Drive for a pumping device and pumping device

Abstract

A drive unit for a pumping device for the continuous pumping of a fluid, in particular a viscous liquid, from a container is provided. The drive unit comprises a cam that can be set into rotation and has a guide element. The drive unit includes at least two cam connections, the vertical positions of which can each be changed between a minimum and a maximum position by means of the guide element, and which are each configured to drive a piston of a separate follower plate pump unit. The cam unit is configured to move the at least two cam connections out of phase by means of a rotation of the guide element.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive for a follower plate pump, i.e., a drive device. The drive device can be used in a pumping device. The present invention also relates to a pumping device comprising the drive, in particular for the continuous pumping of a viscous medium from a drum-like container. Technical background

[0002] Application systems are used in numerous industrial applications, for example in the automotive, construction, energy, and semiconductor industries, as well as in industrial assembly. Application systems serve to apply media, especially (highly) viscous, pasty, and / or liquid media, onto or into components. Examples of liquid media include adhesives, foams (especially polyurethane foams), battery foams, and insulating foams, as well as paints and cleaning fluids. In the automotive sector, application systems are used, for example, to apply battery foams and / or adhesives to the batteries of electric vehicles, and / or to apply adhesives to body parts and / or vehicle windows, such as windshields.

[0003] An application system comprises at least one application device, also known as an applicator. The application device is used to apply the medium to or into a component and receives the medium from a source, for example, a storage container, in particular a container or drum. Optionally, the application system may also include a metering device, which is used for metering prior to application, for example, by controlling the fluid or material flow of the medium.

[0004] To empty the medium from drum-like containers without bubbles, it is pumped through a drum-type follower plate mounted on top of the medium. A follower plate pump, such as a ladle pump or a piston pump, is typically used for this purpose. Such pumps are mounted on a follower plate and include a piston that engages a medium-filled passage in the follower plate. The piston is designed, for example, by means of a disc or scoop at its lower end, to convey a portion of the medium from the passage of the follower plate to the other side of the piston and thus out of the container during the extension stroke. However, when pumping (highly) viscous materials from drums, a pump hammer occurs with known follower plate pumps. This hammer occurs when the drive of the follower plate pump is reversed. At the moment of the hammer, pressure and flow rate drop.This leads to a noticeable disruption in applications, especially without a dosing device.

[0005] The use of other known pumps suitable for continuous pumping is not an option for this application, as they cannot provide the required pressure, could be internally destroyed by fillers in the medium, or could have or develop design-related leaks. Summary of the invention

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a follower plate pump device that enables continuous pumping and at least partially reduces the disadvantages described above. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a follower plate pump device in which the pump stroke is reduced and / or compensated.

[0007] At least one of the problems, or further problems, that arise for a person skilled in the art from the present disclosure are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the description.

[0008] In one aspect of the invention, a drive for a follower plate pump for the continuous pumping of a fluid, in particular a viscous liquid, from a container is provided. The drive comprises a cam that is rotatable and has a guide element. The drive includes at least two cam connections, the vertical positions of which can each be changed between a minimum and a maximum position by the guide element, and which are each configured to drive a piston of a separate follower plate pump unit. The cam is configured to move the at least two cam connections out of phase by a rotation of the guide element.

[0009] In other words, setting the cam into a rotational movement can cause a rotation of the guide element, thereby changing the vertical positions of the at least two cam connections such that the vertical positions are always different. For example, the vertical position of a first cam connection can be the minimum position, while the vertical position of a second cam connection is the maximum position. Likewise, the vertical position of the first cam connection can increase due to the rotation of the cam, while the vertical position of the second cam connection decreases. For example, the guide element can be configured to guide the at least two cam connections out of phase, so that their vertical positions adjust or change in opposite directions.

[0010] In one embodiment, three cam connections can be provided. For this purpose, the guide element of the cam can be configured to guide two of the three cam connections out of phase and the third cam connection out of phase with the other two cam connections.

[0011] By staggering the operation of at least two cam connections, it can be ensured that at least one other piston of a separate follower plate pump unit is always lifting medium from the follower plate while another follower plate pump unit is switching over.

[0012] The vertical position can define a height relative to the mirror of the medium and / or the follower plate in the container.

[0013] The container can be barrel-shaped or designed as a barrel or container.

[0014] The scenery connections can also be called scenery pieces.

[0015] The fluid can be viscous, highly viscous, thick or viscous.

[0016] In one embodiment, the guide element can be formed on an edge, particularly the upper edge, of the guide. The upper edge of the guide can be defined as the edge facing away from the follower plate pump units, the follower plate, or the medium. The guide element can have a running rail.

[0017] In one embodiment, the guide element can be designed as a circumferential recess in the cam, e.g. as a groove, into which the cam connections can engage.

[0018] In one embodiment, the backdrop can be formed by a hollow structure, in particular a hollow cylinder. The at least two backdrop connections can be arranged inside the hollow structure. The hollow structure can have a circular, oval, or polygonal plan.

[0019] In one embodiment, each of the cam connections can have a roller by means of which the cam connection can be in contact with the guide element. In other words, the cam connection can follow the guide element by means of a roller. The roller can rest on the guide element, in particular on the guide element designed as a running rail.

[0020] The cam follower can be located in or on the guide element.

[0021] In one embodiment, the follower plate pump unit can include a scoop pump or be configured as a scoop pump. The scoop pump can have a disc at the lower end of the piston, i.e., at the end of the piston closest to the medium. In the minimum position of a cam connection, the disc of the scoop pump connected to this cam connection can be substantially flush with the surface of the follower plate that is in contact with the medium. In the maximum position of a cam connection, the disc can reach its switching point within the pump body of the scoop pump connected to this cam connection.

[0022] In another aspect, a pumping device for the continuous pumping of a fluid, in particular a viscous liquid, from a container is provided. The pumping device comprises at least two follower plate pump units. Each of the follower plate pump units is configured to pump the fluid from the container in a single discharge stroke. Each of the follower plate pump units comprises a piston and a pump body. The pumping device includes a common drive for the follower plate pump units, as described above. Each of the at least two cam connections is connected to a piston of each of the at least two follower plate pump units to pump the fluid through the at least two follower plate pump units in a phase-shifted manner.

[0023] In a further aspect, an application system is provided. The application system comprises a container containing a fluid, in particular a viscous liquid, a follower plate arranged on top of the fluid in the container, a pumping device as described above, and an application device. The pumping device is arranged on the follower plate and configured to pump the fluid from the container through a passage in the follower plate and supply it to the application device at a predetermined pressure. The application device is configured to apply the fluid. Brief description of the characters

[0024] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to a figure.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a drive 1 for controlling a pump device according to one aspect of the invention. Detailed description

[0026] Fig. Figure 1 shows a drive 1 for controlling a pump device 100. The drive 1 has a cam 10 which can be set into rotary motion and in Fig. 1 can be designed as a hollow cylinder. The drive 1 also has at least two cam connections 15. In Fig. 1 The drive 1 can have three cam connections 15.

[0027] Each of the cam connections 15 is connected to a piston 21 of a separate follower plate pump unit 20a, 20b, 20c. The drive 1 can have exactly one cam connection 15 for each follower plate pump unit 20a, 20b, 20c. The pump device 100 of the Fig. 1 can have three follower plate pump units 20a, 20b, 20c. Each of the follower plate pump units 20a, 20b, 20c can be configured as a ladle pump and each have a plate 22 which can be arranged at the lower end of the piston 21.

[0028] Scenery 10 includes a guide element 11. In Fig. 1. The guide element 11 can be formed on an edge of the cam 10, in particular on the upper edge, i.e., the edge facing away from the follower pump units 20a, 20b, 20c. The edge of the cam 10 can have a variable height in the direction of movement of the cam 10. The variable height of the edge can effect the phase-shifted control of the individual follower plate pump units 20a, 20b, 20c. The variable height of the edge can be defined by a section between the hollow structure of the cam 10 and an inclined plane. The edge of the cam 10 can have a radial bearing surface that forms the guide element 11.

[0029] As in Fig.As shown in Figure 1, the follower plate pump units 20 are connected via the cam 10 and operate simultaneously but offset from each other. When the first follower plate pump unit 20a reaches the switching point (cam drive at maximum position), the follower plate pump units 20b and 20c are still pumping or lifting. The switching shock of the first follower plate pump unit 20a is effectively compensated by the follower plate pump units 20b and 20c. As a result, there is no or a significantly smaller pressure drop than with previously known follower plate pumps.

Claims

[1] Drive (1) for a pumping device (100) for continuously conveying a fluid, in particular a viscous liquid, from a container, comprising drive (1): a backdrop (10) which can be rotated and has a guide element (11); at least two cam connections (15), the vertical positions of which can each be changed between a minimum position and a maximum position by the guide element (11) and which are each configured to drive a piston (21) of a separate follower plate pump unit (20a; 20b; 20c); wherein the cam (10) is arranged to guide the at least two cam connections (15) out of phase by a rotation of the guide element (11). [2] Drive (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guide element (11) is formed on an edge of the backdrop (10); the cam (10) is formed by a hollow structure, in particular a hollow cylinder, wherein the at least two cam connections (15) are arranged inside the hollow structure; and / or Each of the cam connections (15) has a roller through which the cam connection (15) is in contact with the guide element (11). [3] Pumping device (100) for continuously pumping a fluid, in particular a viscous liquid, from a container, comprising the pumping device (100): at least two follower plate pump units (20a; 20b; 20c), each of the follower plate pump units (20a; 20b; 20c) being configured to pump the fluid out of the container in a discharge stroke, each of the follower plate pump units (20a; 20b; 20c) comprising a piston (21) and a pump body; a drive (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the at least two cam connections (15) is connected to each of a piston (21) of the at least two follower plate pump units (20a; 20b; 20c) in order to convey the fluid through the at least two follower plate pump units (20a; 20b; 20c) in a phase-shifted manner. [4] Pumping device (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the follower plate pump unit (20a; 20b; 20c) comprises or is a ladle pump.

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