Diaphragm pump and method for contactless actuation thereof

Abstract

Depicted and described herein is a diaphragm pump (1) for conveying a gaseous and/or liquid medium, having at least one deformable membrane (2) for changing the size of a work chamber (3) of the diaphragm pump (1), and having at least one actuating unit (4) for deforming the membrane (2) by means of applying contact-free force to the membrane (2) using a magnetic field, wherein the membrane (2) comprises and/or consists of a material which is magnetic and/or magnetizable, and the actuating unit (4) features at least one magnetic and/or magnetizable actuating means (7). According to the invention, the actuating unit (4) is rotatably mounted and the membrane (2) is arranged circumferentially with respect to the actuating unit (4), wherein, in a dead point position of the membrane (2), the polarization direction of the magnetic field generated between the material of the membrane (2) and the actuating means (7) is oriented in a direction radial to the axis of rotation of the actuating unit (4).

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A diaphragm pump for conveying a gaseous, liquid, or gaseous/liquid medium, comprising:
 at least one deformable membrane for changing the size of a work chamber of the diaphragm pump; and   at least one actuating unit for deforming the membrane by applying contact-free force to the membrane using a magnetic field, wherein the membrane comprises or consists of a material which is magnetic or magnetizable, and the at least one actuating unit includes at least one magnetic or magnetizable actuating means.   
     
     
         13 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 12 , wherein the actuating unit is rotatably mounted and the membrane is arranged circumferentially with respect to the actuating unit; and
 wherein, in a dead point position of the membrane, the polarization direction of the magnetic field generated between the material of the membrane and the actuating means is oriented in a direction radial to the axis of rotation of the actuating unit.   
     
     
         14 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 12 , wherein an axis of rotation of the actuating unit is arranged at an offset and parallel to a membrane central axis on the membrane such that, upon rotation of the actuating unit, the actuating means moves cyclically past the membrane and cyclically crosses over the membrane. 
     
     
         15 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 12 , wherein the actuating unit includes multiple magnetic poles of number (n) having opposite polarization and acting on the membrane; and
 wherein each magnetic pole group consists only of magnetic poles having the same polarization, and wherein (n) is greater than or equal to two and the magnetic poles are generated by means of one or multiple actuating means.   
     
     
         16 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 15 , wherein the magnetic poles or magnetic pole groups of the actuating unit having opposite polarization are arranged successively in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit, wherein the magnetic poles or magnetic pole groups are arranged at an offset of 360°/n to one another in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit. 
     
     
         17 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 15 , wherein multiple work chambers of number (m) are provided, wherein each work chamber is associated with a membrane, wherein (m) is preferably greater than or equal to (n), and wherein the work chambers are arranged at an offset of 360°/m to one another in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit. 
     
     
         18 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 12 , wherein a magnetic field is generated between the material of the membrane and the actuating means, wherein the actuating unit is rotatably mounted, and a stator unit is provided for generating a rotating magnetic field, wherein the rotating magnetic field generated by the stator unit is designed to drive the actuating unit in a rotary manner. 
     
     
         19 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 12 , wherein a magnetic field is generated between the material of the membrane and the actuating means, and wherein the work chamber is arranged between the actuating means and the membrane. 
     
     
         20 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 12 , wherein at least two work chambers are provided, wherein each work chamber is associated with a separate pump head. 
     
     
         21 . The diaphragm pump according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least one deformable membrane comprise multiple membranes arranged successively in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit that are able to be deformed in a contact-free manner using the actuating means; and
 wherein at least two work chambers of the diaphragm pump are associated with a common pump head.   
     
     
         22 . The diaphragm pump of  claim 20 , wherein a magnetic field is generated between the material of the membrane and the actuating means, wherein the at least two work chambers are arranged at an offset of 160° to 200° to one another in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit, wherein the membranes of the work chambers on the actuator side feature different magnetic poles, and wherein the actuating unit on the membrane side includes at least two different magnetic poles arranged at an offset of 160° to 200° to one another in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit. 
     
     
         23 . A method for applying contact-free force to the membranes of the work chambers of a diaphragm pump used for conveying a gaseous, liquid, or liquid/gaseous comprising a diaphragm pump of  claim 20 , wherein the membranes of the at least two work chambers are deformed free of contact by means of force applied using a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is generated between the membranes and at least one magnetic or magnetizable actuating means of a rotatable actuating unit, and wherein membranes arranged successively in the direction of rotation of the actuating unit are deformed in a contact-free manner by means of magnetic interaction with the actuating means.