JP7343897B2 - Pump unit and pump - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pump unit, and more particularly to a pump unit and a pump that transport objects using peristaltic motion.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as one form of a pump, there is known a type of pump that uses peristaltic motion to transport objects, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2. Such a pump can transfer an object to be transferred regardless of the state of the object to be transferred, such as liquid, solid, solid-liquid mixed phase, etc.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-196689 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-203400

On the other hand, in the pump unit of Cited Document 1, the inner cylinder for pumping the conveyed material is expanded and the outer cylinder is expanded to cause the entire unit to contract in the pumping direction, so that the transfer efficiency is good. On the other hand, since the outer cylinder of the pump unit expands in the radial direction, when installing the pump, it is necessary to secure space for the expansion of the outer cylinder, which reduces the conveyance area per occupied area in the installation space. There is a problem. The occupied area here refers to the area of the space secured for the installation of the pump when the pump is viewed along the direction of extension of the pump. In addition, in the pump unit of the other cited document 2, although the conveying area per occupied area can be increased, the pump unit does not expand and contract in the conveying direction, and the conveyed object is pumped only by the expansion and contraction of the inner cylinder. Therefore, there is a problem that the transfer efficiency is lower than that of the pump of Cited Document 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pump unit and a pump that can improve transfer efficiency without reducing the transfer area per space occupied by the pump.

The configuration of a pump unit to solve the above problems includes an outer cylinder that expands and contracts only in the axial direction, an inner cylinder made of a flexible elastic body provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder, and an axis of the inner cylinder. It includes an end member fixed to both ends in the direction and both ends in the axial direction of the outer cylinder, and a pressurizing chamber in which pressurized medium is supplied between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. A pump unit that transports objects by contracting the inner cylinder in the direction of the central axis of the inner cylinder, the end of which is fixed to the end member, one end member and the other end member are connected, and the inner cylinder is The structure includes a non-stretchable connecting means that deforms along the shape of the cylinder when it contracts .
According to this configuration, when the pump unit is operated, the outer cylinder does not expand radially outward, so it is possible to increase the transfer area per space occupied by the pump unit. That is, since there is no change in the radial direction even when the pump unit operates, there is no need for extra space for installing the pump unit. Therefore, the space designed for installing the pump unit can be utilized to the maximum extent, making it possible to use a large pump unit, and increasing the conveyance area per occupied space. Note that the conveyance area here refers to the cross-sectional area of the inner diameter of the inner cylinder. In addition, when the inner cylinder contracts , the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder contract in the axial direction, which increases the change in volume of the inner peripheral space of the inner cylinder before and after contraction , which improves the transfer efficiency of conveyed objects. can.
Further, the inner cylinder may include fibers extending along the axial direction of the inner cylinder.
Moreover, by configuring the pump unit to include a shape defining means for defining the shape of the inner cylinder when it is contracted , the inner cylinder can be contracted into a predetermined shape.
Furthermore, by configuring the pump by connecting a plurality of the pump units described above , the transfer efficiency of the pump can be improved.

It is a schematic block diagram of a pump. It is a sectional view of the pump unit in a natural state. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the pump unit in a contracted state. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the expansion process of the pump unit. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the shape defining means. It is a figure which shows the other form of a connection means. It is a figure which shows the other form of an outer cylinder. It is a figure which shows the other form of an inner cylinder. It is a figure which shows other operation|movement of a drive part. It is a figure showing other forms of a drive part. FIG. 7 is an axial sectional view and a radial sectional view of another form of the inner cylinder. It is a figure which shows the other arrangement|positioning form of the fiber embedded in an inner cylinder. It is a figure which shows the other form of the fiber embedded in an inner cylinder. It is a figure which shows the other form of an inner cylinder.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the claimed invention, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are the invention. This includes configurations that are not necessarily essential to the solution and may be selectively adopted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a pump. As shown in FIG. 1, the pump 1 includes a drive section 1A that pumps the object to be transferred, and a control section 1B that controls the operation of the drive section 1A. The drive unit 1A is, for example, provided in the middle of a pipe provided for transporting objects, integrally with the pipe, or provided so that the drive unit 1A becomes the pipe itself. The drive unit 1A is configured by connecting a plurality of pump units 2 in series, and the operation of each pump unit 2 is individually controlled by the control unit 1B. The material to be transported here may be in any form, such as solid, liquid, powder, or a mixture thereof.

The control unit 1B includes an air supply means 50 that supplies compressed air as a pressurized medium, a valve that supplies the compressed air from the air supply means 50 to each pump unit 2, and discharges the compressed air supplied to the pump unit 2. The valve unit 52 provided in the number of pump units 2, the control unit 54 that individually controls each valve provided in the valve unit 52, and the circulation of air between each valve and each pump unit 2. A flow pipe 56 is provided.

The control unit 54 includes a CPU as a calculation means, storage means such as ROM and RAM, and input/output means. The storage means stores a program for driving the pump unit 2 constituting the drive section 1A, and the CPU executes processing according to the program stored in the storage means, thereby allowing the CPU to output data via the input/output means. A signal for opening and closing the valve is output to each valve of the valve unit 52, and a pump operation that simulates the peristaltic motion by the plurality of pump units 2 is executed.

FIG. 2 is an axial and radial cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the pump unit 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the pump unit 2 includes an inner cylinder 4, an outer cylinder 6, an end member 8; a connecting means 10, and a shape defining means 12.

The inner cylinder 4 has airtightness and is constructed of a deformable elastic material such as rubber as a base material (matrix material). The inner cylinder 4 includes a conveyance section 4A serving as a conveyance path H for conveyed objects, a fixing section 4B for fixing the conveyance section 4A, and a connecting means 10.

The transport section 4A is, for example, made of a cylindrical body having a predetermined wall thickness. The thickness of the transport section 4A is set, for example, to a constant thickness. The fixing portion 4B is provided at each end of the conveyance portion 4A in the axial direction, and is formed as an annular collar portion having a predetermined thickness and surrounding the outer periphery of the conveyance portion 4A.

Examples of the rubber forming the inner cylinder 4 include natural latex rubber, silicone rubber, NR (natural rubber), IR (synthetic natural rubber (isoprene rubber)), BR (butadiene rubber), IIR (butyl rubber), and CR (chloroprene rubber). rubber), etc. Moreover, the inner cylinder 4 is not limited to a single material, and may be made of a combination of a plurality of materials. Further, the material constituting the inner cylinder 4 is not limited to those listed above, and may be any material as long as it has airtightness and elasticity. For example, the magnitude of the elastic force may be changed as appropriate depending on the conveyed object. .

A plurality of connecting means 10 are embedded inside the inner cylinder 4, as shown by the bold lines in FIG. In this embodiment, the connecting means 10 are provided at equal intervals of 90° in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 4. Each connecting means 10 extends along the axial direction of the inner cylinder 4 from the outer peripheral end of one fixed part 4B to the outer peripheral end of the other fixed part. That is, each connecting means 10 is provided so as to reach from one end of the inner cylinder 4 to the other end.

The connecting means 10 is made of, for example, a string made of non-stretchable fibers tied together in a string shape. The fibers constituting the connecting means 10 include, for example, rovings (aligned fibers), yarns (twisted fibers), and cords (spliced fibers) such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, and metal fibers. etc. Alternatively, it may be a metal wire or the like. The connecting means 10 is, for example, one in which the length of the strands constituting the fiber when buried reaches from the outer peripheral end of one fixed part 4B to the outer peripheral end of the other fixed part 4B. . In addition, the term "non-stretchable" as used herein does not mean that the material does not stretch 100%, but means that the material allows some expansion and contraction.

The outer cylinder 6 is an airtight cylindrical body, and has flexibility (elasticity) that allows expansion and contraction in the axial direction and does not substantially expand or contract in the radial direction. Composed of material (matrix material). The outer cylinder 6 may have a bellows structure as shown in FIG. 1, for example. The outer cylinder 6 has an elastic body such as a coil spring inside, for example, to urge expansion in the axial direction and restrict deformation in the radial direction.

The end members 8; 8 are provided at both ends of the inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6 in the axial direction. The end member 8 includes a cylindrical part 8A to which the ends of the inner cylinder 4 and the outer cylinder 6 are fixed, and a flange part 8B which functions as a connecting means when connecting the pump units 2 to each other. Be prepared. Cylindrical portion 8A; 8A is, for example, a cylinder formed in a cylindrical shape with a constant wall thickness, and for example, the inner diameter is the same as or larger than the outer diameter of the conveying portion 4A of the inner cylinder 4. , the outer diameter is the same as the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 6, or the inner circumferential side is formed with a size that allows fitting. The cylindrical portion 8A of one end member 8 is provided with a communication hole 8D that communicates with a pressurizing chamber S, which will be described later, from the outside.

The flange portion 8B is provided at the axial ends of the inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6, protrudes radially from the outer periphery of the tube portion 8A along the end surface of the tube portion 8A, and has an annularly expanding circle. It is formed integrally with the cylinder portion 8A; 8A in a plate shape. The flange portion 8B; 8B is provided with a plurality of through holes 8E that penetrate in the plate thickness direction. The through holes 8E are formed at equal intervals on the same circumference centered on the center of the end member 8; It is configured so that they can be connected to each other. A recess 8C for fixing the fixing part 4B of the inner cylinder 4 is formed in the end face of the flange part 8B. The recessed portion 8C is formed so as to be depressed in an annular shape in the axial direction from the end surface. The end members 8; 8 are made of a material having a predetermined rigidity, such as hard rubber or synthetic resin, which does not deform due to the pressure of the pressurizing medium.

The inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6 are fixed to the end member 8; 8 as follows. The inner cylinder 4 passes the fixing parts 4B provided at each end of the conveying part 4A from the cylindrical part 8A side of the end member 8 to its inner peripheral side, and then passes the fixing parts 4B to the end surface of the flange part 8B. While making close contact with each other, it is dropped into the recess 8C and fixed by a fixing member such as the holding ring 18. The outer tube 6 is fixed by overlapping each end portion with the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 8A of the end member 8, and tightening a ring-shaped fixing member 17 from the outer circumferential side, for example. As a result, the pump unit 2 is formed, and a pressurizing chamber S surrounded by the inner tube 4, the outer tube 6, and the pair of end members 8 is formed therein. Then, by supplying compressed air as a pressurizing medium to this pressurizing chamber S, the pump unit 2 is driven.

As described above, by exposing and fixing a part of the inner cylinder 4 outward from the end member 8 in the axial direction, when the pump units 2 are connected, the inner cylinders 4 of the adjacent pump units 2; 4 can be brought into close contact with each other, and a continuous conveyance path H can be formed between the pump units 2 while maintaining airtightness.

The dimensions of the inner cylinder 4, outer cylinder 6, and end member 8; 8 described above may be set as follows, for example. The outer diameter of the inner cylinder 4 and the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 6 are set so that the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 4 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 6 is close to each other. do. As a result, the volume of the pressurizing chamber S becomes smaller, and the response speed when expanding and contracting the inner cylinder 4 can be increased.

In addition, by making the distance between the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube 4 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube 6 close, the cylindrical portion 8A of the end member 8; The wall thickness can be set thin. The pressure P of the compressed air supplied to the pressurizing chamber S acts perpendicularly to the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube 4, the inner circumferential surface of the outer tube 6, and the end surface of the cylindrical portion 8A of the end member 8. During the contraction operation of the pump unit 2, the outer cylinder 6 is not affected by the pressure P because it is configured not to expand and deform in the radial direction. On the other hand, this pressure P acts on the inner cylinder 4 as a force that causes it to expand in the direction of the center of the cross section, and on the end members 8; 8 as a force that presses them outward in the axial direction.

The inner cylinder 4 is connected by the connecting means 10 as the conveying portion 4A deforms toward the center in a cross-sectional view due to the pressure P, and the connecting means 10 contained therein changes its extension path along with the deformation. The end member 8 expands while being pulled in the axial direction. Therefore, the force exerted by the pressure P on the end members 8; 8 can become a force that prevents the inner tube 4 from expanding toward the center. Therefore, the area surrounded by the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 4 and the inner periphery of the outer cylinder 6 of the end member 8, in this example, the area of the end surface of the cylindrical part 8A, is smaller than the area of the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 4. By making the width narrower, the pump unit 2 can be operated efficiently.

In other words, in the case of this embodiment, by reducing the wall thickness of the cylindrical portion 8A, the force that tends to separate the end members 8 in the axially outward direction can be reduced, and the inner cylinder 4 can be smoothly expanded in the direction of the central axis. Furthermore, by making the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 4 and the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 6 close to each other, the inner diameter of the inner cylinder 4 that forms the conveyance path H becomes relatively large, and as a result, The area of the cross section of the conveyance path H in the pump unit 2 becomes large, and the conveyance efficiency can be improved.

Note that the assembly structure of the inner cylinder 4, outer cylinder 6, and end member 8; 8 is not limited to the structure illustrated above, and when the pressurizing medium is supplied to the pressurizing chamber S, the end member 8; What is necessary is just to change it suitably so that the area which presses 8 in an axial direction may be made small. More preferably, the inner cylinder 4 and the outer cylinder 6 are set such that the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 4 is close to the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the above-mentioned pressurizing chamber S is provided with shape defining means 12 for inflating the inner cylinder 4 in a predetermined shape. The shape defining means 12 includes a ring portion 12A and a projection portion 12B. The ring portion 12A has, for example, an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 4 and an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the outer cylinder 6, and is formed with dimensions that do not interfere with the expansion and contraction movement of the outer cylinder 6. The protrusion 12B protrudes from the inner periphery of the ring portion 12A in the axial direction of the inner cylinder 4, and has a spherical tip with a predetermined curvature. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the protrusions 12B are provided at four locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the ring portion 12A. Each protrusion 12B is set to have a length that extends a predetermined length toward the center beyond the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 4 when the pressure in the pressurizing chamber S is at its minimum. The shape defining means 12 may be made of a predetermined rigid material such as a hard synthetic resin or a lightweight light metal such as aluminum, or an elastic material such as rubber or a soft synthetic resin.

The shape defining means 12 determines its position in the axial direction with respect to the inner cylinder 4 and the position of the tip of the protrusion 12B by, for example, fixing the ring part 12A to the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder 6 by means of a fixing means (not shown). .
In this embodiment, the shape defining means 12 is provided at a position where the protrusion 12B is at the center (axial direction) of the conveying section 4A in the inner cylinder 4 and at a position where the connecting means 10 is pressed.

By arranging the shape defining means 12 in the pressurizing chamber S as described above, the protruding portion 12B presses the conveying portion 4A of the inner cylinder 4 from the outer circumferential side, thereby deforming the inner cylinder 4 into a concave shape. Since the protruding portion 12B is disposed corresponding to the connecting means 10, the connecting means 10 is moved toward the center of the cross section, and the entire pump unit 2 is in a state slightly contracted in the axial direction.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state when the pump unit 2 is contracted. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the process of expansion and deformation of the inner cylinder 4 as the pump unit 2 is driven. The operation of the pump unit 2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. The pump unit 2 supplies compressed air to the pressurizing chamber S from the state shown in FIG. The pressure P of the pressure medium acts. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the inner cylinder 4 has a recess 20 pressed by the protrusion 12B of the shape defining means 12 when compressed air is not supplied to the pressurizing chamber S. With the formation of the recessed portions 20, the inner cylinder 4 is set with an expansion region in which the portion between the recessed portions 20 moves outward in the radial direction, and the tension that relieves changes in the tension of the inner cylinder 4 is set. The relief portion 22 is in a state of being formed.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), by further supplying compressed air to the pressurizing chamber S, the pressure in the pressurizing chamber S increases, and the connecting means 10 moves gradually toward the center of the cross section. . Along with this movement, the tension relief part 22 is pressed by compressed air as shown by the arrow in FIG. As such, the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner cylinder 4 gradually approach each other.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), as the pressure within the pressurizing chamber S further increases, the outer circumferential surfaces gradually approach each other so that they come into close contact with each other, so that the inner The inner circumferential surfaces of the cylinder 4 are gradually bent so that they come into close contact with each other, and the connecting means 10 at the axial center on the recessed portion 20 side approach so that they come into close contact.

Furthermore, when compressed air is supplied to the pressurizing chamber S and the pressure P increases, the inner circumferential surfaces of the inner cylinder 4 at the portion where the connecting means 10 is provided come into close contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 3(b). , the conveyance path H becomes substantially blocked. Then, by further supplying compressed air to the pressurizing chamber S and increasing the pressure P, the inner cylinder 4 causes each connecting means 10 to curve greatly into an arch, as shown in FIG. 3(a). The close contact portion between the circumferential surfaces (closed area F) expands in the axial direction. In other words, when the contact between the axial center portions of the connecting means 10 spreads outward in the axial direction (towards each end) and the internal pressure of the pressurizing chamber S reaches the maximum pressure, the contact between the connecting means 10 The length of the closed region F becomes the maximum, and the pump unit 2 is in the most contracted state in the axial direction. At this time, the conveyance path H is completely blocked.

As the inner cylinder 4 expands in this way, the axial length of the connecting means 10, which deforms together with the inner cylinder 4, becomes shorter, which acts as a force that causes the end members 8; 8 to approach each other in the axial direction. As a result, the axial length of the pump unit 2 contracts from Lmax to Lmin. Lmax is the length that is most extended in the axial direction when compressed air is not being supplied to the pressurizing chamber S of the pump unit 2, for example, in an atmospheric pressure state, and Lmin is the length when the pressure in the pressurizing chamber S is set according to the setting. This is the length that is most contracted in the axial direction when the maximum pressure is applied. In this way, the pump unit 2 expands the inner cylinder 4 while contracting in the axial direction, thereby increasing the expansion area (volume) of the inner cylinder 4 within the pump unit 2, thereby further improving the conveyance efficiency. can.

In addition, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3(b), for convenience of explanation, the inner circumferential space of the inner cylinder 4 that is closed by expansion toward the center of the cross section of the inner cylinder 4 is shown as a gap z. When it contracts the most in the axial direction (at Lmin), the gap z becomes zero. The presence or absence of a gap z when the pump unit 2 is inflated and its size can be set so as to maximize the conveyance efficiency by adjusting the amount of contraction of the pump unit 2 depending on the object to be conveyed. For example, the presence or absence and size of the gap z are adjusted by the pressure of the fluid supplied to the pump unit 2. Then, by discharging air from the pressurizing chamber S, the inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6 expand and return to their original cylindrical shape (natural state).

As shown in FIG. 1, by connecting a plurality of pump units 2 and controlling the expansion and contraction of each pump unit 2 individually so as to simulate peristaltic motion from the upstream side to the downstream side, the adjacent pump By pushing out the conveyed object to the unit 2, it can be operated as the pump 1 that moves the conveyed object from the upstream side to the downstream side.
The peristaltic movement here refers to, for example, repeating the process of sequentially inflating 2B → 2C → 2D from the most upstream pump unit 2A and then deflating all of them to move the conveyed object from pump unit 2A → 2B → 2C. → Refers to the movement for pumping to 2D.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the shape defining means 12. In the above-described embodiment, the shape defining means 12 is configured as a separate member from the inner cylinder 4 and the outer cylinder 6, but is not limited to this, and can be shaped into a predetermined shape by the pressure supplied to the pressurizing chamber S. It may be deformed. As a specific example, a guide groove 15 may be provided on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 4, for example, as shown in FIG. The guide groove 15 is provided so as to be located in the middle of the connecting means 10 (at a position shifted by 45 degrees with respect to the connecting means 10). The guide groove 15 is formed by, for example, a V-shaped groove extending along the axis of the inner cylinder 4 .

When compressed air is introduced into the pressurizing chamber S, a pressure P acts on the outer peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 4 (on the pressurizing chamber S side) in a direction perpendicular to the surface, and the inner cylinder 4 is connected toward the center of the cross section. Expanding from means 10.
At this time, since pressure P in a vertical direction acts on the wall surface constituting the guide groove 15 carved at an acute angle on the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 4, the guide groove 15 is formed in the direction in which the groove opens (inner circumferential surfaces As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(c), a crease is generated in the inner cylinder 4 starting from the bottom of the guide groove 15. Then, when the pressure in the pressurizing chamber S is further increased, the inner cylinder 4 can be expanded and deformed by being divided into a plurality of expansion regions by the folds.

Note that the form in which the shape defining means 12 is formed in the inner cylinder 4 is not limited to this, and the pressure of compressed air, which is a pressurizing medium, induces creases in the inner cylinder 4, and multiple expansions including the connecting means 10 are formed. Anything that can be divided into areas is fine. By forming the shape defining means 12 directly on the inner cylinder 4 in this manner, the shape defining means 12 as a separate member can be eliminated. Furthermore, since the inner cylinder 4 can be manufactured only from rubber, the pump unit 2 can be manufactured easily and variations during manufacturing can be reduced.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another form of the connecting means 10. In the above embodiment, the connecting means 10 is string-shaped, but is not limited to this. For example, as another form of the connecting means 10, as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b), it may be in the form of a band with uneven width taking into account the shape when expanded. . That is, the connecting means 10 shown in FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) does not prevent the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 4 forming the closed area F from interfering with the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 4 when the pump unit 2 is in the contracted state (see FIG. 3). As shown in the figure, there is a narrow part 10A with a narrower width in a part corresponding to the closed area F, and a wide part 10B with a wider width in a part where the inner circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 4 does not come into close contact with both ends of the narrow part 10A. It is formed into a band shape with a Note that the connecting means 10 in FIG. 6 is integrated with the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 4 by adhesive or the like. By forming the connecting means 10 in this manner, when the inner tube 4 is expanded as shown in FIG. 6(c), the inner circumferential surfaces provided with the narrow portion 10A can be brought into close contact with each other. In addition, FIG.6(c) has shown the state when the pump unit 2 in a contracted state is seen from one end side in the axial direction.
The connecting means 10 is not limited to the above example, and may have any form as long as it can deform with the deformation of the inner cylinder 4 and can pull the end members 8; 8 in the axial direction.

Further, the connecting means 10 is not limited to the above-mentioned materials, but may also be made of a non-stretchable elastic body such as a leaf spring. When a leaf spring is used as the connecting means 10, a force that stretches the pump unit 2 acts due to the restoring force of the leaf spring itself. The elastic modulus of the above-mentioned connecting means 10 is set to be higher than the elastic modulus of the elastic material forming the inner cylinder 4. Further, as mentioned above, in addition to separately providing a fibrous material, a leaf spring, etc., the connecting means 10 may be formed of a matrix material (base material or main material) that is the base material of the inner cylinder 4. You can also do it.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another form of the outer cylinder 6. In the above embodiment, the outer cylinder 6 is shown as having a bellows structure, but the present invention is not limited to this. As described above, the outer cylinder 6 only needs to form the pressurizing chamber S with the inner cylinder 4 and be configured to be able to expand and contract in the axial direction without expanding or contracting in the radial direction, for example, As shown in FIG. 7, the two cylindrical bodies 26 and 28 may be configured to have a slidable double-tube structure so that they do not expand and contract in the radial direction, but expand and contract in the axial direction. In this case, by providing a biasing means such as a coil spring on the outer circumferential side or the inner circumferential side to urge the outer cylinder 6 to extend in the axial direction, when the pressure P in the pressurizing chamber S is minimized, the pump It can assist in extending the unit 2 in the axial direction.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another form of the inner cylinder 4. As shown in FIG. In the embodiment described above, the cross-sectional shapes of the inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6 are circular, and the outer shape of the end member 8 is also circular, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), other cross-sectional shapes such as a triangle or a quadrangle may be used. In the figure, the outer circumferential surface of the inner cylinder 4 is provided so that a band-shaped connecting means 10 extends along the axial direction between the respective apexes. In this case, each vertex shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) functions as the shape defining means 12, and by applying a predetermined pressure P to the pressurizing chamber S, the vertices shown in FIGS. It expands and deforms together with the connecting means 10 from the center side.

As described above, by making the cross-sectional shapes of the inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6 or the end members other shapes such as a triangle or a quadrangle, the installation space can be used efficiently. When arranging the drive unit 1A of the pump 1, the size of the pump unit 2 is determined by the size of the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the extension direction of the drive unit 1A in the installation space. For example, when the cross-sectional shape of the installation space is rectangular, if the pump unit 2 of the shape shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 is used, surplus space will be created at the four corners, and The cross-sectional area of the conveyance path H formed by the inner cylinder 4 becomes smaller. In such a case, by making the inner tube 4, outer tube 6, and end member 8 rectangular to follow the shape of the cross-sectional area of the grounding space, the cross-sectional area of the conveyance path H relative to the cross-sectional area of the installation space can be maximized. This makes it possible to further improve the transport efficiency of the pump 1.

Further, the cross-sectional shapes of the inner tube 4 and the outer tube 6, or the outer shape of the end member 8, do not need to all be the same shape, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the shape of the installation space.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the drive unit 1A is operated to transfer the object from the upstream side to the downstream side, but the operation of the drive unit 1A is not limited to this. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another operation of the drive section 1A. For example, when the drive section 1A is configured with four pump units 2 as shown in FIG. 1, it can be operated as shown in FIG.
First, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the most downstream pump unit 2D constituting the drive unit 1A is expanded to close the conveyance path H. Next, as shown in FIG. 9(b), the most upstream pump unit 2A is expanded to close the conveyance path H upstream from the pump unit 2A. Next, as shown in FIGS. 9(c) and 9(d), by alternately inflating the pump unit 2B and pump unit 2C between the pump unit 2A and the pump unit 2D, for example, the conveyed object is made of a plurality of materials. (mixture), the objects to be transported can be mixed in the transport path H while being transported in one direction using peristaltic motion.

Further, if the drive section 1A is configured by connecting more pump units 2 than shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, and for example configures the entire conveyance path H, the above-mentioned FIGS. 9(a) to 9(d) Every time the process is performed a predetermined number of times, the combination of pump units 2 that perform this process is sequentially moved to the downstream side, thereby making it possible to mix the materials while transferring them. That is, by connecting a plurality of pump units 2 of this embodiment to form a conveyance path H, the conveyed object can be repeatedly transferred in one direction or in both directions using peristaltic motion. When the conveyance object is composed of a plurality of materials (mixtures), the conveyance object can be efficiently kneaded, and the conveyance object in a final kneaded state can be transferred.

In addition, when carrying out the above-described mixed transfer, as shown in FIG. Two branch pipes 3A are provided so that a plurality of pump units 2 are arranged in the same direction, and the plurality of pump units 2 are connected to each other through a curved pipe 3B so as to connect the branch pipes 3A to each other. By connecting the objects in a circle and moving the objects in a loop as shown by the arrow in the figure, the objects made of multiple materials (mixtures) can be mixed more efficiently. can do. The above-mentioned branch pipe 3A has a valve built therein, and by switching the valve, the transfer direction of the transported object can be switched. In this way, when forming a circular path using branch pipes 3A, bent pipes 3B, etc., between branch pipes 3A and 3A, between branch pipes 3A and bent pipes 3B, and between bent pipes 3B and 3B. It is preferable that the number of pump units 2 provided between the two sections is three or more so that the objects to be transported are actively transferred by peristaltic motion in each section.

FIG. 11 is an axial sectional view and a radial sectional view of another form of the inner cylinder 4. In the case where the conveyance section 4A of the inner tube 4 described above is formed into a cylindrical shape, the connecting means 10 made of a string made of non-stretchable fibers tied together in a string shape is placed inside the inner tube 4 evenly in the circumferential direction. Although it has been described that the connecting means 10 is buried at intervals of 90°, it is possible to bury the connecting means 10 in the form of fibers instead of forming them into strings, as shown in FIG. 11(b), for example. You can also do it.

Fibrous here refers to the forms of filaments, yarns (spun yarns and filament yarns), strands, etc., untwisted fibers made by converging without twisting, and fibers made by twisting multiple of these fibers. Depending on the type of fiber, it may be a combination of two or more different types of fiber. Hereinafter, it will simply be referred to as fiber 13.

As the fibers 13, non-stretchable fibers such as carbon fibers, glass fibers, nylon, polyamide fibers, polyolefin fibers, and metal fibers can be appropriately selected and used.

As shown in FIG. 11(a), the fibers 13 are enclosed so as to extend along the axial direction (longitudinal direction) of the inner cylinder 4, for example. Note that "along the axial direction" does not have a mathematically strict meaning, but allows for inclination with respect to the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 11(b), the fibers 13 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction of the inner cylinder 4 and are included in the inner cylinder 4 so as to form a fiber layer of a predetermined thickness in the thickness direction. That is, the inner cylinder 4 is formed to have a rubber layer made of an elastic material and a fiber layer interposed between the rubber layer.
Note that the manner in which the fibers 13 are embedded is not limited to the layered form, and may be provided so as to be distributed over the entire thickness direction of the inner cylinder 4, for example, as shown in FIG. 11(c).

As shown in FIG. 11(a), each fiber 13 has a length, for example, from one end of the conveying section 4A in the axial direction to the other end, preferably from the fixed section 4B at one end to the other end. It is preferable to provide it so as to have a length that extends to the fixed portion 4B on the end side.

By encapsulating the fibers 13 in the inner cylinder 4 in this way, when a pressurizing medium is supplied to the pressurizing chamber S, the embedded fibers 13 can restrict the expansion of the inner cylinder 4 in the axial direction. By generating a traction force that causes the end members 8; 8 to approach each other in the axial direction, the inner cylinder 4 can be expanded in the radial direction while being contracted in the axial direction.

Note that the fibers 13 are not limited to being buried continuously along the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. 11(b), but for example, as shown in FIG. 14, they may be buried discontinuously at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction.
As shown in FIG. 12(b), the discontinuous portion 14 may be set, for example, at a position corresponding to the protrusion 12B protruding from the shape defining means 12 described above.

By providing the discontinuous portion 14 in this manner, the degree of blockage of the conveyance path H due to expansion of the inner cylinder 4 can be increased.

The length of the fibers 13 to be buried is, for example, the length reaching from one end side in the axial direction of the conveyance section 4A to the other end side, preferably from the fixed part 4B on one end side to the fixed part 4B on the other end side. It is not limited to those having an extended length.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another form of the fibers 13 embedded in the inner cylinder 4. As shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), for example, one fiber 13 that is sufficiently longer than the axial length of the inner cylinder 4, or a plurality of fibers 13, may be used to extend along the axial direction. It may be provided by folding back.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 13(c) and 13(d), by extending the fibers 13 shorter than the axial length of the inner cylinder 4 along a plurality of axial directions, the inner cylinder 4 can be extended in the axial direction. Elongation may be regulated. In this case, each fiber 13 does not necessarily have to extend from the fixed part 4B, but may be encapsulated in combination with one extending from the fixed part 4B or between the fixed parts 4B and 4B (inside the conveying part 4A). That's fine.

As mentioned above, by embedding the fibers 13 in the inner cylinder 4 which is mainly made of an elastic material that allows expansion and contraction, when a pressurizing medium is supplied to the pressurizing chamber S, the axial direction and diameter of the inner cylinder 4 are It is possible to cause anisotropy in deformation in the direction.

In addition, as a measure to cause anisotropy in the expansion of the inner cylinder 4, for example, as shown in FIG. The shape itself may be changed.
FIG. 14 is an axial sectional view and a radial sectional view showing another form of the inner cylinder 4 that can cause anisotropy in expansion and contraction of the inner cylinder 4. In the inner cylinder 4 in this case, as shown in FIG. 14(b), in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the axial direction, the thickness of the conveying portion 4A changes periodically along the circumferential direction, and as shown in FIG. 14(a). As shown, the shape may be maintained in the axial direction. In addition, in FIG. 14, the change in the thickness in the circumferential direction is shown as forming irregularities in the shape of a rectangular gear on the outer peripheral surface, but it may also be on the inner peripheral surface, and there are also other ways to change the thickness. It is not limited to a rectangular gear shape.
In this way, by setting the thickness change along the circumferential direction in the conveying portion 4A of the inner cylinder 4, the pressurizing chamber S When a pressurized medium is supplied to the inner cylinder 4, anisotropy can be caused in the deformation of the inner cylinder 4 in the axial direction and the radial direction.

In the above description, the inner cylinder 4 is formed of an elastic material having stretchability, and the connecting member 10 is provided to set anisotropy in the axial and radial expansion of the inner cylinder 4, Although the fibers 13 are included, the present invention is not limited thereto.
For example, a non-stretchable material may be used as the material for forming the inner tube 4 instead of an elastic material. As the non-stretchable material, for example, flexible leather, cloth, vinyl, etc. can be used.
In this case, the inner cylinder 4 is formed of an elastic material, and the material itself does not stretch, as in the case where air is supplied to the pressurizing chamber S described above, but instead of a leather retainer bag used for bag pipes or a vinyl bag. The material itself can be deformed so that it expands without stretching, such as in floating rings. It goes without saying that the inner cylinder 4 is required to have non-ventilation performance.

Furthermore, by forming the inner cylinder 4 and outer cylinder 6 of the pump unit 2 from elastic bodies as described above, when the pump units 2 are connected and used as the pump 1, the installation path of the pump 1 is not necessarily linear. However, its elasticity allows it to absorb bending. That is, the pump unit 2 can be bent and used.

1 pump, 1A drive section, 1B control section, 2 pump unit, 4 inner cylinder,
6 Outer cylinder, 8 End member, 10 Connecting means, 12 Shape defining means, 13 Fiber.

Claims (4)

an outer cylinder that expands and contracts substantially only in the axial direction;
an inner cylinder provided on the inner peripheral side of the outer cylinder and made of a flexible elastic body ;
an end member fixed to both axial ends of the inner cylinder and both axial ends of the outer cylinder;
a pressurized chamber in which a pressurized medium is supplied between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
Equipped with
A pump unit that transports objects by contracting the inner cylinder in the direction of the central axis of the inner cylinder by the pressurized medium,
A non-stretchable connecting means having an end fixed to the end member, connecting one end member and the other end member, and deforming according to the shape of the inner cylinder when contracted. A pump unit featuring : The pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the inner cylinder includes fibers extending along the axial direction of the inner cylinder. 3. The pump unit according to claim 1, further comprising shape defining means for defining the shape of the inner cylinder when it is contracted . A pump formed by connecting a plurality of pump units according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .