JP7706284B2 - Pumping equipment - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a pump device, in particular a pump device that has an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and supplies a pressurizing medium between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder to expand the inner cylinder in a centripetal direction to transport liquids, fluids such as slurries, solids, or solid-liquid mixtures.

Conventionally, one type of pump known is one that uses peristaltic motion to transport an object, as shown in Patent Document 1. The pump disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured by connecting multiple pump units that supply a pressurizing medium between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder to expand the inner cylinder and discharge the medium to contract the inner cylinder, and by sequentially expanding and contracting the inner cylinders of the connected pump units, the object can be transported by the inner periphery of the connected pump units.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 05-321842

In this type of pump, as described in Patent Document 1, when the pump unit contracts, the negative pressure generated on the inner side of the inner cylinder draws in the transported material, making it possible to transport the material regardless of its physical properties, such as liquids, viscous fluids such as slurries, powders, or solid-liquid mixtures.
However, when the transported material has high viscosity, the material cannot be sufficiently drawn into the inner cylinder, resulting in a problem of a decrease in the overall flow rate.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to provide a pump device that can suppress a decrease in flow rate even when the viscosity of the transported material is high.

A pump device for solving the above problems includes a pump section including a pump unit including an outer tube, an inner tube that is provided along the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube and is made of an elastic material, end members that are provided on both ends of the outer tube and the inner tube and form a closed space between the inner periphery of the outer tube and the outer periphery of the inner tube, the inner tube expanding in a centripetal direction when a working medium is supplied to the closed space, and the inner tube being contracted by a restoring force due to the elasticity of the inner tube when the working medium is discharged from the closed space , and a transport control device that controls the transport of a transported object using the inner periphery side of the inner tube as a transport path by expanding the pump units in a predetermined order, the transport control device including a forced contraction means that allows forced contraction in addition to the contraction due to the elasticity of the inner tube of the pump unit that constitutes the pump section, and the pump section includes a first pump unit section including a first pump unit that is made of a material having a higher elastic modulus than the elastic modulus of the inner tube and is non-expandable in the axial direction when the inner tube expands in the centripetal direction;
The outer tube is made of an elastic material whose axial extension is restricted, and a second pump unit section is formed by connecting a plurality of second pump units which are capable of contracting in the axial direction when the inner tube expands in the centripetal direction, and the first pump unit section is connected to the upstream side of the second pump unit section in the conveying direction .
According to this configuration, the forced contraction means forcibly contracts the inner cylinder, thereby applying a large negative pressure to the transported material in a short time. As a result, even if the transported material has a high viscosity, it is possible to take in the transported material into the contracted first pump unit or the second pump unit , and a decrease in the flow rate of the transported material (a decrease in transport efficiency) can be suppressed. In addition, the forced contraction means forcibly contracts the inner cylinder of the first pump unit, thereby allowing a large amount of the transported material to be taken in the pump even if the transported material has a high viscosity, and a decrease in the flow rate of the transported material can be suppressed. In addition, since the outer cylinder of the second pump unit is made of an elastic body whose axial extension is restricted, the second pump unit contracts in the axial direction when expanded, thereby increasing the pushing force, and the amount of transported material remaining in the pump unit can be reduced, which contributes to preventing a decrease in the flow rate.
Furthermore, the forced contraction means can reliably generate a large negative pressure on the inner circumferential side of the inner cylinder by forcibly contracting the first pump unit, or both the first pump unit and the second pump unit .
In addition, the forced contraction means is configured to expand the volume of the inner cylinder of the first pump unit more than the volume of the inner cylinder's inner side when the inner cylinder contracts due to its elasticity, thereby ensuring the generation of a greater negative pressure on the inner side of the inner cylinder.
In addition, the forced contraction means may be configured to be capable of forcibly discharging the working medium from the closed space, or may be configured to mechanically contract the inner cylinder of the first pump unit when the first pump unit is forcibly contracted, or to mechanically contract the inner cylinder of the first pump unit and the inner cylinder of the second pump unit when both the first pump unit and the second pump unit are forcibly contracted .
The pump device according to claim 1, further characterized in that the conveying control device conveys the material by repeating a process of setting an initial state in which all inner cylinders forming the conveying path in the pump section are expanded, and successively contracting all of the inner cylinders starting from the upstream side, and a process of successively expanding the inner cylinders starting from the upstream side until all of the inner cylinders are expanded.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a pump device. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a pump unit. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of another pump unit. FIG. 11 is a radial cross-sectional view of an outer cylinder of another pump unit. FIG. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating another embodiment of the second pump unit.

The present invention will be described in detail below through the embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention as claimed, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention, but include configurations that are selectively adopted.

[Overall schematic configuration of peristaltic pump]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the pump device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the pump device 1 according to the present embodiment includes two types of pump units 10; 210 and a conveyance control device 100. The pump units 10; 210 are connected together to form a conveyance path and pump. In the present embodiment, one pump unit 10 is disposed on the most upstream side in the conveyance direction, and three pump units 210 are connected in series on the downstream side of the pump unit 10 to form a pump section 8, but the connection form of the pump units 10; 210 is not limited thereto. The pump section 8 is provided, for example, at the outlet of a storage device in which the material to be conveyed is stored, or in the middle of an existing pipe.

[Regarding pump unit 10]
FIG. 2 is an axial cross-sectional view and a radial cross-sectional view of the pump unit 10. As shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pump unit 10 includes an inner tube 12, an outer tube 14 arranged to form a double tube coaxial with the central axis of the inner tube 12, and a pair of end members 16; 16 that close the space formed between the outer periphery of the inner tube 12 and the inner periphery of the outer tube 14.

The pump unit 10 is closed by end members 16;16, and is configured to supply a working medium, a fluid, to the space formed between the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 12 and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder 14, thereby expanding the inner cylinder 12 in the centripetal (axial) direction of the inner cylinder 12.

[About the inner cylinder]
The inner cylinder 12 is configured as a cylindrical body having elasticity. The material for forming the inner cylinder 12 may be, for example, an elastic material such as rubber, elastomer, etc., such as natural latex rubber or silicone rubber.

As shown in FIG. 2, the inner tube 12 comprises a cylindrical tube portion 12A and flange portions 12B at both ends of the tube portion 12A. The flange portions 12B are formed integrally with the tube portion 12A and are formed in the shape of a hollow disk that extends concentrically radially outward at the end of the tube portion 12A. A protrusion 13 that protrudes toward the tube portion 12A (axially inward) is formed around the entire circumference at the tip (outer periphery) of this flange portion 12B.

[About the outer cylinder]
The outer cylinder 14 is configured as a rigid cylindrical body. For example, materials such as metal and resin can be used as materials for configuring the outer cylinder 14. Here, "rigid" means that the outer cylinder 14 does not substantially deform in the axial direction or radial direction during operation of the pump unit 10. In other words, the outer cylinder 14 is configured of a material having a higher elastic modulus than that of the inner cylinder 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer tube 14 has flanges 14B at both ends of a cylindrical tube portion 14A. The flanges 14B are formed integrally with the tube portion 14A and are formed in the shape of a hollow disk that extends concentrically radially outward at the end of the tube portion 14A.

[Regarding end members]
The end members 16, 16 are disposed on both ends of the inner cylinder 12 and the outer cylinder 14. The end members 16, 16 are configured to be fixable to both ends of the inner cylinder 12 and the outer cylinder 14, and to be connectable to the pump unit 10 or the pump unit 210.

The end member 16; 16 has a flange portion 16A and a tubular portion 16B. The flange portion 16A is formed in a flat rectangular shape having a hollow portion 20. The hollow portion 20 is provided as a circular hole through which the tubular portion 12A of the inner tube 12 can pass. The diameter of the hollow portion 20 may be, for example, a dimension that allows it to fit closely to the outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion 12A of the inner tube 12.

The flange portion 16A has an annular groove 22 recessed into the axially outer end face 16a. The annular groove 22 is formed concentrically with the hollow portion 20, and the protrusion 13 at the tip of the flange portion 12B of the inner tube 12 can be fitted into the annular groove 22. The outer end face 16a of the flange portion 16A is formed such that when the protrusion 13 of the inner tube 12 is fitted into the annular groove 22, the flange portion 12B of the inner tube 12 protrudes outward beyond the outer end face 16a.

The inner cylinder 12 is attached to the end member 16;16 by fitting the protrusion 13 of the flange portion 12B into the annular groove 22 of the end member 16. The inner cylinder 12 is connected to an end member of another pump unit 10 via the end member 16;16, or to a flange provided on an existing pipe, and the flange portion 12B is pressed against the end member 16 to form an airtight seal with the end member 16.

The tubular portion 16B is provided so as to protrude cylindrically in the axial direction from the inner end surface 16b of the flange portion 16A. The central axis of the tubular portion 16B is concentric with the hollow portion 20, and the tubular portion 16B is formed integrally with the flange portion 16A. The tubular portion 16B is formed with an outer diameter large enough to be inserted into the inner circumference of the outer tube 14 in sliding contact therewith, and an inner diameter larger than the inner diameter of the hollow portion 20.

With the tube portion 16B of the end member 16 inserted, the flange portion 14B of the outer tube 14 is fixed to the inner end surface 16b of the flange portion 16A of the end member 16 by a fixing means such as a bolt (not shown). The outer tube 14 can be made airtight with the end member 16, for example, by interposing a packing or the like between the flange portion 14B of the outer tube 14 and the flange portion 16A of the end member 16.

As described above, both ends of the inner tube 12 and the outer tube 14 are attached to the end members 16;16, so that the space formed between the outer circumference of the inner tube 12 and the inner circumference of the outer tube 14 becomes a closed space, and the fluid chamber V1 in the pump unit 10 is formed.

One end member 16 has a supply/drain hole 28 for supplying and discharging fluid to the fluid chamber V1. One end of the supply/drain hole 28 opens to the outer peripheral end face of the flange portion 16A of the end member 16, and the other end opens to the inner end face 16b of the flange portion 16A between the inner tube 12 and the outer tube 14.

A tube (not shown) that extends from the transport control device 100 can be connected to the opening on the outer peripheral end face of the flange portion 16A that constitutes the supply and drainage hole 28 to supply fluid to the fluid chamber V1 and drain fluid from the fluid chamber V1.

The supply and drainage holes 28 are not limited to being provided in one end member 16, but may be provided in the other end member 16, and fluid may be supplied to and discharged from both end members 16;16 to the fluid chamber V1. The supply and drainage holes 28 are not limited to being provided in the end member 16, but may be provided in the outer tube 14 to supply and discharge fluid to and from the fluid chamber V1, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the pump unit 10.

According to the above configuration, the pump unit 10 is configured so that, by supplying compressed air to the fluid chamber V1 via the supply and discharge hole 28, the inner cylinder 12 expands in the centripetal direction as shown in FIG. 2(b), by discharging the compressed air supplied to the fluid chamber V1, the inner cylinder 12 contracts as shown in FIG. 2(a), and by discharging compressed air from the fluid chamber V1 and discharging further air from the contracted state, the inner cylinder 12 expands in the opposite direction to the centripetal direction as shown in FIG. 2(c).

[Regarding the pump unit 210]
FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view and a radial cross-sectional view of the pump unit 210.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pump unit 210 comprises an inner tube 212, an outer tube 214 arranged to form a double tube coaxial with the central axis of the inner tube 212, and a pair of end members 216; 216 that close the space formed between the outer periphery of the inner tube 212 and the inner periphery of the outer tube 214.

The pump unit 210 is closed by end members 216; 216, and is configured to supply fluid to the space formed between the outer periphery of the inner tube 212 and the inner periphery of the outer tube 214, thereby expanding the inner tube 212 in the axial direction of the inner tube 212.

[About the inner cylinder]
The inner cylinder 212 is configured as an elastic cylindrical body. The material that can be used to configure the inner cylinder 212 is, for example, an elastic material such as rubber, elastomer, etc., such as natural latex rubber or silicone rubber.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inner tube 212 has flanges 212B at both ends of the cylindrical tube portion 212A. The flanges 212B are formed integrally with the tube portion 212A and are formed in a hollow disk shape that extends concentrically radially outward at the end of the tube portion 212A. A protrusion 213 that protrudes toward the tube portion 212A (axially inward) is formed around the entire circumference at the tip (outer periphery) of the flanges 212B.

[About the outer cylinder]
FIG. 4 is a radial cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
The outer cylinder 214 is configured as a cylinder made of an elastic material that is expandable and contractable in the axial direction while maintaining airtightness. The outer cylinder 214 is configured to include, for example, an elastic material and a fibrous material.
As shown in FIG. 4, the outer cylinder 214 includes, for example, an elastic material 215A and a plurality of fibers 215B contained within the elastic material 215A in a radial cross-sectional view.

The elastic material 215A can be, for example, rubber such as natural latex rubber or silicone rubber, or an elastic material such as an elastomer.

The fibers 215B are provided to restrain the axial extension of the outer tube 214, and function as a restraining means for restraining the axial extension of the outer tube 214.

The fibers 215B are provided, for example, in a layered form, have a length that extends continuously from one end side to the other end side of the outer tube 214, and are arranged to extend along the axial direction of the outer tube 214.
The fibers 215B do not necessarily need to be contained in layers in the outer tube 214, but may be embedded and dispersed within the elastic material.

The material for fiber 215B is preferably a highly elastic fiber that exhibits little change in elasticity in the axial direction. For example, aramid fiber, carbon fiber, glass fiber, nylon, polyamide fiber, polyolefin fiber, metal fiber, or other stretchable material can be appropriately selected and used. The adhesiveness of the fiber can be sufficiently improved by applying an appropriate primer treatment or surface oxidation treatment, but it is preferable to select the material according to its adhesiveness to the elastic material.

The fiber material may be in any form, such as filament, yarn (spun yarn and filament yarn), strand, etc. Furthermore, it is also possible to use untwisted fibers that are bundled without twisting, or fibers made by twisting multiple strands of such fibers. Depending on the type of fiber, two or more types of fibers of different materials or fibers of different forms may be combined.

The length of the fiber 215B is not limited to a continuous length from one end to the other end, but may be configured so that multiple fibers shorter than the axial length of the outer tube 214 are continuously distributed along the axial direction and reach from one end to the other end.

In addition, the restraining means in the outer tube 214 may be made of the elastic material itself instead of the fiber 215B. For example, a rib extending in the axial direction of the outer tube 214 may be integrally formed with the elastic material that constitutes the outer tube 214 and used as the restraining means.

In addition, it is preferable that the pump unit 210 is configured so that the elastic modulus of the outer tube 214 is greater than that of the inner tube 212, taking into account the ease of expansion of the inner tube 212 in the centripetal direction.

[Regarding end members]
The end members 216, 216 are disposed on both ends of the inner cylinder 212 and the outer cylinder 214. The end members 216, 216 are configured to be fixable to both ends of the inner cylinder 212 and the outer cylinder 214, and are configured to be connectable to the pump unit 10 or the pump unit 210.

The end member 216; 216 includes a flange portion 216A and a tube portion 216B. The flange portion 216A is formed in a flat rectangular shape having a hollow portion 220. The hollow portion 220 is provided as a circular hole through which the tube portion 212A of the inner tube 212 can pass. The diameter of the hollow portion 220 may be, for example, a dimension that allows it to fit closely to the outer circumferential surface of the tube portion 212A of the inner tube 212.

The flange portion 216A has an annular groove 222 recessed into the axially outer end face 216a. The annular groove 222 is formed concentrically with the hollow portion 220, and the protrusion 213 at the tip of the flange portion 212B of the inner tube 212 can be fitted into the annular groove 22. The outer end face 216a of the flange portion 216A is formed such that when the protrusion 13 of the inner tube 12 is fitted into the annular groove 22, the flange portion 212B of the inner tube 212 protrudes outward beyond the outer end face 16a.

The inner cylinder 212 is attached to the end member 216;216 by fitting the protrusion 213 of the flange portion 212B into the annular groove 222 of the end member 216. The inner cylinder 212 is connected to an end member of another pump unit 10;210 or a flange provided on an existing pipe via the end member 216;216, and the flange portion 212B is pressed against the end member 216 to form an airtight seal with the end member 216.

The tubular portion 216B is provided so as to protrude cylindrically in the axial direction from the inner end surface 216b of the flange portion 216A. The central axis of the tubular portion 216B is concentric with the hollow portion 220, and the tubular portion 216B is formed integrally with the flange portion 216A. The outer diameter of the tubular portion 216B is set to a size that allows it to be inserted in a tight contact state into the inner periphery of the outer tube 214, and the inner diameter is set to a dimension larger than the inner diameter of the hollow portion 220.

The crimped intermediate member 224, together with the crimped member 226, constitutes a fixing means for fixing the outer tube 214 to the end members 216; 216 in an airtight state. The crimped intermediate member 224 is formed as an annular member that can be inserted around the outer periphery of the outer tube 214 when the tube portion 216B of the end member 216 is inserted into the outer tube 214.

The crimped intermediate member 224 is formed with a cylindrical surface on the inner circumference, and the inner diameter is set so that it fits tightly against the outer circumference of the outer tube 214. The crimped intermediate member 224 is formed with a conical surface (tapered surface) on the outer circumference, and is formed so that it gradually becomes thicker than the inner circumference. The crimped intermediate member 224 is placed on the outer circumference of the outer tube 214 so that the thick side is pressed against the end member 216.

The crimping member 226 is formed as an annular member that can be fitted to the outer periphery of the crimping intermediate member 224 arranged on the outer tube 214. The crimping member 226 has an inner periphery formed as a conical surface (tapered surface) and is configured to make surface contact with the conical surface of the crimping intermediate member 224.

The crimping member 226 is fixed to the inner end surface 216b of the end member 216 by a fixing means such as a bolt (not shown) with the inner conical surface of the crimping intermediate member 224 in contact with the conical surface of the crimping intermediate member 224. This presses the crimping intermediate member 224 against the outer tube 214, and the outer tube 214 is fixed to the tube portion 216B of the end member 216 in an airtight state.

As described above, the end members 216; 216 are attached to the ends of the inner tube 212 and the outer tube 214, making the space formed between the outer circumference of the inner tube 212 and the inner circumference of the outer tube 14 a closed space, forming the fluid chamber V2 in the pump unit 210.

One end member 216 has a supply/drain hole 228 for supplying and discharging fluid to the fluid chamber V2. One end of the supply/drain hole 228 opens to the outer peripheral end face of the flange portion 216A of the end member 216, and the other end opens to the inner end face 216b of the flange portion 216A between the inner tube 212 and the outer tube 214.

A tube (not shown) that extends from the transport control device 100 can be connected to the opening on the outer peripheral end face of the flange portion 216A that constitutes the supply and drainage hole 228 to supply fluid to the fluid chamber V2 and drain fluid from the fluid chamber V2.

The supply and drainage hole 228 is not limited to being provided in one end member 216, but may be provided in the other end member 216, and fluid may be supplied to and discharged from both end members 216; 216 to the fluid chamber V2. The supply and drainage hole 228 is not limited to being provided in the end member 216, but may be provided in the outer tube 214 to supply and discharge fluid to the fluid chamber V2, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the configuration of the pump unit 210.

According to the above configuration, the pump unit 210 supplies compressed air to the fluid chamber V2 through the supply and discharge hole 228, causing the inner cylinder 212 to expand radially inward (centripetal direction) and contract in the axial direction as shown in FIG. 3(b), and discharges the compressed air supplied to the fluid chamber V2, causing the inner cylinder 212 to contract radially and extend axially as shown in FIG. 3(a).

[About the transport control device]
The transport control device 100 is a device for controlling the transport operation of the transported object by the connected pump unit 10 and pump unit 210. For example, as shown in Fig. 1, the transport control device 100 can be composed of a fluid system control unit 110 and an electrical system control unit 160. In Fig. 1, the dashed lines indicate signal lines showing the path of electrical signals, and the solid lines indicate pipes showing the flow paths of fluids.

[Fluid system control section]
[Positive pressure system]
The fluid system control unit 110 controls the supply, stop, and discharge of fluid to the pump units 10 and 210. In this embodiment, air is used as the fluid, but the fluid is not limited to air, and other gases or liquids such as water may be used.
The fluid system control unit 110 may be modified as appropriate to obtain the functions described below depending on the fluid to be used.

The fluid system control unit 110 includes, for example, a compressor 112, a regulator 114, a supply valve 116, a discharge valve 118, a flow sensor 120, a pressure sensor 122, a pressure reducing means 124, a suction valve 126, etc.

The compressor 112 generates compressed air to be supplied to the fluid chamber V1 of the pump unit 10 and the fluid chamber V2 of the pump unit 210.

The regulator 114 is connected to the compressor 112, receives compressed air pressurized by the compressor 112, reduces the input compressed air to a predetermined pressure, and outputs compressed air at a constant pressure. The pressure of the compressed air output from the regulator 114 is set to a pressure at least at which the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner cylinder 12 of the pump unit 10 and the inner cylinder 212 of the pump unit 210 can come into close contact with each other when the pump units 10 and 210 are expanded, or is set to a pressure higher than this.

The supply valve 116 is provided for each connected pump unit 10; 210, and the regulator 114 is connected to each pump unit 10; 210. The supply valve 116 receives compressed air decompressed by the regulator 114 and controls the output of this compressed air to the fluid chamber V1; V2 of the pump unit 10; 210 (supply and stop of supply of compressed air to the fluid chamber V1; V2). The supply valve 116 has a valve that opens and closes based on an electrical signal, and supplies compressed air to the fluid chamber V1 or V2 by opening the valve, and stops the supply of compressed air by closing the valve. The supply valve 116 is electrically connected to the electrical system control unit 160, and opens and closes the valve based on a signal input from the electrical system control unit 160.

The discharge valve 118 is provided for each pump unit 210 and is connected to each pump unit 210. The discharge valve 118 receives the compressed air in the fluid chamber V2 as input, and the output side is open to the atmosphere so that the compressed air is discharged into the atmosphere. The discharge valve 118 has a valve that opens and closes based on an electrical signal, and by opening the valve, the fluid chamber V2 is opened to the atmosphere, thereby discharging the compressed air in the fluid chamber V2 into the atmosphere, and by closing the valve, the discharge of the compressed air is stopped. The discharge valve 118 is electrically connected to the electrical system control unit 160, and opens and closes the valve based on a signal input from the electrical system control unit 160.

The flow rate sensor 120 is provided between the supply valve 116 provided for each pump unit 10; 210 and the corresponding pump unit 10; 210, and measures the flow rate of compressed air supplied to the pump unit 10; 210. The flow rate sensor 120 is electrically connected to the electrical system control unit 160, and outputs the measured flow rate of compressed air to the electrical system control unit 160.
The flow rate sensor 120 may be provided at any position as long as it can measure the flow rate of the compressed air supplied to the fluid chamber V1 and the fluid chamber V2.

The pressure sensor 122 is provided between the flow rate sensor 120 and the corresponding pump unit 10; 210, which is provided for each pump unit 10; 210, and measures the pressure in the fluid chamber V1 of the pump unit 10 and the fluid chamber V2 of the pump unit 210. The pressure sensor 122 is electrically connected to the electrical system control unit 160, and outputs the measured pressure in the fluid chamber V1 or the fluid chamber V2 to the electrical system control unit 160.
The pressure sensor 122 may be provided at any position as long as it can measure the pressure in the fluid chamber V1 and the fluid chamber V2.

[Negative pressure system]
The pressure reducing means 124 is a device for forcibly discharging (sucking) air from the fluid chamber V1 of the pump unit 10. The pressure reducing means 124 is configured to be able to suck air from within the fluid chamber V1 and reduce the air pressure in the fluid chamber V1 to a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. The pressure reducing means 124 may be, for example, a vacuum pump or a pressure reducing device such as a device that generates negative pressure by utilizing the Venturi effect of compressed air from the compressor 112.

The suction valve 126 is provided between the pressure reducing means 124 and the pump unit 10, and controls the state of communication between the pressure reducing means 124 and the fluid chamber V1. The suction valve 126 has a valve that opens and closes based on an electrical signal, and supplies compressed air to the fluid chamber V1 by opening the valve, and stops the supply of compressed air by closing the valve. The suction valve 126 is electrically connected to the electrical system control unit 160, and opens and closes the valve based on a signal input from the electrical system control unit 160.

Note that the pressure reducing means 124 is inserted into the pipe connecting the pump unit 10 and the supply valve 116 via the suction valve 126, but this is not limited to the above. It is sufficient that the pressure reducing effect of the pressure reducing means 124 on the pump unit 10 can be controlled by the suction valve 126.

Furthermore, the supply valve 116, exhaust valve 118, and suction valve 126 will be described as being in an initial state in which the valves are closed when no signal is input, opening when a signal is input, and closing when the signal is stopped.

For example, solenoid valves can be used for the supply valve 116, the exhaust valve 118, and the suction valve 126. By using solenoid valves for the supply valve 116, the exhaust valve 118, and the suction valve 126, the response speed when expanding or contracting the pump unit 10; 210 can be improved.

The electrical system control unit 160 is a control device for operating the pump unit 10; 210. For example, the electrical system control unit 160 is a computer equipped with hardware such as a CPU as a calculation processing means and ROM, RAM, etc. as storage means.

The memory means stores a program for operating the pump unit 10, a judgment value for determining whether to output or stop signals to the supply valve 116, the discharge valve 118, and the suction valve 126, and the like.

The electrical system control unit 160 executes processing according to a program stored in the memory means by the calculation means, and outputs signals to the supply valve 116, exhaust valve 118 and suction valve 126 provided for each pump unit 10 to open and close the valves based on the flow rate input from the flow sensor 120 provided for each pump unit 10 and the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122.
The electrical system control unit 160 is not limited to a computer, and a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) may also be used.

[Expansion/Deflating Control of Pump Unit 10]
When the pump unit 10 is expanded, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to the corresponding supply valve 116, and maintains a state in which the signal output is stopped to the suction valve 126. As a result, in the pump unit 10, compressed air flows into the fluid chamber V1, and the inner cylinder 12 expands in the centripetal direction.

In the process of supplying compressed air to the fluid chamber V1, the electrical system control unit 160 monitors the change in flow rate input from the flow rate sensor 120 and the change in pressure input from the pressure sensor 122. Then, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting a signal to the supply valve 116 when the input flow rate and pressure reach a determination value indicating that the expanded state has been reached.
As a result, the inner cylinder 12 of the pump unit 10 is put into an expanded state as shown in Fig. 2(b) and maintained in this state. Hereinafter, this expanded state may be referred to as a fully expanded state or simply as fully expanded.
Incidentally, the term "fully expanded" refers to the state in which the container is most expanded during the transport operation of the transported object, and means, for example, a state in which the container is expanded enough to block the transport path.

[Contraction Control of Pump Unit 10]
Furthermore, when the pump unit 10 is to be deflated from a fully expanded state, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to the suction valve 126 and maintains the stoppage of the output of a signal to the corresponding supply valve 116 .
As a result, the compressed air in the fluid chamber V1 of the pump unit 10 is sucked in by the pressure reducing means 124 and forcibly discharged.

The electrical system control unit 160 monitors the change in pressure in the fluid chamber V1 during the process of discharging compressed air from the fluid chamber V1. Then, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting a signal to the suction valve 126 when the input pressure reaches a judgment value that indicates that the pump unit 10 has reached an over-contracted state.

The over-contracted state (sometimes simply referred to as over-contracted) refers to a state in which the fluid chamber V1 expands in the opposite centripetal direction (radially outward) as shown in FIG. 2(c) compared to when the compressed air in the fluid chamber V1 is naturally released into the atmosphere from the supply and exhaust hole 28 as shown in FIG. 2(a) and the fluid chamber V1 is naturally contracted by the elastic restoring force of the inner tube 12 (hereinafter, this state is referred to as the natural contracted state). In this embodiment, for example, when the pressure on the inner periphery of the inner tube 12 is at atmospheric pressure, the pressure in the fluid chamber V1 during over-contraction is lower than atmospheric pressure.

In other words, the pressure reducing means 124 functions as a forced contraction means that applies negative pressure to the fluid chamber V1 of the pump unit 10 by the electrical system control unit 160 controlling the supply valve 116 and the suction valve 126, and forcibly discharges the compressed air from the fluid chamber V1, thereby forcibly contracting the inner cylinder 12 of the pump unit 10.

[Expansion Control of Pump Unit 210]
When the electric system control unit 160 expands the pump unit 210, it outputs a signal only to the supply valve 116, and maintains a state in which the signal output is stopped to the discharge valve 118. As a result, in the pump unit 210, compressed air flows into the fluid chamber V2, and the inner cylinder 212 expands in the centripetal direction.

During the process of supplying compressed air to the fluid chamber V2, the electrical system control unit 160 monitors the change in flow rate input from the flow rate sensor 120 and the change in pressure input from the pressure sensor 122. Then, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting a signal to the supply valve 116 when the input flow rate and pressure reach a determined value indicating that the pump unit 210 has reached full expansion. As a result, the inner cylinder 212 of the pump unit 210 is in an expanded state as shown in Fig. 3(b). Hereinafter, this expanded state may be referred to as a fully expanded state, or simply as fully expanded.
Incidentally, the term "fully expanded" refers to the state in which the container is most expanded during the transport operation of the transported object, and means, for example, a state in which the container is expanded enough to block the transport path.

[Contraction Control of Pump Unit 210]
Furthermore, when the pump unit 210 is to be deflated from a fully expanded state, the electrical system control unit 160 maintains a state in which the signal output to the supply valve 116 is stopped, and outputs a signal only to the exhaust valve 118. As a result, the compressed air in the fluid chamber V2 of the inner cylinder 212 of the pump unit 210 is released to the atmosphere via the exhaust valve 118, and contraction begins. It contracts as shown in FIG. 3(a).

The electrical system control unit 160 monitors the change in pressure in the fluid chamber V2 during the process of discharging compressed air from the fluid chamber V2. Then, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting a signal to the discharge valve 118 when the input pressure reaches a judgment value indicating that the pump unit 210 has reached a contracted state. This causes the pump unit 210 to contract as shown in FIG. 3(a). Hereinafter, this contracted state may be referred to as a natural contraction state, or simply as natural contraction.

[Operation of the pump device]
The pump device 1 can be operated, for example, as follows. In the following description, the pump device 1 is assumed to transport an object in the transport direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. In Fig. 1, A, B, C, and D in parentheses attached to the pump units 10; 210, the supply valve 116, the discharge valve 118, the flow rate sensor 120, the pressure sensor 122, the suction valve 126, and the like are symbols for identifying valves and the like associated with the operation of each pump unit 10; 210.

5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating the conveying operation of the pump unit 8 according to this embodiment.
In the operation example 1, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the operation is started with the initial state being a state in which all the pump units 10A; 210B to 210D are expanded.

[Step 1]
First, in order to fully expand the pump units 10(A); 210(B) to 210(D), the electrical system control unit 160 outputs signals only to the supply valves 116(A) to 116(D) and stops outputting signals to the suction valve 126(A) and the discharge valves 118(B) to 118(D). As a result, compressed air is supplied to the fluid chambers V of the pump units 10(A); 210(B) to 210(D), and the inner cylinders 12; 212 of each pump unit 10(A); 210(B) to 210(D) start expanding in the centripetal direction.

Then, when the flow rates input from the flow rate sensors 120(A)-120(D) and the pressures input from the pressure sensors 122(A)-122(D) reach the judgment values at which the pump unit 10 and the pump unit 210 are deemed to be fully expanded, respectively, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting signals to the supply valves 116(A)-116(D). At this time, the electrical system control unit 160 maintains the stopped state of outputting signals to the suction valve 126(A) and the discharge valves 118(B)-118(D).

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the inner cylinders 12; 212 of all pump units 10(A); 210(B) to 210(D) constituting the pump section 8 are completely expanded in the centripetal direction, and the conveying path formed by the connected inner cylinders 12; 212 is brought into a closed state.
At this time, it is assumed that the transported material has reached pump unit 10A, which is located most upstream in pump section 8.

[Step 2]
Next, the electrical system control section 160 outputs a signal only to the suction valve 126(A), and maintains the stopped state of output of signals to the supply valves 116A to 116(D) and the discharge valves 118(B) to 118(D).
As a result, while the inner cylinder 212 of the pump units 210B to 210(D) remains fully expanded, the compressed air is forcibly discharged from the fluid chamber V1 of the pump unit 10(A) by the pressure reducing means 124, and the inner cylinder 12 of the pump unit 10(A) begins to rapidly contract.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(A) has reached a judgment value that indicates an over-contraction state of the pump unit 10, it stops outputting a signal to the suction valve 126A. At this time, the stopped state of outputting signals to the supply valves 116(A) to 116(D) and the discharge valves 118(B) to 118(D) is maintained.
As a result, the pump unit 10(A) enters an over-contracted state as shown in Fig. 5(b). The pump unit 10(A) rapidly contracts and enters an over-contracted state, which generates a large negative pressure, and the material that has reached the pump section 8 can be drawn into the pump unit 10(A) by this large negative pressure.

[Step 3]
Next, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to the discharge valve 118(B), and stops output of signals to the supply valves 116(A) to 116(D), the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(C); 118(D).
As a result, pump unit 210(B) begins to contract while pump unit 10(A) remains over-contracted and pump units 210(C); 210(D) remain fully inflated.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(B) has reached a judgment value that indicates that the pump unit 210 is in a natural contraction state, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting a signal to the discharge valve 118(B). At this time, the output of signals to the supply valves 116(A) to 116(D) and the suction valves 126(A) and 118C; 118(D) is maintained in a stopped state.
As a result, the pump unit 210(B) enters a natural contraction state as shown in Fig. 5(c) . Then, due to the negative pressure caused by the contraction of the pump unit 210(B), the transported object that had been drawn into the pump unit 10(A) is drawn into the pump unit 210(B).

[Step 4]
Next, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to the discharge valve 118(C), and stops output of signals to the supply valves 116(A) to 116D, the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(B); 118(D).
As a result, pump unit 210(C) starts to contract while pump unit 10(A) remains in an over-contracted state, pump unit 210(B) in a natural contracted state, and pump unit 210(D) in a fully expanded state.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(C) has reached a judgment value that is regarded as a natural contraction state of the pump unit 210, it stops outputting a signal to the discharge valve 118(C). At this time, the output of signals to the supply valves 116(A) to 116(D), the suction valve 126(A) and the discharge valves 118(B); 118(D) is maintained in a stopped state.
As a result, the pump unit 210(C) enters a natural contraction state as shown in Fig. 5(d) . Then, due to the negative pressure caused by the contraction of the pump unit 210(C), the transported object that had been drawn into the pump unit 210(B) is drawn into the pump unit 210(C).

[Step 5]
Next, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs signals to the supply valve (A) and the discharge valve 118(D), and stops output of signals to the supply valves 116(B) to 116(D), the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(B); 118(C).
As a result, the pump unit 10(A) starts expanding and the pump unit 210(C) starts contracting while the pump units 210(B) and 210(C) maintain their natural contraction states.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(A) has reached a judgment value for the fully expanded state of the pump unit 10, and that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(D) has reached a judgment value for the natural contraction state of the pump unit 210, the electrical system control unit 160 stops outputting signals to the supply valve (A) and the discharge valve 118(D). At this time, the output of signals to the supply valves 116(B) to 116(D), the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(B); 118(C) is maintained in a stopped state.
As a result, the pump unit 10(A) is fully expanded and the pump unit 210(D) is naturally contracted, as shown in Fig. 5(d). As a result, the pump unit 10(A) is fully expanded and the pump unit 210(D) is naturally contracted, as shown in Fig. 5(d), so that the material in the pump unit 10(A) is pushed out to the pump unit 210(B), the material in the pump unit 210(B) is pushed out to the pump unit 210(C), and the material in the pump unit 210(C) is pushed out to the pump unit 210(D).

[STEP 6]
Next, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to supply valve 116(B), and stops output of signals to supply valves 116(A); 116(C); 116(D), suction valve 126(A), and discharge valves 118(B) to 118(D).
As a result, pump unit 210(B) starts to expand while pump unit 10(A) is fully expanded and pump units 210(C); 210(D) are maintained in a naturally contracted state.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(B) has reached a judgment value that indicates that the pump unit 210 is in a fully expanded state, it stops outputting a signal to the supply valve 116(B). At this time, the output of signals to the supply valves 116(A); 116(C); 116(D), the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(B)-118(D) is maintained in a stopped state.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(f), pump unit 210(B) becomes fully expanded. Then, due to the expansion of pump unit 210(B), the transported material in pump unit 210(B) is pressurized and pushed out to pump unit 210(C). The transported material pushed out to pump unit 210(C) pushes the transported material in pump unit 210(D) out to the outflow path outside pump section 8.

[STEP 7]
Next, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to supply valve 116(C), and stops output of signals to supply valves 116(A); 116(B); 116(D), suction valve 126(A), and discharge valves 118(B) to 118(D).
As a result, pump unit 10(A); pump unit 210(B) are fully expanded, and pump unit 210(D) is naturally contracted, while pump unit 210(C) starts expanding.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(C) has reached a judgment value that indicates that the pump unit 210 is in a fully expanded state, it stops outputting a signal to the supply valve 116(C). At this time, the output of signals to the supply valves 116(A); 116(B); 116(D), the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(B)-118(D) is maintained in a stopped state.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(g), pump unit 210(C) becomes fully expanded. Then, due to the expansion of pump unit 210(C), the transported material in pump unit 210(C) is pressurized and pushed out to pump unit 210(D). The transported material pushed out to pump unit 210(D) further pushes the transported material in pump unit 210(D) out to the outflow path outside pump section 8.

[STEP 8]
Next, the electrical system control unit 160 outputs a signal only to supply valve 116(D), and stops output of signals to supply valves 116(A); 116(B); 116(C), suction valve 126(A), and discharge valves 118(B) to 118(D).
This causes the inflation of pump unit 210 to commence while pump unit 10(A); pump unit 210(B); 210(C) remain fully inflated.

When the electrical system control unit 160 detects that the pressure input from the pressure sensor 122(D) has reached a judgment value that indicates that the pump unit 210 is in a fully expanded state, it stops outputting a signal to the supply valve 116(D). At this time, the output of signals to the supply valves 116(A); 116(B); 116(C), the suction valve 126(A), and the discharge valves 118(B)-118(D) is maintained in a stopped state.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 6(h), pump unit 210(D) is fully expanded. Then, due to the expansion of pump unit 210(D), the transported material in pump unit 210(D) is pushed out to the outflow path outside pump section 8.

As a result of pump unit 210(D) being fully expanded, pump section 8 returns to a state in which all pump units 10(A); 210(B)-210(D) are fully expanded, i.e., the state of step 1. Then, pump device 1 allows pump section 8 to repeat the states of steps 2-9, i.e., steps 2-9 constitute one transport cycle, and by repeating this cycle, the transported object can be transported from the upstream side to the downstream side.

As described above, according to the pump device 1 of this embodiment, the inner tube 12 of the pump unit 10 (A) is forcibly contracted by the above-mentioned forced contraction means, so that the inner tube 12 contracts in a shorter time than if it were to contract naturally due to its elasticity, and a large negative pressure can be applied to the intake passage.

In addition, by configuring the forced contraction means to expand the volume of the inner tube 12 of the pump unit 10 (A) to be larger than the volume of the inner tube 12 when the inner tube 12 contracts due to its elasticity, a larger negative pressure can be generated on the inner side of the inner tube 12 in the feed passage.

As a result, even if the viscosity of the transported material is high, the transported material can be drawn into the pump section 8 by the pump unit 10 (A) provided at the most upstream position, and a decrease in the flow rate of the transported material (a decrease in transport efficiency) can be suppressed. In other words, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the flow rate regardless of the viscosity of the transported material.

Furthermore, since the forced contraction means is configured to be able to forcibly discharge the working medium, compressed air, from the fluid chamber V1, the contraction speed and amount of contraction of the pump unit 10 (A) can be adjusted, and the negative pressure obtained by the contraction of the inner tube 12 can be made variable.
This makes it possible to set the negative pressure obtained by contraction of the inner cylinder 12 in accordance with the physical properties of the transported object so as to suppress a decrease in the flow rate.

In the above embodiment, all pump units 10(A); 210(B) to 210(D) are fully expanded, and then contracted in sequence from upstream to downstream in the order of pump units 10(A) → 210(B) → 210(C) → 210(D), but this is not limiting.

The order in which the pump units 10(A); 210(B) to 210(D) in the pump section 8 are expanded and contracted, or the combination of expansions and contractions may be set appropriately.
For example, when the transported object is drawn into the pump section 8, in the above embodiment, only the pump unit 10(A) is contracted, but the pump units 10(A); 210(B) or the pump units 10(A); 210(B): 210(C) may be contracted simultaneously or with a timing shift from the upstream pump unit. In this case, it is preferable to maintain the expanded state of the pump unit adjacent downstream of the pump unit that is contracted. The timing shift here means that the pump unit adjacent downstream starts contracting before the pump unit adjacent upstream is completely contracted.

For example, when pushing out a transported object from within the pump section 8, in the above embodiment, pump unit 210(D) is contracted while pump unit 10(A) is expanded, but pump units 10(A); 210(B) or pump units 10(A); 210(B): 210(C) may be expanded simultaneously or with a lag from the upstream pump unit. With a lag, the adjacent downstream pump unit begins to expand before the adjacent upstream pump unit is fully expanded.

In addition, the pump section 8 has been described as being composed of one pump unit 10 and three pump units 210 connected together, but it may also be composed of, for example, two pump units 10 and two pump units 210, or three pump units 10 and one pump unit 210, or it may be composed entirely of pump units 10.
Preferably, in the pump section 8, the pump unit 10 that is forcibly contracted is provided at the most upstream side.

The pump unit 10 has a feature that the inner cylinder 12 can be forcibly contracted by the forced contraction means since the outer cylinder 14 does not expand or contract in the axial direction.
On the other hand, since the pump unit 210 is configured to contract in the axial direction when it expands in the radial direction and to extend in the axial direction when it contracts in the radial direction, if the inner tube 212 is forcibly contracted by a forced contraction means, the influence will also extend to the outer tube 214. However, the pump unit 210 has a feature that the pushing force is greater than that of the pump unit 10 because the pump unit 210 also contracts in the axial direction when it expands.
Therefore, the pump section 8 may be configured according to the transported object, taking into consideration the characteristics of the two types of pump units 10 and pump unit 210. As described above, it goes without saying that the pump unit 10 that is forcibly contracted should be provided at the most upstream side in the configuration of the pump section 8. In other words, the pump section 8 may be configured to include at least one pump unit 10 that over-contracts.

The pump unit 210 may be forcibly contracted in the same manner as the pump unit 10. In this case, the inner tube 212 and the outer tube 214 are made of an elastic body, and the outer tube 214 is preferably made of a material having a greater elastic modulus than the inner tube 212.

In the above embodiment, the method for forcibly contracting the pump unit 10 has been described as contracting the inner cylinder 12 by forcibly discharging the working medium in the fluid chamber V2, but this is not limited to this.
The technical idea of the present invention is to generate a large negative pressure on the inner circumferential side of the inner cylinder 12 by forcibly contracting the inner cylinder 12 of the pump unit 10. In other words, any means may be used as long as it can obtain a negative pressure larger than the negative pressure on the inner circumferential side of the inner cylinder 12 obtained by the elastic contraction of the inner cylinder 12. For example, as the forced contraction means, a biasing means may be provided that pulls the inner cylinder 12 radially outward with a spring, a part of the inner cylinder 12 may be fixed to the outer cylinder 14 in advance so that a forced load is applied to the elasticity of the inner cylinder 12 when it expands, or a leaf spring may be provided on the outer circumferential side of the inner cylinder 12 so that a forced load is applied to the elasticity of the inner cylinder 12 when it expands.

1 pump device, 8 pump, 10 pump unit, 12 inner cylinder, 14 outer cylinder,
100 Transport control device,
110 Fluid system control unit, 112 Compressor, 114 Regulator,
116 supply valve, 118 exhaust valve, 120 flow rate sensor, 122 pressure sensor,
124 Pressure reducing means, 126 Suction valve, 160 Electrical system control unit,
210 pump unit, 212 inner cylinder, 214 outer cylinder, V1; V2 fluid chamber.

Claims (6)

An outer cylinder,
an inner cylinder provided along an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder and made of an elastic material;
a pump section including a plurality of connected pump units each including end members provided at both ends of an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, the end members forming a closed space between the inner circumference of the outer cylinder and the outer circumference of the inner cylinder, the inner cylinder expanding in a centripetal direction by supplying a working medium to the closed space, and the inner cylinder contracting by a restoring force due to the elasticity of the inner cylinder by discharging the working medium from the closed space ;
A pump device including a conveyance control device that controls conveyance of an object by expanding the pump unit in a predetermined order, the conveyance control device using an inner circumferential side of the inner cylinder as a conveyance path,
The transport control device includes:
a forced contraction means for forcibly contracting the inner cylinder of the pump unit constituting the pump section in addition to the elastic contraction of the inner cylinder,
The pump unit includes:
a first pump unit portion including a first pump unit in which the outer cylinder is made of a material having a higher elastic modulus than the inner cylinder and is made non-expandable in an axial direction when the inner cylinder expands in a centripetal direction;
The outer cylinder is made of an elastic material whose axial extension is restricted, and a second pump unit portion is formed by connecting a plurality of second pump units that are contractible in the axial direction when the inner cylinder expands in the centripetal direction,
The pump device , wherein the first pump unit portion is connected to an upstream side of the second pump unit portion in a conveying direction . 2. The pump device according to claim 1 , wherein the forced contraction means forcibly contracts the first pump unit or both the first pump unit and the second pump unit . 3. The pump device according to claim 2, wherein the forced contraction means increases the volume of the inner cylinder of the first pump unit to a volume larger than a volume of an inner peripheral side of the inner cylinder when the inner cylinder of the first pump unit contracts due to its elasticity. The pump device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the forced contraction means is configured to be able to forcibly discharge the working medium from the closed space. The forced contraction means is
4. The pump device according to claim 2, wherein an inner cylinder of the first pump unit is mechanically contracted when the first pump unit is forcibly contracted, and an inner cylinder of the first pump unit and an inner cylinder of the second pump unit are mechanically contracted when both the first pump unit and the second pump unit are forcibly contracted. The transport control device includes:
The initial state is a state in which all inner cylinders forming the conveying passages in the pump section are expanded,
a step of successively shrinking the inner cylinders from the upstream side to shrink all the inner cylinders;
2. The pump device according to claim 1, wherein the pump device conveys the object by repeating a step of expanding the inner cylinders sequentially from the upstream side until all the inner cylinders are expanded.

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