Dosing pump

Abstract

A dosing pump is provided comprising a working membrane defining a working area, and a pump drive for creating an oscillating movement of the working membrane. The direction of the pump drive can be inverted and the displacement element can be moved back and forth. The inventive dosing pump also comprises a position sensor for detecting the position of the pump drive, an electronic control system for the same, and a pump head in which an inlet valve and an outlet valve are arranged. The pump drive comprises a positioning motor and can be displaced back and forth in an oscillating manner, with the part thereof connected to the displacement element, in any range of its entire working displacement, according to a pre-determinable course, for a reduced pump capacity in relation to the maximum pump capacity. At least the inlet valve is externally controlled and comprises a motor-driven valve drive. The electronic control system is connected to at least the motor-driven valve drive(s) of the inlet and/or outlet valves, to the positioning motor of the pump drive, and to the position sensor for detecting the position of the displacement element and/or the pump drive. The combination of the electronically controllable positioning motor, the oscillating movement of the pump drive within any range of its entire working range, and the use of an externally controlled inlet and/or outlet valve significantly enlarges the operative range of the inventive dosing pump.

1 . A diaphragm dosing pump comprising a working membrane or a similar displacement element defining a working area and a pump drive ( 2 ) for creating an oscillating movement of the displacement element, whereby the pump drive ( 2 ) can be reversed in direction and the displacement element can be moved back and forth, whereby a position sensor for detecting a position of the pump drive ( 2 ) and an electronic control system ( 7 ) for the pump drive are also provided, as well as a pump head, in which an inlet valve and an outlet valve ( 14 ) are arranged, the pump drive ( 2 ) has a positioning motor and can move back and forth in an oscillating movement, by a part connected to the displacement element, in any range of a total working movement by a stroke that can be preset for a feeding amount that is reduced relative to a maximum feeding amount, at least one of the valves ( 13 ) is remote controlled and has a motor-driven valve drive, and the electronic control system ( 7 ) is connected to the motor-driven valve drive of the inlet and/or outlet drive ( 14 ), to the positioning motor of the pump drive ( 2 ), and also to a position sensor for detecting a position of the displacement element and/or the pump drive ( 2 ).  
     
     
         2 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump drive ( 2 ) is configured and controlled by a part connected to the displacement element for a feeding amount per working stroke that is increased or at a maximum relative to a reduced feeding amount by a working stroke that can be moved back and forth in an oscillating movement.  
     
     
         3 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control system ( 7 ) is configured for variable control of the motor-driven valve drive of the inlet ( 13 ) and/or outlet valve ( 14 ) as a function of the position of the displacement element.  
     
     
         4 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control system ( 7 ) is configured for controlling the motor-driven valve drive(s) of the inlet ( 13 ) and/or outlet valve ( 14 ) as a function of different operating parameters, comprising at least one of a function of operating pressure, rpm, and consistency of the pumping medium.  
     
     
         5 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control system ( 7 ) has a memory device for storing different operating parameters and for assigning these operating parameters to different control times of the valves.  
     
     
         6 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more measurement devices for measuring operating parameters, comprising at least one of operating pressure, counter pressure, rpm, and pump capacity are provided.  
     
     
         7 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump drive ( 2 ) has a cam or crank drive ( 9 ) with a rotating crank element ( 10 ) and a connecting rod ( 11 ) connected to the working membrane or a similar displacement element and the crank element ( 10 ) for small deflections of the working membrane relative to the maximum possible deflections for one rotation movement can move back and forth in an oscillating movement in any range within a total rotational movement.  
     
     
         8 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically remote-controlled valve ( 15 ) is closed in an inactive state.  
     
     
         9 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet and/or outlet valve ( 13 ,  14 ) has as a motor-driven valve drive an electromagnet stroke magnet ( 5 ,  6 ), which has a stroke armature ( 25 ) guided by leaf springs ( 23 ,  24 ) spaced apart from each other, which is in drive connection to a valve closing body ( 26 ).  
     
     
         10 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the leaf springs ( 23 ,  24 ) of the stroke armature guide is pre-tensioned in the closing direction of the remote-controlled valve ( 15 ).  
     
     
         11 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein in addition to a remote controlled valve, there is at least one valve ( 15 ) that can be activated by the pumping medium, especially formed with an elastic valve disk ( 17 ), which in the closed position contacts with a flat side onto the opening edge ( 20 ) of a supply channel ( 21 ) forming a valve seat, and on the side of the valve disk facing away from the supply channel ( 21 ), a bridge-like support ( 22 ) supports the valve disk ( 17 ) at least in an the opened position within the extended projection of the supply channel ( 21 ).  
     
     
         12 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , wherein the valve ( 15 ) that can be activated by the pumping medium forms a complete, exchangeable unit and is configured as a valve insert ( 21 ) with a support plate ( 16 ) having support ( 28 ) and a discharge channel ( 31 ), a valve holding plate ( 18 ), the valve disk ( 17 ), support plate ( 16 ) and the valve holding plate ( 18 ) preferably have edge formations that engage with each other and are welded, adhered, or connected to each other in the assembled position.  
     
     
         13 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the output position of the working membrane ( 6 ) is the same at the beginning and end of a dosing.  
     
     
         14 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of working strokes of the working membrane ( 6 ) per unit of time and/or the working rate can be adjusted.  
     
     
         15 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the pump drive ( 2 ) has as a drive and positioning motor ( 12 ) a controlled or regulated motor, particularly a stepper motor or a motor working in a control loop.  
     
     
         16 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein a non-contact optoelectronic or magnetic position sensor ( 32 ) is provided as the position sensor ( 32 ), which interacts with the positioning motor ( 12 ) or a part driven by this motor and is connected to the control electronics ( 7 ).  
     
     
         17 . A dosing pump ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control system ( 7 ) is configured for setting a non-uniform drive rate of the drive.  
     
     
         18 . A dosing pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the two valves are remote-controlled and can be controlled selectively as an inlet valve or outlet valve for reversing a feeding direction.