TUBE SWITCH FOR A DOUBLE-CYLINDER SLUDGE PUMP

Abstract: A tube switch for a double-cylinder sludge pump is provided including a swing pipe (202), a wearing ring (204) and an elastic member (206). The swing pipe (202) is adapted to swivel in front of a center plate (5) and includes an extension portion (212) having an inner surface (214). The wearing ring (204) is supported between the end of the swing pipe (202) and the center plate (5) and is axially movable relative to the swing pipe (202). The wearing ring (204) has a recess (208) formed at one end thereof, defined by a sloped boundary surface. The swing pipe (202) is adapted to receive the end of the wearing ring (204) including the recess (208) therein. The recess (208) thus defines an annular space (228) between the swing pipe (202) and the wearing ring (204) with the inner surface (214) of the extension portion (212) of the swing pipe (202) facing the annular space (228). The elastic member (206) includes a radial inner surface (236) and a sloped front end suface (232) that corresponds to and abuts the boundary surface (222) of the wearing ring (204). The elastic member (206) is supported between the swing pipe (202) and the wearing ring (204) within the annular space (228). The inner surface (214) of the extension portion (212) of the swing pipe (202) is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe (202) contacts the radial inner portion (236) of the elastic member (206).

Description: Tube switch for a double-cylinder sludge pump The present invention relates to a tube switch for a double-cylinder thick matter pump including a swing pipe adapted to swivel in front of a center-rest plate on the cylinder inside of the tube switch. A wearing ring is mounted so that it is axially movable on the center-rest plate end of the swing pipe and is adapted to be pressed against the center-rest plate with the aid of the hydrostatic internal pressure in the swing pipe. A rubber elastic ring is mounted between the swing pipe and the wearing ring. The swing pipe includes an axial guide surface at the end thereof adjacent to the wearing ring. The guide surface is supported on a cylindrical centering surface of the wearing ring, which points radially to the outside. Together with the centering surface, the axial guide surface defines a sealing gap. The wearing ring includes an outer frontal contact surface which abuts the center-rest plate. With its rear portion the wearing ring includes a recess forming a boundary surface separated from the end face of the swing pipe by an axial clearance space open toward the inside of the pipe, which is bridged by the rubber elastic ring. Tube switches of the type carrying an automatic, hydrostatically adjusting wearing ring, typically referred to as an automatic ring, are shown, for example, in German Patent No. 26 14 895 and German Published Patent No. 31 03 321. In German Patent No. 31 03 321, ring recesses which accommodate the rubber elastic ring, are provided in both the swing pipe and the wearing ring. The recesses face each other and extend under the ends of the rubber elastic ring. One problem is that abrasive material can penetrate into the area of the ring recesses and behind the rubber elastic ring. On the side of the swing pipe, the abrasive material can penetrate the radial gap between the wearing ring and the swing pipe and emerge through the radial gap to the outside, whereas, the abrasive material penetrating the eccentric relief between the wearing ring and the sealing ring typically cannot pass into the pipe when the pressure is relieved. The latter situation leads to an axial bracing of the tube switch, thus making switch-through operation of the tube switch tight and, in turn, promoting wear. Additionally, the eccentric relief is gradually filled with hardened abrasive material and, as result, with increasing wear and the increasing axial air, the flexible sealing ring can be pulled toward the inside of the pipe and, in turn, become lost. This problem occurs particularly when the sludge pump draws a vacuum during reverse delivery. Due to the effect of the hardened material penetrating.to the outside, the relative axial movement between the swing pipe and wearing pipe, which occurs particularly during delivery under high pressure, untimely leads to rapid wear and tear. With cyclically increasing pressure, this relative axial movement is typically within the range of about 1 to 3 mm, depending on the elasticity of the pump housing. Starting from this point, an underlying task of the present invention is to create a tube switch for double-cylinder sludge pumps, which reliably prevents the outflow of abrasive material and, in turn, facilitates low wear axial guidance between the wearing ring and the tube switch. To solve this task, the characteristics recited in claims 1 and 8 are proposed. Advantageous refinements and further developments of the inventive features of the present invention are recited in the dependent claims. In practical operation, it is particularly important when the tube switch is switched through and when solid particles, such as stones and the like, become lodged between the wearing ring and center rest, that the wearing ring be able to spring back somewhat and, in addition, be able to tilt easily in both the axial and radial directions. Furthermore, it must be ensured, to the greatest extent possible, that the abrasive material does not reach the sealing gap, where it typically then hardens and gradually increases in quantity. To achieve these advantages, in the apparatus of the present invention, the radial outer surface of the rubber elastic ring abuts the portion of the cylindrical axial guide surface of the swing pipe that bridges the recess. The back end of the elastic ring abuts the inner surface of the extension portion of the swing pipe, whereby the inner surface of the swing pipe is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe contacts the radial inner portion of the elastic ring. In a first embodiment of the invention, at least one third of the axial length of the radial inner portion of the rubber elastic ring is seated on the boundary surface defined by the recess in the wearing ring. In order to achieve a reliable seal, the abutting surface area is increased by stepped surfaces on the radial inner portion of the elastic ring, whereby one of the stepped surfaces of the elastic ring is seated on the radial boundary surface of the wearing ring Preferably, the front end of the elastic member comprises two stepped surfaces corresponding to and abutting two axial step surfaces on the boundary surface defined by the recess in the wearing ring. When pressurized, the apparatus of the present invention causes the delivered material, which comes from inside the pipe and reaches the clearance space and, in turn, tends to harden, to be pressed under pressure-flexible deformation into the rubber elastic ring in the vicinity of its rear end on the side of the inner surface of the swing pipe. As a result, the front and radial outer part of the elastic ring is firmly forced against the sealing gap in the vicinity of the axial guidance surface between the wearing ring and the swing pipe. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the wearing ring includes a recess being defined by a boundary surface that is inclined relative to the the centering surface. Correspondingly, the front end surface of the elastic ring is inclined to abut the boundary surface of the wearing ring. In order to enable the wearing ring to effectively rotate about the axis of the swing pipe, the cylindrical axial guide surface and the centering surface define a radial gap therebetween. Preferably, the gap has a width of approximately 1 mm. Thereby wear between the swing pipe and the wearing ring caused by dried concrete therebetween is reduced as the concrete can be distributed around the circumference of the wearing ring. In order to prevent the elastic ring from being drawn into the bore of the swing pipe, a reinforcing ring may be positioned within the elastic ring proximate the extension portion of the swing pipe. The reinforcing ring preferably comprises metal. Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention is hereinafter described in greater detail with reference to the following embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The following figures are illustrated: Fig. la is a partial longitudinal-sectional view of the cylinder-side of a tube switch of a double-cylinder sludge pump embodying the present invention. Fig. lb is a schematic illustration of the forces acting under the effect of hydrostatic pressure on the wearing ring of the embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. la. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal-sectional view of a tube switch in accordance with a modified embodiment of the invention. Detailed Description of the Drawings In the drawings a portion of a tube switch embodying the present invention is illustrated. The tube switch 100 is used with a double-cylinder sludge pump, including discharge cylinders (not shown) , in which the orifices on the side of a material feed tank (not shown) are covered by an interchangeable center-rest plate 5. On the side of the material feed tank, a swing pipe 102 is supported with its front end in front of the center-rest plate 5. The swing pipe 102 includes a bore 110 extending therethrough and is adapted to swivel back and forth about a horizontal axis, so that the bore 110 appears alternately in front of and is in communication with one or the other of the two orifices 4 (only one shown) and provides for communicating connection of the other or the one orifice, respectively with the material feed tank. At its end opposite the center-rest plate 5, the swing pipe 102 leads into a delivery pipe (not shown) . In order to connect the swing pipe 102 on the front side thereof to the center-rest plate 5 in a pressure-tight manner, a wearing ring 104 is supported therebetween. The swing pipe 102 includes a cylindrical axial guide surface 116 that is adapted to receive and is axially movable relative to a cylindrical guide and centering surface 118 on the wearing ring 104. On its front end, the wearing ring 104 includes an outer frontal contact surface 120 that abuts the contact surface 24 of the center rest plate 5. In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. la, a stepped recess 108 is formed in a rear portion of the wearing ring 104. The stepped recess 108 is defined by a radial boundary surface 122 and a pair of axial step surfaces 124, 126. An annular space 128 is thereby formed between the swing pipe 102 and the wearing ring 104, defined by the stepped recess 108 in the wearing ring 104 and the cylindrical axial guide surface 116 and an inner surface 114 of an extension portion 112 of the swing pipe 102. A rubber elastic ring 106 is positioned in the annular space 128 and maintained under an initial stress. The ring 106 includes an outer surface 130, front and back ends 132, 134 and a radial inner portion 136. The radial inner portion 136 comprises a pair of stepped radial inner surfaces 138, 140. The front end 132 comprises a pair of stepped front end surfaces 142, 144. When positioned in the annular space 128, the radial inner surface 140 of the elastic ring 106 abuts the radial boundary surface 122 of the wearing ring 104. Also, the front end surfaces 142, 144 of the elastic ring 106 abut the axial step surfaces 124, 126, respectively of the wearing ring 104. In addition, the back end 134 of the elastic ring 106 abuts the inner surface 114 of the swing pipe 102 and the outer surface 130 of the elastic ring 106 abuts that part of the axial guide surface 116 of the swing pipe 102 that bridges the annular space 128. Also, the radial inner surface 138 of the elastic ring 106 is generally in alignment with the inner radial surfaces 146 and 148 of the swing pipe 102 and the wearing ring 104, respectively facing the bore 110. Preferably, at least one third of the axial length of the radial inner portion 136 of the elastic ring 106 is seated on the radial boundary surface 122 of the wearing ring 104. Also, the extension portion 112 of the swing pipe 102 is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe 102 contacts the radial inner portion 136 of the elastic ring 106. A reinforcing ring 150 may be positioned in the elastic ring 106 proximate the extension portion 112 of the swing pipe 102. The reinforcing ring 150 acts to prevent the elastic ring 106 from being drawn out of the annular space 128 into the bore 110. The reinforcing ring 150 is preferably made of metal. As shown in Figure lb, when the tube switch 100 is in use, concrete, mortar or other materials 152 flowing through the bore 110 may be forced between the back end 134 of the elastic ring 106 and the inner surface 114 of the swing pipe 102. The conveyed viscous material 152 will cause axial movement and further compression of the rubber elastic ring 106. As a result of the pressure against the ring 106, the ring 106 seals the gap between the wearing ring 104 and swing pipe 102. Thus, only limited pretension of the elastic ring 106 is required during assembly of the tube switch 100. The stepped recess and stepped elastic ring arrangement improves the seal between the wearing ring 104 and the swing pipe 102 by increasing the abutting surface area of the elastic ring 106. In addition to a sealing function, the rubber elastic ring 106 also assumes on the basis of its initial stress the function of automatically adjusting the wearing ring 104 in case of wear. Moreover, the radial outer surface 130 of ring 106 acts as an extension of the axial guide and centering surface 118. As shown in Figs, la through 2, the axial length of the ring 106 is equal to at least the axial length of the guide and centering surface 118 in contact with the swing pipe 102. As a result, it is possible for the wearing ring 104 to tilt relatively easily in the vicinity of the centering surface 118 due to the clearance, which necessarily must be available, between the wearing ring 104 and the swing pipe 102 and because of the elastic properties of the ring 106 if solid particles are forced into the gap between the contact surfaces 120 and 24 of the wearing ring 104 and the center-rest plate 5, respectively. As a result, wear and tear in such situations is considerably reduced and, accordingly, the life expectancy of the wearing ring 104 and the center-rest plate 5 is correspondingly increased. Figure 2 illustrates a portion of a tube switch 200 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. The tube switch 200 includes a swing pipe 202, which is adapted to receive a wearing ring 204. Also, an elastic member or elastic ring 206 is partly positioned in a recess 208 formed in the wearing ring 204. As with the tube switches previously described, the tube switch 200 is usable with a double cylinder sludge pump having discharge cylinders (not shown) , in which the orifices on the side of a material feed tank (not shown) are covered by the interchangeable center-rest plate 5. The swing pipe 204 is supported with its front end in front of the center rest plate or center plate 5. The swing pipe 204 includes a bore 210 extending therethrough and is adapted to swivel back and forth about a horizontal axis, so that the bore 210 appears alternately in front of and is in communication with one or the other of the two orifices 4 (only one shown) in the center rest plate 5. At its end opposite the center-rest plate 5, the swing pipe 202 leads into a delivery pipe (not shown) . The swing pipe 202 also comprises an extension portion 212 with an inner surface 214 facing the recess 208. The wearing ring 204 is supported between the swing pipe 202 and the center rest plate 5 to connect the swing pipe 202 to the center rest plate 5 in a pressure-tight manner. The swing pipe 202 includes a cylindrical axial guide surface 216 that is adapted to receive a cylindrical guide and centering surface 218 on the wearing ring 204. The cylindrical axial guide surface 216 is axially and rotatably movable relative to a cylindrical guide and centering surface 218. A radial gap 219 is present between the cylindrical axial guide surface 216 and the cylindrical guide and centering surface 218. On its front end, the wearing ring 204 includes an outer frontal contact surface 220 that abuts the contact surface 24 of the center rest plate 5. The recess 208 is formed in a rear portion of the wearing ring 204 and is defined by a sloped boundary surface 222, which is inclined relative to the cylindrical guide and centering surface 218 and the radial gap 219. An annular space 228 is thereby formed between the swing pipe 202 and the wearing ring 204, defined by the recess 208 in the wearing ring 204 and the cylindrical axial guide surface 216 and the inner surface 214 of the swing pipe 202. The elastic ring 206 is positioned in the annular space 228. The ring 206 includes an outer surface 230, front and back end surfaces 232, 234 and a radial inner surface 236. The front end surface 232 is inclined and corresponds to the sloped boundary surface 222 of the wearing ring 204. When the elastic ring 206 is positioned in the annular space 228, the front end surface 232 of the elastic ring 206 abuts the sloped boundary surface 222 of the wearing ring 204. Also, the outer surface 230 of the elastic ring 206 abuts that part of the cylindrical axial guide surface 216 of the swing pipe 202 that bridges the annular space 228. In addition, the back end surface 234 of the elastic ring 206 abuts the inner surface 214 of the swing pipe 202. However, as shown in Figure 2 concrete or other materials 235 flowing through the swing pipe 202 can move between the inner surface 214 of the swing pipe 202 and the back end surface 234 of the elastic ring 206. The radial inner surface 236 of the elastic ring 206 is generally aligned with the inner radial surfaces 246 and 248 of the swing pipe 202 and the wearing ring 204, respectively, facing the bore 210. Preferably, the extension portion 212 of the swing pipe 202 is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe 202 contacts the radial inner surface 236 of the elastic ring 206. As shown in Figure 2, when the tube switch 200 is in use, material like concrete or mortar 235 flowing through the bore 210 can be forced between the back end surface 234 of the elastic ring 206 and the inner surface 214 of the swing pipe 202. Concrete can also initially move between the boundary surface 222 of the wearing ring 204 and the front end surface 232 of the elastic ring 206. However, since the pressure outside of the tube switch 200 will be lower than the pressure of the concrete flowing through the swing pipe 202, the concrete will initially flow freely between the front end surface 232 and the boundary surface 222 to the radial gap 219 between the wearing ring 204 and the swing pipe 202 and then to the outside of the tube switch 200. At the same time, however, concrete flowing between the back end surface 234 of the elastic ring 206 and the inner surface 214 of the swing pipe 202 will accumulate therebetween, thereby forcing the front end surface 232 of the elastic ring 206 to be pressed against the boundary surface 222 of the wearing ring 204 to effectively seal the radial gap 219 from flow therethrough. Preferably, the accumulated concrete 235 between the back end surface 234 of the elastic ring 206 and the inner surface 214 of the swing pipe 202 will harden to constantly force the front end face 232 against the boundary surface 222. The presence of the concrete 235 will cause compression of the elastic ring 206 and have the advantageous effect of dampening the normal telescoping movement made by the wearing ring 204 relative to the swing pipe 202. Telescoping movement of the wearing ring 204 occurs as a result of pulsations caused by the pumping process. The radial gap 219 between the swing pipe 202 and the wearing ring 204 may have a width of approximately 1 mm to enable the wearing ring 204 to effectively rotate about the axis of the swing pipe 202. With this arrangement, the wear between the parts caused by dried concrete therebetween is reduced as the concrete can be distributed around the circumference of the wearing ring 204. To enable proper rotation of the wearing ring 204 relative to the swing pipe 202, it is preferable to insert the elastic ring 206 between the wearing ring 204 and the swing pipe 202 with little or no pretension. A reinforcing ring 250 may be inserted or vulcanized in the elastic ring 206 proximate the extension portion 212 of the swing pipe 202. The reinforcing ring 250 acts to prevent the elastic ring 206 from being drawn out of the annular space 228 into the bore 210 during the telescoping movement of the wearing ring 204 relative to the swing pipe 202. The reinforcing ring 250 is preferably made of metal. Summarizing the following can be stated: A tube switch for a double-cylinder sludge pump is provided including a swing pipe 202, a wearing ring 204 and an elastic member 206. The swing pipe 202 is adapted to swivel in front of a center plate 5 and includes an extension portion 212 having an inner surface 214. The wearing ring 204 is supported between the end of the swing pipe 202 and the center plate 5 and is axially movable relative to the swing pipe 202. The wearing ring 204 has a recess 208 formed at one end thereof, defined by a sloped boundary surface. The swing pipe 202 is adapted to receive the end of the wearing ring 204 including the recess 208 therein. The recess 208 thus defines an annular space 228 between the swing pipe 202 and the wearing ring 204 with the inner surface 214 of the extension portion 212 of the swing pipe 202 facing the annular space 228. The elastic member 206 includes a radial inner surface 236 and a sloped front end surface 232 that corresponds to and abuts the boundary surface 222 of the wearing ring 204. The elastic member 206 is supported between the swing pipe 202 and the wearing ring 204 within the annular space228. The inner surface 214 of the extension portion 212 of the swing pipe 202 is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe 202 contacts the radial inner portion 236 of the elastic member 206.

Claims: Claims : A tube switch for a double-cylinder sludge pump, comprising: a swing pipe (102) adapted to swivel in front of a center plate (5) , the swing pipe (102) including a cylindrical axial guide surface (116) at one end thereof, the swing pipe (102) also including an extension portion (112) having an inner surface (114) ; a wearing ring (104) supported between the end of the swing pipe (102) and the center plate (5) and axially movable relative to the swing pipe (102) , the wearing ring (104) including a recess (108) at one end thereof and a centering surface (118) , the recess (108) having a radial boundary surface (122) and an axial step surface (124, 126) , the cylindrical axial guide surface (116) of said swing pipe (102) being adapted to receive the end of the wearing ring (104) including the recess (108) therein, the recess (108) thus defining an annular space (128) between the swing pipe (102) and the wearing ring (104), the wearing ring (104) including an outer frontal contact surface (120) at the other end thereof being adapted to be pressed against the center plate (5) in response to pressure within the swing pipe (102) , the inner surface (114) of the extension portion (112) of the swing pipe (102) facing the annular space (128) ; and an elastic member (106) including a radial inner portion (136) and front and back ends (132, 134), the elastic member (106) supported between the swing pipe (102) and the wearing ring (104) within the annular space (128) defined by the recess (108) , wherein the radial inner portion (136) of the elastic member (106) abuts the radial boundary surface (122) of the wearing ring (104) , the front end (132) of the elastic member (106) abuts the axial step of the wearing ring (104) , and the back end (134) of the elastic member (106) abuts the inner surface (114) of the swing pipe (102), and wherein at least one third of the axial length of the radial inner portion (136) of the elastic member (106) is seated on the radial boundary surface (122) , and wherein the inner surface (114) of the extension portion (112) of the swing pipe (102) is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe (102) contacts the radial inner portion (136) of the elastic member (106) , the elastic member (106) thus being adapted to seal the space between the wearing ring (104) and the swing pipe ( 102 ) . 2. A tube switch according to claim 1, characterised in that a reinforcing ring (150) is positioned within said elastic member (106) . 3. A tube switch according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said reinforcing ring (150) comprises metal. 4. A tube switch according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the radial inner portion (136) of the elastic member (106) comprises stepped surfaces. 5. A tube switch according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that one of the stepped surfaces of the elastic member (106) is seated on the radial boundary surface (122) of the wearing ring (104) . 6. A tube switch according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the recess (108) in the wearing ring (104) includes two axial step surfaces (124, 126) and that the front end (132) of the elastic member (106) comprises two stepped surfaces (142,144) corresponding to and abutting the two axial step surfaces (124, 126) to increase the abutting surface area of the elastic member (106) . A tube switch according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the swing pipe (102) includes a bore (110) extending therethrough and that the swing pipe (102) and the wearing ring (104) each include a radial inner surface (146, 148) facing the bore (110) and that a part of the radial inner portion (136) of the elastic member (106) faces the bore (110) and is generally aligned with the radial inner surfaces (146, 148) of the the swing pipe (102) and the wearing ring (104) . 8. A tube switch for a double-cylinder sludge pump, comprising: a swing pipe (202) adapted to swivel in front of a center plate (5) , the swing pipe (202) including a cylindrical axial guide surface (216) at one end thereof, the swing pipe (202) also including an extension portion (212) having an inner surface (214); a wearing ring (204) supported between the end of the swing pipe (202) and the center plate (5) and being axially and rotatably movable relative to the swing pipe (202) , the wearing ring (204) including a recess (208) at one end thereof and a centering surface (218) , the recess (208) being defined by a boundary surface (222) that is inclined relative to the the centering surface (218) , the cylindrical axial guide surface (216) of said swing pipe (202) being adapted to receive the end of the wearing ring (204) including the recess (208) therein and at least a portion of said centering surface (218) , the recess (208) thus defining an annular space (228) between the swing pipe (202) and the wearing ring (204), the wearing ring (204) including an outer frontal contact surface (220) at the other end thereof being adapted to be pressed against the center plate (5) in response to pressure within the swing pipe (202) , the inner surface (214) of the extension portion (212) of the swing pipe (202) facing the annular space (228) ; and an elastic member (206) supported between the swing pipe (202) and the wearing ring (204) within the annular space (228) defined by the recess (208) , the elastic member (206) including a radial inner surface (214) and front and back end surfaces (232, 234) , the front end surface (232) being inclined to correspond to the boundary surface (222) of the wearing ring (204) wherein the front end surface(232) abuts the boundary surface (222) and the back end surface (234) of the elastic member (206) abuts the inner surface (214) of the swing pipe (202) , and wherein the inner surface (214) of the extension portion (212) of the swing pipe (202) is ridgeless such that generally no portion of the swing pipe (202) contacts the radial inner surface (214) of the elastic member (206) , the elastic member (206) thus being adapted to seal the space between the wearing ring (204) and the swing pipe (202) . 9. A tube switch according to claim 8, characterised in that a reinforcing ring (250) is positioned within said elastic member (206) . 10. A tube switch according to claim 9, characterised in that said reinforcing ring (250) comprises metal. 11. A tube switch according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterised in that the cylindrical axial guide surface (216) and the centering surface (218) define a radial gap (219) therebetween. 12. A tube switch according to claim 11, characterised in that the radial gap (219) has a width of approximately 1 mm. 13. A tube switch according to one of claims 8 to 12 characterised in that the swing pipe (202) includes a bore (210) extending therethrough and that the swing pipe (202) and the wearing ring (204) each include a radial inner surface (246, 248) facing the bore (210) and that the radial inner surface (214) of the elastic member (206) faces the bore (210) and is generally aligned with the radial inner surfaces (246, 248) of the swing pipe (202) and the wearing ring (204) .

Inventors: BENCKERT HARTMUT, SCHLECHT KARL, BENCKERT, HARTMUT, SCHLECHT, KARL
Applicants: PUTZMEISTER MASCHF, PUTZMEISTER-WERK MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F04B15
IPC codes: F04B7, F04B15, F04B53