Microfluidic pump and pressure fluid application device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a microfluidic pump, comprising: a motor having a motor shaft extending along an axis; a main housing connected to the motor and defining an accommodation space; a runner that rotates upon receiving torque transmitted by the motor and is provided with an eccentric swing shaft thereon; a diaphragm body mount connected to the main housing, and a diaphragm body having a plurality of diaphragm units is provided on the diaphragm body mount; a curved rod, a first end of which is connected to the swing shaft, and a second end opposite to the first end is connected to the diaphragm body to drive the diaphragm unit to reciprocally compress and suck; wherein, the fluid pump further comprises an axial support assembly, the axial support assembly is at least fixed relative to the main housing and supports the curved rod in the axial direction, the axial support assembly includes a support rod and a support ball protruding from the support rod towards the diaphragm body mount, and wherein, the support ball and the support rod are configured to be able to form a sub-assembly connected to each other. The present invention also relates to a pressure fluid application device including such a microfluidic pump.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of fluid pumps, and more particularly to a microfluidic pump and a pressure fluid application device including such a microfluidic pump. Background Art

[0002] With the wide application of fluid pumps in civil and commercial fields, higher requirements are also put forward for fluid pumps, especially microfluidic pumps.

[0003] Current microfluidic pumps (such as micro water pumps) generally include a motor and a main housing connected to the motor. In the main housing, there may usually be provided: an eccentric wheel that receives the torque transmitted from the motor and rotates and is fixedly connected to an eccentric shaft; a water bladder mount on which a water bladder body having a plurality of water bladder units is mounted; and a crank rod, one end of which is connected to the eccentric shaft and the other end of which is connected to the water bladder mount, so that the crank rod can drive the water bladder body and its water bladder units on the water bladder mount to perform reciprocating compression and suction movements to output a fluid with a predetermined pressure. However, in such a microfluidic pump, the crank rod is subject to a large axial pressure, for example, from the water bladder body. On the one hand, this axial pressure will affect the crank rod and thus affect the stable operation of the water bladder mount and the water bladder body. On the other hand, it will damage the mechanical strength of the crank rod, causing the crank rod to wear prematurely, thus having an adverse effect on the performance of the microfluidic pump.

[0004] Therefore, there is a need for a microfluidic pump that can output high-pressure fluid with stable, reliable, and efficient operation, in which the axial pressure that may damage the service life and operation stability of the crank rod can be effectively shared through an intermediate component, thereby reducing the axial load on the crank rod, ensuring that it does not wear prematurely and at the same time ensuring its stable operation, which is beneficial to the overall performance and efficiency of the microfluidic pump. At the same time, the intermediate component can be installed in the microfluidic pump in a simple and space-saving manner, thereby saving installation costs and facilitating the realization of a compact microfluidic pump. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above technical problems and meet the above requirements, the present invention provides a microfluidic pump, which comprises: a motor having a motor shaft extending along an axis; a main housing connected to the motor and defining an accommodation space; a runner receiving the torque transmitted by the motor and rotating, and having an eccentric swing shaft provided thereon; a diaphragm body mount connected to the main housing, and a diaphragm body having a plurality of diaphragm units is provided on the diaphragm body mount; a crank rod, one end of which is connected to the swing shaft, and the other end opposite to the first end is connected to the diaphragm body to drive the diaphragm unit to reciprocate for compression and suction movements; wherein, the fluid pump further comprises an axial support assembly, the axial support assembly is at least fixed relative to the main housing and supports the crank rod in the direction of the axis, the axial support assembly includes a support rod and a support ball protruding from the support rod towards the diaphragm body mount, and wherein, the support ball and the support rod are configured to form a sub-assembly that can be connected to each other.

[0006] Thus, in the microfluidic pump according to the present invention, the axial pressure experienced by the crank rod, such as from the diaphragm body mount, can be transmitted to the main housing via the axial support assembly, thereby effectively reducing the axial load on the crank rod. On the one hand, this is conducive to promoting the stable operation of the crank rod, and thus promoting the stable operation of the diaphragm body mount and the diaphragm body it carries, which is beneficial to the overall performance and efficiency of the microfluidic pump; on the other hand, this can ensure that the crank rod will not be reduced in mechanical strength due to excessive axial load, thereby preventing premature wear of the crank rod, extending the service life cycle of the crank rod, and thus improving the cost-effectiveness of the crank rod and even the entire microfluidic pump.

[0007] In addition, in the microfluidic pump according to the present invention, by configuring the support ball and the support rod in the axial support assembly to be able to form a sub-assembly that is connected to each other relative to each other, the axial support assembly can be easily installed in the microfluidic pump, saving installation costs and time.

[0008] In addition, the microfluidic pump according to the present invention may further include one or more of the following features used alone or in combination.

[0009] In some embodiments, the support ball and the support rod are connected in a loose fit relative to each other.

[0010] In some embodiments, a recess is provided in the support rod, and the support ball and the support rod are connected in a loose fit relative to each other by a paste lubricant provided in the recess.

[0011] That is, in the above embodiments, since a loose fit is formed between the support ball and the support rod, it can be ensured that the support ball has a certain degree of rotational freedom relative to the support rod. Thus, when the support ball axially supports the curved rod, the support ball not only generates sliding friction relative to the curved rod, but also can generate rolling friction relative to the curved rod, thereby ensuring that the axial pressure from the curved rod is absorbed in a more effective and smoother manner. This will reduce or slow down the wear of the support ball and the support rod, thereby facilitating the extension of their service life cycle. Moreover, this is also conducive to the more smooth and stable operation of the entire microfluidic pump.

[0012] In some embodiments, the support ball is tightly fitted to the support rod. This enables the support ball and the support rod to be pre-assembled into a sub-assembly that is fixed relative to each other in a very simple manner.

[0013] In some embodiments, the support ball is tightly fitted to the support rod by form fit. This manner makes the assembly between the support ball and the support rod simpler.

[0014] In some embodiments, the support ball is welded or bonded to the support rod. This manner is not only simple and easy to operate, but also can ensure a very firm connection.

[0015] In some embodiments, the support ball is fixed to the support rod by a fixing member.

[0016] In some embodiments, the support ball is fixed to the support rod by a stud or a pin integrally formed with the support ball.

[0017] In some embodiments, the support ball is a steel ball. The steel ball has high mechanical strength and can effectively bear and transmit axial pressure, which is beneficial to the stable operation of the entire microfluidic pump.

[0018] In some embodiments, the curved rod is provided with a curved rod recess that cooperates with the support ball. On the one hand, this helps the good cooperation between the support ball and the curved rod; on the other hand, this is conducive to achieving a more compact structure.

[0019] In some embodiments, the curved rod includes an insert, and the curved rod recess is provided on the insert. For example, the mechanical strength of the insert can be greater than that of the curved rod, thereby further protecting the curved rod from being damaged due to force.

[0020] In some embodiments, the radius of curvature of the support ball is smaller than the radius of curvature of the curved rod recess. This can form a point contact between the support ball and the curved rod recess, so that the setting of the support ball does not affect the normal movement amplitude during the operation of the curved rod, and thus ensures the normal movement amplitude of the diaphragm body mount and the diaphragm body it carries, ensuring the operation efficiency of the microfluidic pump.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a pressure fluid application device is provided, including the microfluidic pump as described above.

[0022] In some embodiments, the device is a coffee machine.

[0023] In some embodiments, the coffee machine is an espresso machine.

[0024] In some embodiments, the device is a dental irrigator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the embodiments. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present disclosure, and thus should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts. In the drawings:

[0026] Figure 1 A perspective view of the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 2 A perspective exploded view of the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0028] Figure 3 A longitudinal sectional view of the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state is shown;

[0029] Figure 3a Shown is Figure 3 a partial view in [reference number], in which the setting position of the support protrusion is shown;

[0030] Figure 4 A partial plan view shows the torque transmission path from the motor to the runner in the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 A perspective view of the curved lever used in the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown from one side;

[0032] Figure 6 A perspective view of the curved lever used in the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown from another side;

[0033] Figure 7 Another longitudinal sectional view of the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state is shown;

[0034] Figure 8A perspective view showing a part of a microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a fixing plate for an intermediate shaft in a transmission assembly;

[0035] Figure 9 is Figure 8 A top view of a part of the microfluidic pump shown;

[0036] Figure 10 A partial cross-sectional view showing a transmission assembly according to various embodiments of the present invention, schematically showing a reduced-diameter portion on the intermediate shaft and a diameter-reduced portion in the central hole of the second gear 114;

[0037] Figure 11 A perspective view showing a part of a microfluidic pump according to another embodiment of the present invention, showing an opening provided in the side wall of the main housing; and

[0038] Figure 12 Shows according to Figure 11 A top view of a part of the microfluidic pump of the embodiment, showing a support beam for an intermediate shaft in a transmission assembly.

[0039] It should be noted that the respective drawings only schematically show the positions and mounting relationships of the various components of the microfluidic pump, rather than being drawn to an exact actual scale.

[0040] List of reference numerals

[0041] 100 Microfluidic pump

[0042] 110 Motor

[0043] 111 Motor shaft

[0044] 112 First gear

[0045] 113 Intermediate shaft

[0046] 1131 First shaft end

[0047] 1132 Second shaft end

[0048] 1133 Diameter-reduced portion

[0049] 114 Second gear

[0050] 1141 Necking-down portion

[0051] 115 Third gear

[0052] 116 Fourth gear

[0053] 120 Main housing

[0054] 121 First longitudinal end

[0055] 122 concave part

[0056] 123 second longitudinal end

[0057] 124 groove

[0058] 125 first column part

[0059] 126 screw

[0060] 127 mounting seat

[0061] 128 bottom

[0062] 129 opening

[0063] 1201 side wall of the housing

[0064] 1202 side wall of the housing

[0065] 130 diaphragm body mounting seat

[0066] 140 valve seat

[0067] 150 upper cover

[0068] 160 diaphragm body

[0069] 161 diaphragm unit

[0070] 170 axial support assembly

[0071] 171 support body

[0072] 172 support protrusion

[0073] 180 runner

[0074] 181 eccentric hole

[0075] 182 swing shaft

[0076] 190 curved rod

[0077] 191 protrusion

[0078] 192 hole

[0079] 193 main panel

[0080] 194 concave part of the curved rod

[0081] 195 hollow part

[0082] 196 insert

[0083] 210 fixing plate

[0084] 211 first fixed end

[0085] 212 Second fixed end

[0086] 220 Support beam

[0087] 221 First branch

[0088] 222 Second branch

[0089] 223 Top end

[0090] 230 Cover body

[0091] X Motor rotation axis

[0092] O Central axis of the curved rod

[0093] C Intersection point of the motor rotation axis and the central axis of the curved rod Detailed implementation manners

[0094] Next, a microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and a pressure fluid application device including such a microfluidic pump will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0095] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure claimed, but merely represents selected embodiments of the present disclosure. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without creative efforts fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0096] Unless otherwise defined in the context, the singular forms include the plural forms. Throughout the specification, terms such as "including", "having", etc. are used herein to specify the presence of the described features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

[0097] In addition, even though ordinal terms such as "first", "second", etc. may be used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms, and these terms are only used to distinguish one element from other elements. For example, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the first component may be referred to as the second component, and similarly, the second component may be referred to as the first component.

[0098] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship in which the disclosed product is usually placed during use, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly understood by those skilled in the art. It is only for the convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present disclosure.

[0099] As Figures 1-4 shown, wherein Figure 1 FIG. shows a perspective view of the microfluidic pump 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state. Figure 2 FIG. shows an exploded perspective view of the microfluidic pump 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 FIG. shows a longitudinal sectional view of the microfluidic pump 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state. Figure 4 FIG. shows a torque transmission path from the motor to the runner in the microfluidic pump according to an embodiment of the present invention in a partial plan view. The microfluidic pump 100 includes, for example, at least a motor 110, a main housing 120, a runner 180, a diaphragm body mount 130, a crank 190, and a transmission assembly.

[0100] Among them, as Figures 2-4 shown, the motor 110 has a motor shaft 111 extending in the direction of the rotation axis X, and the rotation axis X is, for example, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the microfluidic pump 100, or, for example, coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the microfluidic pump 100. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited by the rotational speed and type of this motor.

[0101] In a specific embodiment, as Figures 1-4As shown, the main housing 120 extends longitudinally as a whole and has a generally cylindrical shape, with a cross-section that is, for example, a square with rounded corners. Of course, the main housing 120 can be set in other shapes as needed. The main housing 120 defines an accommodation space that can be used to accommodate the various components of the microfluidic pump 100 according to the present invention, such as the runner 180, the crank lever 190, the transmission assembly, and the optional axial support assembly 170, etc., which will be described in detail later. As shown in the figure, the main housing 120 is connected to the motor 110, for example, at its first longitudinal end 121, and the torque of the motor 110 is transmitted into the main housing 120, for example, by the engagement between a gear provided in the main housing 120 and a gear provided on the motor shaft 111. And for example, the motor 110 and the main housing 120 connected in this way are arranged such that the motor shaft 111, the motor rotation axis X, and the longitudinal center line of the main housing 120 can coincide with each other.

[0102] As Figures 2-4 shown, the runner 180 can be arranged in the main housing 120 and is configured to receive the torque transmitted from the motor 110 and thus rotate, and an eccentric swing shaft 182 is provided on the runner 180, that is, a swing shaft 182 that is offset relative to the central axis of the runner 180. In a specific embodiment, as Figure 2 best shown, an eccentric hole 181 that is offset relative to its central axis is provided on the runner 180, and the swing shaft 182 is inserted and fixed in the eccentric hole 181 at one end, such that the swing shaft 182 forms an angle with respect to the motor rotation axis X, for example.

[0103] Referring Figures 1-3 to the figure, the diaphragm body mount 130 is connected to the main housing 120, for example, mounted to the main housing 120 at the second longitudinal end 123 of the main housing 120. And a diaphragm body 160 having a plurality of diaphragm units 161 is provided on the diaphragm body mount 130 (as Figure 2 shown). For example, the diaphragm body 160 can include a plurality of water sacs integrally formed (the water sacs are, for example, open at the upper part), and each water sac is a diaphragm unit 161.

[0104] As Figures 2-3 shown, the crank lever 190 can be arranged in the accommodation space, and the first end of the crank lever 190 is connected to the swing shaft 182, and the second end opposite to the first end is connected to the diaphragm body 160. For example, a protrusion 191 can be provided at the lower longitudinal end of the crank lever 190, and a hole 192 for receiving at least a part of the swing shaft 182 can be provided on the protrusion 191 (in Figure 3 and Figure 5As shown, at least a portion of the pendulum shaft 182 can be inserted and fixed into the hole 192 to establish a mechanical and power connection between the pendulum shaft 182 and the crank lever 190. The protrusion 191 can be integrally formed with the crank lever 190, for example. As Figures 5-6 shown, in a specific embodiment, the protrusion 191 can extend downward from the center of the lower longitudinal end of the crank lever 190. Thus, when the runner 180 drives the pendulum shaft 182 disposed thereon eccentrically to rotate together, the pendulum shaft 182 will drive the crank lever 190 to perform repeated swinging actions, and the crank lever 190 will further drive the diaphragm unit 161 to perform reciprocating compression and suction motions. Such reciprocating compression and suction motions are intended to represent that the diaphragm unit 161 inside the diaphragm body 160 is alternately in a compressed state and a stretched state. For example, if the diaphragm body is a water bladder body integrated with a plurality of water bladders, when the crank lever moves downward and pulls down the water bladder, the water bladder is in the suction motion process at this time, the air pressure inside the water bladder drops, and the fluid enters the water bladder; on the contrary, when the crank lever moves upward and squeezes the water bladder, the water bladder is in the compression motion process at this time, the air pressure inside the water bladder rises, and thus a fluid with high pressure is output.

[0105] As Figure 2 and 8 shown, in a specific embodiment, in order to effectively transmit the power of the motor to the runner, the transmission assembly used in the microfluidic pump according to the present invention may include: a first gear 112 disposed on the motor shaft 111, and the first gear 112 is disposed outside the main housing 120, for example, located in a recess 122 provided on the first longitudinal end 121 of the main housing 120, as Figure 3 shown; an intermediate shaft 113 disposed in the main housing 120 and extending in a direction parallel to the axis X; a second gear 114 disposed on the intermediate shaft 113; a third gear 115 disposed on the intermediate shaft 113 and rotationally fixed relative to the second gear 114; and a fourth gear 116 rotationally fixed relative to the runner 180, and the fourth gear 116 is assembled on a shaft mounted on the bottom of the main housing 120, for example. Thus, through this transmission assembly, the torque generated by the motor 110 is transmitted to the first gear 112 through the motor shaft 111, then transmitted to the second gear 114 meshing with the first gear 112, and thus transmitted to the third gear 115 rotating integrally with the second gear 114, then transmitted to the fourth gear 116 meshing with the third gear 115, and thus transmitted to the runner 180. Thus, the runner 180 can drive the pendulum shaft 182 to rotate together.

[0106] When the motor is started, when torque is transmitted through the motor shaft 111 to the first gear 112 and thence to the second gear 114, the second gear 114 may become polarized due to the applied force, which causes the intermediate shaft 113 supporting the second gear 114 to also become polarized. To prevent the polarization of the intermediate shaft 113 and the operational instability of the entire transmission assembly and even the entire microfluidic pump caused by such polarization, the present invention proposes the following method for fixing the intermediate shaft 113, as Figures 7-9 shown: The first shaft end 1131 of the intermediate shaft 113 is mounted to a mounting seat 127 provided in the bottom 128 of the main housing 120. The mounting seat 127 may be integrally formed with the bottom 128 of the main housing 120 or may be a separate component fixed to the bottom 128 of the main housing 120. For example, the first shaft end 1131 of the intermediate shaft 113 may be inserted into a hole in the mounting seat 127 to form a tight fit to fix the first shaft end 1131 of the intermediate shaft 113 to the mounting seat 127. Of course, this fixing method is only illustrative; at the same time, the second shaft end 1132 of the intermediate shaft 113 is mounted to a fixing plate 210 fixed to the main housing 120, thereby keeping the intermediate shaft 113 fixed relative to the main housing 120 and effectively absorbing the polarization transmitted from the second gear 114 and / or the third gear 115 to the intermediate shaft 113 by providing the fixing plate 210.

[0107] In a specific embodiment, as Figures 7-9 shown, a hole may be provided at a substantially middle position of the fixing plate 210, and the second shaft end 1132 of the intermediate shaft 113 is inserted into the hole and fixed relative to the intermediate shaft 113 by a tight fit, i.e., an interference fit. In an embodiment not shown, the second shaft end 1132 of the intermediate shaft 113 is fixed to the fixing plate 210 by screws. In this case, threaded holes may be provided on the second shaft end face and corresponding threaded holes may be provided on the fixing plate 210, and the screws are tightened through the corresponding threaded holes provided in the second shaft end face and the fixing plate 210 to fix the intermediate shaft 113 and the fixing plate 210 together. Of course, the fixing of the intermediate shaft 113 relative to the fixing plate 210 is not limited to this, and any method for fixing the intermediate shaft relative to the fixing plate is feasible, such as by riveting or even welding.

[0108] As Figures 8-9 shown, to fix the fixing plate 210 relative to the main housing 120, the fixing plate 210 may be provided with a first fixing end 211 and a second fixing end 212 for fixing to the main housing 120. In a specific embodiment, as Figure 8As shown, the first fixed end 211 of the fixing plate 210 can be fixed to the first column portion 125 that extends upward from the bottom 128 of the main housing 120 inside the main housing 120. The first column portion 125 is integrally molded with the bottom 128 of the main housing 120, for example, and of course it can also be a separate component firmly fixed to the bottom 128 of the main housing 120. The first fixed end 211 of the fixing plate 210 can be fixed to the first column portion 125 by screws 126. For example, threaded holes can be provided at the first fixed end 211 of the fixing plate 210, and corresponding threaded holes can be provided on the end face of the first column portion 125. Then, the screws are tightened into the corresponding threaded holes provided in the first fixed end 211 of the fixing plate 210 and the end face of the first column portion 125, thereby achieving a firm fixation between the first fixed end 211 of the fixing plate 210 and the first column portion 125. Of course, this fixing method is only illustrative, and any other feasible fixing method can be selected to fix the first fixed end of the fixing plate relative to the first column portion.

[0109] In this embodiment, in a more specific implementation (not shown), similar to the first fixed end 211, the second fixed end 212 of the fixing plate 210 can also be fixed to another column portion that extends upward from the bottom 128 of the main housing 120 inside the main housing 120, and the same or different fixing methods can be adopted. It should be noted that the corresponding column portions for fixing the first fixed end 211 and the second fixed end 212 can be provided separately from the side wall of the main housing 120, or can be arranged in contact with the side wall of the main housing 120. The specific positions of the column portions can be set according to needs or the available space in the main housing.

[0110] In another more specific implementation, the second fixed end 212 of the fixing plate 210 can be fixed to the main housing 120 in a different way from the first fixed end 211. As Figures 8-9 shown, the second fixed end 212 can be fixed to the main housing 120 by form fit. In this case, first form fit feature portions and second form fit feature portions that are complementary in shape and can cooperate with each other can be provided on the second fixed end 212 of the fixing plate 210 and the corresponding side wall of the main housing 120 respectively, so as to achieve the fixation of the second fixed end 212 of the fixing plate 210 relative to the main housing 120 through the form fit formed between the first form fit feature portion and the second form fit feature portion. Specifically, as Figures 8-9As shown, the second form - fitting feature provided in the side wall of the main housing 120 may be implemented as a groove 124 that extends at least partially along the side wall and is parallel to the rotation axis, while the first form - fitting feature provided at the second fixed end 212 of the fixing plate 210 may be a protrusion that can be inserted into the groove 124. Of course, such a form - fitting manner is only illustrative, and any other suitable manner is feasible and within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0111] Thus, in the present invention, the fixing plate 210 for holding the intermediate shaft 113 can make full use of the available space in the main housing 120 without occupying extra space, thereby arranging the fixing plate 210 in a space - saving and compact manner and ensuring its holding effect on the intermediate shaft 113.

[0112] As Figure 7 shown, in order to install the intermediate shaft 113 and the second gear 114 mounted on the intermediate shaft in the space - limited main housing 120, and especially when the first gear 112 and the larger fourth gear 116 are already installed in place, in order to bypass the larger fourth gear 116 mounted above the first gear 112 from above, in one embodiment, the intermediate shaft 113 and the second gear 114 may be pre - assembled first. For this purpose, as Figure 10 shown, a neck - down portion 1133 may be provided on the intermediate shaft 113, such that the intermediate shaft 113 includes the neck - down portion 1133 and a non - neck - down portion, where the non - neck - down portion is the part of the intermediate shaft 113 other than the neck - down portion 1133. At the same time, a diameter - reducing portion 1141 is provided in the central hole of the second gear 114. In this case, during the installation of the intermediate shaft 113 and the second gear 114, the second gear 114 will have a first position and a second position relative to the intermediate shaft 113. Among them, in the first position, the diameter - reducing portion 1141 of the central hole of the second gear 114 is positioned opposite to the non - neck - down portion of the intermediate shaft 113, such that the second gear 114 is tightly fitted on the intermediate shaft 113, while in the second position (the position as Figure 10 shown), the diameter - reducing portion 1141 of the central hole of the second gear 114 is opposite to the neck - down portion 1133 of the intermediate shaft 113, such that the second gear 114 can rotate relative to the intermediate shaft 113. For this purpose, the diameter of the diameter - reducing portion 1141 of the central hole of the second gear 114 may be: less than or equal to the diameter of the non - neck - down portion of the intermediate shaft 113, that is, allowing the non - neck - down portion of the intermediate shaft 113 and the diameter - reducing portion 1141 of the central hole of the second gear 114 to form a tight fit or an interference fit; greater than or equal to the diameter of the neck - down portion 1133 of the intermediate shaft 113, that is, allowing the neck - down portion 1133 of the intermediate shaft 113 and the diameter - reducing portion 1141 of the central hole of the second gear 114 to form a clearance fit.

[0113] Still as Figure 7 shown, in a more specific embodiment, the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 mounted on the intermediate shaft 113 may be two gears of an integral stepped pulley. In this case, similarly, in order to mount the intermediate shaft 113 and the stepped pulley mounted on the intermediate shaft 113 in the main housing 120 with limited space, and especially in the case where the first gear 112 and the larger fourth gear 116 are already mounted in place, in order to bypass the larger fourth gear 116 mounted above the first gear 112 from top to bottom, the intermediate shaft 113 and the stepped pulley may be pre-assembled first. And similarly, a reduced diameter portion 1133 may be provided on the intermediate shaft 113, such that the intermediate shaft 113 includes the reduced diameter portion 1133 and a non-reduced diameter portion, and the non-reduced diameter portion is the portion of the intermediate shaft 113 other than the reduced diameter portion 1133. At the same time, a diameter reduction portion 1141 is provided in the central hole of the stepped pulley. In this case, during the process of mounting the intermediate shaft 113 and the stepped pulley, the stepped pulley will have a first position and a second position relative to the intermediate shaft 113. Among them, in the first position, the diameter reduction portion 1141 of the central hole of the stepped pulley is opposite to the non-reduced diameter portion of the intermediate shaft 113, such that the stepped pulley is tightly fitted on the intermediate shaft 113, while in the second position, the diameter reduction portion 1141 of the central hole of the stepped pulley is opposite to the reduced diameter portion of the intermediate shaft 113, such that the stepped pulley can rotate relative to the intermediate shaft 113. To this end, the diameter of the diameter reduction portion 1141 of the central hole of the stepped pulley may be: less than or equal to the diameter of the non-reduced diameter portion of the intermediate shaft 113, that is, allowing the non-reduced diameter portion of the intermediate shaft 113 and the diameter reduction portion 1141 of the central hole of the stepped pulley to form a tight fit or an interference fit; greater than or equal to the diameter of the reduced diameter portion 1133 of the intermediate shaft 113, that is, allowing the reduced diameter portion 1133 of the intermediate shaft 113 and the diameter reduction portion 1141 of the central hole of the stepped pulley to form a clearance fit.

[0114] In any case, the necked-down portion of the intermediate shaft 113 cannot be provided at a position adjacent to the first shaft end 1131 in the mounting seat 127 at the bottom 128 of the main housing 120 for insertion, and the non-necked-down portion of the intermediate shaft 113 should be provided at least at the first shaft end 1131 of the intermediate shaft 113. This can ensure that a pre-assembled component can be formed by inserting only a small section near the first shaft end 1131 of the intermediate shaft 113 into the diameter-reduced portion 1141 in the second gear 114 or the stepped pulley, thereby allowing the pre-assembled component to obliquely bypass the fourth gear 116 and reach the mounting position of the second gear 114 or the stepped pulley at an angle relative to the rotation axis X. Then, by pressing down the intermediate shaft 113, the first shaft end 1131 of the intermediate shaft 113 is inserted into the mounting seat 127 and installed therein. At this time, the necked-down portion 1133 of the intermediate shaft 113 is positioned opposite to the diameter-reduced portion 1141 of the central hole of the second gear 114 or the stepped pulley. In this way, it can be ensured that the limited space inside the main housing 120 is fully utilized without having to make the main housing 120 larger, thereby allowing a very compact overall structure.

[0115] In the case where the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 form a stepped pulley, in one embodiment (not shown), the diameter-reduced portion of the stepped pulley can also be provided in the central hole of the third gear 115 located above the second gear 114 according to the actual situation. It should be understood that as long as it can be ensured that the pre-assembled component formed by the second gear 114 or the stepped pulley can bypass the fourth gear 116 and reach the mounting position, the specific positions of the diameter-reduced portion and the necked-down portion are not precisely defined.

[0116] It should also be noted that in any case, the above second position is the working position of the transmission assembly. And in this case, the intermediate shaft 113 can be non-rotating.

[0117] As Figure 11 shown, in another different embodiment of the above-described structure of the main housing 12, in order to conveniently install the intermediate shaft 113, the second gear 114, and the third gear 115 into the limited space inside the main housing 120, an opening 129 can be provided in the side wall of the main housing 120 at a position corresponding to the mounting levels of the second gear 114 and the third gear 115. The size of the opening 129 is set to allow at least the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 to enter the main housing 120 through the opening 129 and be installed in place. At the same time, in this case, the microfluidic pump 100 should also include a cover body 230 for installing at the opening 129 to cover the opening 129. In a more specific embodiment, and as Figure 11As shown, the opening 129 can be set as a rectangular window; however, it should be understood that any suitable shape of the opening is feasible as long as its size allows the second gear and the third gear to enter the main housing through the opening and be installed in place.

[0118] In addition, as Figure 11 shown, when the cross-section of the main housing 120 perpendicular to the rotation axis X is a rectangle with rounded corners (the rectangle with rounded corners can be understood as a rectangle with rounded corners here), the opening 129 can be set to pass through at least a part of two adjacent side walls 1201 and 1202 of the main housing 120, that is, the opening 129 is set at a corner of the main housing 120. Compared with the case where the opening 129 is set in a single side wall of the main housing 120, this allows a larger open space, which is more convenient for placing the intermediate shaft 113, the second gear 114, and the third gear 115 in place.

[0119] It should be noted that this embodiment is applicable to the case where the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 are separate gears, and also applicable to the case where the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 form an integral stepped pulley. In either case, during assembly, the second gear 114 and the third gear 115, which are set as an integral option, can be first placed in the installation position in the main housing 120 through the opening 129, and then the intermediate shaft 113 is passed through the central holes of the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 from top to bottom, and finally installed in place in the mounting seat 127 at the bottom 128 of the main housing 120 via its first shaft end 1131. Thus, the setting of the opening 129 allows for easy maintenance and replacement of the intermediate shaft 113, the second gear 114, and the third gear 115. In particular, the setting of this opening 129 can allow lubricating oil to be applied to the transmission assembly through it to ensure the smooth operation of the transmission assembly. In addition, the heat inside the main housing 120 can also be dissipated through this opening 129; in this case, the cover 230 for covering the opening 129 can be formed of a material that can dissipate heat or be constructed as a structure that allows heat dissipation. In addition, the installation and operation of the internal components of the main housing 120 can also be observed through this opening 129 to facilitate monitoring the operation of the microfluidic pump 100.

[0120] Still in this embodiment, without interfering with the installation of the fourth gear 116 and other components, it is allowed that the above-mentioned fixing plate 210 for holding the intermediate shaft is integrally formed with the main housing 120 because it is no longer necessary to install the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 from above in this embodiment.

[0121] And still in this embodiment, as Figure 12As shown, the fixing plate for holding the intermediate shaft can be replaced by the support beam 220. That is, in this case, the first shaft end of the intermediate shaft 113 is mounted in the mounting seat 127 at the bottom 128 of the main housing 120 (as Figure 7 shown), the mounting seat 127 is integrally formed with or separately formed from and fixed to the bottom 128 of the housing 120, and the second shaft end of the intermediate shaft 113 is mounted to the support beam 220 connected to the main housing 120. In this case, the support beam 220 is integrally formed with the main housing 120, which allows for cost savings in manufacturing and installation. In addition, as Figure 12 shown, the support beam can be V-shaped, which includes a top end 223 and a first branch 221 and a second branch 222 extending from the top end 223 following the V-shaped configuration. The second shaft end of the intermediate shaft 113 is then mounted at the top end 223 of the support beam 220, and the first branch 221 and the second branch 222 are connected to the side wall of the main housing. The V-shaped support beam 220 allows for the holding of the intermediate shaft 113 in a manner that does not impede the installation of other components within the main housing 120, ensuring the concentricity of the intermediate shaft 113 with the second gear 114 and the third gear 115 in a more compact manner. The connection of the intermediate shaft 113 to the top end of the V-shaped support beam 220 can be carried out in the manner described above, including tight fitting, threaded fixing, welding, etc. The apex angle of the V-shaped support beam 220 is, for example, in the range of 60° to 180°.

[0122] Of course, the V-shaped support beam 220 can also be separately formed from the main housing 120 and fixed to the corresponding column portions extending upward from the bottom of the housing 120 as described above through its first branch 221 and second branch 222, or the V-shaped support beam 220 is fixed relative to the main housing 120 by forming a shape fit with the side wall of the housing through its first branch 221 and second branch 222, similar to that described above for the fixing plate 210. And further, the V-shaped support beam 220 itself can also be formed by separate first and second branches.

[0123] As Figures 2-4 shown, the microfluidic pump according to the present invention may further include an axial support assembly 170 for supporting the crank lever 190 in the direction of the motor rotation axis X, and it may also be at least partially disposed in the accommodation space of the main housing 120. And in order to provide axial support for the crank lever 190 and effectively transfer the axial pressure received by the crank lever 190 to the main housing 120, the axial support assembly 170 can be fixed relative to the main housing 120. In a specific embodiment, as Figures 2-3As shown, the axial support assembly 170 includes a support body 171 and a support protrusion 172 protruding from the support body 171 towards the diaphragm body mount 130. The support body 171 is fixed relative to the main housing 120 and the curved lever 190 is supported on the support protrusion 172. The support protrusion 172 is, for example, spherical or conical and can be made of steel, ceramic or carbide. It should be noted that the spherical or conical part of the support protrusion 172 is the part for supporting the curved lever 190, while the shape of the part where the support protrusion 172 is connected to the support body 171 is not limited and can be any shape capable of achieving the connection with the support body 171. Optionally, as Figure 2 shown, the support body 171 is a support rod and the support protrusion 172 includes a support ball, such as a steel ball, thus ensuring the mechanical strength of the support ball so that it can effectively bear and transmit the axial pressure, which is beneficial to the stable operation of the entire microfluidic pump.

[0124] In a more specific embodiment, in order to be able to install the axial support assembly 170 in the microfluidic pump 100 in an easy manner, thereby saving installation time and cost, the support body 171 and the support protrusion 172 can be configured to form a sub-assembly that can be connected to each other, so as to facilitate the installation of the axial support assembly 170 in place in the microfluidic pump 100. It should be noted that here, "connected to each other" does not only refer to rigid connection and can include connections achieved in a loose fit manner and a tight fit manner.

[0125] In one embodiment, the support protrusion 172 and the support body 171 are connected to each other in a loose fit. In a specific embodiment, a recess, such as a non-through recess, can be provided in the support body 171, and the support protrusion 172 and the support body 171 are connected to each other in a loose fit through the paste lubricating oil provided in the recess. By forming a loose fit between the support protrusion 172 and the support body 171, it can be ensured that the support protrusion 172 has a certain degree of rotational freedom relative to the support body 171. Thus, when the support protrusion 172 plays an axial support role on the curved lever 190, the support protrusion 172 can not only generate sliding friction relative to the curved lever 190, but also generate rolling friction relative to the curved lever 190, thereby ensuring that the axial pressure from the curved lever 190 is absorbed in a more effective and smoother manner. This will reduce or slow down the wear on the support protrusion 172 and the support body 171, thus being beneficial to extending their service life cycle. And this is also beneficial to the more smooth and stable operation of the entire microfluidic pump 100.

[0126] In another embodiment, the support protrusion 172 can be tightly fitted to the support body 171, which makes the sub-assembly formed by the support protrusion 172 and the support body 171 easier to be installed in place in the microfluidic pump 100. In this case, in one implementation, the support protrusion 172 can be tightly fitted to the support body 171 by form fit; for example, a recess can be provided in the support body 171, and a mounting portion corresponding to the recess can be provided in the support protrusion 172. The size of the mounting portion is set to be slightly larger than the size of the recess, so that the mounting portion can be directly tightly fitted in the recess without using other auxiliary mounting devices. Obviously, this method is simple and feasible. It should be noted that the form fit described here is only illustrative, and other feasible form fit methods are also within the scope of the present disclosure. In another variant, the support protrusion 172 can be welded or bonded to the support body 171, and this method can ensure a firm connection between the support protrusion and the support body. In yet another variant, the support protrusion 172 can be fixed to the support body 171 by a fixing member. In this case, the support protrusion 172 is fixed to the support body 171, for example, by a stud or a pin integrally formed therewith. More specifically, the support protrusion 172 can be the ball head of a ball head bolt, and the stud is the bolt portion of the ball head bolt. Therefore, the support protrusion 172 can be screwed into the threaded hole of the support body 171 through the bolt portion; in the case of a pin, the support protrusion 172 can be tightly fitted into the hole formed in the support body 171 through the pin.

[0127] According to a specific embodiment, in order to be able to arrange the support body 171 and the support protrusion 172 in the microfluidic pump in a compact and space-saving manner, the curved lever 190 can include a hollow portion 195, so that the support body 171 can be arranged in the hollow portion 195 in a plane transverse to the longitudinal direction. More specifically, as Figures 5-6 shown, the curved lever 190 can include a main panel 193 and a protrusion 191 extending downward from the lower side of the main panel. The protrusion 191 is used to receive at least a part of the pendulum shaft 182 to establish a mechanical and power connection between the pendulum shaft 182 and the curved lever 190 as described above. The hollow portion 195 can be arranged between the lower surface of the main panel 193 and the top of the protrusion 191, that is, the protrusion 191 can extend downward below the hollow portion 195. The support body 171 is inserted into the hollow portion 195 above the protrusion 191 and is fixed to the main housing 120, for example, at both ends thereof.

[0128] Still in this embodiment, the curved lever 190 can also be provided with a curved lever recess 194 that cooperates with the support protrusion (as Figure 3 and 5As shown, for example, the crank lever recess 194 is located above the hollow portion 195 and is provided at the central portion of the main panel 193 of the crank lever 190. More specifically, the crank lever 190 may include, for example, an insert 196 at its central portion, and the insert 196 is optionally embedded in the main panel 193 of the crank lever 190 by overmolding, and the crank lever recess 194 is provided on the insert 196. Such an insert is provided as a force-bearing insert, which can protect the crank lever and further ensure the stable operation of the crank lever. According to a specific embodiment, as Figure 3a shown, it is a Figure 3 partial view. The support protrusion 172 is provided at the intersection point C of the motor rotation axis X and the central axis O of the crank lever 190, and a point contact is formed between the support protrusion 172 and the crank lever 190, and the contact point coincides with the intersection point C. Thus, such an axial support assembly 170 can effectively transfer the axial pressure from the crank lever 190 to the main housing 120. At the same time, this enables the setting of the support protrusion 172 not to affect the normal movement amplitude during the operation of the crank lever 190, and thus ensures the normal movement amplitude of the diaphragm body mount 130 and the diaphragm body 160 carried thereon, and ensures the operation efficiency of the microfluidic pump 100. In the embodiment where the support protrusion 172 is a support ball, the radius of curvature of the support ball is set to be smaller than the radius of curvature of the crank lever recess 194. Thus, a point contact as described above can be formed between the support ball and the crank lever recess.

[0129] In addition, still in this embodiment, in the case where the support body 171 is a support rod, the support rod can be inserted into the hollow portion 195 as described above, and can be fixed to two opposite walls of the main housing 120 through its two ends by any known conventional fixing means, such as by using fixing members such as screws and rivets, or by gluing, or by form fit. In a more specific embodiment (not shown), the two ends of the support rod can be fixed in grooves provided for this purpose on two opposite walls of the main housing 120, and can be fixed in the grooves, for example, by form fit. In a more specific embodiment not shown, the support rod is fixed at the second longitudinal end 123 of the main housing 120 and is installed between the main housing 120 and the diaphragm body mounting seat 130. In this case, at the second longitudinal end 123 of the main housing 120, first grooves are provided on two opposite walls of the main housing 120 respectively; at the same time, at the longitudinal end of the diaphragm mounting seat 130 connected to the main housing 120, second grooves are provided on two opposite walls of the diaphragm mounting seat 130 respectively, and each first groove is aligned with a second groove, and the first groove and the second groove are formed to be able to cooperate to accommodate one end of the support rod. More specifically, the first groove and the second groove simultaneously form a form fit with this end of the support rod, such as an interference fit, so that through this form fit, the mutual connection and fixation between the main housing 120 and the diaphragm body mounting seat 130 are realized, which simplifies the installation between the main housing 120 and the diaphragm body mounting seat 130, and avoids using additional components and tools to achieve this installation. At the same time, it enables the installation of the axial support assembly to be realized with a very compact structure, improving cost effectiveness.

[0130] It should be understood that, according to actual needs, the microfluidic pump 100 may also include, for example, a valve seat 140, an upper cover 150 or other components, and, for example, with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 as shown, the upper cover 150, the valve seat 140, the diaphragm body mounting seat 130, the main housing 120 and the motor 110 are, for example, hermetically installed in sequence from top to bottom.

[0131] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a pressure fluid application device is proposed, which includes the microfluidic pump as described above and can have the functions and advantages as described above.

[0132] In some embodiments, the device is a coffee machine. The coffee machine can be, for example, an espresso machine, or it can also be an American coffee machine, or it can also be other types of coffee machines. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited by the specific type of this coffee machine.

[0133] In some embodiments, the coffee machine is an espresso machine. By using the aforementioned microfluidic pump of the present application, the coffee machine can stably and continuously output a fluid with a pressure of about 10 bar, so as to be able to produce pure espresso coffee, and the espresso machine has good performance.

[0134] In some embodiments, the device is a dental irrigator. For example, the fluid pressure application device can be a household dental irrigator, or it can also be a medical dental irrigator. The embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited by the application field of the dental irrigator.

[0135] The exemplary embodiments of the microfluidic pump and the pressure fluid application device including such a microfluidic pump proposed by the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, those skilled in the art can understand that, without departing from the concept of the present invention, various modifications and variations can be made to the above specific embodiments, and various combinations of the technical features and structures proposed by the present invention can be made without exceeding the protection scope of the present invention.

[0136] The scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments described above, but is defined by the appended claims and their equivalent scope.

Claims

1. A microfluidic pump, the microfluidic pump (100) comprises: a motor (110) having a motor shaft (111) extending along an axis (X); a main housing (120) connected to the motor (110) and defining a receiving space; a runner (180) that rotates upon receiving torque transmitted from the motor (110) and has an eccentric swing shaft (182) provided thereon; a diaphragm body mount (130) connected to the main housing (120), and a diaphragm body (160) having a plurality of diaphragm units (161) is provided on the diaphragm body mount (130); a curved lever (190) having a first end connected to the swing shaft (182) and a second end opposite to the first end connected to the diaphragm body (160) to drive the diaphragm unit (161) to perform reciprocating compression and suction motions; wherein, the microfluidic pump (100) further comprises an axial support assembly (170), the axial support assembly (170) supports the curved lever (190) in the direction of the axis (X), the axial support assembly (170) includes a support rod and a support ball protruding from the support rod towards the diaphragm body mount (130), the curved lever (190) includes a hollow portion (195), the support rod passes through the hollow portion (195) and is fixed relative to the main housing (120), and wherein, the support ball and the support rod are configured to form a sub-assembly that is connected to each other.

2. The microfluidic pump according to claim 1, wherein, the support ball and the support rod are connected in a loose fit relative to each other.

3. The microfluidic pump according to claim 2, wherein, a recess is provided in the support rod, and the support ball and the support rod are connected in a loose fit relative to each other by a paste lubricant provided in the recess.

4. The microfluidic pump according to claim 1, wherein, the support ball is tightly fitted to the support rod.

5. The microfluidic pump according to claim 4, wherein, the support ball is tightly fitted to the support rod by shape fit.

6. The microfluidic pump according to claim 4, wherein, the support ball is welded or bonded to the support rod.

7. The microfluidic pump according to claim 4, wherein, the support ball is fixed to the support rod by a fixing member.

8. The microfluidic pump according to claim 7, wherein, the support ball is fixed to the support rod by a stud or a pin integrally formed with the support ball.

9. The microfluidic pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, the support ball is a steel ball.

10. The microfluidic pump according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, the curved lever (190) is provided with a curved lever recess (194) that cooperates with the support ball.

11. The microfluidic pump according to claim 10, wherein, the curved lever (190) includes an insert (196), and the curved lever recess (194) is provided on the insert (196).

12. The microfluidic pump according to claim 10, wherein, The radius of curvature of the supporting ball is smaller than the radius of curvature of the concave part (194) of the curved rod.

13. A pressure fluid application device, comprising the microfluidic pump (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein, the device is a coffee machine.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein, the coffee machine is an Italian coffee machine.

16. The device according to claim 13, wherein, the device is a dental irrigator.

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