MODULAR BLOCK FOR ELECTRIC PUMP WITH LIMITED SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND CORRESPONDING PUMP

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a modular block for an electric pump for a fluid product, in particular for paint, and an associated electric pump.

[0002] The term "fluid product" hereinafter refers to a product with a viscosity between 1 mPa·s and 300,000 mPa·s, this viscosity being measured, for example, using a Brookfield Plan Cone viscometer under standard temperature and pressure conditions. This term thus encompasses products in a liquid state, which are perfectly deformable and have low viscosity, as well as products generally described as "pasty," which are more viscous than liquids and exhibit an intermediate state between liquid and solid.

[0003] Such a pump is, for example, suitable for circulating paint in a circuit. This helps prevent paint sedimentation and maintains a homogeneous paint application.

[0004] The pump must be suitable for the desired circulation rate. In particular, if the pump is not suitable for the flow rate, there is a risk that the pump will run too fast and cause the paint to run too thin, or that the pump will run too slowly and the paint will not be applied evenly.

[0005] In addition, it is important to provide a constant flow rate and pressure of fluid product at the user's level to allow for homogeneous distribution of the fluid, for example when applying paint.

[0006] Furthermore, it is desirable to be able to adjust the flow rate in a circulation system according to different flow ranges, such as 20 liters per minute, 40 liters per minute, and 60 liters per minute. It is then necessary to adapt the pump to the change in flow rate.

[0007] One option is to have a pump for each desired flow rate range and to change pumps each time the flow rate changes. However, this is expensive and requires significant storage space for unused pumps.

[0008] In the context of chemical processes in the cosmetic, petrochemical, pharmaceutical and food industries, there are electric pumps comprising an electric motor and identical modules designed to be combined to allow adjustment of the flow rate and / or use of different products.

[0009] The modules are, for example, stacked along an electric motor shaft.

[0010] However, such pumps have a significant footprint in the direction of the electric motor shaft, due to the superposition of modules in that direction.

[0011] DE 195 36 696 A1 describes a unit with an electric motor with a casing open on one side, in which a drive shaft is arranged along the axis of symmetry, and with a pump arranged in a casing which extends in the radial direction relative to the drive shaft and in which channels are formed to guide the pump pistons.

[0012] FR 2 503 272 A1 describes a radial piston pump.

[0013] FR 3 015 582 A1 describes a hydraulic machine comprising a casing, a cam, a cylinder block, movable pistons with translation in the cylindrical and a fluid distribution assembly connected to the cylinders.

[0014] One object of the invention is to provide a pump system adaptable to different flow ranges with a limited footprint.

[0015] For this purpose, the invention relates to a modular block for an electric pump for a fluid product according to claim 1.

[0016] The symmetries of the modular block allow two identical modular blocks to be stacked so that their respective second planes extend within the same plane, alternating the location of the housing relative to that plane, and thus the pumping device. Since the overall footprint of the modular block depends on the footprint of the pumping device, alternating the pumping devices offers the possibility of reducing the footprint of the stacked modular blocks depending on the direction of stacking.

[0017] The modular block may also have one or more of the features of claims 2 to 9, considered individually or according to all technically possible combinations.

[0018] The invention further relates to an electric pump according to claim 10.

[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which: there figure 1 is a perspective view of a modular block according to an embodiment of the invention, the figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the pumping device of a modular block of the figure 1 , there figure 3 is a front view of an electric pump comprising two modular blocks according to an embodiment of the invention, the figure 4 is a schematic view of an example of a bearing between two modular blocks according to the invention, and the figures 5 And 6 are front views of an electric pump comprising respectively three and five modular blocks according to variants of the invention.

[0020] A modular block 10 for an electric pump for fluid products is shown on the figure 1 and visible on the figures 2 à 6 .

[0021] The modular block 10 comprises a main body 12 and a pumping device 14.

[0022] The modular block 10 is designed to cooperate with the shaft of a motor extending in a direction known as elevation Z.

[0023] We define a longitudinal direction X and a transverse direction Y perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the elevation direction Z, so as to define an orthogonal coordinate system.

[0024] The main body 12 comprises one or, here, external side walls 16.

[0025] The main body 12 further includes an internal side wall 17 and here an intermediate partition 18.

[0026] The main body 12 has a general shape. The general shape is defined here by the outer side wall(s) 16.

[0027] The outer side walls 16 extend here along the elevation direction Z.

[0028] The external side walls 16 have a dimension along the elevation direction Z, said dimension being called height, constant over all the walls.

[0029] The general shape exhibits discrete rotational symmetry with respect to a reversion axis δ, for a rotation angle approximately equal to 180°.

[0030] The general shape exhibits orthogonal symmetry with respect to a first plane P h and with respect to a second plane P v.

[0031] The second plane P v is perpendicular to the first plane P h.

[0032] The reversion axis δ corresponds here to the intersection of the first plane P h and the second plane P v.

[0033] The first plane P h extends along the longitudinal direction X and along the transverse direction Y.

[0034] The second plane P v extends along the transverse direction Y and along the elevation direction Z.

[0035] For the purposes of this description, we consider that the second plane Pv divides the space into two halves along a first side E1 of the second plane and a second side E2 of the second plane. The second plane Pv is also called the central plane.

[0036] The internal side wall 17 defines a through opening 20 through the modular block 10.

[0037] The through orifice 20 passes through the modular block 10 in the Z elevation direction.

[0038] The main body 12 is configured to receive the motor shaft in the through hole 20.

[0039] The internal side wall 17 has a constant height, more specifically equal to the height of the external side walls.

[0040] The internal side wall 17 is level with the external side walls 16.

[0041] The internal side wall 17 is included in the general shape.

[0042] The internal side wall 17 is in contact with the external side wall(s) 16 at a location 21 included in the second plane P v.

[0043] The through orifice 20 has a central axis D, extending here along the elevation direction Z.

[0044] The through orifice 20 has orthogonal symmetry with respect to the first plane P h and with respect to the second plane P v.

[0045] The internal side wall 17 is here a cylinder with a circular base having as its axis of revolution the central axis D of the through orifice 20.

[0046] The main body 12, more particularly the internal side wall 17, has a bore 23 at each end of the through orifice 20 along the elevation direction Z. The bore 23 extends here on the face of the internal side wall 17 delimiting the through orifice 20.

[0047] The intermediate partition 18 is here a median partition of the main body 12, that is to say that it extends halfway up the main body 12 along the elevation direction Z.

[0048] The intermediate partition 18 extends here according to the first plane P h.

[0049] The intermediate partition 18 then separates the modular block 10 into two halves 22, here orthogonally symmetrical.

[0050] The modular block 10, more particularly the intermediate partition 18, the external side walls 16 and the internal side wall 17, delimits for each half 22 an open volume 24. The open volume 24 is open opposite the intermediate partition 18 along the elevation direction Z.

[0051] Each open volume 24 is adaptable to form a fluid reservoir.

[0052] In particular, each open volume 24 has a suction opening 25 and a discharge opening 27.

[0053] The suction opening 25 is located near the intermediate partition 18, the discharge opening 27 being further from the intermediate partition 18 than the suction opening 25.

[0054] The modular block 10 also features one or more reinforcing ribs 26 and / or one or more radial partitions 28.

[0055] Each reinforcing rib 26 connects the internal side wall 17 to the intermediate partition 18.

[0056] Each radial partition 28 connects one or more of the outer side walls 16 and the inner side wall 17 over the entire height of the main body 12. The radial partition 28 thus extends on either side of the intermediate partition 18.

[0057] Alternatively, the main body 12 does not include an intermediate partition 18 as described previously, but another arrangement defining at least one volume suitable for being adapted to form a fluid reservoir. The main body 12 includes, for example, a first half-bottom and a second half-bottom. The first half-bottom extends to a first end of the main body along the Z-axis in the first half E1 of space. The second half-bottom extends to a second end of the main body along the Z-axis, opposite to the first end, in the second half E2 of space.

[0058] The main body 12 further defines a housing 30, the housing being intended to receive the pumping device 14.

[0059] Housing 30 is arranged between the internal side wall 17 and one or more external side walls 16.

[0060] The housing 30 extends opposite the location 21 of contact between the internal side wall 17 and the external side wall(s) 16 along the longitudinal direction X.

[0061] The housing 30 extends along a principal axis Δ included in the first plane P h. More particularly, the housing 30 has a so-called proximal end at the level of the orifice traversing 20 and a so-called distal end opposite to the proximal end along the direction of the principal axis Δ.

[0062] The main axis Δ of dwelling 30 within dwelling 30 extends from one side of the second plane P v, more specifically in the example of the figure 1 on the first side E 1.

[0063] The main axis Δ of housing 30 within housing 30 extends outside the second plane P v, that is to say that the point forming the intersection between the main axis Δ and the second plane P v is located outside the housing.

[0064] The intersection between the main axis Δ and the second plane P v is more particularly located in the through orifice 20, more particularly at the level of the central axis D of the through orifice 20.

[0065] Housing 30 opens into the through orifice 20 on one side and outside the main body 12 on the other.

[0066] Housing unit 30 has orthogonal symmetry with respect to the foreground P h.

[0067] The main axis Δ of housing 30 defines an angle α with the second plane P v .

[0068] The distance along the transverse direction Y of the principal axis Δ within housing 30 in the second plane P v is strictly increasing from the proximal end to the distal end.

[0069] Housing 30 is here delimited by a hollow cylinder having the main axis Δ as its axis of rotation.

[0070] Housing 30 has a shoulder 32 visible on the figure 2 near the through orifice 20.

[0071] The main body 12 as a whole exhibits orthogonal symmetry with respect to the first plane P h.

[0072] The main body 12 exhibits reversibility by rotation around the reversibility axis δ through a given angle, referred to here as the reversibility angle. The reversibility angle is 180°. This will be described in more detail below with regard to the operation of the modular block.

[0073] The main body 12 here has a height h 12 equal to 120 millimeters.

[0074] The main body 12 is, for example, made of aluminum or stainless steel.

[0075] The pumping device 14 extends partially into the housing 30 of the main body 12.

[0076] The pumping device 14 has orthogonal symmetry with respect to the first plane P h.

[0077] The pumping device 14 extends outside the second plane P v.

[0078] In the example shown and as visible on the figure 2 , the pumping device 14 includes a piston 40 and a diaphragm 42.

[0079] The piston 40 extends at least partially into the housing 30.

[0080] The diaphragm 42 extends outside the housing 30 opposite the through orifice 20.

[0081] The diaphragm 42 extends outside the general shape of the main body 12.

[0082] The pumping device 14 further includes a sleeve 44 in which the piston 40 moves and / or a piston 40 return member 46.

[0083] The pumping device 14 also includes a base 48 for the diaphragm 42 and / or a closing partition 50. The diaphragm 42 extends between the base 48 and the closing partition 50.

[0084] The sleeve 44 and, where applicable, the base 48 and the closing partition 50 are, for example, made of aluminum and / or stainless steel.

[0085] The shirt 44 extends at least partially into the housing 30.

[0086] The sheath 44 extends from a proximal end on the side of the through orifice 20 to a distal end on the side of the diaphragm 42.

[0087] The proximal end of the shirt 44 rests against the shoulder 32 of the housing 30.

[0088] In the example shown, the sleeve 44 extends partially outside the housing 30. More specifically, the distal end of the sleeve 44 extends outside the housing 30.

[0089] Shirt 44 delimits an internal volume.

[0090] The sleeve 44 is a hollow cylinder, the axis of the cylinder being advantageously coincident with the main axis Δ.

[0091] The external diameter of the sleeve 44 is approximately equal to the diameter of the cylinder forming the housing 30.

[0092] The sleeve 44 forms a lining of the orifice forming the housing 30.

[0093] The piston extends fully into the sleeve 44 and at least partially into the housing 30.

[0094] The sleeve 44 cooperates with the piston 40 so that the piston 40 is able to slide in the sleeve 44, the sleeve 44 forming the complementary cylinder of the piston 40.

[0095] The piston 40 is able to slide in translation in the sleeve 44 in the direction of the main axis Δ.

[0096] The piston 40 separates the internal volume of the sleeve 44 into a proximal chamber 52 on the side of the through orifice 20 and a distal chamber 54 on the side of the diaphragm 42.

[0097] The distal chamber 54 contains a transmission fluid.

[0098] The piston 40 can be moved in translation between two extreme positions: a so-called suction position represented on the figure 2 and a so-called expulsion position.

[0099] The volume of the distal chamber 54 in the aspiration position is strictly greater than the volume of the distal chamber 54 in the expulsion position of a given cylinder, for example between 50 cL and 500 cL.

[0100] In the example shown, in the suction position visible on the figure 2 , the piston 40 is approximately flush with the sleeve 44 on the side of the through orifice 20, more particularly here is supported against an extreme shoulder 55 of the sleeve 44.

[0101] In the expulsion position, the piston is approximately flush with the sleeve 44 on the side of the diaphragm 42.

[0102] The return member 46 of the piston 40 is arranged to return the piston 40 to the suction position.

[0103] The return element 46 is here a spring working in extension.

[0104] The return member 46 extends between a bearing surface 58 of the piston 40 and a shoulder 60 formed at the distal end of the sleeve 44.

[0105] More specifically, shoulder 60 is formed by base 48.

[0106] The base 48 extends contiguously with the sleeve 44 at the distal end of said sleeve 44.

[0107] The base 48 has a support surface 62 for the diaphragm 42.

[0108] The support surface 62 is arranged on the base 48 opposite the sleeve 44 along the direction of the main axis Δ of the housing 30.

[0109] The support surface 62 is curved and concave.

[0110] The support surface 62 exhibits continuous rotational symmetry around the principal axis Δ.

[0111] The support surface 62 is generally bowl-shaped.

[0112] A central part of the support surface 62 extends against the distal end of the sleeve 44.

[0113] The support surface 62 further includes a peripheral part surrounding the central part.

[0114] The base 48 has a plurality of through openings 64 between the internal volume of the sleeve 44 and the support surface 62.

[0115] The peripheral part of the support surface 62 has no opening.

[0116] The base 48 is here fixed to the main body 12.

[0117] The closing partition 50 extends opposite the base 48 along the main axis Δ.

[0118] It has a curvature in the opposite direction to the base.

[0119] The base 48 and the closing partition 50 delimit a volume between them, here presenting the shape of a spindle.

[0120] The partition 50 has two openings 65, referred to as connection openings, allowing fluid to enter and / or exit through the partition. More specifically, one of the openings, called the inlet opening, allows fluid to enter, while the other opening, called the outlet opening, allows fluid to exit.

[0121] The closing partition 50 outside the connection openings 65 exhibits a continuous rotational symmetry around the main axis Δ.

[0122] Each opening 65 extends here parallel to the foreground P h.

[0123] Each opening 65 extends here parallel to the second plane P v. More particularly, each opening 65 defines an angle β with the principal axis Δ of the housing 30, said angle β being supplementary to the angle α defined between the principal axis Δ of the housing 30 and the second plane P v.

[0124] This allows, in particular, the connection of pipes extending along the longitudinal X direction without requiring an additional elbow piece, facilitates the operation of the piping system for an operator, and limits the bulk of the modular block with its piping system along the transverse Y axis.

[0125] Each connection opening 65 has a valve system (not visible) to regulate the inflow or outflow of fluid through the opening.

[0126] Each flap system is capable of closing the opening in a closed position.

[0127] Each valve system includes a mechanism for returning the valve to the closed position. The return mechanism is, for example, mechanical using a spring and / or magnetic and / or electromagnetic.

[0128] The valve system is capable of allowing fluid to pass through the opening in the desired direction when a pressure force corresponding to the desired direction and greater than a given force is established on the valve system.

[0129] Advantageously, such a valve system including a return system does not require any particular orientation, as it does not operate by gravity.

[0130] The diaphragm 42 extends between the base 48 and the closing partition 50, more particularly in the volume delimited between the base 48 and the closing partition 50.

[0131] The diaphragm 42 is fixed on its periphery to the peripheral part of the base 48 and to the peripheral part of the closing partition 50.

[0132] The diaphragm 42, as well as the base 48 and the closing partition 50, extend from the first side E 1 of the second plane outside the second plane P v.

[0133] The diaphragm 42 is airtight.

[0134] It hermetically separates the space between the base 48 and the closing partition 50 between a volume communicating fluidly 66 with the distal chamber 54 and an external volume 68.

[0135] The connection openings 65 communicate smoothly with the external volume 68.

[0136] The diaphragm 42 is capable of deforming under a pressure difference between the communicating volume 66 and the external volume 68.

[0137] When the pressure of the communicating volume 66 is equal to the external volume 68, called the iso-pressure case, the diaphragm extends, for example, substantially along a plane parallel to the direction of elevation Z.

[0138] When the piston 40 is in the suction position, the pressure in the distal chamber decreases and the diaphragm deforms so that the communicating volume 66 decreases and the external volume 68 increases compared to the iso-pressure case.

[0139] With the valve systems closing the connection openings by default, the pressure in the external volume 68 decreases. This causes the valve system at the inlet opening to open, and fluid enters the external volume 68.

[0140] When the piston 40 is in the expulsion position, the pressure in the distal chamber increases and the diaphragm deforms so that the communicating volume 66 increases and the external volume 68 decreases compared to the iso-pressure case.

[0141] With the valve system closing the connection openings by default, the pressure in the external volume 68 increases. This causes the valve system's outlet opening to open, and fluid is expelled from the external volume 68.

[0142] The diaphragm 42 has a dimension along the Z elevation direction strictly greater than that of the main body 12.

[0143] The undeformed diaphragm 42 is here a disk with central axis the principal axis Δ.

[0144] The diaphragm 42 here has a diameter D 42 strictly greater than 120 millimeters, more specifically greater than or equal to 250 millimeters.

[0145] The diaphragm 42 also has a wetted diameter DM< 42 greater than or equal to 100 millimeters, and more specifically greater than or equal to 150 millimeters. The "wetted diameter" refers to the diameter of the diaphragm in contact with the communicating volume 66 and the external volume 68. The wetted diameter corresponds to the diameter of the diaphragm surface as it deforms.

[0146] The angle α between the principal axis Δ of the housing and the second plane P v is chosen such that the diaphragm extends entirely outside the second plane P v . In particular, the angle α depends notably on the diameter of the diaphragm and the distance of the diaphragm to the through orifice 20.

[0147] The angle α is, for example, greater than or equal to 20°.

[0148] The fact that the diaphragm 42 extends outside the general shape of the main body 12 thus makes it possible to reduce the dimension along the elevation direction Z of the main body 12 to a smaller dimension than if the diaphragm 42 extended inside the main body 12.

[0149] Each modular block is reversible by rotation around the reversibility axis δ, meaning that the modular block can be used in a first configuration and in a second configuration, the modular block having undergone a rotation through a given angle around the reversibility axis δ between the first and second configurations. The given angle, called the reversibility angle, is 180° here. More specifically, simply changing the piping and connection system of the modular block makes it usable in either configuration.

[0150] Each functional part of the modular block is either common and usable in both configurations, such as the pumping device, or is present in duplicate, such as, in the case shown, the open volume with the corresponding openings.

[0151] In particular, the main body 12, the base 48 for the diaphragm 42 and the closing partition 50 are reversible with respect to the reversibility axis δ.

[0152] An example of a modular block manufacturing process will now be described with regard to the figures 1 And 2 .

[0153] The manufacturing process includes the following steps: supply, for example by machining or extrusion, of a main body 12 as described above, and installation of a pumping device 14 in the housing 30 of the main body.

[0154] The pumping device is offset from the second plane P v of the main body.

[0155] An example of an electric pump 100 for a fluid product according to the invention will now be described with regard to the figure 3 .

[0156] The pump is sized to operate up to a pressure of 30 bar.

[0157] The pump 100 includes an electric motor 102 and at least two modular blocks 104, 106 as described previously.

[0158] More specifically here, pump 100 comprises two modular blocks 104, 106.

[0159] The modular blocks 104, 106 are identical, that is to say they are formed on the same model with the same dimensions.

[0160] They are superimposed so that their general shapes overlap according to their respective elevation directions Z.

[0161] The respective elevation directions Z of the different modular blocks are coincident.

[0162] The external and internal side walls of the various modular blocks are aligned along the Z elevation direction.

[0163] The elevation direction Z is, in the example shown, substantially parallel to the direction of local gravity.

[0164] Alternatively, the Z-axis elevation direction is, for example, perpendicular to the direction of local gravity. Advantageously, joints are provided between the modular blocks.

[0165] The respective second planes of modular blocks 104, 106 merge into a common second plane P v.

[0166] The first respective plans of modular blocks 104, 106 are parallel to each other.

[0167] The respective main axes Δ 1 , Δ 2 of the modular blocks 104, 106 within the respective housing units are placed alternately on a first side 108 and a second side 110 of the second common plane P v .

[0168] More specifically here, the main axis Δ 1 of a first modular block 104 in the corresponding housing is placed on the first side 108 of the second plane P v . and the main axis Δ 2 of the second modular block 106 in the corresponding housing is placed on the second side 110 of the second plane P v .

[0169] The diaphragms of the respective pumping devices of the modular blocks 104, 106 are placed alternately on the first side 108 or the second side 110 of the second common plane P v.

[0170] The diaphragms are arranged in a staggered pattern on either side of the second common plane P v.

[0171] Each modular block is flipped relative to the adjacent modular block(s) along the corresponding reversion axis δ.

[0172] Each modular block is adapted to function according to its arrangement within the pump.

[0173] More specifically, each modular block is suitable for connection at the connection openings to a fluid product circulation circuit.

[0174] The various connectors and pipes attached to each modular block are adapted for the given layout.

[0175] For each modular block, the flap systems of the connection openings are arranged so that the lower opening 112, 114 along the elevation direction Z is the inlet opening and the upper opening 116, 118 is the outlet opening.

[0176] This advantageously allows for the expulsion of air that may be present in the external volume of said modular block and likely to reduce the pumping efficiency of the pumping device.

[0177] For each modular block corresponding to the example described opposite the figure 1 The open volume of the half located above the intermediate partition along the Z-axis elevation acts as the base reservoir and is connected to the communicating volume. The open volume of the upper half contains, for example, the same transmission fluid as the communicating volume, so as to supply fluid to the communicating volume on the one hand and expel fluid from the communicating volume on the other.

[0178] The suction and discharge openings of the corresponding open volume are connected to the communicating volume via fittings and pipes. The suction and discharge openings of the other open volume are sealed.

[0179] More specifically, the pump here includes, for each modular block, a suction fitting 120, 122 comprising an orifice and a plug, the orifice being intended to be placed opposite the suction opening of the tank and the plug opposite the suction opening of the other open volume.

[0180] The pump also includes, for each modular block, a discharge fitting 124, 126 connected to the discharge opening of the tank and a plug 128, 130 intended to close the discharge opening of the other open volume.

[0181] As described previously, alternatively, one or more tanks are formed with a volume arranged differently than in the example shown. When each modular block comprises two half-bottoms as described previously, the tank extends, for example, the height of two modular blocks on half of each block, with suction and discharge openings provided on each half.

[0182] Each reservoir has, for example, a volume greater than or equal to the maximum volume of transmission fluid to fill the entire space containing transmission fluid, such as the communicating volume and the displacement.

[0183] The reservoir or the set of reservoirs exhibits reversibility by rotation around the reversal axis δ of the reversal angle.

[0184] The pump 100 further includes a bearing 132 at each interface between two adjacent modular blocks 104, 106 as shown in the figure 4 .

[0185] Bearing 132 spans across both modular blocks.

[0186] The bore of each modular block at one end of the through-hole is complementary to half of the bearing, the bearing being arranged in a bore of each of the modular blocks at the interface.

[0187] The pump 100 further includes a lower plate 134 and an upper plate 136, arranged on each side of the superposition of the modular blocks 104, 106 according to the elevation direction Z.

[0188] The lower plate 134 and the upper plate 136 have a general shape that can be superimposed on that of the modular blocks.

[0189] The lower plate 134 and the upper plate 136 close the pump 100 on either side of the modular blocks 104, 106.

[0190] The pump 100 includes a shaft (not visible) extending along the Z-axis elevation direction through the through-holes of the modular blocks 104, 106 and movable in rotation around the Z-axis elevation direction by the electric motor 102.

[0191] The pump further includes, for each modular block, a means of transmitting the rotational movement of the shaft into a translational movement at the level of said modular block according to the direction of elevation.

[0192] The transmission means includes, for example, a connecting rod and crank system, an eccentric or a cam.

[0193] The transmission means is fixed to the shaft rotating around the Z elevation direction on one side and designed to interact with the pumping device of the modular block on the other.

[0194] More specifically, the transmission means is designed to move the piston between the suction position and the expulsion position and vice versa, by rotating the shaft in the same direction of engine operation.

[0195] The operation of the pump shown on the figure 3 will now be described.

[0196] The inlet opening 112, 114 and the outlet opening 116, 118 of each modular block 104, 106 are connected to a fluid product circulation circuit, the outlet opening being intended to expel fluid product at a given flow rate into the circulation circuit and the inlet opening to draw in fluid product.

[0197] In a first embodiment, the modular blocks 104, 106 are connected to the same fluid product circulation circuit, so as to multiply the flow rate in the circulation circuit.

[0198] In a second embodiment, the modular blocks 104, 106 are connected to separate circulation circuits, for example containing different fluid products.

[0199] Alternatively, some modular blocks are connected to the same fluid product circulation circuit and at least one of the modular blocks is connected to a separate circulation circuit.

[0200] The electric motor 102 drives the pump shaft in rotation around the elevation direction Z, more specifically at a constant rotational speed.

[0201] The piston of each modular block is moved via the transmission means between the suction position and the expulsion position and vice versa.

[0202] As explained previously, this results in fluid product being drawn in through the inlet opening and then fluid product being expelled through the outlet opening.

[0203] For each modular block, at each cycle, the pump draws in and discharges for that modular block a given volume of fluid product, corresponding here to the displacement of the associated pumping device.

[0204] A second and third example of an electric pump for a fluid product according to the invention are shown in the figures 5 And 6 .

[0205] These pumps differ only from the pump shown on the figure 3 in the number of modular blocks, the second example presents three modular blocks and the third example presents five modular blocks.

[0206] The modular blocks are placed similarly to the example of the figure 3 that is to say, they are superimposed so that the main axes are placed alternately on one side or the other of the coincident second planes.

[0207] Adding or removing modular blocks allows the pump displacement and thus the flow rate in the same product circulation circuit to be adjusted by multiplying the flow rate corresponding to a modular block.

[0208] Alternatively or additionally, the addition of modular blocks allows control of the flow of different products by changing the number of circulation circuits of different products to which the pump is connected.

[0209] Such a pump is therefore easily adaptable to different flow ranges by adding or removing modular blocks, without requiring a change of motor.

[0210] Furthermore, the use of identical modular blocks reduces the number of part models needed to build a pump. This helps lower the costs associated with manufacturing such a pump.

[0211] In addition, such a pump has a reduced footprint due to the stacking of modular blocks according to the Z elevation direction.

[0212] Such a pump also has a reduced footprint along the Z elevation direction because the pumping devices are arranged alternately on one side or the other of the second plane, which is made possible in particular by the orthogonal symmetry with respect to their respective first plane of each modular block.

[0213] The diaphragm exhibits significant obstruction along the Z-axis elevation direction. Indeed, the larger the piston displacement of the pumping device, the greater the stroke at the diaphragm center with each cycle, for a given diaphragm diameter, leading to diaphragm wear. To limit diaphragm wear, it is advantageous to reduce the ratio of the diaphragm center stroke to the diaphragm wetted diameter.

[0214] To limit the center travel of the diaphragm, a large-diameter diaphragm is used. Thus, for a given displacement volume, the center travel is strictly less for a larger-diameter diaphragm. Here, a "large-diameter diaphragm" is defined as a diaphragm with a wetted diameter of 100 mm or greater.

[0215] Alternating sides of the diaphragms allows for a main body for each modular block with a dimension along the Z elevation direction strictly smaller than that of the corresponding diaphragm.

[0216] More specifically, the dimension along the Z-axis elevation of the main body is equal to the external diameter of the diaphragm divided by 2, plus a clearance for diaphragm overlap on one side. This clearance is, for example, between one millimeter and ten millimeters.

[0217] The superposition of three modular blocks according to the invention thus has substantially the same footprint along the elevation direction Z as the superposition of two modular blocks in which the pumping devices are superimposed.

[0218] Similarly, the superposition of five modular blocks according to the invention has substantially the same footprint along the Z elevation direction as the superposition of three modular blocks in which the pumping devices are superimposed.

[0219] The invention has been described and illustrated in the context of a pumping device comprising a diaphragm. However, the invention is adaptable to a modular block comprising a different pumping device, in particular one comprising a piston and lacking a diaphragm.

[0220] Such a modular block does not, for example, delimit a volume suitable for use as a transmission fluid reservoir.

[0221] This makes it possible to make the main body with a dimension along the Z elevation direction strictly smaller than that of the pumping device, regardless of the nature of the pumping device.

[0222] Each main body thus has a reduced dimension along the Z elevation direction compared to the case where the main body is dimensioned such that the pumping devices are superimposed on each other.

[0223] The stacking of modular blocks on top of each other then presents a reduced footprint along the Z elevation direction.

Claims

1. A modular block (10; 104, 106) for an electric pump (100) for a fluid product, comprising: - a main body (12) defining a housing (30) extending along a main axis (Δ), the main body (12) comprising one or more outer side walls (16), the outer side wall(s) (16) extending along an elevation direction (Z), the outer side wall(s) (16) defining a general shape of the main body (12), the general shape having a discrete rotational symmetry relative to a reversion axis (δ), the main axis (Δ) of the housing (30) within the housing (30) extending on a first side of a central plane (Pv) outside the central plane (Pv), the reversion axis (δ) being included in the central plane (Pv), and - a pumping device (14) extending at least partially in the housing (30) of the main body (12), characterized in that the modular block (10; 104, 106) has a reversibility by rotation around the reversion axis (δ) by a given angle called reversion angle, the reversion angle being equal to 180°, that is to say, the modular block can be used in a first configuration and in a second configuration, the modular block having undergone a rotation by an angle equal to 180° around the reversion axis (δ), between the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the main body (12) delimits at least one fluid reservoir (24), the at least one reservoir (24) being reversible by rotation relative to the reversion axis.

2. The modular block according to claim 1, wherein the main body (12) comprises an intermediate wall (18), the intermediate wall (18) delimiting two open volumes forming the at least one fluid reservoir (24), each open volume having a suction orifice (25) and a discharge orifice (27).

3. The modular block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pumping device (14) comprises a diaphragm (42), the diaphragm (42) extending on the first side of the central plane (Pv) outside the central plane (Pv).

4. The modular block according to claim 3, wherein the pumping device (14) comprises a piston (40), the piston (40) extending at least partially in the housing (30) and being able to slide along the main axis (Δ) of the housing (30).

5. The modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the general shape of the main body (12) has an orthogonal symmetry relative to the central plane (Pv).

6. The modular block according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the main axis (Δ) extends in a first plane (Ph), the first plane (Ph) being perpendicular to the central plane (Pv), the reversion axis (δ) being included in the first plane (Ph).

7. The modular block according to claim 6, wherein the main body (12) delimits a through orifice (20) in a direction perpendicular to the first plane (Ph), called elevation direction (Z), the through orifice (20) having an orthogonal symmetry relative to the first plane (Ph) and relative to the central plane (Pv), the housing (30) emerging in the through orifice (20).

8. The modular block according to claims 3 and 7, wherein the diagram (42) is arranged outside the housing (30) away from the through orifice (20) along the main axis (Δ) of the housing (30).

9. The modular block according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the through orifice (20) has a central axis (D) along the elevation direction (Z), the intersection between the main axis (Δ) and the central plane (Pv) being included in the central axis (D).

10. An electric pump (100) for a fluid product comprising an electric motor (102) and at least two modular blocks (104, 106) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the modular blocks (104, 106) being identical and placed side by side such that their general shapes are superimposed in an elevation direction (Z), their respective central planes are combined in a common central plane (Pv), the modular blocks (104, 106) being placed such that the main axes (Δ1, Δ2) are placed alternating on a first side (108) and a second side (110) of the common central plane (Pv).