Patent Application
20240401582
This invention relates to a Diaphragm Pump which discharges one or more types of fluid through multiple Discharge Tubes, and more specifically, this invention relates to a Diaphragm Pump equipped with multiple Discharge Tubes in which the Diaphragm Pump is able to pump in one or more types of fluid, mix the fluids in varying ratios as per user's requirements and finally discharge multiple different fluid mixtures separately.
In general, a pump is a typical machine that moves fluid by using an electric motor, and various types of pumps can be used depending on the purpose for which they are used. The most commonly used pump is a centrifugal pump. However, such centrifugal pumps have priming issues during start up.
There are pump types available that overcome this problem (E.G. peristaltic pumps, diaphragm pumps) by pumping the fluid through a diaphragm made of special materials (E.G. elastic rubber, polymers etc.).
One such example is the “Diaphragm pump for fluids” described in Korea Registered Patent Notice No. 10-1182477 whereby the rotational force from a motor is converted into a linear reciprocating motion that is then used to pump the diaphragm and suck/discharge fluid into the pressure chamber.
The main disadvantage of such a conventional diaphragm pump is that only one fluid can flow in and out: it is not possible to mix different fluids or discharge multiple fluids that have been mixed in specific ratio when using a single diaphragm pump.
Furthermore, it is not possible to adjust discharge parameters (E.G. fluid discharge speed) for different fluids simultaneously. In order to overcome this, separate Diaphragm Pumps (as many as different fluids required for input and output) need to be connected together.
Lastly, the current diaphragm pump mechanism which relies on changing rotational motion of a motor to linear reciprocating motion has significant energy losses and does not generate a strong enough suction force.
This invention aims to solve the problems described above, and its purpose is to employ a single diaphragm pump to supply multiple input fluids, mix them in specified ratios and then discharge multiple output fluids all by incorporating multiple input/discharge tubes.
Please note that this invention is not limited to the problems mentioned above, and may be applicable to other similar applications.
The present invention consists of a Diaphragm Pump having multiple Discharge Tubes and a powertrain housing consisting of an electric motor with a linkage which converts rotational motion of the motor into a linear reciprocating motion.
The key component is the Pump Housing which comprises of multiple pressure chambers each consisting of a separate suction valve, diaphragm and discharge valve that is able to control inflow and outflow of fluid through each pressure chamber independently. Finally, there is a discharge chamber having multiple Discharge Tubes each with a discharge valve.
In addition, the Powertrain Housing may include a Gear Reduction Frame to increase torque required for pumping.
In addition, the motion conversion Housing may also be replaced with a rotating Housing having a guide rail formed therein.
In addition, the rotating Housing may include an Anti-Detachment Frame mechanism.
In addition, the Nozzle Frame may include both an outer nozzle and an inner nozzle.
In addition, the outer nozzle may have a Mixed Flow Channel.
In addition, the inner nozzle may have a plurality of pores formed on the outer surface thereof.
In addition, the inner nozzle may have one or more Venturi Outlets formed therein.
In addition, a Vortex Plate may be formed between the inner nozzle and the outer nozzle.
In addition, a Brush Head may be added to the end of the Nozzle Frame.
This invention makes it possible for a single Diaphragm Pump to discharge multiple fluids separately, and since it can also have multiple nozzles that can select the type, quantity, and physical properties of each fluid to be mixed and discharged according to the purpose, thereby providing flexibility to produce various mixed fluids simultaneously.
The effects of this invention are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and can extend to other similar applications.
This invention can have various applications by making small changes and specific examples will be explained in detail with help of illustrations.
However, this is not intended to limit this invention to these specific applications, and should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, or substitutes included in the concept and technical scope of this invention. Similar reference marks are used for similar components while describing each drawing.
When a component is mentioned as being “connected” or “joined” to another component, it should be understood that although it may be directly connected or joined to that other component, there may be other components in between. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly joined” to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.
The terms used in this application are used only to describe specific applications, and are not intended to limit this invention. A singular expression could include multiple expressions unless the context clearly means something different. In this application, terms such as “include” or “have” should be understood to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The same symbols presented in each drawing indicate the same parts. In explaining this invention, specific explanations about related functions or configurations are omitted so as not to obscure the point of this invention.
This invention relates to a Diaphragm Pump (1) having multiple Discharge Tubes (331, 332) and each Discharge Tube (331, 332) discharges an independent fluid separately.
The Diaphragm Pump (1) consists of a Powertrain Housing (100) that provides rotational force; a Rotating Housing (200), which is a motion conversion Housing that receives rotational force from the Powertrain Housing (100) and converts rotational motion into linear reciprocating motion; and a Pump Housing (300) having multiple independent flow channels for pumping external fluid into and out through linear reciprocating motion transmitted by the Rotating Housing (200).
The configuration of the Diaphragm Pump (1) according to this invention is explained through
The Powertrain Housing (100) is located at one end of the Diaphragm Pump (1) and provides the rotational force required for the Diaphragm Pump (1) to operate, and includes a Power Frame (110) providing rotational force; a Gear Reduction Frame (120) coupled to the Power Frame (110); and a Power Shaft (130) which exits from the Gear Reduction Frame (120) and is axially coupled to the Rotating Housing (200) through the Axial Coupling Hole (211).
The Power Frame (110) uses a motor, and the Power Shaft (130) protruding from the center of the Power Frame (110) rotates the Rotating Housing (200), thereby operating the Pump Housing (300).
At this time, a Gear Reduction Frame (120) is provided on the same axis as the Power Frame (110) to increase torque provided by the Power Frame (110) to the Rotating Housing (200).
In
First, the Rotating Frame (210) has a cylindrical shape, and a Guide Rail (212) is enclosed along the curved outer circumferential surface so that the Bearing (221) joined to one end of the Reciprocating Shaft (220) induces a linear reciprocating motion.
In other words, as the Rotating Frame (210) turns, the Bearing (221) moves along the inclined side of the curved Guide Rail (212) and the connecting Reciprocating Shaft (220) moves in a linear reciprocating motion.
In addition, the Reciprocating Shaft (220) penetrates the Fit Hole (231) provided in the Anti-Detachment Frame (230) which is fixed at a specific position, and performs a linear reciprocating motion, thereby preventing the Reciprocating Shaft (220) from falling out the Fit Hole (231).
At the other end of each Reciprocating Shaft (220), there is a Diaphragm plunger (223) that is coupled to each Diaphragm (D1, D2), and pumps the Diaphragms (D1, D2). In the case of
To briefly explain the operation of the Pump Housing (300) according to this invention, two examples of cases having two Pressure Chambers (P1, P2) are described, but the same operation method is applied to various applications having three or more Pressure Chambers, including the conditions for independent flow channels described later.
The first application details the case where one type of Common Inlet Fluid (F) flows in from the outside and two separate fluids (F1, F2) are discharged through two Suction Valves (341, 342) moving through two independent Channels. This is explained in
The second application details the case where two different Fluids (F1, F2) are pumped in through separate channels and discharged with different properties as shown in
The configuration of the Pump Housing (300) in the first application has a single common Inlet fluid (F) that is separated and discharged as two Fluids (F1, F2) through separate channels, respectively.
As shown in
In this way, each Pressure Chamber (P1, P2) are separated by the Diaphragm Frame (350) and the Separation Frame (340), and each Pressure Chamber (P1, P2) has one Suction Valve (341, 342) and one Discharge Valve (343, 344) that opens in opposite directions, respectively.
When the Diaphragms (D1, D2) move downward, the internal volume increases and negative (−) pressure is generated in each of the Pressure Chambers (P1, P2). Conversely, when the Diaphragm (D1, D2) moves upward, the internal volume decreases and positive (+) pressure occurs. By generating pressure, the Fluid inside each Pressurized Chamber (P1, P2) can be either pushed out or sucked in.
The flow paths of the fluids are as shown in
When the internal pressure of the Pressure Chambers (P1, P2) becomes negative pressure, the Suction Valve (341, 342) located in the Separation Frame (340) opens,
Similarly, the Common Inlet Fluid (F) stored in the Storage Frame (320) flows into the Pressure Chamber 2 (P2) through the opened Suction Valve 2 (342) as Fluid 2 (F2).
At this time, the internal pressure of the Storage Frame (320) is also changed to negative pressure, so the Common Inlet Fluid (F) is sucked from the outside through the Inlet pipe (321) and stored in the Storage Frame (320).
The negative pressure closes the Discharge Valve (343, 344), located on the Separation Frame (340).
Conversely, when the internal pressure in the Pressure Chamber (P1, P2) changes to positive (+), the Discharge Valve (343, 344) located in the Separation Frame (340) is opened,
Each fluid (F1, F2) in the Discharge Tube (331, 332) is individually pushed up and discharged to the outside.
At this time, the positive (+) pressure causes the Suction Valves (341, 342), located in the Separation Frame (340), to close.
In this process where positive (+) pressure and negative (−) pressure are sequentially converted, the flow of Common Inlet Fluid (F) is shown in
Flow Channel 1 leading to the Inlet Pipe (321), Storage Frame (320), Suction Valve 1 (341), Pressure Chamber 1 (P1), Discharge Valve 1 (343), and Discharge Tube 1 (331); and
Flow Channel 2 leading to the Inlet Pipe (321), Storage Frame (320), Suction Valve 2 (342), Pressure Chamber 2 (P2), Discharge Valve 2 (344), and a Discharge Tube 2 (332); is formed respectively.
The Common Inlet Fluid (F) introduced in this way is divided into two independent Flow Channels (R1, R2) that do not mix after each Suction Valve (341, 342) until the Fluid 1 (F1) and the Fluid 2 (F2) are separated and discharged to each Discharge Tube (331,332).
The configuration of a Pump Housing (300) in the second application has two different Fluids (F1, F2) entering the pump and each discharged as two Fluids (F1, F2) through separate channels, respectively.
As shown in
The Pressure Chamber (P1, P2) can flow in and discharge two Fluids (F1, F2) due to the positive (+) and negative (−) pressures generated alternately in each Pressure Chamber (P1, P2) by the pumping of Diaphragm pump (D1, D2) using the same operation method.
At this time, in order to separate flow channels so that the two incoming Fluids (F1, F2) do not mix with each other, the Storage Frame (320) in
Also, the two Partial Storage Frames (320a, 320b) each have Inlet Pipes (321a, 321b) corresponding to the inlet of each Partial Storage Frame (320a, 320b).
The above two Partial Storage Frames (320a, 320b) may be unnecessary when a Fluid such as air or Fluid flows directly into the Pressure Chamber (P1, P2).
In this process where positive and negative pressures are sequentially converted, the flow of the two Fluids (F1, F2) is shown in
Fluid 1 (F1) goes through the first Flow Channel 1 (R1) leading to the Inlet Pipe (321 a), the Partial Storage Frame (320a), the Suction Valve 1 (341), the Pressure Chamber 1 (P1), the Discharge Valve 1 (343), and the Discharge Tube 1 (331), and
Fluid 2 (F2) moves through an Inlet Pipe (321b), a Partial Storage Frame (320b), a Suction Valve 2 (342), a Pressure Chamber 2 (P2), a Discharge Valve 2 (344), and a Discharge Tube 2 (332), respectively.
In the two embodiments described above, the amount of each Fluid coming out of the two Discharge Tubes (331, 332) may vary depending on the volume of the corresponding Pressure Chambers (P1, P2) formed in the two Flow Channels (R1, R2), and depending on the use of the Nozzle Frame (400) described later, fluids with extremely different physical properties may be discharged or as a complete mixture.
Also, in extended applications with 3 or more Pressure Chambers, the amount of Fluid coming out of each Discharge Tube may also be related to the number of Pressure Chambers formed in each Flow Channel.
Here, an independent Flow Channel means that Fluids flowing through each Flow Channel do not mix, and in the two applications described above, two types of Flow Channels (R1, R2) where Fluids (F1, F2) do not mix were formed from the Suction Valve (341, 342) to the Discharge Tube (331, 332).
In order to satisfy this kind of independent Flow Channel, firstly the Partial Storage Frame that supplies the same fluid to the Pressure Chamber (P1, P2) is treated as a single Partial Storage Frame space even if it is divided and formed.
Also, each Pressure Chamber must have Fluid flowing in through one Storage Frame space and discharged through one Discharge Tube,
Also, if each Discharge Tube can receive Fluid from one or more Pressure Chambers in order to discharge a flow rate suitable for the purpose, multiple independent flow channels can be formed.
If one Pressure Chamber discharges Fluid into two or more Discharge Tubes, it should be considered as one channel.
The operation method described above can also be applied to a Pump Housing (300) which moves three or more types of fluids or has multiple Discharge Tubes with three or more independent Flow Channels.
This invention may further include a Nozzle Frame (400); which can mix and spray multiple Fluids discharged through the Pump Housing (300).
A nozzle is a device that can control fluid properties speed by varying the cross-sectional area between the inlet and outlet.
The Nozzle Frame (400) of this invention is composed of multiple Nozzles having the same characteristics.
The multiple Nozzles can be divided into one or more inner Nozzles that spray its own fluid into a specific Nozzle and a specified outer Nozzle.
Although the two shaped Discharge Tube (331, 332) and the associated Nozzle Frame (400) are described herein as embodiments of the Pump Housings (300), the Pump Housings (300) with variously shaped discharge tubes and subsequent applications may be described in the same manner.
A Vortex Plate (430); and a Brush Head (440); which may be additionally included are shown.
The Nozzle Inlet (411, 421) connect to the Discharge Tube (331, 332) and is the inlet of the Nozzle (410, 420) through which multiple Fluids (F1, F2) discharged from the Discharge Tube (331,332) flow in.
The Nozzle Outlet (412, 422) of this invention can have various shapes depending on its purpose.
The Fluid 2 (F2) injected from the Nozzle 2 Outlet (422) of the Nozzle 2 (420), which is an inner nozzle, is injected into the Nozzle 1 (410), which is an outer nozzle, may have a Mixed Flow Channel (R3) in which a Mixed Fluid (F3) is formed by mixing with the Fluid 1 (F1) flowing in from the Nozzle 1 Inlet (411) and moving.
For a more specific explanation, the Nozzle Frame (400) of
The first example of the Nozzle Frame (400) will be described with reference to
In
Air (F2) flows into the Nozzle 2 (420) having a Flow Channel 2 (R2) connected to the Discharge Tube 2 (332),
At this time, as shown in
Very strong pressure is required to push air (F2) through these micropores, and this is one of the reasons why this invention has a Gear Reduction Frame (120) and a Rotating Housing (200).
The air (F2), which is sprayed through the Pores (423) and forms a fine airflow, is mixed with water (F1) flowing through the Nozzle 1 (410) to form fine bubble water (F3), and it is the Mixed Flow Channel (R3) where the fine bubble water (F3) is discharged.
At this time, one or more Vortex Plate (430) may be further provided in the Mixed Flow Channel (R3) to form a vortex in the fine bubble water (F3).
The two Vortex Plates (430) shown in
Also, the fine bubble water, which is the Mixed Fluid (F3), can be discharged to the outside through a Brush Head (440) coupled to the Nozzle 1 Outlet (412).
The Brush Head (440) adjusts the spray direction of fine bubble water (F3) and can be even more valuable when applied to devices that can utilize the cleaning power of the microbubble water (F3).
As shown in
Also, multiple Brushes (442) are formed in the center of the head where multiple Spray Holes (441a) are located, so users can perform tasks such as cleaning by using fine bubble water (F3) sprayed from the Brush Head (440) along with the Brushes (442).
The second application of the Nozzle Frame (400) is when both Fluid 1 (F1) and Fluid 2 (F2) are both water, and used to form cavitation flow which be discharged out of the Nozzle Frame (400).
Cavitation occurs when the pressure of water drops below −1 atmosphere, and its holding time is extremely short, but when surrounded by high pressure water, the holding time is maintained for a little longer.
The case of creating such cavitation (F3) is explained through
In
Water (F2) also flows into the Nozzle 2 (420) having a Flow Channel 2 (R2) connected to the Discharge Tube 2 (332), and
At this time, the Nozzle 2 Outlet (422) is formed of one or more Venturi Outlets (424) with a venturi tube shape having a narrower cross-sectional area on the inside, as shown in
At this time, when water (F2) passes through the Venturi Outlet (424) very quickly, cavitation is formed when the pressure becomes lower than a certain pressure.
This is another reason why this invention includes a Gear Reduction Frame (120) and a Rotating Housing (200) to increase the speed of the water (F2).
In this way, the cavitation (F2) sprayed through the Venturi Outlet (424) is surrounded by water (F1) with a relatively low velocity flowing through the Nozzle 1 (410) and thus, is discharged as a cavitation flow (F3), which is mixed water, starting from the position where the Mixed Flow Channel (R3) begins.
The cavitation flow (F3) has the effect that cavitation (F2) can extend its lifespan by blocking direct exposure to the atmosphere.
The Nozzle Frame (400) according to this invention, which has such a detailed configuration and embodiment, reveals that even in the case of a Diaphragm Pump (1) having three or more Pressure Chambers or three or more independent Flow Channels, it has various modifications and can be applied for different purposes.
Optimal embodiments have been initiated in drawings and specifications. Here, specific terms were used, but they were used only for the purpose of describing this invention, not to limit the meaning or limit the scope of this invention described in the scope of the patent claim. Therefore, a person with conventional knowledge in this field of technology will understand that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible from this. Therefore, the true scope of technical protection of this invention must be determined by the technical idea of the scope of the attached patent claim
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2021-0131726 | Oct 2021 | KR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/KR2022/013905 | 9/16/2022 | WO |
