DE10250796A1 - pump assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a pump assembly (1), as can typically be installed in a pump chamber (11) of an iron, which has a housing with a water reservoir. The pump assembly (1) consists of a pump element (2) for changing the pump chamber volume (15, 15 ', 15' '), a sealing element (6) for sealing the pump element (2) with respect to the pump chamber (11), and an actuating element (3) for moving the pump element (2), from a reset element (5) to regain the starting position after actuation of the actuating element (3) and a stop plate (8) which connects the reset element (5) on one side to the pump chamber (11). The pump chamber (11) has suction and ejection openings (12) which can be closed with valves (13). DOLLAR A The pump assembly (1) according to the invention has a reset element (5) which is made of an expandable or compressible plastic and is permanently connected to at least one of the components mentioned. The invention relates to a pump assembly (1) which is easy to assemble and inexpensive to manufacture and which also allows freedom in the design of the operating elements.

Description

The invention relates to a pump assembly, as typically found in a steam iron pump chamber can be installed, which is a housing with a water reservoir. The pump assembly consists of a pump element, e.g. a dropper to change the pump chamber volume, from a sealing element for sealing the pump element against the Pump chamber, from an actuator for moving the pump element, from a restoring element for recovery the starting position after actuation of the actuator and a stop plate, which the return element on one side connects the pump chamber. The pump chamber has suction and ejection, which can be closed with valves could be.

State of technology

Pump assemblies for use in pump chambers are known from spray cans, perfume bottles, medical pump, atomizer and dosing systems and also steam irons.

Modern steam irons come with a water tank Mistake. This can be done by means of a pump inside the iron either the water is led to a nozzle from which it is to be ironed Laundry sprayed or it is fed to an evaporator so that a burst of steam e.g. out the bottom of the iron exit. Many irons offer both options. These therefore usually have two pumps or have one Pump switch. As a rule, water is conveyed via the actuation of an essentially cylindrical push button fires the one from the case of the iron protrudes and is pressed down with the thumb.

A pump assembly is actuated, which is composed of a large number of individual parts. An example of such a structure is in the document GB 2103663 A to see. The assembly is compared to an assembly as it is made from GB 2103663 A is known, simplified if the actuating part is designed as a deformable membrane, as in DE 198 29 675 A1 described.

Pump assemblies of the known type are not only used in irons, but also for removing and atomizing liquids from other containers, such as perfume bottles or hair spray cans. An example of such an application is in DE 696 12 587 T2 shown.

Pump assemblies are further in medical pumps, atomizers and dosing systems.

disadvantage the state of the art

In the conventional pump assemblies assembled a large number of functional elements from various materials. Individual components, especially springs, are delivered in bulk and must be separated and presented before assembly. It is therefore appropriate the number of components a variety of manufacturing and assembly steps necessary, leading to increased Costs. The Use of metallic springs leaves problems with the automatic Assembly arise, because in order to produce a preload, you have to work extremely precisely become. The functionality of the assembled module is only guaranteed if the accuracy of fit of the interacting individual parts is high, which is more difficult the more parts have to be joined together.

The publication DE 198 29 675 A1 shows a simplified version of a pump assembly by combining the pump and the actuating element into a single membrane, but the design options shown are very restrictive in the construction of the iron. For example, the fluid delivery device shown cannot be used in an iron equipped in a conventional manner with a cylindrical control button. The design freedom in the design of the steam iron is too restricted.

Task of invention

The object of the invention is in the formation of a pump assembly that is easy to assemble and Cheap is in the making and also Leaves freedom in the design of the controls open.

Solution of task

The task is solved by a pump assembly, with a reset element consisting of a expandable or compressible plastic is made and at least with one of the following elements unsolvable is connected, namely Pump element, actuating element, Sealing element and or stop plate.

Advantages of invention

Compared to conventional pump assemblies in the pump assembly according to the invention the reset element not in the form of a metallic spring, but is made of plastic. This allows the direct connection in the manufacturing process with one or more other components of the pump assembly, the can also be made of plastic. Form during assembly these elements are a component, which is the effort involved in assembly reduced, thus lowering the crates in this production step.

The absence of metallic components at the Designing an assembly that comes into contact with water or steam in particular has an advantageous effect on the durability since there is no susceptibility to corrosion. The elasticity of the restoring element can be chosen in analogy to metallic springs through the choice of material and material thickness. A particularly large working area is obtained if the elasticity of the plastic is used, which is up to 44 times higher than the compressibility of the same material. In order to take advantage of the extensibility, the restoring element has to be pulled out, ie stretched, when operating the operating element. The restoring force acts in that the restoring element contracts again after the operating element has been actively used. In contrast to this, as in the case of a known metallic spring, the restoring element can also be deflected from its normal position by compression. The restoring force is then the expansion to normal size. When compressing, it must be taken into account that the material cross-section usually increases. The corresponding space must be given to the component. This is not necessary when the extensibility is used, since the material becomes thinner when stretched and the diameter of the restoring element remains the same or becomes smaller.

Except for the material properties of the plastic, a geometric spring action can also be used when the material is, for example, in a spiral shape brought.

When the spring action is achieved by stretching the restoring element is on the to Pump element-facing side of the stop plate, in the event of a compression on the side pointing away from the pump element.

In an advantageous continuation of the Pump assembly according to the invention All elements are made from materials that are chemical and therefore unsolvable are connectable. The interconnected elements can then be manufactured in one manufacturing step. For example, that Pump element directly into the reset element integrated and together with the sealing element in an injection molding process manufactured. A suitable material is polypropylene, which themselves in different toughness and with different shore hardness can be made.

Preferably, the reset element even inextricably linked to up to all of the elements mentioned. From the whole Pump assembly is then part of a single construction, which is in the pump chamber can be used. This considerably shortens the assembly time.

It is also advantageous if components of the Pump assembly, e.g. the actuating element and the pump element, independently from the reset element are formed in one piece.

In an advantageous further training the invention, at least two pump assemblies are side by side arranged on the same stop plate. Especially if one there is a more complex requirement for the pump mechanism, e.g. B. in an iron, in which water is to be sprayed cold on the laundry, on the other Water is to be supplied to an evaporation device, the assembly consuming. The present invention Pump assembly can be not only easier to assemble individually than conventional pump assemblies, but also it can also be also easily connect to identical pump assemblies. In an ideal case a combination of several pump assemblies becomes one Mounting member.

The pump assembly according to the invention can be in many different ways Use wise. Plastics used today are light and it is gives one enough size Material selection to use in contact with almost any media. Because the manufacture is cheap and the assembly is simple, the use in the packaging industry lends itself with large quantities on.

However, it is particularly advantageous the use of a pump assembly according to the invention for installation in an iron. The actuator in this case is a pestle that over a integrated in the iron housing Push button is operated.

Further advantageous configurations appear from the following description and the claims.

drawing

Show it:

1 a sectional view through a pump assembly according to the invention

2 a sectional view through an inventive pump assembly, which is arranged in a pump chamber;

3 two sectional views showing the pump assembly according to the invention arranged in a pump chamber with suction and ejection opening in two different positions.

description of the embodiments

1 shows the sectional view through a pump assembly according to the invention 1 , A pump element 2 forms a part with an actuator in this embodiment 3 that is in the form of a pestle 4 is trained. A reset element 5 , which is in one piece with a sealing element 6 is formed, lies with a bead 7 on a stop plate 8th on. On the stop plate 8th opposite side 9 is the essentially rotationally symmetrical reset element 4 tapered so that the pestle 4 a bed surface 10 offers.

If pump assembly 1 is now to be used, it will be as on 2 dar divided into a pump chamber 11 built-in. This has an ejection opening not visible in this sectional view and an intake port 12 which with a ball check valve 13 is lockable. At the intake manifold 12 opposite side 13 is the stop plate 8th the pump assembly 1 on the pump opening 14 the pump chamber 11 on.

To reduce the volume 15 the pump chamber 11 becomes the pestle 4 towards the intake port 12 emotional. The reset element 5 stretched, taking it through the stop plate 8th is prevented from remaining in its original size or into the pump chamber 15 to slide. Will the actuator 3 no longer operated, the reset element pulls out 5 back to its original size and the pump chamber volume 15 expands to the initial size.

In the example shown here is directly next to the pump chamber 11 into which a pump assembly 1 is installed, another pump chamber 16 provided, in which a pump assembly according to the invention can also be installed.

In 3 two sectional views are shown, which show the pump assembly according to the invention in two different positions. In the first picture is the pump chamber volume 15 ' minimal, the reset element 5 stretched to the maximum. In the second figure, however, is the reset element 5 relaxed and the pump chamber volume 15 '' maximum. In the first case, the ball check valve 13 '' closed, in the second case open.

1

pump assembly

2

pumping element

3

actuator

4

tappet

5

Return element

6

sealing element

7

bead

8th

stop plate

9

opposite page

14

pan supports

11

pump chamber

12

induction nozzle

13 13 '

check valve

14

pumping port

15 15 ', 15' '

Pump displacement

16

Further pump chamber

Claims (8)

Pump assembly for installation in a pump chamber with suction and ejection opening consisting of - a pump element - an actuating element - a restoring element - a sealing element and a stop plate, characterized in that the restoring element ( 5 ) is made of a stretchable plastic and is permanently connected to at least one of the following elements, namely pump element ( 2 ), Actuator ( 3 ), Sealing element ( 6 ) and or stop plate ( 8th ). Pump assembly for installation in a pump chamber with suction and ejection opening consisting of - a pump element - an actuating element - a restoring element - a sealing element and a stop plate, characterized in that the restoring element ( 5 ) is made of a compressible plastic and is permanently connected to at least one of the following elements, namely pump element ( 2 ), Actuator ( 3 ), Sealing element ( 6 ) and or stop plate ( 8th ). Pump assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material of the restoring element ( 5 ) and with the material of the element connected to the restoring element, namely the pump element ( 2 ), Actuator ( 3 ), Sealing element ( 6 ) and or stop plate ( 8th ), is chemically connectable. Pump assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the restoring element ( 5 ) is inextricably linked to all of the following elements, namely pump element ( 2 ), Actuator ( 3 ), Sealing element ( 6 ) and or stop plate ( 8th ). Pump assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all interconnected components, namely the restoring element ( 5 }, Pump element ( 2 ), Actuator ( 3 ), Sealing element ( 6 ) and or stop plate ( 8th ) are made of the same material. Pump assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two pump assemblies ( 1 ) side by side, on the same stop plate ( 8th ) are arranged. Use of a pump assembly according to one of the preceding claims for installation in an iron. Use of a pump assembly according to one of the preceding claims for the conveyance of liquids, aerosols, pasty media and gases.