced polyamide, to provide a blocking slider with high mechanical strength and low wear.

[0014] At least some cavities of the blocking slider can be filled with a filler material. The filler material can be, for example, the same material used for the blocking slider substrate, or a different material with material properties suitable for the intended application. A filled blocking slider is easier to clean, and there are no accessible cavities into which the fluid to be delivered can penetrate. Alternatively, if the intended application does not require a fully filled blocking slider, the cavities of the blocking slider can also remain open.

[0015] According to another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a blocking slider for a sine wave pump is provided, comprising providing a glass fiber reinforced plastic material suitable for injection molding, and manufacturing the blocking slider by injection molding the glass fiber reinforced plastic material.

[0016] As described in conjunction with other embodiments, the blocking slider manufactured according to the method of the present invention has a rotor contact area, including: side rotor contact surfaces, all designed to abut against the side surface of the rotor ring; and an upper rotor contact surface, designed to abut against the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring. The side rotor contact surfaces are all implemented as conically rounded surfaces, wherein a first radius of curvature in the lower region of the side rotor contact surface away from the upper rotor contact surface is smaller than a second radius of curvature in the upper region of the side rotor contact surface adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface.

[0017] According to the optimized scheme, the step of manufacturing a blocking slider by injection molding glass fiber reinforced plastic material may include: manufacturing a blocking slider having a shell and at least one reinforcing rib located within the shell such that a cavity is formed within the shell. Therefore, the injection molding process, which is typically only used to manufacture relatively thin-walled parts, can also be used to manufacture blocking sliders that have sufficient extension in the depth direction to achieve good pump cavity sealing via large-area contact with the rotor ring. Furthermore, the method may also include filling the cavity within the blocking slider with a filler material to ensure that no fluid to be pumped seeps into the cavity within the blocking slider during pump operation.

[0018] According to another aspect, a method is provided for manufacturing a blocking slider for a sinusoidal wave pump, wherein a plastic material approved only for food applications during injection molding is used, and the blocking slider is manufactured by injection molding this plastic material. The blocking slider has a suitable shape for placement on the rotor ring of the sinusoidal wave pump and for preventing backflow of fluid in the reverse direction. Thus, a blocking slider for a sinusoidal wave pump in the food industry can be manufactured in a simple manner using starting materials approved only for the food industry during injection molding.

[0019] The plastic material can be glass fiber reinforced plastic to ensure sufficient mechanical strength for the blocking slider.

[0020] The steps of manufacturing a blocking slider by injection molding may include: manufacturing a blocking slider having a housing and at least one reinforcing rib within the housing such that a cavity is formed within the housing. According to some embodiments, the cavity within the blocking slider can then be filled with a filler material so that the filled blocking slider is easy to clean. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, see the drawings. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 A perspective cross-sectional view of the pump according to the present invention is shown;

[0023] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the pump shown;

[0024] Figure 3a A blocking slider according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 3b It shows Figure 3a Another view of the blocking slider shown;

[0026] Figure 3c It shows Figure 3a A cross-sectional view of the blocking slider shown;

[0027] Figure 4a It shows Figure 1 A perspective illustration of the respective radii of curvature of different regions of the rotor ring in the pump shown;

[0028] Figure 4b It shows Figure 3a The top view of the blocking slider shown also illustrates... Figure 1 The radii of curvature of different regions of the pump rotor ring shown; and

[0029] Figure 5A flowchart of a manufacturing method for a blocking slider is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0030] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A partial cross-sectional view of pump 10 is shown. Rotor 14 has a rotor hub 16 and a radially extending, wavy rotor ring 18, which is housed within an annular pump housing 12. Thus, the fluid to be pumped is conveyed from the inlet side to the outlet side in a pump chamber 20 by the rotation of rotor 14 and rotor ring 18, the pump chamber 20 being defined by the corresponding inner surface of pump housing 12 and the outer surfaces of rotor hub 16 and rotor ring 18.

[0031] The blocking device 22 will be described in more detail below. The blocking device 22 prevents the fluid to be transported from flowing back from the outlet side to the inlet side.

[0032] The pump 10 also includes a bearing carrier unit 24, into which a shaft 26 is mounted and a rotor 14 is fixed to the shaft 26. The pump housing 12 is attached to the bearing carrier unit 24, and the shaft 26 is mounted on one side and extends into the pump housing 12.

[0033] In the following text, information about the axial direction refers to the axis of rotation of rotor 14, while information about the radial direction refers to the corresponding radial direction centered on the axis of rotation.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiments, in various cases, the pump housing 12 includes a central annular housing component 28 and two axial housing components 30, 32, wherein the central housing component 28 and the axial housing components 30, 32 are held together by a plurality of screw connectors 34 and corresponding screws, washers, and nuts, wherein each screw connector 34 extends from the bearing carrier unit 24 through all three housing components 28, 30, 32. However, different fixing methods can also be provided. For example, the housing components 28, 30, 32 can be fixed independently to each other, and the pump housing 12 can be fixed independently to the bearing carrier unit 24, or individual axial housing components 30, 32 can be fixed independently. This allows for modular assembly and disassembly of the pump 10.

[0035] The central annular housing component 28 has inlet / outlet connection elements 36, each defining an inlet / outlet region within the pump chamber 20, and piping (not shown) can be connected to the inlet / outlet connection elements 36 (see [link to relevant documentation]). Figure 2 ).

[0036] The blocking device 22 includes a blocking slider 38 and is designed to axially block the pump passage 20 on both sides of the rotor ring 18. The blocking slider 38 is placed on the rotor ring 18 and arranged in a blocking slider cavity 40 within the pump housing 12.

[0037] Figures 3a to 3c The blocking slider 38 is shown in both cases. According to one embodiment, the blocking slider 38 is a component made of plastic material by injection molding. Due to the manufacturing process, the blocking slider 38 thus includes a frame manufactured by injection molding, the frame having a housing 42 and reinforcing ribs 44 arranged within the housing 42 such that a cavity 46 is formed within the injection-molded blocking slider 38, the cavity 46 being fillable with a filler material (not shown).

[0038] The advantages of manufacturing the blocking slider 38 by injection molding are: on the one hand, it allows the processing of plastic materials such as polyamide, which are only approved for food use when processed by injection molding; on the other hand, it allows for the improvement of the mechanical properties of the plastic material used, for example, by adding glass fiber content.

[0039] When manufacturing the blocking slider 38 using an injection molding process, the shape of the corresponding outer surface of the blocking slider 38 can also be selected in the following manner, that is, a particularly good seal of the pump chamber 20 can be achieved during the operation of the pump 10.

[0040] During operation of pump 10, the rotor contact area 48 of the blocking slider 38 contacts the rotor ring 18 or rotor hub 16 (see...). Figure 1 According to Figures 3a to 3c In the case of the blocking slider 38 shown in one embodiment, the side rotor contact surface 50 abuts against the axial side surface of the rotor ring 18 during pump operation. The side rotor contact surface 50 is formed as a conical curved shell surface. In various cases, the first radius of curvature R1 of the lower region of the side rotor contact surface 50, which is closer to the radially inner end of the rotor ring 18 during pump operation, is smaller than the second radius of curvature R2 of the upper region of the side rotor contact surface 50, which is closer to the radially outer end of the rotor ring 18 during pump operation.

[0041] Therefore, according to Figures 3a to 3c In the embodiment shown, the side rotor contact surface 50 of the blocking slider 38 is not formed as part of a cylindrical shell surface, but rather the radius of curvature of the side rotor contact surface 50 gradually increases from the lower (radially inward) end to the upper (radially outward) end of each side rotor contact surface 50. Therefore, as Figures 3a to 3b As shown, improved contact can be achieved between the side rotor contact surface 50 and the side surface of the rotor ring 18.

[0042] Figure 4a A rotor 14 is shown, having a rotor hub 16 and a radially extending sinusoidal rotor ring 18. Figure 4aProjections A and B in the diagram correspond to the rolling trajectories of the inner radial end (projection A) and outer radial end (projection B) of the rotor ring 18. Because the circumference of the inner radial end of the rotor ring 18 is smaller than the circumference of the outer radial end, the sine curve of the waveform of the rotor ring 18 is defined to have a greater slope at the inner radial end than at the outer radial end (see also...). Figure 4b Therefore, according to the embodiment shown, the side rotor contact surface 50 of the blocking slider 38 is adapted to the curvature of the side surface of the rotor ring 18, which decreases from the radial inner end to the radial outer end, thus achieving improved contact between the blocking slider 38 and the rotor ring 18 compared to a cylindrical contact surface.

[0043] Figures 3a to 3c The illustrated blocking slider 38 also includes an upper rotor contact surface 52, which contacts the radial outer casing surface of the rotor ring 18 during pump 10 operation. According to some embodiments, such as... Figure 3c As shown, the upper rotor contact surface 52 can be configured as a concave surface, with its radius of curvature R3 corresponding to the radius of curvature of the radial outer surface of the rotor ring 18. Therefore, at the radial outer end of the rotor ring 18, the sealing of the pump chamber can also be improved to prevent unwanted backflow of the fluid to be transported.

[0044] According to some embodiments, the lower rotor contact surface 54 of the blocking slider 38 contacts the radially outer surface of the rotor hub 16 during pump 10 operation. This lower rotor contact surface 54 can also be configured as a concave surface with a radius of curvature R4 corresponding to the radius of curvature of the radially outer surface of the rotor hub 16. Therefore, a good seal can also be achieved in the radially inner region of the pump chamber 20.

[0045] The external profile of the blocking slider 38 outside the rotor contact area 48 is determined by the construction of the blocking slider cavity 40 of the blocking device 22 for a specific pump 10, and can vary depending on the design and requirements of the pump 10, such as whether the pump 10 operates in two directions or only in one direction, or about the fluid to be transported and its viscosity.

[0046] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a manufacturing method is provided, such as... Figure 5 As shown, in step S1, a glass fiber reinforced plastic material is provided. For example, polyamide 66 with a glass fiber content of 35% can be used here to improve the mechanical strength of the blocking slider and reduce wear during pump operation.

[0047] In step S2, for example, by injection molding, such as Figures 3a to 3cThe blocking slider 38 shown has a relatively thin outer shell 42 and reinforcing ribs 44 arranged inside the outer shell 42 formed by injection molding, so that although the injection molding process is limited by the relatively thin wall thickness in manufacturing, it can still form a mechanically stable blocking slider 38.

[0048] By constructing the injection mold accordingly, the shape of the blocking slider can be freely adapted to the requirements of various pump models to achieve good pump cavity sealing and prevent unwanted backflow of the fluid to be transported, as referred to above. Figures 3a to 3c and Figures 4a to 4b Furthermore, the external profile of the blocking slider outside the rotor contact area can be matched with the dimensions of the pump chamber and the blocking slider chamber of a specific pump type.

[0049] In step S3, the cavity formed between the outer shell 42 of the blocking slider 38 and the reinforcing rib 44 can be filled with a filling material, such as polyurethane, or the same material used for the blocking slider substrate.

[0050] Finally, in step S4, the blocking slider can be installed in the sine wave pump, for example, by releasing... Figure 1 The pump housing 12 of the pump 10 shown is connected by screws 34, and the blocking slider 38 is placed on the rotor ring 18 and inserted into the blocking slider cavity 40. In this way, the improved blocking slider 38 according to the present invention can also be installed in an existing pump for retrofitting, so that the improved seal of the pump cavity 20 can also be achieved in the existing pump.

[0051] According to a variant embodiment, non-glass fiber reinforced plastic materials can also be used. Figure 5 In the manufacturing method shown. Furthermore... Figure 5 The manufacturing method shown can also be used to manufacture products suitable for use according to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The pump has a blocking slider of any shape.

Claims

1. A blocking slider (38) for a pump (10), comprising: Rotor contact area (48), said rotor contact area (48) is designed to abut against the wave-shaped rotor ring (18) of said pump (10), wherein said rotor contact area (48) includes: Side rotor contact surface (50), said side rotor contact surface (50) is designed to abut against the side surface of said rotor ring (18) under various conditions; and The upper rotor contact surface (52) is designed to abut against the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring (18). The side rotor contact surfaces (50) are all implemented as conical rounded surfaces, wherein the first radius of curvature (R1) of the lower region of the side rotor contact surface (50) away from the upper rotor contact surface (52) is smaller than the second radius of curvature (R2) of the upper region of the side rotor contact surface (50) adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface (52).

2. A pump (10) comprising: The rotor (14) is rotatable about a rotation axis and includes a rotor hub (16) and a rotor ring (18) extending radially from the rotor hub (16) and rotating in a wave-like manner. Pump housing (12), the pump housing (12) and the rotor (14) together form a pump cavity (20), the pump cavity (20) connecting a first inlet / outlet chamber and a second inlet / outlet chamber, and A blocking device (22) is arranged between the first inlet / outlet cavity and the second inlet / outlet cavity and includes a blocking slider (38) which blocks the pump cavity (20) axially on both sides of the rotor ring (18). in, The blocking slider (38) has side rotor contact surfaces (50), each side rotor contact surface (50) abutting against the side surface of the rotor ring (18), and has an upper rotor contact surface (52), the upper rotor contact surface (52) abutting against the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring (18). The side rotor contact surfaces (50) of the blocking slider (38) are all rounded into a conical shape. The first radius of curvature (R1) of the side rotor contact surface (50) in the radially inner region near the rotor hub (16) is smaller than the second radius of curvature (R2) of the side rotor contact surface (50) in the radially outer region adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface (52).

3. The pump (10) according to claim 2, wherein, The upper rotor contact surface (52) of the blocking slider (38) is a concave surface with a third radius of curvature (R3) corresponding to the radius of curvature of the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring (18).

4. The pump (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The lower rotor contact surface (54) of the blocking slider (38) contacts the radially outward shell surface of the rotor hub (16), wherein the lower rotor contact surface (54) of the blocking slider (38) is a concave surface having a fourth radius of curvature (R4) corresponding to the radius of curvature of the radially outward shell surface of the rotor hub (16).

5. The pump (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein, The blocking slider (38) is made of plastic material and includes a shell (42) and reinforcing ribs (44) such that a cavity (46) is formed inside the blocking slider (38).

6. The pump (10) according to claim 5, wherein, The outer shell (42) and / or the reinforcing rib (44) of the blocking slider (38) are made of a plastic material with a glass fiber content, such as glass fiber reinforced polyamide.

7. The pump (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, At least some of the cavities (46) of the blocking slider (38) are filled with a filling material.

8. A method for manufacturing a blocking slider (38) for a sinusoidal pump (10), comprising: Provides glass fiber reinforced plastic materials suitable for injection molding; The blocking slider (38) is manufactured by injection molding the glass fiber reinforced plastic material, wherein the blocking slider (38) has a rotor contact area (48), the rotor contact area (48) comprising: Side rotor contact surface (50), said side rotor contact surface (50) is designed to abut against the side surface of said rotor ring (18) under various conditions; and The upper rotor contact surface (52) is designed to abut against the radially outward shell surface of the rotor ring (18). The side rotor contact surfaces (50) are all implemented as conical rounded surfaces, wherein the first radius of curvature (R1) of the lower region of the side rotor contact surface (50) away from the upper rotor contact surface (52) is smaller than the second radius of curvature (R2) of the upper region of the side rotor contact surface (50) adjacent to the upper rotor contact surface (52).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The step of manufacturing the blocking slider (38) by injection molding the glass fiber reinforced plastic material includes: manufacturing a blocking slider (38) having a housing (42) and having at least one reinforcing rib (44) located within the housing (42) such that a cavity (46) is formed within the housing (42), and wherein the method further includes: The cavity (46) inside the blocking slider (38) is filled with filling material.

10. A method for manufacturing a blocking slider (38) for a sinusoidal pump (10), comprising: Provides a plastic material suitable for processing by injection molding, wherein the plastic material is approved for food applications only during injection molding processing; The blocking slider (38) is manufactured by injection molding the plastic material.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The plastic material is glass fiber reinforced plastic.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, The step of manufacturing the blocking slider (38) by injection molding includes: manufacturing a blocking slider (38) having a housing (42) and having at least one reinforcing rib (44) located within the housing (42) such that a cavity (46) is formed within the housing (42), and wherein the method further includes: The cavity (46) inside the blocking slider (38) is filled with filling material.

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