[0001] The present invention relates to a new pump system suitable for gases, liquids and
particularly aerosols.
[0002] Known aerosol pump systems are used for example in so called smoking machines allowing
reproducible cigarette smoking under standard conditions according to DIN ISO 3308
or DIN ISO 4387. An aerosol is for example the condensed and cooled mixture of gases
passing down a cigarette and issuing through the butt end of a cigarette.
[0003] In operation a cigarette smoking machine automatically smokes a cigarette in a series
of puffs. During each puff a piston pump first performs a suction stroke according
to a suction volume flow profile. The suction stroke draws smoke from the cigarette
into the cylinder of the pump. Then the piston pump performs an exhaust stroke according
to an exhaust volume flow profile to exhaust the smoke out of the cylinder of the
pump. The smoke is then for example transported into an analyzing device to analyze
the smoke constituents.
[0004] Such a smoking machine with a one piston pump system is disclosed in the German patent
DE3537580. This smoking machine further comprises a programmable drive for the piston pump
system which allows the application of different suction or exhaust volume flow profiles
during puffs.
[0005] WO 2005/106246 A1 discloses a valve system for a device in which a first and second piston pump take
in a fluid via a fluid inlet and discharge the same in a pulseless manner via a fluid
outlet. The valve is composed of a single rotary valve encompassing eight switching
positions and requiring only one drive unit.
[0006] In existing aerosol pump systems, particularly for smoking machines the aerosol is
conveyed in a discontinuous stream due to the alternating suction and exhaust strokes
of the piston pump. To improve the quality of measurements of smoke constituents it
would be desirable if the aerosol could be provided in a continuous stream or volume
flow.
[0007] It is the object of the present invention to provide a pump system, particularly
a pump system suitable for aerosols, which is capable of providing a substantially
continuous stream or volume flow.
[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a pump system, comprising:
- a first piston pump,
- a first motor for driving the first piston pump,
- a second piston pump,
- a second motor for driving the second piston pump,
- a directional control valve comprising an inlet, an outlet, a first connector connected
to a first line, and a second connector connected to a second line,
- wherein, in a first position of the valve, the valve connects the first connector
to the outlet, and the second connector to the inlet, and
- wherein, in a second position of the valve, the valve connects the second connector
to the outlet and the first connector to the inlet, and
- a valve drive for driving the valve from said first position to said second position
and vice versa,
- the valve comprising channels for the connections of the first connector to the outlet
and the second connector to the inlet, when in the first position and for the connections
of the second connector to the outlet and the first connector to the inlet, when in
the second position,
- wherein the first line connects the first connector (32) to the first pump (10), and
wherein the second line connects the second connector (34) to the second pump (12),
characterized by
the channels, the first line and the second line having the same cross-sectional area.
[0009] The pump system according to the present invention is suitable for pumping any aerosol,
gas, liquid, or suspension.
[0010] By alternating the suction strokes of the two pumps as well as the exhaust strokes
of the pumps a substantially continuous stream or volume flow can be produced. The
volume flow is only interrupted by the switching time of the valve, that is, the time
needed to switch between the first position and the second position of the valve.
The switching time may advantageously be reduced by appropriately designing the geometry
of the valve, for example as described below.
[0011] A substantially continuous volume flow with minimal interruption is particularly
advantageous if the pump system is connected at its outlet to the inlet of an aerosol
analyzing instrument, for example as part of a smoking machine. Such an aerosol analyzing
instrument comprises an aerosol chamber and one or more sensors inside this chamber
so that the measuring conditions to measure for example smoke constituents are substantially
constant. Examples for such aerosol analyzing instrument are trapping or exposing
systems for cigarette smoke which are required for smoke chemistry or toxicology investigations.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the pump system of the invention further comprises a control
unit connected to the first piston pump, the second piston pump and the valve drive,
the control unit controlling the two piston pump motors and the valve drive such that
when the valve is in the first position, the first pump performs an exhaust stroke
while the second pump simultaneously performs a suction stroke, and, when the valve
is in the second position, the second pump performs an exhaust stroke while the first
pump simultaneously performs a suction stroke.
[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit of the pump system is capable
of generating various volume flow profiles at the inlet as well as at the outlet.
Preferably, the control unit independently drives the two piston pumps such that the
resulting volume flow profiles of the piston pumps may be the same or different. More
preferably, the settings for the volume flow profiles are configured individually
for every piston stroke cycle. The volume flow profiles may be sinusoidal, such as
the ISO standard profile, rectangular, trapezoidal, or any individually defined volume
flow profiles for example recorded during tobacco smoking.
[0014] In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit of the pump system is configured
to vary the operation parameters of the pump system, such as the shape of the volume
flow profiles, pump stroke volume, pump stroke duration, pump stroke period, exhaust
pump stroke duration, and number of pump strokes per analysis object. In combination
with a smoking machine, a stroke represent the individual puffs generated from for
example a cigarette, a cigar or a pipe.
[0015] In a further preferred embodiment, the control unit of the pump system is configured
to synchronize the operation of the pump system with external processes. The control
unit may be either in the master position, synchronizing external processes or instruments,
or operating as a slave, triggered by an external instrument like for example a smoking
machine.
[0016] Preferably, the control unit is configured to adapt differently sized cylinders and
pistons for the piston pumps. The configuration of the control unit may be performed
via an operator console, an on-board web server, or both.
[0017] Preferably, the pump system allows generating reproducible flow profiles at the aerosol
generation source, for example the cigarette, independent of additional flow resistances
or void volumes of for example trapping or exposing systems.
[0018] In a further preferred embodiment the volume flow profile or profiles of the exhaust
stroke of the first pump or the second pump or both pumps is different from the flow
profile of the suction stroke of the first pump or the second pump. Preferably the
flow profile of the exhaust stroke of the first pump may be the same as the flow profile
of the exhaust stroke of the second pump or that the flow profile of the suction stroke
of the first pump is the same as the flow profile of the suction stroke of the second
pump or both. For example, the exhaust strokes of both pumps may have the same rectangular
profile whereas the suction strokes of both pumps may have the same sinus profile
according to the ISO requirements for cigarette smoking machines. Alternatively, the
suction volume flow profile may mimic any individually defined volume flow profile,
for example a profile recorded during tobacco smoking.
[0019] The valve comprises channels for the connections of the first connector to the outlet
and the second connector to the inlet, when in the first position and channels for
the connection of the second position. Furthermore a first line connects the first
connector to the first pump, and a second line connects the second connector to the
second pump, wherein the channels, the first line, the second line, the inlet and
the outlet have a constant cross-sectional area over their whole length.
[0020] The constant cross-sectional area reduces deposition losses of an aerosol on the
surfaces of the aerosol conveying ducts in the pump system which would otherwise contaminate
the pump system. This advantageously reduces the downtime of the pump system for cleaning.
Preferably, the parts of the pump system which may come in contact with the aerosol,
are made of suitable inert materials, such as glass, stainless steel, fluorine caoutchouc
(FKM) or polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or other, to reduce the chemical interaction
of the aerosol with the surfaces of the pump system.
[0021] In a further, preferred embodiment the channels, the first line and the second line
have no edges. Thus the suction line of the aerosol from the inlet through the valve
to the piston pump and the exhaust line from the piston pump through the valve to
the outlet have only smooth surfaces and curves which also contribute to reducing
the deposition losses of the aerosol on the surfaces of the pump system.
[0022] In the following, a particularly preferred and advantageous embodiment of the pump
system according to the present invention is described in detail with reference to
the schematic drawings.
Figure 1 shows a side view and a plan view of the pump system;
Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a preferred valve of the pump
system;
Figure 3 shows a top view onto the base of said valve;
Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line VI-VI of Figure 2;
Figure 5 shows a time-volume flow graph of the suction flow with a sinusoidal flow
profile and the exhaust flow with a rectangular profile in a first operation mode
of the pump system;
Figure 6 shows the set-up of the valve and the piston pumps during the first cycle
of operation;
Figure 7 shows the set-up of the valve and the piston pump during the second cycle
of operation; and
Figure 8 shows a time-volume flow graph of the suction flow with an individually defined
flow profile and the exhaust flow with a rectangular flow profile in a second operation
mode of the pump system.
[0023] Figure 1 shows schematically a pump system according to the present invention. The
pump system comprises a first piston pump 10, a second piston pump 12 and a directional
control valve 14.
[0024] The first pump 10 comprises a cylinder 16, a piston 18 inside the cylinder 16, and
a first motor 20 for driving the piston 18. The second pump 12 comprises a cylinder
22, a piston 24 inside the cylinder 22, and a second motor 26 for driving the piston
24.
[0025] The valve 14 is a four/two directional control valve comprising an aerosol inlet
28, an aerosol outlet 30, a first connector 32 connected to the first pump 10 via
a first line 33, and a second connector 34 connected to the second pump 12 via a second
line 35, see also figure 3. The aerosol pump system further comprises a valve drive
36, for example a pneumatic drive connected to the valve 14 for driving it from a
first position to a second position and vice versa.
[0026] The pump system also comprises a programmable control unit 100 connected to the first
pump 10, the second pump 12 and the drive 36.
[0027] Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of valve 14. The valve 14 comprises a housing
38, a base 40, a valve disk 42 and a shaft 44. The housing 38 has two openings at
its lower and upper sides, respectively. The base 40 is fixed with its top face to
the lower side of the housing 38 and covers the lower opening. The valve disk 42 is
located inside the housing 38 on the top face of the base 40 and is pressed with its
top face to the lower end of the shaft 44 by a spring 45. The shaft 44 is supported
by a bearing 46 inside the housing 38 and extends upwards through the upper opening.
The upper end of the shaft is connected to the valve drive 36. Thus, the drive 36
may turn the valve disk 42 via the shaft 44.
[0028] As shown in Figure 3, the valve base 40 has four side faces each having a bore, said
four bores being the aerosol inlet 28, the aerosol outlet 30, the first connector
32 and the second connector 34, respectively. Each bore 28, 30, 32, 34 is continued
at its inner end by a corresponding channel 48 inclined upwardly towards the top face
of the base 40 and ending in a corresponding top opening 50, 52, 54, 56. Thus, each
bore 28, 30, 32, 34 is connected via one of the four inclined channels 48 with an
assigned top opening 50, 52, 54, 56.
[0029] As shown in Figure 4, the valve disk 42 has two kidney shaped bent channels 66 and
68, so that the bent channel 66 connects the top openings 52 and 54 and the bent channel
68 connects the top openings 50 and 56.
[0030] The four/two direction control valve 14 may adopt two positions as shown in Figure
6 and 7. In the first position of the valve 14, the valve disk 42 is in the position
shown in Figure 4 so that the top openings 50, 52, 54, 56 are aligned in pairs 50
with 56 and 52 with 54 and connected with the ends of the channels 68 and 66 respectively.
In the second position of the valve 14, the valve disk 42 is in a position turned
clockwise by 90 degrees from the position shown in Figure 4 so that now the top openings
50, 52, 54, 56 are aligned in pairs 50 with 54 and 52 with 56 and connected with the
ends of the channels 68 and 66 respectively.
[0031] Thus, when the valve is in the first position, for example by the position of the
valve disk 42 shown in Figure 4, it connects the first connector 32 to the outlet
30 via the top opening 54, the bent channel 66, and top opening 52. Additionally the
valve is connecting the second connector 34 to the inlet 28 via the top opening 56,
the bent channel 68, and top opening 50. When the valve 14 is in the second position,
for example by the position of the valve disk 42 turned clockwise by 90 degrees from
the position shown in Figure 4, it connects the second connector 34 to the outlet
30 via the top opening 56, the bent channel 66, and the top opening 52. Additionally
the valve is connecting the first connector 32 to the inlet 28 via the top opening
54, the bent channel 68, and the top opening 50. Thus, in the first position, the
first pump 10 is connected to the outlet 30 and the second pump 12 is connected to
the aerosol inlet 28, whereas in the second position, the second pump 12 is connected
to the outlet 30 and the first pump 10 is connected to the aerosol inlet 28.
[0032] To switch the valve 14 between the first and second position the valve disk 42 is
turned either clockwise or counterclockwise by 90 degrees. A pneumatic drive alternates
the turning direction of the valve disk 42 with every cycle while an electrical drive
stepwise turns the valve disk 42 in the same direction by 90 degrees steps.
[0033] In the following, the operation of the aerosol pump system will be described.
[0034] Figure 5 contains three graphs showing from top to bottom the time dependant status
of the external or internal synchronization signal 135, the time dependent suction
volume flow profile and the time dependent exhaust volume flow profile in a first
operation mode of the aerosol pump system generating the sinusoidal suction volume
flow profile. In this exemplary application the pump system is part of a smoking machine
(not shown) and the aerosol inlet 28 is connected to a cigarette 70 to be smoked and
the aerosol outlet 30 is connected to a smoke analyzing instrument (not shown).
[0035] At the beginning of an operation cycle 130 the drive 36 is actuated by the control
unit by the synchronization signal 135 so as to switch the valve 14 into the first
position (see Figure 6) in which the first pump 10 is connected to the outlet 30 and
the smoke analyzing instrument and the second pump 12 is connected to the aerosol
inlet 28 and the cigarette 70. During or at the end of the switching, the first motor
20 is activated by the control unit to push the piston 18 in the cylinder 16 so that
the first pump 10 performs an exhaust stroke 115, and the second motor 26 is activated
by the control unit to pull the piston 24 in the cylinder 22 so that the second pump
12 performs simultaneously a suction stroke 120. In doing so, smoke is drawn from
the cigarette 70 into the cylinder 22 of the second pump 12 and air, gas or aerosol
still contained in cylinder 16 is exhausted from the cylinder 16 of the first pump
10 out to the smoke analyzing instrument.
[0036] At the end of the suction stroke 120, the next operation cycle 130 starts and the
drive 36 is actuated by the control unit so as to switch the valve 14 into the second
position (see Figure 7) in which the second pump 12 is connected to the outlet 30
and the smoke analyzing instrument and the first pump 10 is connected to the aerosol
inlet 28 and the cigarette 70. During or at the end of the switching, the first motor
20 is activated by the control unit to pull the piston 18 in the cylinder 16 so that
the first pump 10 performs a suction stroke 110, and the second motor 26 is activated
by the control unit to push the piston 24 in the cylinder 22 so that the second pump
12 simultaneously performs an exhaust stroke 125. In doing so, new smoke is drawn
from the cigarette 70 into the cylinder 16 of the first pump 10 and the previously
generated smoke is exhausted from the cylinder 22 of the second pump 12 out to the
smoke analyzing instrument.
[0037] At the end of the suction stroke 110, the next operation cycle starts and the valve
14 is switched again into the first position (see Figure 6), and then the first pump
10 performs again the exhaust stroke 115 to blow the previously generated smoke out
to the smoke analyzing instrument, while the second pump 12 simultaneously performs
again the suction stroke 120 to draw new smoke from the cigarette 70. As can be seen
from the graph in Figure 5 the exhaust aerosol flow is substantially continuous with
the exception of the short valve switching time.
[0038] According to the first operation mode of the pump system, the control unit controls
the suction strokes of the pumps 10, 12 in such a manner that the suction volume flow
profile is a sinusoidal profile according to the ISO requirements (Figure 5). Further,
the control unit controls the exhaust strokes of the pumps 10, 12 in such a manner
that the exhaust volume flow profile is substantially rectangular profile (Figure
5).
[0039] Figure 8 is similar to Figure 5 but relates to a different configuration mode of
the control unit for the pump system which differs from the first operation mode in
the suction volume flow profile being an individually defined profile recorded, for
example during tobacco smoking, resulting in a more complex shape of suction strokes
140, 150.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0040]
10 first piston pump
12 second piston pump
14 directional control valve
16 cylinder of 10
18 piston of 10
20 first motor
22 cylinder of 12
24 piston of 12
26 second motor
28 aerosol inlet
30 aerosol outlet
32 first connector
33 first line
34 second connector
35 second line
36 valve drive
38 housing
40 base
42 valve disk
44 shaft
45 spring
46 bearings
48 inclined channels in 40
50 top opening in 40 from aerosol inlet
52 top opening in 40 from aerosol outlet
54 top opening in 40 from first connector
56 top opening in 40 from second connector
66, 68 bent channels in 42
70 cigarette
100 control unit
110, 120, 140, 150 suction stroke
115, 125 exhaust stroke
130 operation cycle
135 synchronization signal
1. Pump system, comprising:
- a first piston pump (10);
- a first motor (20) for driving the first piston pump (10);
- a second piston pump (12);
- a second motor (26) for driving the second piston pump (12);
- a directional control valve (14) comprising an inlet (28), an outlet (30), a first
connector (32) connected to a first line, and a second connector (34) connected to
a second line;
- wherein, in a first position of the valve (14), the valve (14) connects the first
connector (32) to the outlet (30) and the second connector (34) to the inlet (28)
and,
- wherein, in a second position of the valve (14), the valve (14) connects the second
connector (34) to the outlet (30) and the first connector (32) to the inlet (28);
and
- a valve drive (36) for driving the valve (14) from said first position to said second
position and vice versa;
- the valve (14) comprising channels (48, 66, 68) for the connections of the first
connector (32) to the outlet (30) and the second connector (34) to the inlet (28),
when in the first position and for the connections of the second connector (34) to
the outlet (30) and the first connector (32) to the inlet (28), when in the second
position;
- wherein the first line connects the first connector (32) to the first pump (10),
and wherein the second line connects the second connector (34) to the second pump
(12);
characterized by
- the channels (48, 66, 68), the first line and the second line having the same cross-sectional
area.
2. Pump system according to claim 1,
further comprising a control unit (100) connected to the first piston pump (10), the
second piston pump (12) and the valve drive (36); the control unit (100) controlling
the two piston pump motors (20, 26) and the valve drive (36) such that, when the valve
(14) is in the first position, the first pump (10) performs an exhaust stroke and
the second pump (12) performs a suction stroke, and, when the valve (14) is in the
second position, the second pump (12) performs an exhaust stroke and the first pump
(10) performs a suction stroke.
3. Pump system according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the flow profile of the exhaust stroke of the first (10) pump, or the second
pump (12) or the flow profile of the fist pump (10) and the second pump (12) is different
from the flow profile of the suction stroke of the first (10) pump, or the second
pump (12) or the flow profile of the suction stroke of the first pump (10) and the
second pump (12).
4. Pump system according to claim 3,
wherein the control unit (100) of the pump system is configured to vary at least one
of the operation parameters:
shape of the volume flow profiles, pump stroke volume,
suction pump stroke duration, pump stroke period, exhaust pump stroke duration, number
of pump strokes per analysis object.
5. Pump system according to claim 3 or 4,
wherein the definition of the flow profiles is individually settable by the programmable
control unit on a cycle to cycle base.
6. Pump system according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the channels (48, 66, 68), the first line and the second line have no edges.
7. Pump system according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein parts of the valve (14) are made of inert materials, such as glass, stainless
steel, fluorine caoutchouc or polyetheretherketone.
8. Smoking machine for the reproducible cigarette smoking under standard conditions,
comprising a pump system according to one of the preceding claims.
1. Pumpsystem, aufweisend:
- eine erste Kolbenpumpe (10);
- einen ersten Motor (20) zum Antreiben der ersten Kolbenpumpe (10) ;
- eine zweite Kolbenpumpe (12);
- einen zweiten Motor (26) zum Antreiben der zweiten Kolbenpumpe (12);
- ein Wegeventil (14), das einen Einlass (28), einen Auslass (30), einen ersten Anschluss
(32), der mit einer ersten Leitung verbunden ist, und einen zweiten Anschluss (34),
der mit einer zweiten Leitung verbunden ist, aufweist;
- wobei in einer ersten Stellung des Ventils (14) das Ventil (14) den ersten Anschluss
(32) mit dem Auslass (30) und den zweiten Anschluss (34) mit dem Einlass (28) verbindet,
und
- wobei in einer zweiten Stellung des Ventils (14) das Ventil (14) den zweiten Anschluss
(32) mit dem Auslass (30) und den ersten Anschluss (34) mit dem Einlass (28) verbindet;
und
- einen Ventilantrieb (36), um das Ventil (14) von der ersten Stellung zur zweiten
Stellung und umgekehrt anzutreiben;
- wobei das Ventil (14) Kanäle (48, 66, 68) für die Verbindungen des ersten Anschlusses
(32) mit dem Auslass (30) und des zweiten Anschlusses (34) mit dem Einlass (28), wenn
es sich in der ersten Stellung befindet, und für die Verbindungen des zweiten Anschlusses
(34) mit dem Auslass (30) und des ersten Anschlusses (32) mit dem Einlass (28), wenn
es sich in der zweiten Stellung befindet, aufweist;
- wobei die erste Leitung den ersten Anschluss (32) mit der ersten Pumpe (10) verbindet,
und wobei die zweite Leitung den zweiten Anschluss (34) mit der zweiten Pumpe (12)
verbindet;
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
- die Kanäle (48, 66, 68), die erste Leitung und die zweite Leitung, den gleichen
Querschnittsbereich aufweisen.
2. Pumpsystem nach Anspruch 1,
weiter aufweisend eine Steuereinheit (100), die mit der ersten Kolbenpumpe (10), der
zweiten Kolbenpumpe (12) und dem Ventilantrieb (36) verbunden ist; wobei die Steuereinheit
(100) die zwei Kolbenpumpenmotoren (20, 26) und den Ventilantrieb (36) derart steuert,
dass, wenn sich das Ventil (14) in der ersten Stellung befindet, die erste Pumpe (10)
einen Auslasshub ausführt und die zweite Pumpe (12) einen Ansaughub ausführt, und
wenn sich das Ventil (14) in der zweiten Stellung befindet, die zweite Pumpe (12)
einen Auslasshub ausführt und die erste Pumpe (10) einen Ansaughub ausführt.
3. Pumpsystem nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche,
wobei sich das Strömungsprofil des Auslasshubs der ersten (10) Pumpe oder der zweiten
Pumpe (12) oder das Strömungsprofil der ersten Pumpe (10) und der zweiten Pumpe (12)
vom Strömungsprofil des Ansaughubs der ersten (10) Pumpe oder der zweiten Pumpe (12)
oder dem Strömungsprofil des Ansaughubs von der ersten Pumpe (10) und der zweiten
Pumpe (12) unterscheidet.
4. Pumpsystem nach Anspruch 3,
wobei die Steuereinheit (100) des Pumpsystems ausgelegt ist, mindestens einen von
den folgenden Betriebsparametern zu variieren: Form der Volumenstromprofile, des Pumpenhubvolumens,
der Ansaugpumpenhubdauer, Pumpenhubzeitraum, Auslasspumpenhubdauer, Anzahl an Pumpenhüben
pro Analyseobjekt.
5. Pumpsystem nach Anspruch 3 oder 4,
wobei die Definition der Strömungsprofile durch die programmierbare Steuereinheit
individuell auf einer Zyklusfür-Zyklus-Basis einstellbar ist.
6. Pumpsystem nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche,
wobei die Kanäle (48, 66, 68), die erste Leitung und die zweite Leitung keine Kanten
aufweisen.
7. Pumpsystem nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche,
wobei Teile des Ventils (14) aus inerten Materialien wie Glas, Edelstahl, Fluorkautschuk
oder Polyetheretherketon hergestellt sind.
8. Rauchmaschine zum reproduzierbaren Zigarettenrauchen unter Standardbedingungen, die
ein Pumpsystem nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche aufweist.
1. Système de pompe, comprenant :
- une première pompe à pistons (10) ;
- un premier moteur (20) pour propulser la première pompe à pistons (10) ;
- une deuxième pompe à pistons (12) ;
- un deuxième moteur (26) pour propulser la deuxième pompe à pistons (12) ;
- un clapet de commande directionnel (14) comprenant une entrée (28), une sortie (30),
un premier connecteur (32) raccordé à une première ligne, et un deuxième connecteur
(34) raccordé à une deuxième ligne ;
- dans lequel, dans une première position du clapet (14), le clapet (14) raccorde
le premier connecteur (32) à la sortie (30) et le deuxième connecteur (34) à l'entrée
(28) et,
- dans lequel, dans une deuxième position du clapet (14), le clapet (14) raccorde
le deuxième connecteur (34) à la sortie (30) et le premier connecteur (32) à l'entrée
(28) ; et
- une commande de clapet (36) pour propulser le clapet (14) depuis ladite première
position à ladite deuxième position et vice versa ;
- le clapet (14) comprenant des canaux (48, 66, 68) pour les raccords du premier connecteur
(32) à la sortie (30) et le deuxième connecteur (34) à l'entrée (28), lorsqu'il se
trouve dans la première position et pour les connexions du deuxième connecteur (34)
à la sortie (30) et le premier connecteur (32) à l'entrée (28), lorsqu'il se trouve
dans la deuxième position ;
- dans lequel la première ligne raccorde le premier connecteur (32) à la première
pompe (10), et dans lequel la deuxième ligne raccorde le deuxième connecteur (34)
à la deuxième pompe (12);
caractérisé par
- les canaux (48, 66, 68), la première ligne et la deuxième ligne ayant la même superficie
de coupe transversale.
2. Système de pompe selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre une unité de commande
(100) raccordée à la première pompe à pistons (10), la deuxième pompe à pistons (12)
et la commande de clapet (36) ; l'unité de commande (100) commandant les deux moteurs
des pompes à pistons (20, 26) et la commande de clapet (36) de sorte que, lorsque
le clapet (14) se trouve dans la première position, la première pompe (10) effectue
une course d'échappement et la deuxième pompe (12) effectue une course d'aspiration,
et, lorsque le clapet (14) se trouve dans la deuxième position, la deuxième pompe
(12) effectue une course d'échappement et la première pompe (10) effectue une course
d'aspiration.
3. Système de pompe selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le profil
d'écoulement de la course d'échappement de la première pompe (10), ou la deuxième
pompe (12) ou le profil d'écoulement de la première pompe (10) et la deuxième pompe
(12) est différent du profil d'écoulement de la course d'aspiration de la première
pompe (10), ou la deuxième pompe (12) ou le profil d'écoulement de la course d'aspiration
de la première pompe (10) et la deuxième pompe (12).
4. Système de pompe selon la revendication 3,
dans lequel l'unité de commande (100) du système de pompe est configurée pour faire
varier au moins un des paramètres opérationnels : forme des profils des écoulements
volumiques, volume systolique de la pompe, durée de la course d'aspiration de la pompe,
période de la course de la pompe, durée de la course d'échappement de la pompe, nombre
de courses de pompes par objet d'analyse.
5. Système de pompe selon la revendication 3 ou 4, dans lequel la définition des profils
d'écoulement est individuellement réglable grâce l'unité de commande programmable
sur la base d'un cycle à l'autre.
6. Système de pompe selon l'une des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel les canaux (48, 66, 68), la première ligne et la deuxième ligne ne comportent
pas de bords.
7. Système de pompe selon l'une des revendications précédentes,
dans lequel des parties du clapet (14) sont fabriquées à partir de matériaux inertes,
tels que du verre, acier inoxydable, caoutchouc fluoré ou polyétheréthercétone.
8. Machine à fumer pour le tabagisme reproductible dans des conditions normalisées, comprenant
un système de pompe selon l'une des revendications précédentes.