CN110832201B

CN110832201B - Pump unit

Info

Publication number: CN110832201B
Application number: CN201780092667.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·绍尔比尔; W·施尼克
Original assignee: Vettel Ltd
Current assignee: Vettel Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-04
Filing date: 2017-07-04
Publication date: 2022-02-18
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-04
Also published as: CN110832201A; WO2019007480A1; EP3610153B1; PL3610153T3; EP3610153A1; ES2870977T3; PT3610153T; DK3610153T3; US20200132063A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pump unit (10) that can be carried by an operator and is used for filling a blowable filling space, in particular a lifting mat (2), a barrier mat or the like, with fluid, in particular compressed air, under pressure, comprising a fluid pump (12), an electric motor (11) for driving the fluid pump (12), an accumulator (13), a control unit (17) for controlling the operation of the fluid pump, a connection (18) for connecting a fluid hose (3) leading to the filling space, wherein a preferably manually operable control valve (16) is provided, which is positioned on the pump unit (10).

Description

Pump unit

The invention relates to a pump unit that can be carried by an operator and is used for filling a blowable filling space, in particular a lifting mat, a baffle mat or the like, with fluid, in particular compressed air, under pressure.

Background

In rescue and disaster relief tasks, the accident site is not always easily accessible, so that heavy equipment is often not available at this time. Quick rescue is also very important for life, especially when people are buried, trapped and/or stuck. Lifting pads are an effective tool for lifting debris, overturned vehicles, and the like. Lifting mats are good rescue solutions, especially in broken buildings due to earthquakes, gas explosions, armed conflicts, etc., or in vehicle accidents.

Typically, the lifting pad is inserted in its flattened form, for example, in a small gap between the debris and blown up with compressed air in a compressed air bottle. For operation, pressures of up to 12 bar are generally used. Thereby, the lifting pad expands in a predetermined direction defined by the lifting pad structure. In order to use the lifting mat, in addition to the compressed air tank, various further components are required, such as a pressure reducer, a pressure gauge and connecting hoses between the individual components.

In rescue missions, rescue teams are subjected to very high stress. Furthermore, rescue tasks must be performed quickly to save lives. For this reason, the rescue device must be easy and operationally safe to use at the accident site.

Documents of the prior art

From DE 102007014467 a1 a pump unit is known which is portable by an operator for filling a blowable filling space with fluid under pressure, comprising: a fluid pump; an electric motor for driving the fluid pump; a storage battery; a control unit for controlling operation of the fluid pump; a connector for coupling a fluid hose to the filling space, and a control valve in the form of a multi-way valve positioned on the pump unit. The pump unit has a control unit in which the operation of the fluid pump is controlled by an on/off switch. The on/off switch is located either directly on the control unit installed in the pump unit or on the free end of the hose connectable to the lifting pad. The lifting mat is thus pumped up by actuating the switch-on switch. This results in the fluid being pumped into the pad at maximum power. In particular in rescue missions in which lifting mats are used to lift, for example, collapsed walls, uncontrolled states may occur in which buried personnel are injured.

DE 102013109215 a1 discloses a bicycle with an automatic pressure loading system. The system allows the air pressure of a bicycle component loaded with a gaseous medium to be automatically adjusted to a predetermined level. For this purpose, the determined setpoint value is preset via an operating element, which is implemented by the control unit. The two pressure sensors are connected via electrical lines to a regulating unit which in turn actuates the control valve.

EP 3034876 a1 discloses a compressor having a manually adjustable pressure regulator, with which the pressure at the compressor outlet can be adjusted via a rotary knob. The pressure regulator comprises a control cylinder in which a spring-elastic piston is arranged, the axial position of which can be varied by actuating a knob. By changing the axial position, the pressure on the outlet can be increased or decreased. The idea is to supply the consumers with a medium at a suitable pressure. The regulation of the delivery flow takes place directly via the spring.

WO 2007/140596 discloses a vacuum operated portable piston compressor.

DE 102007014467 a1 discloses a rescue unit for disaster relief tasks that is portable on the back of an operator, comprising an electric motor, a fluid pump, a battery and a control unit. The control unit is operated by an operator via a switch. Furthermore, the pressure gauge is provided with an integrated safety valve.

From US 5,370,504 a piston compressor is known, which has a tank with an outlet, wherein a valve is integrated into the outlet, with which the outlet can be opened or closed.

Objects of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a pump unit of the same type which ensures greater safety in use.

Solution to this object

The above object is achieved by a pump unit according to the invention that is portable by an operator.

According to the invention, a pump unit that is portable by an operator is proposed for filling a blowable filling space, in particular a lifting mat, a barrier mat or the like, with fluid, preferably compressed air, under pressure, wherein the pump unit comprises a fluid pump, an electric motor for driving the fluid pump, an accumulator, a control unit for controlling the operation of the fluid pump, a connection for coupling a fluid hose to the filling space, and a manually operable control valve positioned on the pump unit. The control valve can be actuated manually, the control valve being connected to the control unit via a signal line, the electric motor being controllable by actuating the control valve, and the control valve being a three-position, three-way valve having a pump position in which a pressure build-up takes place, a bypass position in which no pressure build-up and no unloading takes place, and a discharge position in which unloading takes place. Since the control valve is located directly on the pump unit, a single operator who operates the pump unit can also fill the lifting mat directly at the point of use in a controlled manner at any time, so that dangerous situations of the type mentioned at the outset can be effectively avoided. A valve unit that needs to be carried separately can be omitted. For a rescue task, the operator only has to couple the fluid hose to the pump unit and the pad, and the rescue task can be started immediately.

Suitably, the fluid pump may be a compressor, in particular a piston compressor, a turbo compressor, or even, in the case of special filling spaces, a blower.

Suitably, the pump unit may comprise a housing or a carrying frame, wherein the control valve may be mounted directly in or on the housing or the carrying frame. This ensures that the entire serviceable pump unit can be carried in a simple manner by the operator and is only connected to the fluid hose (plug and play). A further advantage of the mounting of the control valve in or on the housing or the carrying frame is that no further components need to be carried along in addition to the pump unit. Thus, during a rescue mission, the operator does not have to worry about the connection of the various components, but can immediately focus on the person to be rescued.

The control valve can preferably be mounted in the valve block or be an integral part of the valve block. By being mounted in the valve block, the control valve is no longer active and does not have to be additionally held. The valve block and thus the control valve can be fixed in or on the housing or the carrier frame in a simple manner.

Further, the control valve may be positioned directly on the fluid pump. The control valve and the fluid pump may be directly connected.

Preferably, a pressure measuring device can be provided on the pump unit, which directly detects and displays the filling pressure of the blowable filling space. By means of the pressure measuring device, the inflation can be monitored by the operator directly on the pump unit it operates, which enables a controlled filling. Especially when filling the lifting mat, it is important to lift the debris controllably in order not to have sudden uncontrolled load distribution.

The pressure measuring device can expediently be located between the connection and the control valve, so that the pressure measuring device can directly measure the pressure prevailing in the filling space or in the fluid line to the filling space. For monitoring the filling pressure, the pressure measuring device is therefore also already pre-installed at the location required for this purpose, that is to say at the pump unit.

Preferably, the pressure measuring device can also be mounted in or on the valve block.

In addition, the invention makes it possible for the control valve to be connected to the control unit via a signal line. Thereby, the current operation mode of the control valve may be transmitted to the control unit. Thereby, the operator can control the control unit and the electric motor, e.g. the fluid pump, according to the demand by controlling the valve. For example, the operator can control the motor speed and thus the delivery power of the pump depending on the position of the control valve. This enables, for example, a particularly precise lifting of the load by means of the lifting mat.

Furthermore, the pressure measuring device can also be connected to the control unit via a signal line. The control unit can thus, for example, record the pressure curve over time and, for example, operate the electric motor accordingly. Furthermore, the delivered power can be readjusted depending on the pressure, for example when the pressure drops in the lifting mat.

The signal lines between the control unit and the control valves and the pressure measuring devices are important, in particular, for the automatic or semi-automatic operation of the pump unit by the control unit in order to maintain a set pressure or to comply with a desired filling characteristic.

It may be expedient to provide a plurality of, in particular at least two, control valves on the pump unit. Thereby, for example, two lifting mats can be inflated under control by one operator without the need for further components. In order to ensure better control by load distribution of, for example, debris to be lifted, it may be desirable to use two lifting pads at the same time, for example.

Preferably, the control valve may be a three-position, three-way valve having a pump position (pressure build), a bypass position (no pressure build, no unloading), and a drain position (unloading).

It is particularly advantageous if the control valve is a proportional valve. This allows a proportional valve function as a function of the manual actuation, that is to say as a function of the position of the actuating device of the control valve, whereby hard switching transitions can be avoided.

Alternatively, the invention can also be implemented, even if the control valve is automatically actuated by the control unit when required.

Suitably, a cooling blower may be arranged on the fluid pump. This ensures that the fluid pump does not overheat even in continuous use.

Preferably, the pump unit is operated in a manner characterized in that in a first operating mode the filling space is filled with fluid and in a second operating mode the pressure in the filling space is kept at least substantially constant, the control valve transmitting a first signal to the control unit for the first operating mode and transmitting a second signal to the control unit for the second operating mode, wherein the control unit takes the first or the second signal and controls the electric motor in dependence on the first or the second signal. In the second operating mode, the electric motor can be switched off, for example, with a switch-off signal, in order to save energy in the battery.

In a third mode of operation, fluid may be drained from the fill space. The third mode of operation may likewise be controlled by the control valve. In a third operating mode, the control valve can transmit a third signal to the control unit, which adjusts and/or switches off the electric motor accordingly as a function of the third signal. This has the advantage that the electric motor is switched on and consumes energy only when fluid is required to fill the filling space with pressure.

The pressure measuring device can expediently transmit the measured pressure to a control unit, wherein the control unit detects the temporal change in pressure and sends an on and/or off signal to the electric motor as a function of the temporal change in pressure. Thus, by monitoring the pressure, the control unit is ready to switch on the electric motor, for example also before a fluid under pressure is required on the control valve.

In addition to the manual operability of the control valve, it can additionally be provided that the control unit automatically actuates the control valve. Suitably, the control unit sends a signal for the first mode of operation to the control valve when the pressure is below the first limit value. The blowable filling space is thereby filled again with fluid when the pressure drops, so that the pressure rises again above the first limit value. This method is used, for example, when a blowable filling space is to be maintained over a long period of time or over a certain pressure, for example in a lifting mat, a barrier mat or an inflatable tent.

When the pressure setpoint value is reached, a signal for the second operating mode can preferably be sent by the control unit to the control valve. Thus, by means of the second operating mode, the pressure can be automatically maintained at the theoretical value by means of the control unit. This ends the above-described fluid filling into the blowable filling space or the fluid discharge from the blowable filling space.

Suitably, the control unit may send a signal for the third operation mode to the control unit when the pressure exceeds the second limit value. In order to counteract the undesired pressure increase, the fluid is discharged from the blowable filling space in the third operating mode. The overvoltage protection can thus be monitored automatically by the control unit.

Thereby, the operator may be relieved of pressure or replaced by automatically adjusting the pressure by the control unit, especially when the filling pressure is maintained and monitored over a longer period of time.

Description of the invention by way of example

Suitable embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings. Wherein:

fig. 1 shows a very simplified schematic view of an application of a pump unit when filling a lifting pad for rescue tasks;

fig. 2 shows a very simplified schematic diagram of a pump unit with a valve block;

fig. 3 shows a very simplified schematic diagram of a pump unit with two control valves; and

fig. 4 shows an exemplary time profile of the pressure on the pressure measuring device, for example in automatic operation, and the corresponding operating states of the control valve and the electric motor.

Fig. 1 shows a portable pump unit 10 during an exemplary rescue task. The operator can carry and operate the portable pump unit 10 himself. The pump unit 10 is connected to the lifting mat 2 by means of a fluid hose 3 via a connection 18. Lifting pads 2 are disposed between the debris and filled with a fluid, such as compressed air, to, for example, enlarge the interstices between the debris. The operator must carry an equipment unit in the form of a pump unit 10 which already comprises all the components required for filling the blowable filling space (e.g. the lifting mat). Only the fluid hose connection 3 between the pump unit 10 and the lifting pad 2 is needed.

In fig. 2, a more detailed illustration of the pump unit 10 according to the invention according to fig. 1 is shown. The pump unit 10 is connected to the lifting mat 2 by means of a fluid hose 3. To facilitate transport, the pump unit 10 has a support frame 19, which additionally has standing feet 22 for a secure placement on the ground.

The individual components are mounted directly on the carrier frame 19. The pump unit 10 therefore has a fluid pump 12 (for example a compressor, in particular a piston compressor) to provide the pressure required for filling the blowable filling space (for example here the lifting mat 2). The fluid pump 12 is driven by the electric motor 11 and is cooled by a cooling blower 14. The electric motor 11 and the cooling blower 14 are in turn powered by a battery 13. For operating the electric motor 11, the pump unit 10 comprises a control unit 17. The fluid pump 12 is furthermore connected to a manually operable control valve 16 arranged directly on the pump unit 10, which enables controlled filling of the lifting mat 2.

The control valve 16 is mounted in a valve block 23, which is likewise mounted on the carrying frame 19. The valve block 23 is positioned directly on the fluid pump 12. The pump unit 10 has a connection 18 for coupling the fluid hose 3 before the pump unit 10 is used. The connection 18 is connected to the control valve 16.

The control valve 16 is preferably a three-position, three-way valve with a pump position (pressure build-up) in the left valve position, a bypass position (no pressure build-up, no unloading) in the middle valve position, and a drain position (unloading) in the right valve position. Preferably, the control valve is here a so-called proportional valve.

Between the control valve 16 and the connection 18, a pressure measuring device 24 for monitoring and displaying the filling pressure of the lifting mat 2 can additionally be present on the valve block 23. Furthermore, as shown in fig. 2, a safety valve 15 is arranged between the fluid pump 12 and the control valve 16. Suitably, the safety valve 15 may be a pressure limiting valve to protect the pump unit 10 from high pressure and damage.

The control valve 16 is connected to the control unit 17 via a signal line 20. Via the control line 20, for example, the current operating mode or the current position of the control valve 16 can be transmitted to the control unit 17. Accordingly, the control unit 17 can operate the electric motor 11 and switch the electric motor 11 on or off or adjust the power of the electric motor 11 as required. Additionally, the pressure measuring device 24 can be connected to the control unit 17 via a further signal line 21. The control unit 17 may, for example, record a time pressure curve.

Furthermore, a cooling blower 14 may be arranged on the fluid pump 12 as needed. The cooling blower can also be connected to the control unit 17 via a signal line.

In a special embodiment, which provides for automatic operation of the pump unit 10 alternatively or in addition to manual operation, the control unit 17 can transmit a control signal to the control valve 16. The control unit 17 can thus adjust the filling, the unloading or the maintenance of the fluid pressure on the control valve 16 as the case may be, in accordance with the pressure curve, in order to maintain a theoretical pressure, for example in a blowable filling space (for example in a pneumatic tent or a lifting mat for maintenance).

Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the pump unit 10 with two integrated control valves 16. Each control valve 16 has an independent connection 18. It is thereby possible that two lifting mats 2 are filled simultaneously by one single pump unit 10. The pump unit 10 furthermore comprises a carrying frame 19 with standing feet 22. All components are mounted on the carrier frame 19. In a simple embodiment, a fluid pump 12, a cooling blower 14, a safety valve 15, an electric motor 11, a battery 13 and a control unit 17 are provided. The fluid pump 12 is connected to two control valves 16. Furthermore, each control valve 16 has a separate pressure measuring device 24. The control unit 17 is connected to the control valve 16 via a signal line 20 and to a pressure measuring device 24 via a signal line 21. The two control valves 16 are mounted together with the two pressure measuring devices 24 in a common valve block 23. The valve block 23 is disposed or mounted directly on the fluid pump 12.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary time profile of the filling pressure of the blowable filling space measured at the pressure measuring device 24 during automatic or semi-automatic operation, and the respective operating states of the control valve 16 and the electric motor 11. In the interval I, the pressure drops from the setpoint value, the control valve 16 is held there and the electric motor 11 is switched off. As soon as the pressure drops below the first limit value, the control valve 16 is switched in interval II into the first operating mode to fill the filling space with fluid. The electric motor 11 is switched on accordingly by the control unit 17. When the setpoint value is reached at the pressure measuring device 24 in interval III, the control valve 16 is switched again by the control unit 17 into the second operating mode to maintain the filling pressure, in which case the electric motor 11 is switched off. In interval IV, the control valve 16 is switched into the first operating mode, similarly to interval II, and subsequently in interval V the control unit 17 obtains a signal for switching into the second operating mode to maintain the filling pressure. In the event that the pressure on the pressure measuring device 24 rises further beyond the second limit value despite switching into the second operating mode, the control unit 17 switches the control valve 16 into the third operating mode. In the interval VI, the control valve 16 is in the third operating mode in order to discharge fluid from the blowable filling space, here again turning off the electric motor 11. When the theoretical value is reached in interval VII, the control unit 17 switches the control valve 16 into the second operating mode to maintain the filling pressure, similar to intervals I and III. The control of the control valve 16 and the electric motor 11 in the intervals VIII and IX takes place analogously to the control in the intervals II and III.

List of reference numerals

10 Pump Unit

11 electric motor

12 fluid pump

13 accumulator

14 Cooling blower

15 safety valve

16 control valve

17 control unit

18 joint

18 load-bearing frame

20 signal line

21 signal line

22 standing foot

23 valve block

24 pressure measuring device

2 lifting pad

3 fluid hose

Claims

1. A pump unit (10) that is portable by an operator for filling a blowable filling space with fluid under pressure, the pump unit comprising:

a fluid pump (12) for pumping a fluid,

an electric motor (11) for driving the fluid pump (12),

a storage battery (13),

a control unit (17) for controlling the operation of the fluid pump,

a joint (18) for coupling a fluid hose (3) leading to the filling space, and

a control valve (16) in the form of a multi-way valve, which is positioned on the pump unit (10),

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the control valve (16) can be operated manually,

the control valve (16) is connected with a control unit (17) through a signal line (20),

the electric motor (11) can be controlled by actuating the control valve (16), and

the control valve (16) is a three-position, three-way valve having a pump position in which pressure build-up occurs, a bypass position in which no pressure build-up and no unloading occurs, and a discharge position in which unloading occurs.

2. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable pump unit (10) comprises a housing or a carrying frame (19) and the control valve (16) is mounted in or on the housing or the carrying frame (19).

3. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control valve (16) is mounted in or is an integral part of a valve block (23).

4. Pump unit (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the valve block (23) is positioned on the fluid pump (12).

5. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pressure measuring device (24) is provided, which measures the filling pressure of the blowable filling space.

6. Pump unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure measuring device (24) is located between the joint (18) and the control valve (16).

7. Pump unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure measuring device (24) is mounted in a valve block (23).

8. Pump unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure measuring device (24) has a display.

9. Pump unit (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the pressure measuring device (24) is connected to the control unit (17) via a further signal line (21).

10. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two control valves (16) are provided on the pump unit (10), wherein each control valve (16) has a connection (18) for coupling a fluid hose (3) to a respective one of the filling spaces.

11. Pump unit (10) according to claim 10, wherein one common fluid pump (12) is provided for the at least two control valves (16).

12. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control valve (16) is a proportional valve.

13. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a cooling blower (14) is provided on the fluid pump (12).

14. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2,

in a first mode of operation, filling the fill space with a fluid,

in a second mode of operation, the pressure in the filling space is kept at least substantially constant,

for a first operating mode, the control valve (16) transmits a first signal to a control unit (17),

for a second operating mode, the control valve (16) transmits a second signal to a control unit (17), wherein,

a control unit (17) acquires the respective signals and controls the electric motor (11) in accordance with the respective signals.

15. Pump unit (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that in a third operating mode fluid is discharged from the filling space and for the third operating mode the control valve (16) transmits a third signal to the control unit (17).

16. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (17) takes in the temporal variation of the pressure and adjusts and/or switches the electric motor (11) on or off as a function of the temporal variation of the pressure.

17. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid is compressed air.

18. Pump unit (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filling space is a lifting mat (2), a barrier mat or a tent.