Diaphragm pump for pumping a fluid

Abstract

A diaphragm pump for pumping a fluid, includes a flexible diaphragm which contains magnetically hard or soft particles and is actuated by an electromagnetic actuator. The diaphragm pump having a housing having an interior space containing two pump chambers which are separated by the diaphragm, and in that the diaphragm is actuated by two opposite electromagnetic actuators.

1 . A diaphragm pump for pumping a fluid, comprising:
 a flexible diaphragm containing magnetically hard or soft particles and is actuated by an electromagnetic actuator;   housing having an interior space containing two pump chambers separated by the diaphragm; and   two opposite electromagnetic actuators actuating the diaphragm.   
   
   
       2 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the actuators include electromagnetic coils. 
   
   
       3 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the coils are operated at a resonant frequency; the resonant frequency being in the range from 10 to 100 Hz. 
   
   
       4 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is disposed axially centrally in the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an additional chamber is connected to the pump chambers in a flow direction of the fluid being pumped. 
   
   
       6 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pump chambers are each provided with inlet and outlet valves. 
   
   
       7 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the inlet and outlet valves are check valves. 
   
   
       8 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising a valve provided at an outlet of the additional chamber, the valve being closed when the coils are de-energized. 
   
   
       9 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is at least partially formed from a formed plastic material. 
   
   
       10 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is provided with magnetically soft and hard particles. 
   
   
       11 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic particles have a diameter of ≦100 μm. 
   
   
       12 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the content by weight of the magnetically soft particles is 50 to 90% of the total weight of the diaphragm. 
   
   
       13 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein ends of the diaphragm are configured in the shape of plates. 
   
   
       14 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 13 , wherein rims of the plates are flexible and are used as covers for inlet and outlet openings at axial end walls of the chambers. 
   
   
       15 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the plate located at the end wall containing the inlet for the fluid bears against the inner surface of the end wall, while the plate located at the end wall containing the outlet for the fluid bears against the outer surface of the end wall. 
   
   
       16 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the diaphragm has an extension extending through the additional chamber, and the end face of which covers an outlet opening of the additional chamber. 
   
   
       17 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the foamed plastic is resistant to chemicals, particularly to engine fuels. 
   
   
       18 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the chemicals are engine fuels. 
   
   
       19 . The diaphragm pump as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the foamed plastic is a butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber (NBR) or a vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene rubber (FPM) or an FKM or optimized PU.