U.S. patent application number 11/658382 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for vacuum ejector pumps.
Invention is credited to Ho-Young Cho.
Application Number | 20070148009 11/658382 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35786464 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070148009 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cho; Ho-Young |
June 28, 2007 |
Vacuum ejector pumps
Abstract
Disclosed herein is a vacuum ejector pump operated by compressed
air which flows in and out at high velocity, thus creating negative
pressure in an outer surrounding space (S). The vacuum ejector pump
includes a cylindrical nozzle body (2) and a cover (10). The nozzle
body has at a predetermined position thereof an opening (3). One or
more mounting nozzles (4, 5) are coaxially installed in the nozzle
body and are visible through the opening (3). Holes (8) are formed
in the wall of the nozzle body to allow the pump to communicate
with the surrounding space (S). The cover functions to cover the
opening of the nozzle body. Further, the pump includes flexible
valve members (9) to open or close the holes, and fastening means
(13, 14) to fasten the nozzle body to the cover.
Inventors: |
Cho; Ho-Young; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JACKSON WALKER LLP
901 MAIN STREET
SUITE 6000
DALLAS
TX
75202-3797
US
|
Family ID: |
35786464 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658382 |
Filed: |
January 23, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/174 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04F 5/467 20130101;
F04F 5/52 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/174 |
International
Class: |
F04F 5/00 20060101
F04F005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 28, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0059067 |
Claims
1. A vacuum ejector pump operated by compressed air which flows in
and out at high velocity, thus creating negative pressure in an
outer surrounding space S, the vacuum ejector pump comprising: a
cylindrical nozzle body (2) having at a predetermined position
thereof an opening (3), and at least one mounting nozzle (4, 5)
which is coaxially installed in the nozzle body and is visible
through an opening (3); a cover (10) to cover the opening (3) of
the nozzle body (2); a flexible valve member (9) provided on a wall
of either the nozzle body (2) or the cover (10), and opening or
closing a hole (8) which allows the pump to communicate with the
surrounding space (S); and fastening means (13, 14) to fasten the
nozzle body (2) to the cover (10).
2. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 1, wherein, when the
mounting nozzle (4, 5) comprises a plurality of nozzles, the
mounting nozzles (4, 5) are arranged in series in such a way as to
be spaced apart from each other.
3. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the
cover (10) is made of a transparent material.
4. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 1, wherein a gasket
(11) is provided to seal a contacting portion of the nozzle body
(2) and the cover (10).
5. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 4, wherein the gasket
(11) comprises a bent wing piece (12) that contacts an outer
surface of the nozzle body (2) and prevents undesirable movement of
the gasket (11).
6. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 1, wherein the valve
member (9) is integrally provided on the gasket (11) that seals the
contacting portion of the nozzle body (2) and the cover (10).
7. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 1, wherein the
fastening means (13, 14) comprises O-rings, the O-rings (13, 14)
being fitted to surround contacting portions of opposite ends (10a,
10b) of the cover (10) and a surface of the nozzle body (2).
8. The vacuum ejector pump according to claim 1, wherein a
cylindrical filter (17) is arranged to be coaxial with the nozzle
body (2) while receiving the nozzle body (2) therein.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to vacuum ejector
pumps, operated by compressed air which flows in and out at high
velocity, thus creating negative pressure in a space, and more
particularly to a vacuum ejector pump, which includes a cylindrical
nozzle body having one or more mounting nozzles therein, and a
cover mounted to the nozzle body to cover an opening formed at a
predetermined position of the nozzle body.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A conventional vacuum pump, which is called a multi-stage
ejector, is shown in FIG. 1. The vacuum pump 100 includes chambers
101, 102, and 103 which are arranged in series, and a plurality of
nozzles 105, 106, and 107 which are installed through partition
walls between the chambers 101, 102, and 103. The chambers 101,
102, and 103 communicate with a common vacuum chamber 104 through
holes 108, 109, and 110. The vacuum pump 100 is connected to
external equipment (e.g. suction equipment) through a port 111
which is formed at a predetermined position in the vacuum chamber
104.
[0003] When high-speed compressed air is discharged through the
nozzles 105, 106, and 107, the compressed air is discharged along
with internal air of the vacuum chamber 104 and the external
equipment, so that the internal pressure of the vacuum chamber 104
is lowered. When the pressure in the vacuum chamber 104 becomes
lower than the pressure in each chamber 101, 102, 103, all of the
holes 108, 109, and 110 are closed by valves 112, 113, and 114. The
vacuum chamber 104 maintains the pressure level. During such a
process, negative pressure is created in the external equipment.
The negative pressure is used to carry articles.
[0004] However, the conventional vacuum pump 100 is problematic in
that it is impossible to directly install it in various equipment
requiring that air be expelled, and it is difficult to disassemble
or assemble the pump for repair or maintenance.
[0005] In order to solve the problems of the conventional vacuum
pump 100, another type of vacuum pump has been proposed. The vacuum
pump is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 393434 (U.S. Pat. No.
6,394,760), and is shown in FIG. 2. According to this patent, the
vacuum pump 200 includes a plurality of nozzles 202, 203, 204, and
205 and valve members 210. The nozzles 202, 203, 204, and 205 are
assembled in series, with slots 207, 208, and 209 provided between
the nozzles. The valve members 210 are located between the nozzles
202, 203, 204, and 205, and serve to open and close communication
holes 206 which are formed in walls of the nozzles 202, 203, 204,
and 205. Coupling means are provided on the nozzles 202, 203, 204,
and 205 to couple the nozzles 202, 203, 204, and 205 to an
integrated, rotationally symmetrical nozzle body 201.
[0006] The vacuum pump 200 is directly accommodated in a housing H
of another piece of equipment, and is operated by high-speed
compressed air which sequentially passes through the nozzles 202,
203, 204, and 205, thus creating negative pressure in an internal
space S of the housing H.
[0007] However, the conventional vacuum pump 200 is problematic in
that joints between the nozzles 202, 203, 204, and 205 are prone to
break or be deformed (bent or distorted) by external pressure or
impact when the vacuum pump 200 is in use. Further, when the vacuum
pump 200 breaks down, all components of the pump must be
disassembled to check the vacuum pump 200.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention is intended to solve the
problems of the vacuum pump 200 disclosed in the above-mentioned
patent.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum
ejector pump, which is directly installed in various equipment
requiring that air be expelled, and does not break or become
deformed when the pump is in use. Another object of the present
invention is to provide a vacuum ejector pump, which is capable of
being rapidly and precisely checked and treated when trouble occurs
in the pump.
Technical Solution
[0010] In order to accomplish the objects, the present invention
provides a vacuum ejector pump which has characteristics disclosed
in the first claim. The preferred embodiment of this invention
covers elements disclosed in the dependent claims.
Advantageous Effects
[0011] The vacuum ejector pump of the present invention is equal to
the above-mentioned conventional vacuum pump 200 in that the pump
may be directly installed in various equipment requiring that air
be expelled.
[0012] However, the vacuum ejector pump of this invention is more
advantageous than the conventional vacuum pump in that components
are safely protected by a nozzle body, and components including
mounting nozzles or valve members can be observed through an
opening or a cover with the naked eyes, thus enabling rapid and
precise check and treatment of malfunctions of the pump.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional vacuum ejector
pump;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another conventional vacuum
ejector pump;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vacuum ejector pump,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum ejector
pump of FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the vacuum ejector
pump of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG.
5;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG.
5;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a view to show the state where the vacuum ejector
pump according to the present invention is accommodated in an
additional housing; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 8,
and illustrating the state in which a surrounding space is
evacuated.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 9, a vacuum ejector pump,
according to this invention, is denoted by reference numeral 1. The
vacuum ejector pump 1 includes a cylindrical nozzle body 2, a cover
10, and fastening means 13 and 14. An opening 3 is provided at a
predetermined position in the nozzle body 2. The cover 10 is
provided to cover the opening 3 of the nozzle body 2. The fastening
means 13 and 14 serve to fasten the nozzle body 2 to the cover
10.
[0023] One or more mounting nozzles 4 and 5 are provided in the
nozzle body 2, and are visible through the opening 3. The mounting
nozzles 4 and 5 are arranged to be coaxial with the nozzle body 2,
and are installed through partition walls 6 and 7 which are
provided in the nozzle body 2 in such a way as to be integrated
with the nozzle body 2, as shown in the drawings. The mounting
nozzles 4 and 5 may comprise a plurality of nozzles such that the
vacuum ejector pump 1 has desired efficiency characteristics. In
this case, the mounting nozzles 4 and 5 are arranged in series, and
are spaced apart from each other.
[0024] A plurality of holes 8 is formed in the wall of the nozzle
body 2. The holes 8 allow the vacuum ejector pump 1 to communicate
with a space S surrounding the vacuum ejector pump 1 (see, FIG. 8).
The holes 8 may be formed on the wall of the cover 10.
[0025] Further, flexible valve members 9 are provided to open or
close the holes 8. Each valve member 9 is a flat valve, and closes
an associated hole 8, when the surrounding space S reaches a
pressure which is lower than the internal pressure of the vacuum
ejector pump 1, thus preventing a stream of compressed air from
passing through an air channel into the surrounding space S. Each
valve member 9 may be made of a flexible material, such as natural
rubber, synthetic rubber, or urethane rubber. Meanwhile, if a great
number of valve members 9 is required, it takes a longer time to
assemble and disassemble the pump. Thus, it is preferable that the
valve members 9 be integrated with a gasket 11.
[0026] The gasket 11 is provided to seal a junction of the nozzle
body 2 and the cover 10, thus preventing an undesirable stream of
air at the contacting portion. The gasket 11 has bent wing pieces
12 which extend vertically. The wing pieces 12 contact the outer
surface of the nozzle body 2, and function to prevent the gasket 11
from being undesirably moved.
[0027] The cover 10 is provided to cover the opening 3 of the
nozzle body 2. When the cover 10 and the nozzle body 2 are fastened
to each other, the combination thereof has a circular cross-section
(see, FIGS. 6 and 7). In order to be able to visually observe the
interior of the nozzle body 2, the cover 10 is preferably
manufactured using a transparent material. The fastening means 13
and 14 comprise two O-rings. The O-rings 13 and 14 are fitted to
surround contacting portions of opposing ends 10a and 10b of the
cover 10 and the surface of the nozzle body 2.
[0028] An injection unit 15 having an air injection hole 15a is
mounted to an air inlet port 2a of the nozzle body 2, and a
silencer 16 for preventing noise is mounted to an air outlet port
2b of the nozzle body. Further, a cylindrical filter 17 has a
cross-section whose diameter is larger than that of the nozzle body
2. The filter 17 is arranged to be coaxial with the nozzle body 2
while receiving the nozzle body 2 therein. Referring to the
drawings, opposite ends of the filter 17 are supported by a step
13a of the O-ring 13 which is provided around the air inlet port
2a, and a step 16a of the silencer 16 which is provided around the
air outlet port 2b. However, the means or method of supporting the
filter 17 may be otherwise designed.
[0029] The vacuum ejector pump 1 according to this invention
accommodated in the housing H is shown in FIG. 8. The vacuum
ejector pump 1 passes through the surrounding space S, and is held
by both walls of the housing. In this case, the surrounding space S
may communicate with the vacuum ejector pump 1 through the holes
8.
[0030] Air fed into the nozzle body 2 through the air injection
hole 15a passes through the mounting nozzles 4 and 5 at high
velocity, and is discharged to the outside through the air outlet
port 2b of the nozzle body 2. At this time, air in the surrounding
space S flows through the open holes 8 into the vacuum ejector pump
1, prior to being discharged along with compressed air (see, FIG.
9). Due to such exhausting action, the pressure of the surrounding
space S starts dropping. Thereby, when the pressure of the
surrounding space S is lower than the internal pressure of the
vacuum ejector pump 1, all of the holes 8 are closed by the valve
members 9. Thus, the surrounding space S maintains the pressure
level.
* * * * *