PERISTALTIC PUMP DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
This application is an International Application, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/289,070, filed on December 22, 2009, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/267,782, filed on December 8, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
Field of Endeavor
The disclosed embodiments relate generally to a pump to pump fluids, and more particularly to a peristaltic pumping devices, methods, and systems that have favorable properties in many applications, particularly in applications for a compact and/or portable devices.
Background
Peristaltic pumps are used for transferring various fluids including gases, viscous liquids, and mixed phase fluids such as gas/liquid and solid/liquid combinations, in various applications where sanitary conditions apply and where the fluid-carrying tubing has to be changed frequently. Peristaltic pumps are common in many different fields such as the medical, pharmaceutical, chemical, and environmental industries, as well as other fields where the purity of the fluid during transmission needs to be maintained. A peristaltic pump typically includes a rotary assembly (rollers) which compels the movement of a fluid by peristaltic compression of the resilient tubes containing the fluid against a rigid surface of the pump known as the pump occlusion. The intersection between the rollers and the occlusion region is known as the operating area of the pump. In operation,
the rotating rollers exert pressure on the flexible tubing to propel the fluid, and the negative pressure formed when the tubing returns to its normal position sucks the fluid from a fluid source and forces the fluid to travel continuously through the tubing.
One of the advantages of using a peristaltic pump is that only the tube contacts the fluid preventing the fluid from contacting other parts of the pump preventing contamination of the fluid by the pump and vice versa. One of the issues with peristaltic pumps is the need for replacing the tubing, either for sterility reasons, because of wear, or other reasons. Additionally, peristaltic pumps may provide a mechanism for regulating the pinching force of the rollers exerted on the tubing. The environment of compact and light weight devices and systems creates a need for improvements in the design of peristaltic pumps that provides advantages in terms of usability, reliability, and addresses the other requirements of peristaltic pumps such as maintenance and regulation such as those mentioned above.
Summary
A peristaltic pump with a removable pump race module has guiding channels for receiving at least a portion of a flexible fluid-carrying tubing and an adjusting device for displacing a flexible inner portion of the removable pump race module to change the compression on the fluid-carrying tubing. The arrangement of the various elements makes it particularly suitable in
configurations where compactness and convenience are important
considerations.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of an assembled and closed pump according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 2 is a projection of a pump according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 3 is a top projection of a pump according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 4 is a projection of section A-A of FIG. 3.
Fig. 5 is a bottom projection of a pump according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 6 is a projection of section A-A of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a pump according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of peristaltic pump components including base, roller carriage, and motor drive according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 9 is a ghost projection of a pump according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly of Fig. 8.
Fig. 11 shows the motor and drive shaft and base of the pump.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view the roller carriage.
Fig. 13 is a ghost end projection of the roller carriage.
Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a roller carriage.
Fig. 15A is an exploded front perspective view a pump race module.
Fig. 15B is a figurative view of a pump race module with tubing installed thereon showing how tubes bend 180 degrees from one side and around a race portion and back 180 degrees so that the incoming and outgoing flow lines are parallel according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Fig. 6 is a side ghost projection showing a the pump race module.
Fig. 17 is a projection of section A-A of Fig. 16.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a distal plate that supports the drive shaft. Fig. 19 is an end view of the distal plate.
Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a tubing set with a preinstalled pump race module shown in an application according to an embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.
Detailed Description of the Drawings
Figs. 1-19 show a peristaltic pump 100 with a motor drive 30 and a removable outer pump race module 10 surrounding a roller carriage 50 (visible in Figs. 7 and 8) to define an enclosed pumping tube channel 60 (shown in Fig. 7). Both the pump race module 10 and the motor drive 30 are mounted on a support base 20. A distal end plate 40 provided with screws 41 for attachment to the support base 20. The outer pump race module 10 has at least one pump race arch 16 (shown in Fig. 15A) that partially surrounds a roller carriage 50 (shown in Fig. 7) positioned in the working area 70 of the pump so that the outer pump race module 10 together with the support base 20 and the distal end plate 40 effectively enclose the working area 70 of the pump.
The removable pump race module 10 can be securely mounted on the support base 20 using any suitable fasteners 11 , such as, bolts, screws, cap
screws, rivets, etc, inserted in corresponding support guides 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the support guides 12 help to ensure alignment of the race module 10 with respect to the base 20, however a broad mating surface on race module 10 that adjoins a mating surface on the base 20 could be used for this purpose as well as other mechanisms. The pump race module 10 can also be provided with a pump race force adjuster 13, which may include an adjusting screw 13B that can be moved precisely in a threaded liner 13A bonded to the pump race module 10. The adjusting screw 13B exerts a force to separate a race portion 16B and support portion 16A of the pump race arch 16 thereby opening and closing the gap 10G in the pump race module 10. Since the support portion 16A is fixed relative to the pump and roller carriage 50, this adjustment determines the force applied by the pump race surface 17 of the pump race portion 16B against the tubing and compensated by the pump roller carriage 50.
The pump race force adjuster 13 is shows also in Figures 15A-17. The pump race module 10 may be of poly ethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, or any suitable polymer or may be of metal. Preferably, the pump race module 10 is a relatively inexpensive part that can be provided preassembled with tubing as a disposable component or one that can be used a limited number of times before replacement. See Fig. 20 and description below of a tubing set 200 with preinstalled tubing 201 and a pump race module 216.
Fig. 7 shows the peristaltic pump 100 with a removable pump race module 10, a motor drive 30, a support base 20, distal end plate 40 and a roller carriage 50. The support base 20 positions a bearing 42 that rotatably supports a drive shaft 31 of the motor drive 30. The motor drive 30, which may be a gear motor, can be secured to distal end plate 22 of the support base 20 by any suitable
securement such as mounting screws 23 that secure a motor housing 32 of the motor drive 30 (see Fig. 11).
The drive shaft 31 rotates a pump roller carriage 50 with an array of equidistant and circumferentially spaced compression rollers 52. Each of the compression rollers 52 rotate about respective shafts 53 which are rotatably secured at respective ends thereof to rotor end plates 51. The rotor end plates 51 are configured to engage a flat 31 A of the drive shaft 31 so that they are rotated by the motor 30 (see Figs. 12-14). The rotation of the drive shaft 31 drives the compression rollers 52, which selectively compress a fluid-carrying tube 60 (see Fig. 15B) so as to effect peristaltic pumping.
Figs. 8-10 and Figs. 18-19 show the pump 100 with the pump race module 10 removed. The roller carriage 50 is secured at one end to the mounting plate 22 of the support base 20, and at the other end to the end plate 40. The drive shaft 31 is attached to the end plate 40 via bearing 42, which may be a journal bearing such as one of porous metal such as sintered bronze or aluminum that retains a lubricant. The end plate 40 can also be securely fastened to the support base 20 using fasteners such as screws 41.
The removable pump race module 10 is shown in Figs. 15A-17. Fig. 15B is a figurative section view of a pump race module 10 including the fluid-carrying tubing 60 showing how tubes bend 180 degrees from one side and around a race portion and back 180 degrees so that the incoming and outgoing flow lines are parallel. The integrated removable pump race module 10 has: the pump race arch 16 which generally surrounds a roller carriage 50 and is positioned above the roller carriage 50 so as define an adjustable space between the pump race surface 17 of the pump race arch 16 and the upper surface of the rollers 52; two
support guides 12 through which the fasteners 1 (e.g., fastening screws) can be inserted for mounting the removable pump race module 10 to the support base 20; and a plurality of holding clips 14 in flanges 14A to securely hold the input end portion 60a and the output end portion 60b of the fluid-carrying tubing 60. The input and output portions 60a and 60b of the fluid-carrying tubing 60 are held by the holding clips 14 so that they are arranged parallel to each other with the support guides 12 while the working portion 60c of the fluid-carrying tubing 60 is installed between the pump race surface 17 of the pump race arch 16 and the rollers 52 and in which fluid-containing tubes are held.
Removal of the fluid tubing from the peristaltic pump is easily
accomplished by detaching the pump race module 10 from the support base 20 (by unscrewing the fasteners 11 , for example) and holding the parallel tubes as a bundle and pulling them away from the pump in a direction radial with respect to the roller carriage 50. This arrangement allows one to conveniently handle the pump race module and tubes even if the pump 100 is placed in a recess or relatively inaccessible location or environment. Also, the fasteners 11 and pump race force adjuster 13 are accessible from the same side as the tubes are routed which allows for the pump race module 10 and tubes to be replaced conveniently and easily. Also adjustment of the pump race is made easier. This is illustrated in Fig. 20 discussed next.
Fig. 20 illustrates a tubing set 200 with a pump race module 216 and tubes 204 and 206 which bend as shown at 212 and 232 forming an arched portion 234 which follows the shape of pump race module 216. The tubes 204 and 206 are held by clips as discussed above and indicated here for example at 252. All of the tubing portions 204, 206, 228, and 230 extend away from the pump race
module 216 parallel to the axes 224 of fasteners 222 and adjusting screw (13B) axis 226. With the illustrated arrangement, a tubing set 200 can be conveniently installed in a confined space such defined by an opening 214 in an enclosure 208 of a processing system. The tube portions 204, 206, 228, and 230 can extend through an available access (e.g., opening 214) through which the fasteners 222 and the pump race force adjuster 218 (similar to pump race force adjuster 13) may be accessed. The pump 100 and roller carriage 50 would be located in a position such that insertion of the assembly 200 as illustrated by arrow 252 would allow the pump race module 216 to engage it.
Referring again also to Figs. 15A-17 the fasteners 11 , the pump race force adjuster 13 and the input and output end portions 60a and 60b of the tubing 60 facing in the same direction (when looking at it from the top) allows for easy attachment and removal of the pump race module 10 as well as easy removal and replacement of the fluid-carrying tubing 60. The tubing 60 can be easily removed from the pump race module 10 by holding the tubing 60 as a bundle. The assembly 200 can be preconfigured with the pump race module and the tubing held in the clips, pre-sterilized and contained in a sterile package 260.
The arcuate portion 16 of the pump race module 10 has a first curved (arcuate, U-shaped) upper portion 16A with a second curved (arcuate, U-shaped) lower portion 16B, the lower portion 16B has the pump race surface 17, which faces the roller carriage 50. The pump race surface 7 functions as a pump race against which the tubing 60 is selectively compressed by the rollers 52 on roller carriage 50. The pump race surface 17 of the second curved portion 16B also includes guiding channels 18 to receive and hold in place at least a working portion 60c of the fluid-carrying tubing 60.
The first and second curved portions 16A and 16B are joined at a flexible portion 19 so as to leave the second end portion 19A of the second curved portion 16B floating. This permits flexible movement of the lower curved portion 16B away and toward the rollers 52 of the roller carriage 50 so that the gap 10G varies thereby moving the lower curved portion 16B toward and away from the rollers 52 responsively to the adjuster screw 13B.
The upper curved portion 16A also includes an opening 15 in which the threaded liner 13A is fixedly inserted and into which the adjuster screw 13B is threaded. The adjuster screw 13B makes contact with an upper surface of the curved portion 16B. The lower curved portion 16B is shaped so as to
accommodate contact with the adjuster screw 13B without being damaged and may have a metal surface to relieve the pressure exerted by the adjuster screw 13B.
By exerting pressure on the contact surface of the lower curved portion 16B, the lower curved portion 16B can be moved away from the upper curved portion 16A - which increases the size of a gap 10G - and closer to the roller carriage 50. By moving the lower curved portion 16B closer to the roller carriage 50, the fluid-carrying tubing 60 positioned in the guiding channels 18 is further compressed. When the pressure on the contact surface of the lower curved portion 16B is released, the curved portion 16B moves back to its original position, releasing compression on the fluid-carrying tubing 60. Changing compression on the tubes 60 incorporating the fluid effectively controls the fluid pressure and fluid flow in the tubing 60. The pump race force adjuster 13 can include, for example, a threaded liner 13A with adjusting screw13B so that the fluid pressure and fluid flow is controlled by turning the screw head.
While the preferred forms of the disclosed subject matter have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made that will achieve some of the advantages of the disclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed subject matter. It will be apparent to those reasonably skilled in the art that other components performing the same function may be suitably substituted. Although specific embodiments of the disclosed subject matter have been described, various modifications, alterations, alternative constructions, and equivalents are also encompassed within the scope of the disclosed subject matter.