Pump and cleaning apparatus comprising said pump

Abstract

A pump comprises a plurality of pistons movable in a direction, a swash plate arrangement forming an angle with said direction so as to reciprocate said plurality of pistons in said direction and an elastic element interacting with said swash plate arrangement to enable said angle to be modified. Between said elastic element and said swash plate arrangement a transmission device is interposed for receiving a force from said swash plate arrangement and transmitting a fraction of said force to said elastic element.

1 . Pump comprising a plurality of pistons movable in a direction, a swash plate arrangement forming an angle with said direction so as to reciprocate said plurality of pistons in said direction, an elastic element interacting with said swash plate arrangement to enable said angle to be modified, wherein between said elastic element and said swash plate arrangement a transmission device is interposed for receiving a force from said swash plate arrangement and transmitting a fraction of said force to said elastic element.  
   
   
       2 . Pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmission device is mounted on a support which supports said swash plate arrangement, so as to apply to said support substantially the difference between said force and said fraction.  
   
   
       3 . Pump according to  claim 2 , wherein said difference is a significant part of said force.  
   
   
       4 . Pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastic element can be compressed along a line of action that is transverse to said direction.  
   
   
       5 . Pump according to  claim 4 , wherein said line of action is substantially perpendicular to said direction.  
   
   
       6 . Pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said transmission device comprises a lever arrangement oscillatable around a fulcrum due to said force.  
   
   
       7 . Pump according to  claim 6 , wherein said transmission device comprises a first slide connected to said lever arrangement, said first slide being slidable for activating said elastic element.  
   
   
       8 . Pump according to  claim 7 , wherein said first slide is movable parallely to a line of action along which said elastic element may be compressed.  
   
   
       9 . Pump according to  claim 7 , wherein said transmission device comprises a second slide connected to said lever arrangement and slidable in a slide direction for driving said lever arrangement.  
   
   
       10 . Pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said slide direction is inclined in relation to said direction.  
   
   
       11 . Pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said second slide is connected to said swash plate arrangement by an articulated joint, so as to be driven by said swash plate arrangement in said slide direction.  
   
   
       12 . Pump according to  claim 11 , wherein said articulated joint is associated with a peripheral region of said swash plate arrangement.  
   
   
       13 . Pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said lever arrangement comprises a lever having a first end pivoted on said first slide and a second end pivoted on said second slide.  
   
   
       14 . Pump according to  claim 9 , wherein said swash plate arrangement is connected to a sliding block that is movable in a translation direction so that, when said angle is changed, said sliding block moves in said translation direction and said second slide moves in said slide direction.  
   
   
       15 . Pump according to  claim 14 , wherein said sliding block is arranged in a position diametrically opposite said second slide.  
   
   
       16 . Pump according to  claim 14 , wherein said sliding block and said second slide are movable along substantially rectilinear paths, said paths approximating to circumference arcs centred on a point around which said swash plate arrangement is substantially oscillatable.  
   
   
       17 . Pump according to  claim 16 , wherein said arcs lie on a single circumference.  
   
   
       18 . Pump according to  claim 16 , wherein at said point an axis of said swash plate arrangement intersects a thrust plane on which said plurality of pistons interact with said swash plate arrangement.  
   
   
       19 . Pump according to  claim 16 , wherein said point lies on a longitudinal axis around which a shaft of said pump is rotatable.  
   
   
       20 . Pump according to  claim 19 , wherein said translation direction is inclined by an angle comprised between 35° and 40° in relation to a plane that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       21 . Pump according to  claim 19 , wherein said slide direction is inclined by an angle comprised between 55° and 65° in relation to a plane that is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       22 . Pump comprising a plurality of pistons movable in a direction, a swash plate arrangement forming an angle with said direction so as to reciprocate said plurality of pistons in said direction, said swash plate arrangement being oscillatable substantially around a point to modify said angle, wherein said swash plate arrangement is supported by a sliding element and a further sliding element movable along respective substantially rectilinear paths, said paths approximating to circumference arcs centred on said point.  
   
   
       23 . Pump according to  claim 22 , wherein said arcs lie on a single circumference.  
   
   
       24 . Pump according to  claim 22 , wherein at said point an axis of said swash plate arrangement intersects a thrust plane on which said plurality of pistons interact with said swash plate arrangement.  
   
   
       25 . Pump according to  claim 22 , wherein said point lies on a longitudinal axis around which a shaft of said pump is rotatable.  
   
   
       26 . Pump according to  claim 22 , wherein said sliding element is associated with a region of said swash plate arrangement diametrically opposite a further region of said swash plate arrangement with which said further sliding element is associated.  
   
   
       27 . Pump according to  claim 25 , wherein said sliding element comprises a slide movable in a slide direction along a guide.  
   
   
       28 . Pump according to  claim 27 , wherein said slide direction is inclined by an angle comprised between 55° and 65° in relation to a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       29 . Pump according to  claim 28 , wherein said further sliding element comprises a sliding block movable along a track in a translation direction.  
   
   
       30 . Pump according to  claim 29 , wherein said translation direction is inclined by an angle comprised between 35° and 40° in relation to a plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       31 . Cleaning apparatus comprising a dispensing device for dispensing a cleaning fluid and a pump according to  claim 1  for conveying said fluid to said dispensing device.  
   
   
       32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , and further comprising a pressure adjusting device for selecting a dispensing pressure of said fluid achievable by said pump.