Thick-matter pump for producing a continuous thick-matter flow and method for operating a thick-matter pump for producing a continuous thick-matter flow

Abstract

A thick-matter pump for producing a continuous thick-matter flow is described. The pump includes at least two pump units, which alternate in pumping and suction operation, a suction line with a charge-pressure device, which acts separately from the pump units for actively bringing about a thick-matter compression, a delivery line, and a switchover device for switching between the pump units. In a first operating state for conveying the thick matter, by way of the switchover device, at least one first pump unit is connected during pumping operation to the delivery line and at least one second pump unit is connected during suction operation to the suction line. In a second operating state, by way of the switchover device, at least one first pump unit is connected during suction operation to the delivery line and at least one second pump unit is connected during pumping operation to the suction line, and the charge-pressure device is switched to an inactive state.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A thick-matter pump for producing a continuous thick-matter flow, comprising:
 a first pump unit and a second pump unit that alternate in a pumping operation and a suction operation;   a suction line with a charge-pressure device that acts separately from the pump units for actively compressing thick-matter;   a delivery line; and   a switchover device for switching between the first and second pump units, wherein, in a first operating state, by way of the switchover device, the first pump unit is connected during the pumping operation to the delivery line and the second pump unit is connected during the suction operation to the suction line, and in a second operating state, by way of the switchover device, the first pump unit is connected during the suction operation to the delivery line and the second pump unit is connected during the pumping operation to the suction line, and the charge-pressure device is switched to an inactive state.   
     
     
         22 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , wherein the switchover device comprises a slide for rerouting between the first and the second operating state, and wherein the position of the slide is reversible. 
     
     
         23 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , wherein a running direction of the first and second pump units is reversible in order to switch between the first and the second operating states, and wherein the reversal is performed by switching a running direction of drive cylinders of the first and second pump units. 
     
     
         24 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , further comprising a storage container connected to the charge-pressure device, wherein the charge-pressure device is switched to an inactive state by opening a slide gate valve. 
     
     
         25 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , wherein the charge-pressure device comprises a drive cylinder or delivery cylinder unit. 
     
     
         26 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 25 , wherein the charge-pressure device is switched to an inactive state when a piston of the drive cylinder closes an outlet end of the charge-pressure device. 
     
     
         27 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , further comprising mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically actuatable switching elements for influencing the function of the first and second pump units and the charge-pressure device, wherein signals for actuation of the switching elements can be interrupted. 
     
     
         28 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , wherein in the second operating state, the thick-matter content of the delivery line, the first and second pump units and the suction line is pumped into a storage container. 
     
     
         29 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , further comprising a line extension that is connected to an inlet end of the suction line within a storage container. 
     
     
         30 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 29 , wherein the content of the delivery line is pumped via the line extension in the second operating state. 
     
     
         31 . The thick-matter pump of  claim 21 , wherein the first pump unit is connected in the pumping operation to the delivery line and the second pump unit is connected in the suction operation to the suction line, without switching on the effect of the charge-pressure device. 
     
     
         32 . A method for operating a thick-matter pump for producing a continuous thick-matter flow, comprising:
 providing at least two pump units that alternate in a pumping operation and a suction operation, a suction line with a charge-pressure device that acts separately from the at least two pump units for actively bringing about a thick-matter compression, a delivery line, and a switchover device for switching between the at least two pump units;   connecting, in a first operating state, by way of the switchover device, a first pump unit of the at least two pump units during the pumping operation to the delivery line and a second pump unit of the at least two pump units during the suction operation to the suction line;   connecting, in a second operating state, by way of the switchover device, the first pump unit during the suction operation to the delivery line and the second pump unit during the pumping operation to the suction line; and   switching the charge-pressure device to an inactive state.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reversing a position of a slide of the switchover device for rerouting between the first and the second operating state. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the slide is operated in a reversed manner in the second operating state and is phase-shifted by 180° in relation to the respective position in the first operating state. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising reversing a running direction of the at least two pump units to switch between the first and the second operating state, wherein a running direction of drive cylinders of the at least two pump units is reversed. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising opening a slide gate valve to switch the charge-pressure device to an inactive state. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising moving a piston of a delivery cylinder of the charge-pressure device to an outlet end of the charge-pressure device to close the outlet end in the second operating state and switching the charge-pressure device to an inactive state. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising pumping thick-matter content of the delivery line, the at least two pump units, and the suction line into a storage container. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising connecting a line extension to an inlet end of the suction line within a storage container, and pumping, via the line extension, the content of the delivery line in the second operating state. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising connecting the first pump unit in the pumping operation to the delivery line in an emergency operation and the second pump unit in the suction operation to the suction line, without switching on the effect of the charge-pressure device.