Membrane pump

Abstract

A membrane pump includes a pump body having a working chamber and a head having a distribution chamber. The pump body and the head delimit a pumping chamber formed between a terminal wall of the pump body and a terminal wall of the head. At least one membrane in the pumping chamber is configured to separate the working chamber from the distribution chamber. The membrane is shaped to be moved by a fluid contained in the working chamber, from a suction configuration to a delivery configuration within the working chamber. The pump additionally includes a sealing device coupleable to the membrane that is shaped to define a first interspace between the terminal wall of the pump body and the membrane at the suction configuration of the membrane and/or may be shaped to define a second interspace between the terminal wall of the head and the membrane at the delivery configuration.

1 . A membrane pump comprising:
 a pump body having a working chamber;   head, having a distribution chamber, said pump body and said head being coupled at a coupling surface to delimit a pumping chamber formed between a terminal wall of said pump body and a terminal wall of said head; and   at least one membrane positioned, or positionable, in said pumping chamber, at said coupling surface, configured to separate said working chamber from said distribution chamber, said membrane being shaped to be moved by means of a fluid contained in said working chamber, from a suction configuration to a delivery configuration within said pumping chamber,   
       further comprising a sealing device coupled, or coupleable, to said membrane, wherein said sealing device is shaped to define a first interspace between said terminal wall of said pump body and a bending portion of said membrane, said bending portion being a membrane portion comprised between said sealing device and said coupling surface, wherein said first interspace is apt to space said bending portion of the membrane from said terminal wall of said pump body at said suction configuration of the membrane, and/or to define a second interspace between said terminal wall of said head and said bending portion of the membrane, wherein said second interspace is apt to space said bending portion of the membrane from said terminal wall of said head at said delivery configuration of the membrane. 
     
     
         2 . The membrane pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing device is shaped to abut on an outlet mouth of said working chamber at said suction configuration of the membrane. 
     
     
         3 . The membrane pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing device is shaped to abut on an inlet mouth of said distribution chamber at said delivery configuration of the membrane. 
     
     
         4 . The membrane pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing device comprises a substantially cylindrical element, shaped as a thickened disc, fixed or fixable on a surface of said membrane. 
     
     
         5 . The membrane pump according to  claim 4 , wherein said sealing device is shaped to abut on an outlet mouth of said working chamber at said suction configuration of the membrane, wherein at least one distal end portion of said disk, has an edge shaped to abut to a corresponding edge of said outlet mouth. 
     
     
         6 . The membrane pump according to  claim 4 , wherein said sealing device is shaped to abut on an inlet mouth of said distribution chamber at said delivery configuration of the membrane, wherein at least one portion of the distal end of said disk, has an edge shaped to abut to a corresponding edge of said inlet mouth. 
     
     
         7 . The membrane pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said sealing device comprises a spacing element fixed or fixable to said disk. 
     
     
         8 . The membrane pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is pretensioned in the direction of said working chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The membrane pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said membrane is made of metallic material. 
     
     
         10 . The membrane pump according to  claim 8 , comprising pretensioning means configured for pretensioning said membrane. 
     
     
         11 . The membrane pump according to  claim 10 , wherein said pretensioning means is configured to pretension said membrane in the direction of said working chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The membrane pump according to  claim 10 , wherein said pretensioning mean comprises a spring positioned, or positionable, along an axial extension of said sealing device. 
     
     
         13 . The membrane pump according to  claim 10 , wherein said pretensioning means comprises actuating means. 
     
     
         14 . The membrane pump according to  claim 5 , wherein said edge of said at least one distal end portion of said disk is shaped to abut to said corresponding edge of said outlet mouth in shape coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The membrane pump according to  claim 6 , wherein said edge of said at least one portion of the distal end of said disk is shaped to abut to said corresponding edge of said inlet mouth in shape coupling. 
     
     
         16 . The membrane pump according to  claim 12 , wherein said spring is selected from the group comprising a helical spring, a cup spring, and an electromagnetic spring. 
     
     
         17 . The membrane pump according to  claim 13 , wherein said actuating means is selected from the group comprising mechanical actuator means, hydraulic actuator means, electrical actuator means, and magnetic actuator means.