Diaphragm system control having a magnetically retained closure element

Abstract

A diaphragm pump having a conveying chamber and a working chamber, wherein the conveying chamber comprises a pressure connection and a suction connection, and the working chamber can be or is filled with a hydraulic fluid and is operatively connected to a pressure generator in order to apply an oscillating pressure to the hydraulic fluid, further comprising a diaphragm which has at least one diaphragm layer and a diaphragm core and which separates the conveying chamber and the working chamber from one another, and which can be moved from a pressure stroke position into a suction stroke position and back again, the volume of the conveying chamber in the pressure stroke position of the diaphragm being smaller than in the suction stroke position. The diaphragm is or can be brought into operative connection with a diaphragm return device comprising a traction rod, which applies or can apply a force to the diaphragm in the direction of the suction stroke position and further comprising a storage chamber for accommodating the hydraulic fluid, the working chamber and the storage chamber being connected to one another via a channel closed by a closure element.

1 . A diaphragm pump, comprising:
 a delivery chamber and   a working chamber, wherein the delivery chamber comprises a pressure connector and a suction connector, and wherein the working chamber is able to be filled with a hydraulic fluid and is operatively connected to a pressure-generating apparatus in order for the hydraulic fluid to be subjected to an oscillating pressure,   a diaphragm having at least one diaphragm layer and a diaphragm core, which separates the delivery chamber and the working chamber from one another and which is able to be transferred from a pressure stroke position into a suction stroke position and back again, wherein the volume of the delivery chamber is smaller in the pressure stroke position of the diaphragm than in the suction stroke position thereof, and wherein the diaphragm is able to be brought into operative connection with a diaphragm return device comprising a tension rod, which is able to subject the diaphragm to a force in the direction of the suction stroke position, and   a storage chamber for accommodating the hydraulic fluid,   wherein the working chamber and the storage chamber are connected to one another via a channel closed off by a closure element, wherein the closure element is connected, in a manner movable relative to the tension rod, to the latter such that the closure element can be transferred from a closure position into an opening position and back, and wherein the closure element comprises a magnet, which locks the closure element in the closure position, and wherein the closure element is transferred into the opening position and the channel is open if the diaphragm is deflected beyond the pressure stroke position from the suction stroke position.   
     
     
         2 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the working chamber is arranged in a housing, wherein the housing comprises a magnet that is operatively connected to the closure element at least in the closure position of the latter. 
     
     
         3 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the closure element comprises a second magnet, in particular in the region of its end facing the channel, in particular on the end facing the channel, wherein the magnet is operatively connected to the housing surrounding the working chamber, in particular around the channel, at least in the closure position. 
     
     
         4 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the closure element comprises a third magnet disposed proximate its end facing the channel, and the housing surrounding the working chamber comprises a fourth magnet, wherein the polarities of the poles of the mutually opposite regions of the third and fourth magnets are different, and the third and fourth magnets are operatively connected to one another at least in the closure position. 
     
     
         5 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein that the tension rod comprises a fifth magnet arranged proximate the end of the closure element facing away from the channel, and the closure element comprises a sixth magnet, arranged in particular on that end of the closure element facing away from the channel, wherein the polarities of the poles of the mutually opposite regions of the fifth and sixth magnets are identical, and the fifth and sixth magnets are operatively connected to one another at least in the closure position of the closure element. 
     
     
         6 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 5 , wherein the diaphragm is releasably fixed a diaphragm-holding element which is introduced at least sectionally into the tension rod, wherein the fifth magnet is the diaphragm-holding element. 
     
     
         7 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1  further comprising a seventh magnet operatively connected to the closure element and the housing surrounding the working chamber, wherein the seventh magnet is not fixedly connected to the closure element, the tension rod and the housing, and wherein the magnetic field strength is at all times greater at the closure element than at the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 7 , wherein any one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh magnets are in the form of a spherical magnet, bar magnet, conical magnet, disk magnet or ring magnet. 
     
     
         9 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field strength of any one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh magnets are selected in such a way that, if, for the pressure difference between the pressure in the storage chamber p 2  and the pressure in the working chamber p 1 , it holds that p 2 −p 1 >a, where a is a predetermined pressure, the closure element is transferred from the closure position into the opening position. 
     
     
         10 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the housing surrounding the working chamber has a wall element comprising the channel, wherein the wall element is movable within the housing relative thereto along the movement direction of the diaphragm return device, and wherein the wall element is preloaded in the direction of the diaphragm return device by means of a spring element. 
     
     
         11 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 10 , wherein the resilient preloading of the wall element is selected in such a way that, if, for the pressure difference between the pressure in the storage chamber p 2  and the pressure in the working chamber p 1 , it holds that p 1 −p 2 >b, where b is a predetermined pressure, the wall element moves away from the closure element and, as a result, the channel is opened up. 
     
     
         12 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm return device comprises a spring element connected to the tension rod, such that the diaphragm is preloaded by a force in the direction of the suction stroke position by means of the spring element.