FR2570131A1 - Vane pump for grapes, fruit and other semi-liquid products - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a rotary vane pump capable of pumping the whole grapes, fruit and other semi-liquid, semi-solid or pasty materials. The vanes 4 slide on either side of a rotating drum 3 and overlap one inside the other. The body 1 of the pump is equipped with a safety element 6 preventing all mechanical accidents in the event of the passage of foreign bodies. The invention has applications particularly in the pumping of grapes or fruit, mixed in with which are more or less hard foreign bodies such as stones, wood, etc.

Description

 The present invention relates to a rotary vane pump capable of pumping the whole harvest. fruits and other semi-liquid, semi-solid or pasty materials.

 Pumping such products requires special pumps with generous dimensions. In addition, the harvest or fruit. are mixed more or less hard foreign bodies such as stones, wood, etc ..., which deteriorate the pumps.

 The present invention meets all these requirements and is aimed at a vane pump rotating in a body equipped with a safety element preventing any mechanical accidents during the passage of foreign bodies.

 The safety element is a retractable element on which the sucked material is transported.

 The current state of the art reveals pumps whose vanes are arranged in a radius around a rotor with spring return. Such a device is inapplicable in the pumping of loaded products because of the "stuffing" of the grooves of the spring; this drawback is even more evident in the case of food products.

 Another originality of the pump according to the invention is based on the design of the vanes and their guidance.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows made with reference to the attached drawings on the wels:
- Figure 1 is an elevational view of 1 assembly constituted by a pump according to the invention with its drive mechanics;
- Figure 2 is a partial sectional view of this pump;
- Figures 3 and 3A show respectively from the front and in elevation a pump drum;
- Figures 4 and 4A show respec
in plan and in profile of the pump vane guides;
- Figures 5 and 6 show, in plan, the vanes of the rotating drum of the pump;
Figure 7 shows, in perspective, the assembly of these pallets.

 In the embodiment shown by way of example of a pump according to the invention, the harvest or other product is sucked into an inlet "E" of a body (1) by pallets 14) driven in rotation by a drum (3). The material thus sucked is transported on a retractable safety element (6) then discharged towards an outlet "S", a fixed pad (7) ensuring a return seal.

The drum (3) has cross grooves
(3A) in which the pallets (4) are housed. It is rotated by any suitable mechanical means (2).

 The pallets (4) which slide in the drum (3) are two in number and go right through the pumping chamber. that is to say from the fixed pad (7) to the security element (6) which is a retractable pad. To do this, they are designed as removable additional elements as shown.

 Each of the pallets is in two parts; (4A-4B) for one (Fig. 5); (4C-4D) for the other (Fig.

 6); in order to allow the assembly, by nesting, of the assembly (Fig. 7).

 Pallets need to be guided through 360. As soon as they leave the pads t6-7) they are held in place by guides (5) located on each side wall of the body (1).

These guides allow the combined movement:
- rotation of the pallets <4) relative to the body (1);
- Translation of the pallets 14) relative to the drum (3).

 As explained above the fundamental problem of pumping grapes or other fruits lies in the existence of foreign elements which cause the deterioration of rotary pumps. The security element (6) constitutes a device absorbing foreign bodies without risk of rupture.

 In the pump described above, the danger zone is located on the pallet (4) - lower pad (6) level. Indeed, if a hard body is present at this place there is jamming and therefore risk of breakage. The safety element or pad (6) is a retractable part accepting a deformation during the passage of a hard body.

 This lower shoe (6) is produced in an independent part, free in a housing (6A) made in the body (1) and suspended on an elastic device (6B). The latter may be a set of springs, a pneumatic means or the like.

 When a hard foreign body presents itself, the lower shoe (6) actuates the shock, moves downwards and the pallet (4) considered can thus convey this foreign element without breaking towards the delivery.

 It is understood that the present invention has only been described and shown as a preferred example and that it is possible to provide equivalences in its constituent elements without, however, departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (6)

 1 Rotary vane pump for harvesting, fruit or other semi-liquid, semi-solid or pasty materials. mixed with more or less hard foreign bodies, characterized in that the pallets (4) slide right through in a rotating drum (3).  2. Vane pump according to claim 1 characterized in that the vanes (4) pass right through the drum (3) and are nested one in + 'other.  3. Vane pump according to any one of claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the vanes <4) are guided on both sides on the 360 of their course, by guides (5).  4. Pump according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the body t1) of the pump is equipped with a safety element (6) avoiding all mechanical accidents during the passage of foreign bodies.  5. Pump according to claim 1 characterized in that the security element (â) is a retractable element on which the sucked material is transported.  6. Pump according to any one of claims 1 and? characterized in that the retractable safety element is a movable pad (6) mounted on an elastic system (6B) yielding when a hard body is present between a pallet and said pad,