Abstract:
A diaphragm pump with a pumping component composed of a paint stage and propulsion stage; a hydraulic component; and an engine component such as a motor, fashioned such that, in a first predefined position or orientation the hydraulic component and the motor are mounted to each other in side-by-side arrangement, and the pumping component sits on top of the hydraulic component, whereby it is possible to cant the diaphragm pump by 90° and thus bring it into a second operable position for orientation. Unguided paint valves are thereby applied such that, in both positions of the pump, they enclose the same angle with the horizontal line. A measuring stick and an intake line are strategically arranged to be useable in both positions of the pump. A stationary support frame and a mobile support frame are presented to facilitate the flexible positioning or orientation of the pump.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a diaphragm pump with a pumping component which is divided by a diaphragm into two stages: a paint stage with a paint inlet valve and an unguided paint outlet valve, and a propulsion stage with a piston or ram oscillating normally to the diaphragm plane and a propulsion chamber located between the diaphragm and a leading front of the piston; and a hydraulic component representing a propulsion liquid supply container, which is connected via an intake line with the propulsion chamber of the propulsion stage. The container comprises a charging hole with a measuring stick for supplying and measuring the propulsion liquid, and in which an eccentric or cam, mounted on a shaft, for driving the piston of the propulsion stage, rotates. A motor is provided as engine component for the drive of the shaft holding the eccentric. Diaphragm pumps of this type have been known and have been available on the market for a long time in various embodiments. 
     Constructively, these known diaphragm pumps are respectively designed for a certain operating position. Thus, diaphragm pumps which are to be operated with a mountable paint container have a paint inlet valve vertically sticking out towards a top of the pump in order to be able to place the paint container on the pump and to directly connect it thereto. Diaphragm pumps, however, which are to be fed from a paint container to be placed beside the pump, are mostly provided with an inlet valve projecting out in laterally horizontal fashion in order to be able to insert a suction hose directly from the inlet valve into the paint container. If the first mentioned diaphragm pump is to be fed from a paint reservoir standing next to it, or if a mountable paint reservoir is to be placed upon the secondly mentioned diaphragm pump, suction hoses or tubes are necessary, bent double by 180°, which makes drawing the paint difficult or at least its start difficult. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to fashion a diaphragm pump of the initially mentioned type such that it is fully suitable for two operating positions: a first position wherein a paint can or reservoir is mounted on top of the pump component and a second position wherein a paint can or reservoir is located laterally adjacent to the diaphragm pump. 
     Consequently, the pump of the invention can be arranged in two positions: the first position for the mounting of a mountable paint reservoir, the second position for the connection of a floor type paint reservoir, whereby the change from the one into the other position is achieved by a simple canting of the pump by 90°. Despite the fact that two positions can be achieved, no additional expenditure regarding the construction results compared to the conventional diaphragm pumps. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view, in partial section, of a diphragm pump in a first position; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic elevational view, in partial section, of the diaphragm pump of FIG. 1 in a second position; 
     FIG. 3A is a schematic elevational view of the connection of the diaphragm pump arranged in the first position with a mountable paint reservoir; 
     FIG. 3B is a schematic elevational view of the connection of the diaphragm pump arranged in the second position with a laterally adjacent paint reservoir; 
     FIG. 4A is an elevational view of the diaphragm pump in the first position connected with a floor type frame and hand carrier; 
     FIG. 4B is an elevational view of the diaphragm pump in the second position with the floor type frame and hand carrier; 
     FIG. 4C is a perspective view of the floor type frame of FIGS. 4A and 4B with the diaphragm pump removed. 
     FIG. 5A is an elevational view of the diaphragm pump connected to a floor type frame and undercarriage, in the first position; 
     FIG. 5B is an elevational view of the diaphragm pump connected to the floor type frame and undercarriage, in the second position. 
     FIG. 5C is a perspective view of the floor type frame and undercarriage of FIGS. 5A and 5B in a disassembled manner with the diaphragm pump removed. 
     FIG. 5D is an elevational side view of the diaphragm pump connected to the floor type frame and undercarriage in the second position as shown in FIG. 5, but rotated 90° from FIG. 5B. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 are abbreviated representations of the diaphragm pump, whereby the elements that are in direct connection with the invention are shown. For a better understanding, a brief description of the known basic structure of such a diaphragm pump will follow. 
     The diaphragm pump is composed of three parts, namely a motor part 10, a hydraulic part 11 and a pumping part 12. The motor part 10 is an electro-motor of suitable power. The hydraulic part 11 is fashioned as supply tank for the hydraulic fluid and has a rotating shaft with an eccentric or cam 13 mounted thereon, a charging hole with integrated measuring stick 14 for the determination of the level of the hydraulic fluid, and a suction line 15 for the hydraulic fluid. The pumping part 12 is divided by a diaphragm 12a into a propulsion stage and a paint stage. In the propulsion stage, a ram or piston 12b oscillates in a direction normal to the diaphragm plane, whereby between an end of the ram and the diaphragm, a propulsion chamber 12c is located, filled with hydraulic fluid via the suction line 15 or the hydraulic stage. The paint stage is composed of paint chamber 12d bordering the diaphragm, as well as a paint inlet valve 16 and a paint outlet valve 17, whereby the paint inlet valve is generally fashioned as a guided valve. 
     An unguided valve is a valve wherein performance of the valve is significantly affected by the axial orientation of the valve with respect to the force of gravity. The orientation of the unguided valve must be considered in selection and design. A guided valve is axially guided for movement and thus is relatively immune to variations in orientation to the horizontal. An example of a guided valve would be a spring closable stem supported valve, with the stem guided for axial movement to open and close the guided valve, such as is commonly used in an automobile engine. An example of an unguided valve is a valve having a poppet ball located in a compartment of the valve in unguided fashion with respect to axial movement to open and close the valve, and sitting by gravity, covering a valve seat. Hydraulic forces thus must overcome gravity to lift the ball to pass liquid through the valve seat. 
     During the operation of the diaphragm pump, the motor shaft of the electromotor drives the shaft holding the eccentric of the hydraulic part, and the thus rotating eccentric 13 indirectly or directly drives the ram of the propulsion stage of the pumping part. The hydraulic fluid in the propulsion chamber which is supplied via the suction line 15 transmits the ram movement to the diaphragm which, in turn, impacts the desired pressure on the paint located in the paint chamber and supplied via the paint inlet valve 16, whereby then the paint under pressure is discharged through the outlet valve 17. 
     It is worth noting that the allocation performed here of the cited components to the three parts 10, 11, 12 serves to simplify the understanding of the invention, functionally this particular allocation is not necessary or exclusive; thus, the ram and the propulsion chamber could also be allocated to the hydraulic component for example. It is relevant for explanation that the components are spatially arranged and fashioned in the manner as described in the following description. 
     In the position or orientation of the diaphragm pump according to FIG. 1, the motor component 10 and the hydraulic component 11 are connected with one another in a side-by-side arrangement such a motor shaft 10a of the electromotor 10 and a shaft 10b holding the eccentric 13 of the hydraulic component 11 are arranged in horizontal fashion, whereby the shaft holding the eccentric 13 proceeds in axial extension of the motor shaft. The two shafts are connected with each other or fashioned as one piece which is very simple in the case of electromotors. The pumping component 12 is fastened on the hydraulic component 11 such that the diaphragm 12a of the pumping component 12 extends itself in a horizonal plane, with the propulsion stage beneath the diaphragm, and the paint stage above the diaphragm. The ram 12b of the propulsion stage extends vertically from the eccentric, eccentric bearing or cam 13 of the hydraulic stage, upward into the propulsion stage. The measuring stick 14 is inserted into the charging hole of the hydraulic component 11 such that, relative to a vertical line, it has an oblique adjustment, approximately parallel to the diagonal or body diagonal of the hydraulic component 11. The intake opening 15a of the suction line 15 is located far below the fluid level indicated at 18. The paint inlet valve 16 projects, as usual, from a top side of the pumping component 12 vertically upward; the valve 16 is a guided valve. The paint outlet valve 17 is fashioned as an unguided valve and its longitudinal axis has a angle of inclination of 45° relative to the horizontal line. This position of the diaphragm pump is particularly suitable for the mounting of a paint-supply container on the upper side of the paint stage of the pumping component 12, as indicated in FIG. 3A, where a paint container 19 is put on the diaphragm pump. 
     FIG. 2 shows the second position or orientation of the diaphragm pump which results from the first position of FIG. 1 by a 90° canting. Here, the hydraulic component 11 is located above the motor component 10, whereby the motor shaft and the eccentric shaft extend in vertical fashion. The pumping component 12, however, is now arranged next to the hydraulic component 11, whereby the ram 12b oscillates in horizontal direction and the diaphragm 12a extends itself in a vertical plane. By the suitable dimensioning of the height and width of the hydraulic component 11 it is achieved that the level of the hydraulic fluid is again at a proper level, without taking out or filling in hydraulic fluid, as is desired for the operation, for example to barely cover the eccentric bearing 13. The inclination of the axis of the measuring stick as described above is approximately parallel to the diagonal of the hydraulic component 11. The guided inlet valve 16 now proceeds horizontally, whereas the outlet valve 17 has again an adjustment of 45° relative to the horizontal line, i.e., an oblique inclination equal to that of the position of FIG. 1. In both positions of the diaphragm pump, the unguided outlet valve 17 is thus subjected to gravity in the same manner so that, in both the first and the second positions, the valve 17 operates in the same way and no adjustment is necessary when the diaphragm pump is brought from the one into the respective other position. Although the inlet valve 16 extends itself in different directions in the two positions, the directions being perpendicular to each other, this is without significance since this valve, as mentioned, is a guided valve. The position of FIG. 2 is particularly suitable for the case whereby the paint is taken out of a floor container, as for example the paint reservoir or container 20 shown in FIG. 3B. 
     In order to enable operation of the diaphragm pump in a horizontal or vertical position with the assistance of simple means, the diaphragm pump can be provided with a housing-like casing 21 at which, for each of the first and second position, feet to place the pump on the floor are located. The casing 21 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. Support feet 22a are used in the first position, alternate support feet 22b are used in the second position. Four support feet 22a and four support feet 22b are preferred, spaced in a typical rectangular arrangement. For an easier carrying of the diaphragm pump, handles can be additionally attached at the housing as for example, two pipe handles bent in U-shaped fashion. 
     As an alternative to the protective housing, the diaphragm pump can also be placed in a frame which has feet or feet-like shapings for positioning the pump in both the first and second positions. The frame itself can be fashioned such that it can accept the complete pump, and has applied handles as well, whereby regarding the arrangement of the handles the respective gravity position of the pump-frame-unit must be observed. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, such a frame 40 is fastened at the pump. The frame 40 is composed of one single piece of pipe, which is bent correspondingly, whereupon its meeting ends are connected with each other so that a endless pipe configuration results. With reference to FIG. 4A and 4C a first bent 42 is described as the pipe 40 proceeds from a point 40a vertically to a bottom or support surface, to a first bend 40d, then proceeds horizontally to a second bend 40b at which the pipe proceeds obliquely to a top elevation to a third bend 40c. At the third bend 40c the pipe is bent by 90° to a horizontal orientation to a back position on an opposite side of the diaphragm pump, the pipe thereupon bends to form a second bent 44 identical to the first bent, in a plane parallel to the plane of a projection on the page of FIG. 4A. The pipe 40 proceeds correspondingly to the visible first bent via a fourth bend 40c&#39;, to a fifth bend 40b&#39;, to a sixth bend 40d&#39;, to a seventh bend 40a, where it is bent in a horizontal orientation such that its proceeds horizontally to the front of the plane of projection of FIG. 4a to the visible location of the point 40a. The bends 40a, 40b and 40a&#39;, 40c&#39; form open ends of the U-shaped bents 42, 44 facing upwardly. Closed segments 40f, 40f&#39; act together as a first support surface. The first U-shaped bent 42 has a first upstanding leg 40g and a second upstanding leg 40h. Similarly, the second U-shaped bent 44 has a third upstanding leg 40g&#39; and a fourth upstanding leg 40h&#39;. The first upstanding leg 40g is connected to the third upstanding leg 40g&#39; by horizontally arranged cross member 40i. The second upstanding leg 40h is connected to the fourth upstanding leg 40h&#39; by the horizontally arranged cross member 40e . This simple but effective pipe frame 40 guarantees an excellent position of the pump in both the first and second positions as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. In the position of FIG. 4A, the pump-frame-unit can be carried by a user at a cross tube 40e originating at 40c to 40c&#39;, and in the second position of FIG. 4B can be carried at the second bend 40b, and the parallel fifth bend 40b&#39;, which also can be connected with each other by a horizontal pipe piece (not shown). 
     Another possible embodiment of a diaphragm pump-frame-unit is shown in the FIGS. 5A and 5D, whereby a mobile frame is involved. A tubular chassis frame 50 in the shape of an elongated rectangle, which has been bent a number of times is, looking at it from a side showing its length (FIGS. 5A and 5D) angled in an L shape having a first U shaped bending 50D and a second U shaped bending 50e, open ends of said U shaped bendings connected together at 50e. At the intersection 50f of the two bendings a wheel axle 51, which holds two wheels 52, is mounted, spanning a width of the elongated rectangle of the frame 50. Outer end portions 50a and 50b of the tubular chassis frame 50 are bent again, namely towards an outside of the L shape. Furthermore, a handle bar 53 is rotatably mounted at a lower end 54 to the wheel axle 51 and can be fixed at the end portion 50a as well as at the end portion 50b near a top end of the handle bar 53. In the position shown in FIG. 5A, the handle bar 53 is captured at the end portion 50b using releasable fixing locks 53a, 53b, and the end portion 50a represents a foot. In the second position shown in FIGS. 5B and 5D the handle bar 53 is captured at the end portion 50a with locks 53a, 53b, and the end portion 50b represents an alternate foot. By simply pivoting the handle bar 53 and capturing the same at one of two end portions, the diaphragm pump can be moved and/or put up in the desired position. An eighth pipe bend 50c shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, merely represents a protection for the diaphragm pump if it is in the position of FIG. 5A. A gripping handle 53c is located at a free end of the handle bar 53. 
     Naturally, the invention can be modified in numerous ways without leaving the field of the invention. Thus, it is possible, for example, to provide the paint inlet valve with a 45°-adjustment which is generally only useful, however, if the paint inlet valve is an unguided valve as well. That is, the valve identified with reference numeral 17 in the figures could represent the inlet valve rather than the outlet valve. Furthermore, it is understood that may embodiments are conceivable and applicable for the hand carrier or the undercarriage as well as for the casing provided with feet. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.