Centering interface

Abstract

Described is a centering interface between a tubular element, in particular a receiving tube or cartridge (34), for a suction rod of a dialysis device mounted in a device, and a movable element, in particular a front plate (24) of a dialysis device (20), which movable element is preferably pivotally guided about an axis. A centering surface (42, 50) is provided between the element (34) mounted in the device and the movable element (24), and when a preferably sealed engagement of the interface is established, the element (34) mounted in the device can be moved in the axial direction against the force of a preload spring when the movable element (24) is moved and when the centering surface (42, 50) approaches as a result of the movement, the invention is characterized in that the centering surfaces (42, 50) are aligned with each other, and the guiding bearing of the element permits a movement that permits the unconstrained zone of the centering surfaces (42, 50) into the engaged position of the centering surface axes (A42, A50) aligned with each other.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a centering interface between a tubular element fixedly mounted to the device, in particular a receiving tube (cartridge) for an aspiration rod of a dialysis device, and a movable element pivotably guided about an axis, in particular a front plate of a dialysis device. Background Art

[0002] For example, such an interface is required in medical technology equipment, such as dialysis equipment, to provide a clean interface for a suction rod, through which bicarbonate and / or concentrate can be extracted from a bucket usually located on a base. For this reason, a so-called cartridge is usually provided on the dialysis equipment to accommodate unused suction rods or those stored for flushing processes.

[0003] There are known interfaces in which, for example, two cartridges lying vertically one above the other are located in a dialysis device, and in the pivotable front plate of the dialysis device, a precisely shaped recess is formed for receiving the end-side ends of the cartridges. However, due to tolerance chains, a clean interface is difficult to achieve even with manual settings, which require a considerable amount of installation time. The result is a gap that is undesirable to the user, through which liquids can enter the machine and poor cleaning is possible.

[0004] In order to avoid the occurrence of undesired play, in other known devices the cartridge is designed as a single, fixed assembly which no longer has any movable components.

[0005] Since users nowadays expect all connections and interfaces to be easily accessible and ergonomically optimized on the movable front plate, and since there is usually no longer any space for a fixed cartridge assembly below the front plate, since barrels for concentrates etc. are located below the front plate, it is necessary to provide an interface of the type mentioned at the outset which allows a cartridge installed in a dialysis device to be sealed cleanly and without gaps when the front plate is closed, without requiring complicated installation and adjustment operations. Summary of the invention

[0006] This requirement is taken into account by the interface or device of the present invention.

[0007] According to the present invention, the tube can be installed separately from the movable element of the interface as before, i.e., for example, installed separately from the front plate of the dialysis equipment. Therefore, it is possible to save the cumbersome integration of fixed elements into the front plate, which causes many difficult-to-clean positions due to the required sealing. In addition, a centering face pair, such as a cone face pair or a spherical face pair / ball socket face pair, is arranged between the tubular element installed in the device, i.e., for example, the tube and the movable element, i.e., for example, the front plate, and has the advantage that a large area of ​​centering of the interface element can be realized by these faces. In addition, the arrangement is taken so that when the preferred sealing engagement of the interface is established, the element installed in the device can overcome the force movement of the preload spring in the axial direction using the axis that is only slowly aligned when the movement of the movable element, such as pivoting movement and the centering face are accompanied by the movement approaching, and its bearing portion for guiding in the device allows such movement, that is, this movement allows the centering face to be brought to the engagement position with the centering face axis aligned with each other without constraint. The components to be joined are positioned in the interface in a fitting manner due to the spring-loaded element, which also allows initial angular deviations during a movement mode, such as a pivoting of the movable element, wherein any tolerances are compensated. The interface is thus joined only by the movement of the movable element. Time-consuming adjustments of the interface can be omitted.

[0008] In addition, the additional advantage is that the interface can be positioned at any position on the front of the device, and when multiple interfaces are constructed, the position of these interfaces relative to each other can be freely selected. Thus, for example, two flushing chambers (tubes) can be positioned adjacent to each other to save vertical structural space.

[0009] It has been shown that with the aid of a simple sliding bearing for the tubular element installed in the device, clean and durably maintainable positioning of the tubular element or cartridge can be ensured, in particular since the axial movement of the tubular element occurring when the interface is joined is in the mm range.

[0010] The degree of freedom of the bearing required to compensate for angular deviations of the centering surfaces when the interface is joined can be realized in different ways. A simple variant in terms of device technology is advantageous in that the plain bearing is formed in a bearing body which is movable in the device at least in one plane which is perpendicular to the axis of movement of the movable element. For the required lateral mobility, it is sufficient if the bearing body is fastened in the device with slight play.

[0011] When the plain bearing is fixed in the bearing body via a ball socket, the tubular element is provided with an expanded freedom of movement while maintaining precise axial guidance. The bearing, in which the plain bearing is fixed in the bearing body via a ball socket, can be used as a structural element, for example as a so-called pillow block bearing, which has a W300 ball socket Pillow block bearings are sold in the market under the name.

[0012] If the plain bearing has a slightly conical bearing surface, which tapers, for example, toward the end face of the element to be installed in the device, a particularly simple bearing of the tubular element in terms of device technology is achieved. The cone angle can be in the range of small single-digit degrees. This design has the additional advantage that the cone angle is always desirable as a demoulding angle when the bearing sleeve is designed as an injection-molded part.

[0013] If the preload spring is supported on the bearing body, the compression spring can be designed with a relatively large length, whereby the spring characteristic curve is determined more accurately and can be placed in an optimal range with respect to the occurring contact forces.

[0014] In principle, it is possible to form an external centering surface either on the element installed in the device or on the movable element. However, it is more sensible from a production technology point of view to form an external centering surface on the end side of the element installed in the device, which external centering surface can form a centering fit with an internal centering surface in the movable element.

[0015] If, on the element installed in the device, the outer cone is connected to a radial flange in which an annular seal is accommodated for bearing against the inner wall of the movable element, a reliable liquid seal relative to the interior of the device is produced when the interface is engaged. By appropriately selecting the annular seal, it can be easily ensured that the elastic deformation of the annular seal allows complete centering surface contact, thereby avoiding any gap formation in the engaged state of the interface.

[0016] With the variant in which a circumferential groove for accommodating the sealing ring is formed in the outer centering surface, a further simplification of the design of the front end of the tubular element results.

[0017] If the axis of a tubular element installed in the device, for example a cartridge of a dialysis device, is tilted downward at an angle relative to the horizontal, for example in the range between 20° and 30°, the opening of the cartridge is more easily accessible to an operator of the dialysis device, in particular even if the interface is arranged at the lower end of the front plate of the dialysis device. It has been shown that even tilt angles of up to 60°, preferably up to 45°, particularly preferably up to 30° can be easily achieved with the design according to the invention.

[0018] The ease of operation is likewise improved if the centering surface in the movable element has an axis which is inclined by a few degrees relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of movement of the movable element. In this way, the above-mentioned inclination angle of the barrel axis can be increased more easily.

[0019] If the centering surface pair is formed by a conical surface pair, the interface is simplified in terms of production technology.

[0020] A particularly advantageous application area of ​​the interface is an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, in particular a dialysis machine, having at least one interface as described above. Here, the movable element of the interface is a front plate which is arranged on the frame via an articulated connection and which preferably accommodates an insert in which a centering surface or a cone is constructed.

[0021] The interface has the particular advantage that it can be designed identically for a plurality of preferably horizontally or vertically adjacent inlets to the device, i.e., for example, a plurality of plug-in locations for the suction line of a dialysis device. Thus, identically designed interfaces can be provided, although in this case the movement curves of the centering surfaces on the movable element have radii of different sizes due to the different distances from the hinge axis of the front plate. The inlets do not have to be arranged horizontally adjacent to each other; if the front plate has a hinge joint with a horizontal axis, the inlets can also be positioned vertically one above the other.

[0022] In this case, it is even possible to assign a common bearing body to the tubular elements arranged next to one another, thereby further simplifying the construction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a schematic diagram. It is shown:

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective partial view of a dialysis apparatus with access to the cartridge for two aspiration rods is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 Shown on an enlarged scale Figure 1 Details in II;

[0026] Figure 3 A perspective view showing two cartridges of a dialysis apparatus arranged horizontally side by side;

[0027] Figure 4 Show Figure 3 An enlarged perspective view of the cartridge shown in FIG. 1 cooperating with an insert in a front plate of a dialysis device;

[0028] Figure 5 The enlarged view shows the front panel Figure 4 A perspective view of the insert shown in ;

[0029] Figure 6 A perspective view of the end side of an axially movably guided tubular element of an interface;

[0030] Fig. 7A and Figure 7BSchematic cross-sectional views of the front plate and the cartridge at different points in time showing the joining process of the interface between the cartridge and the front plate;

[0031] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B A perspective view of the guiding support of the tubular element is shown with the front cover of the dialysis device opened and closed;

[0032] Fig. 9 a side view showing in enlarged view a support for a tubular element;

[0033] Fig.10 Shown for use according to Fig. 9 A three-dimensional partial perspective view of one side of a bearing body of a supporting portion;

[0034] Fig.11 A perspective view similar to FIG. 8 showing a variant of the support for the tubular element;

[0035] Fig.12 Show Fig.11 A three-dimensional view of the bearing body shown in ;

[0036] Fig.13 A sectional view showing a modified embodiment of a cartridge with a support in a dialysis device;

[0037] Fig.14 Shown in accordance with Fig.13 A three-dimensional view of two cartridges installed side by side in a dialysis device in a design of ; and

[0038] Fig.15 Shown on a slightly enlarged scale is the Fig.13 Or a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the interface formed by the front plate and the tube of 14 in the engaged state.

[0039] Among them: 20-dialysis device; 22-hinged connection; A22-hinge axis; 24, 124-front plate; 26-inlet; A26-inlet axis; 28-bottom plate; 30, 130-insert; 32-embedded wall; 34, 134-cylinder; A34, A134-cylinder axis; 36-input connector; 38, 138-discharge connector; 40, 140; bearing body; 42, 142; centering surface; A4 2; axis of centering surface; 44-bearing hole; 46-preload spring; 48, 148-axial fixing ring; 50, 150-centering surface; A50-axis of centering surface; 52-annular groove; 54-radial flange; 56, 156-sealing ring; 58-plate; 60-fastening bolt; 62-hole; 64-nut; 66-sliding bearing part; 68-bearing hole; 144-conical bearing surface; 170-groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] exist Figure 1 The reference numeral 20 denotes a dialysis device, to which a front plate 24 is articulated via an articulated connection 22 with an articulation axis A22. Various devices and plug-in locations are usually integrated into the front plate 24 of the dialysis device, such as a peristaltic pump, an infusion set, etc., as well as access to the front plate 24 of the dialysis device. Figure 3 26, into which, for example, a suction rod can be inserted, which is connected via a hose to a bucket (not shown), which is positioned, for example, on a base plate / base 28 of the dialysis device 20 below the front plate 24. In the embodiment shown, the cartridges 34 are identically constructed, but the cartridges can also have different sizes.

[0041] Entrance 26 Figure 2 The inlet is arranged in an insert 30, which is Figure 5 2 and has an inset wall 32 which is inclined a few degrees relative to the front plate 24, so that the inlet 26 can be more easily accessible to the operator of the dialysis device and can be better seen from above. Figure 5 As can be best seen in FIG. 2 , an axis of the inlet 26 which is generally perpendicular to the inset wall 32 is indicated by A26.

[0042] When the front cover 24 is closed, the inlet 26 is Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 1 , the cartridge 34 is axially and radially aligned and sealingly located in front of the cartridge 34, which has an axis A34 and is usually installed in the dialysis device 20 such that the axis A34 is inclined relative to the horizontal plane by a determined small angle, which can be set in the range of 60°, preferably up to 45° and, for example, between 20° and 30°. For this purpose, a centering interface, which will be described in more detail below, is provided between the cartridge 34 and the front plate 24, which allows the cartridge 34 installed in the dialysis device 20 to be sealed cleanly and without gaps when the front plate 24 is closed, without the need for cumbersome installation and adjustment operations.

[0043] The cartridge 34 has a tubular inner component 34A, which is installed in the dialysis device 20, and a coaxial outer tubular component 34B, which has an inlet connection 36, for example, for disinfectant, and which is provided with an outlet connection 38 and with a centering joint surface 42 at the end, see Figure 6 In the embodiment shown, the engagement surface 42 (hereinafter referred to as the centering surface on the barrel side) is formed by a conical surface that is interrupted multiple times on the circumference, so that the axis A42 of the centering surface 42 coincides with the axis A34. The barrel 34 is guided movably in an axially limited manner in a bearing body 40, which is configured as a sliding bearing for the barrel 34. More precisely, the barrel 34 is accommodated in a cylindrical bearing bore 44 (see Fig.10) on the bearing body a preload spring 46 is supported which pushes the cylinder 34 and thus the tubular member 34B towards the front plate 24.

[0044] In the unengaged state of the interface, ie when the front plate 24 is open, the preload spring 46 presses the cartridge 34 into position. Fig. 8A , in which the axial securing ring 48 stops on the bearing body 40 .

[0045] As a matching piece with the first centering surface 42 on the cylinder 34, a centering surface 50 on the front cover side is constructed in the embedded wall 32 (the centering surface is a conical surface with an axis A50 coinciding with the axis A26 in the design scheme), so that the centering surfaces 42 and 50 form a centering face pair, which is used to seal the opening of the cylinder 34 in the front plate 24 when the front plate 24 is closed. The following arrangement is adopted for this purpose:

[0046] Since the front plate 24 is movably mounted on the dialysis device 20, the centering surface 50 in the embedded wall 32 limits the circular segment movement, so that at the beginning of the closing movement of the front plate 24, the axis A26 of the centering surface 50 is not aligned with the axis A34 of the centering surface 42 on the cartridge 34. Fig. 7A It is shown schematically in FIG.

[0047] As the closing process progresses, the centering surfaces 42, 50 come closer and closer, so that the axes A26 and A34 gradually align with each other. Through the initial eccentric contact of the centering surfaces 42 and 50, the member 34B of the cylinder 34 moves axially against the force of the preload spring 46. At the same time, the arrangement allows the bearing portion guiding the member 34B to allow a compensating movement, which allows the centering surfaces 42, 50 to enter the cylinder 34 without constraint. Figure 7B In the illustrated joined position, the centering surface axes A42 and A50 are aligned with each other. In this joined position, the centering surfaces 42, 50 designed as conical surfaces completely abut against each other, thereby providing complete centering of the interface. Figure 8B In this position shown in FIG. 4 , in which the axial retaining ring 48 is lifted off the bearing body 40 , the sealing ring 56 accommodated in the annular groove 52 of the radial flange 54 is lifted off the front plate 24 , more specifically from the insert 30 (see FIG. 4 ) located in the front plate 24 . Figure 7B ) is elastically deformed, whereby the inlet 26 of the plug-in location is sealed in a fluid-tight manner.

[0048] If the centering surface 50 in the front plate 24 has an axis A50 that is tilted downwardly at a predetermined angle relative to the dialysis device 20 relative to a plane perpendicular to the hinge axis A22 of the front plate 24, the axes A26 and A34 can be easily aligned.

[0049] Since the guided bearing of the component 34B of the cartridge 34 is a cylindrical sliding bearing and since the movement of the front plate 24 during the closing process follows a circular movement curve, the bearing body 40 is installed in the dialysis device 20 as follows:

[0050] from Fig. 9 and Fig.10 It can be seen that the bearing body 40 is mounted on a plate 58 which is in a plane perpendicular to the axis A22 of the hinge 22 of the front plate 24. This is equivalent to the following meaning that the fastening bolts denoted by 60 of the bearing body 40 extend parallel to the hinge axis A22. In order to be able to compensate for angular deviations or alignment errors when closing and opening the front plate, the predetermined play when the bearing body 40 is tightened is utilized. For this purpose, holes 62 (see Fig. 9 ) is manufactured to have a predetermined machining allowance greater than the bolt diameter. After initial tightening to tighten the bearing body 40, the self-locking nut 64 is slightly loosened, thereby giving the bearing body 40 the required movement clearance to compensate for the above-mentioned angular deviation.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the member 34B is guided in a cylindrical sliding bearing which allows a linear displacement movement. Fig.11 and Fig.12 A variation on the guidance of member 34B is described.

[0052] The bearing body 40, which is fixedly screwed to the plate 58, receives in this variant a sliding bearing part 66 which is designed in this embodiment as a ball socket with a cylindrical bearing hole 68 for receiving the component 34B of the cartridge 34. Such a bearing is available on the market as a so-called pillow block bearing and is sold, for example, by the company IGUS GmbH as a bearing with W300 ball socket Pillow block bearings are sold under the name.

[0053] This type of support provides the cartridge 34 with an additional degree of freedom of movement with respect to the orientation of the axis A34 of the cartridge 34, so that when the front plate 24 is closed, it is no longer necessary to arrange the plate 58 perpendicularly to the hinge axis A22 in order to compensate for angular deviations of the axes A34 and A26. Thus, in the dialysis device 20, more room is left for tilting the axis of the cartridge 34.

[0054] The following uses Figures 13 to 15 A further variant embodiment of an interface is described. Components of this variant that correspond to certain components of the above-described embodiment are provided with corresponding reference numerals preceded by "1".

[0055] from Fig.14 It can be seen in FIG. 1 that two horizontally adjacent cylinders 134 are supported in a guided manner in a common bearing body 140 .

[0056] The cylinder represented by 134, such as according to Fig.13 As shown by the longitudinal section of the cartridge 134, the design is such that the front component 134B (which again has a conical centering surface 142 at the end, which is interrupted several times on the circumference) is slidably accommodated in the component 134A which is accommodated in a fixed position in the dialysis device 20. The complementary conical centering surface in the insert 130 in the front plate 124 is denoted by the reference numeral 150. Figures 1 to 12 Unlike the embodiment of the present invention, the guided bearing portion of the component 134B in the bearing body 140 is configured so that the bearing portion is formed by a slightly conical bearing surface 144. The bearing surface can have a cone angle of several degrees and the bearing surface can be widened in any direction.

[0057] In the embodiment shown, the conical bearing surface widens into the component 134A mounted in the device. This design of the bearing portion of the cartridge 314 provides the cartridge with the necessary freedom of movement when the front plate 24 is closed, so that the centering surfaces 142, 150 can enter the conical surface axis aligned with each other without restriction. Fig.15 , while the component 134B of the cartridge 134 moves inwards, i.e. towards the bearing body 140, against the force of the preload spring 146. The permitted inclination of the longitudinal axis A134 of the cartridge 134 can be influenced by selecting the cone angle of the bearing surface 144. In this way, for example, the axis A134 of the cartridge 134 can be inclined at an angle between 20° and 30° relative to the horizontal.

[0058] A further deviation from the above-described exemplary embodiment is that the sealing ring, denoted by reference numeral 156, is received in a circumferential groove 170 formed in the centering surface 142 of the component 134B, which is designed as an outer cone. Fig.15 In the joined position of the interface shown in , the sealing ring 156 is elastically compressed to such an extent that the centering surfaces 142 , 150 of the centering surface pairs lie against one another over their entire areas, so that their respective axes coincide.

[0059] Of course, deviations from the described embodiments are possible without departing from the essential idea of ​​the invention.

[0060] The number and position assignment of the interfaces can be varied freely without having to change the basic principle of the non-adjustable seal.

[0061] In the above, the centering surfaces are described as conical surfaces. These centering surfaces can also be formed by spherical segment surfaces and spherical socket surfaces, etc.

[0062] The exemplary embodiment has a structure in which the convex centering surface is formed on the cylinder and the concave centering surface is present in the insert of the front plate. However, this arrangement can also be reversed.

[0063] The movement of the front plate is also not limited to a pivoting movement about the hinge axis. The interface can also be used in other movement modes of a movable element, for example a front plate of a dialysis device.

[0064] The present invention therefore provides a centering interface between a tubular element installed in a device, in particular a receiving tube (tube) for a suction rod of a dialysis device, and a movable element, in particular a front plate of a dialysis device, which is guided, for example, pivotably about an axis. A conical surface pair is provided between the element installed in the device and the movable element, and when establishing a preferably sealed engagement of the interface, the element installed in the device can move in an axial direction when the movable element moves and when the conical surface approaches accompanying this movement, overcoming the force of the preload spring, while the guiding support of the element allows a movement that allows the centering surface to be brought unconstrained into an engagement position with the centering surface axes aligned with each other.

Claims

1. A centering interface between a receiving tube of a cartridge (34; 134) for a suction rod of a dialysis device (20) in a device and a movable front plate (24; 124) of the dialysis device (20) which is preferably pivotally guided about an axis (A22), wherein: A pair of centering surfaces (42, 50) is disposed between the barrel (34; 134) and the front plate (24; 124), and When establishing a preferably sealed connection of the interface, the cylinder (34; 134) is able to move in an axial direction against the force of a preload spring (46) when the front plate (24; 124) moves and when the centering surfaces (42; 50; 142, 150) approach accompanying this movement, while the guiding support of the element permits a movement which allows the centering surfaces (42, 50) to be brought unrestrained into a connection position with the centering surface axes (A42, A50) aligned with each other.

2. The interface according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cartridge (34; 134) is guided in a sliding bearing.

3. The interface according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front plate (24) is pivotably guided about an axis (A22), and the sliding bearing is arranged in a bearing body (40) which is movable in the device at least in a plane perpendicular to the axis of movement (A22) of the front plate (24).

4. The interface according to claim 2, characterized in that: The sliding bearing is fixed in the bearing body (40) via a ball socket.

5. The interface according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The sliding bearing has a slightly conical bearing surface (144) which widens toward the end of the cartridge (134).

6. The interface according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that: The preload spring (46; 146) is supported on the bearing body (40; 140).

7. The interface according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: An outer cone surface serving as a centering surface (42) is formed on the end side facing the cylinder (34), and can form a centering fit with an inner cone surface serving as a centering surface (50) in the front plate (24).

8. The interface according to claim 7, characterized in that: On the cartridge (34), the outer centering surface (42) is connected to a radial flange (54), in which an annular seal (56) is accommodated for bearing against the inner wall of the front plate (24).

9. The interface according to claim 7, characterized in that: A circumferential groove (170) is formed in the outer centering surface (142) for accommodating a sealing ring (156).

10. The interface according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The axis (A34) of the barrel (34) is inclined at an angle of up to 60°, preferably up to 45°, particularly preferably up to 30° relative to the horizontal.

11. The interface according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The centering surface (50) in the front plate (24) has an axis (A50) which is inclined at a preferably acute angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the axis of movement (A22) of the front plate (24).

12. The interface according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that: The centering surface pairs (42, 50; 142, 150) are formed by conical surface pairs.

13. A device for extracorporeal blood treatment, in particular a dialysis apparatus, having at least one interface according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein: A front plate (24; 124) attached to the housing of the dialysis device via an articulated connection receives an insert (30; 130) in which the centering surface (50; 150) is formed.

15. The device according to claim 14, characterized in that The insert (30; 130) is constructed for at least two centering surfaces (150) of correspondingly side-by-side mounted cylinders (134), the at least two centering surfaces being preferably arranged horizontally or vertically side by side in a plane perpendicular to the axis of movement (A22) of the front plate (24; 124), wherein the side-by-side mounted cylinders (134) are preferably assigned a common bearing body (140).

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