DEVICE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING A HOSE CLAMP INSIDE A PUMP HOUSING

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for opening and closing, in particular a hose clamp arranged inside a pump housing, for the safe end position control of a handle. Background of the invention

[0002] For example, in medical technology, pumps such as peristaltic pumps are used in which the fluid to be pumped is forced through the tubing by a rotor head through external mechanical deformation (squeeze pump principle). These pumps typically use safety clamps or hose clamps on the tubing to prevent so-called "free-flow" (FFC). "Free-flow" refers to the flow of fluid due to gravity, which can potentially lead to dangerous over-infusion. The clamps are typically located directly on the (infusion) tubing to either allow or prevent the flow of infusion fluid through it. To insert an (infusion) tube into an (infusion) pump, a pump flap hinged to the pump housing is usually opened, and if the pump has stationary safety clamps, the tubing is inserted.

[0003] Generally, safety clamps are forcibly opened or closed indirectly by manually operating the pump's valve, thus automatically preventing unwanted fluid flow through the hose. In some cases, the safety clamp may need to be manually closed before the pump valve can be properly closed. Often, however, the hose-side safety clamp is first manually closed and then indirectly (automatically) opened again when the pump valve closes. A hose clamp that is closed after the pump valve closes can be automatically reopened by an actuator on the pump for pump operation. In addition to pumps with such an opening function, there are also actuators for a corresponding closing function to close the hose-side safety clamp.

[0004] In known opening and closing devices, the device begins the opening or closing process when a handle / lever is manually actuated, thereby directly or indirectly releasing a retaining element. The handle is typically hinged to a housing or flap designed to close a housing opening, with the pivoting movement being converted into an axial movement of a locking bolt that can thus engage and disengage from the retaining element. State of the art

[0005] German patent DE 4310878 discloses, for example, a handle for windows, doors, or the like. In this case, a handlebar and a crank form a toggle lever pair. A handgrip rotates around a crankshaft, thus acting as the lever for the crank. The crank, in turn, is pivotally attached to a handlebar by means of a toggle lever pivot bearing. The handlebar is pivotally attached to a sliding plate. The purpose of this arrangement is to achieve a compact design.A fundamental problem with lever handle designs used to operate / axially displace a locking bolt is that restoring forces, as well as increased friction in the actuating force transmission cable and / or between the locking bolt and bolt guide, combined with user carelessness, can lead to the handle / lever not fully engaging in the closed position after manual operation. The closed position is the position in which the handle is in its final position for the locking process. Unintentional opening of the locking mechanism, particularly in medical settings, can then lead to hazards.

[0006] If the locking mechanism is also assigned additional functions, such as the actuation of a safety / hose clamp parallel to the closing movement of the locking bolt, as described above, there is an additional risk that if the handle lever does not reach the closed position, the safety / hose clamp will also not be fully engaged in its clamping position, where it is normally locked by an integrated locking mechanism. It is therefore of paramount importance that the handle lever of an opening and closing device, particularly in the medical field, reliably reaches and maintains its final position as defined above.

[0007] Furthermore, an opening and closing device is known from DE 11 66 040, with an actuating lever which is articulated to a pivot bolt of an intermediate member, via which a locking rod can be actuated.

[0008] US 3,341,239 further discloses a handle on a door by means of which a (locking) pin can be moved via a leg hinged to it and an arm hinged to the leg. In other words, the lever joint according to US 3,341,239 thus consists of two components, namely the leg and the arm hinge, for transmitting force from the handle to the (locking) pin.

[0009] Finally, US 4 025 096 discloses a door opening and closing mechanism according to the preamble of claim 1. Brief description of the invention

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide an opening and closing device (closing mechanism) that enables vibration-proof and positionally secure closing of at least one flap / door or the like, thus making unintentional opening more difficult. At the same time, the opening and closing device should also be compatible, inexpensive to manufacture, and require minimal effort to open.

[0011] This problem is solved by a device for opening and closing a door or flap with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.

[0012] The basic concept of the present invention further provides a device for opening and closing, hereinafter also simply referred to as a closing mechanism, with a handle lever which, in its central section, can be hinged or is hinged to a housing, flap, or door in a rocker-like manner, whereby the handle lever is divided longitudinally into a (long) actuation section and a (short) action section, at the end of which a lever joint is hinged, which in turn is articulated to a sliding track or bolt. According to the invention, the three aforementioned pivot points / positions, namely between the handle lever and the housing / flap / door (hereinafter referred to as the "first hinge"), between the handle lever and the lever joint (hereinafter referred to as the "second hinge"), and between the lever joint and the sliding track (hereinafter referred to as the "third hinge"), fulfill the following spatial geometry: In a specific intermediate operating position before reaching the aforementioned defined end position of the handle, the first to third hinges are aligned. Upon reaching the aforementioned defined end position of the handle, the first and third hinges are aligned, while the second hinge is spaced (perpendicularly) from this line in the opening direction of the handle. At the latest upon reaching the (fully) open position of the handle, and in particular upon exceeding the specified intermediate operating position in the direction of the opening position, the first and third hinges are aligned, while the second hinge is spaced (perpendicularly) from this line in the closing direction of the handle.

[0013] In other words, according to the present disclosure, a device for opening and closing is provided, comprising a door or flap of a device housing and a handle pivotably attached to a flap or door housing on a handle axis forming a first hinge, and a lever joint pivotally connected to the handle on a lever joint axis forming a second hinge and to a sliding cam longitudinally guided on the flap or door housing on a lever joint axis forming a third hinge, wherein the lever joint axis forming the third hinge and the handle axis forming the first hinge lie on an imaginary line;wherein the lever pivot axis forming the second hinge is located on one side of the imaginary line in an opening direction of the handle when the handle is in the closed position and on the other side of the imaginary line when the handle is in the open position, wherein the sliding cam has an engagement longitudinal groove that opens in the closing direction of the sliding cam, such that when the sliding cam is moved into the closing position as a result of pivoting the handle in the closing direction, a bolt arranged on the side of the device housing is inserted into the engagement longitudinal groove and thus attracts the flap or door pivotably mounted on the device housing against the device housing.

[0014] That is, the opening and closing device according to the invention has a handle that is pivotably attached to a housing / flap / door, for example, of a medical pump, by means of a handle axis. Furthermore, the opening and closing device according to the invention has a lever joint (connecting rod) that is pivotably connected at one end to the handle via the second lever joint axis and at the third lever joint axis to the sliding cam. The third lever joint axis and the first handle axis lie on an imaginary (connecting) line. When the handle is in the (fully) closed position, the second lever joint axis is located in front of the imaginary line (viewed in the direction of actuation of the handle lever), and when the handle is in the open position, in which the device releases a counter-bearing roller, it is located behind it (also viewed in the direction of actuation of the handle lever).

[0015] Specifically, the handle lever of the device according to the invention is adapted for opening and closing and is suitable for being rotatably mounted on the door / flap or the like via a first handle axis / handle rotation axis, which is hinged, for example, to a pump housing. The handle / handle lever extends beyond the handle axis (forming the action section) and is rotatably connected to the lever joint there by means of the rotatable / rotatable second lever joint axis. The lever joint, which is connected to the handle at one end by means of the second lever joint axis, has the third lever joint axis at its other end and is thus rotatably connected to the sliding mechanism.

[0016] The straight, imaginary line between the third lever joint axis and the first handle axis forms an imaginary axis. When the handle is in a closed position, i.e., in its closing position, the second lever joint axis is located below this imaginary axis. "Below the imaginary axis" means that it is located on the side toward which the handle is pulled or unfolded to open. In other words, "below the imaginary axis" refers to the direction of the outer side of the housing / flap.

[0017] Due to the arrangement described above, the second lever pivot axis (hinge) rotates on a circular circumference around the first handle pivot axis (hinge) and simultaneously around the third lever pivot axis (hinge), since the latter is guided longitudinally along with the sliding track. Because the handle acts as an extended lever on the first handle pivot axis, a toggle lever effect is achieved. Due to this toggle lever arrangement and the spatial geometry defined above, when opening, the sliding track moves (slightly) from the closed position of the handle lever first in the closing direction before moving in the opening direction. This effect is achieved because the first lever pivot axis must first move through the dead center (where all three pivots / hinges are aligned).

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the handle / lever is pre-tensioned in the closing direction by means of a spring. Preferably, the spring is supported at one end against the housing / flap / door, then winds around the first handle axis and is finally supported at its other end on the handle, so that a pre-tension of the spring forces the handle towards its fully closed position.

[0019] In a further preferred embodiment, the lever joint (connecting rod) is angled, preferably at an angle between 90° and 180°, and particularly preferably at an angle between 120° and 145°. In other words, the lever joint is an angled element, similar to a boomerang. This shape allows the lever joint to additionally function as an opening-angle limiting stop for the handle, which engages in the groove of the angled lever joint when in its maximum open position. In this way, the stop formed by the lever joint can limit the maximum opening angle of the handle to less than or equal to 90°, and particularly preferably 85°, with respect to the closed position.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, the third lever pivot axis (hinge) is guided in a guide groove of the housing / flap, for example, of a pump, preferably by means of a roller on the third lever pivot axis. In other words, the housing of the flap / door or similar component has a guide groove or elongated slot through which the third lever pivot axis projects and is held. At one end, the third lever pivot axis is attached to or connected with the lever joint, and at the other end with the slide gate, with a gap between them that acts as a guide / guide rod in the guide groove. The roller or similar component can be mounted at this gap to reduce friction. The guide groove is parallel to the slide gate and preferably parallel to the outer surface of the housing / flap, i.e., it opens in the direction in which the handle is folded.The guide groove thus defines the movement / sliding direction of the lever joint, whereby the slide cam is mounted in such a way that its direction of movement in the cam longitudinal direction is parallel to the guide groove.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the slider track is supported on the first handle axis, preferably on a roller on the first handle axis. In other words, the slider track provides a support edge / guide edge / stop for guiding the first handle axis. The first handle axis, around which the handle can rotate and by means of which the handle is attached to the housing / flap, is inserted into a first bearing boss on the housing / flap at one end, which lies on the opposite side of the slider track. At the other end of the first handle axis, it is guided through a second bearing boss; however, unlike the first bearing boss, this second boss is a through-hole, through which the first handle axis protrudes through the housing / flap and forms a guide projection / guide stop for the slider track at this end.Preferably, a roller or similar component is attached at this end to reduce friction between the first handle axis and the slide mechanism and to enable low-friction sliding. Simultaneously, a roller at this point can serve to fix the first handle axis axially within the housing.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the sliding cam engages a counter-bearing roller in the closed position and releases it in the open position. In other words, the function of the device is to open and close a flap or the like, and to securely close it. This is achieved by the sliding cam engaging a counter-bearing roller on the housing of a device / pump or the like. The sliding cam moves in a direction of movement parallel to the guide groove and the stop edge of the sliding cam for the first handle axis. In one embodiment, the lever joint can be replaced by a spring or the like to provide better tactile feedback and create higher resistance before reaching the dead center. After passing the dead center as defined above, the spring assists in opening the handle and counteracts any closing force.

[0023] In one embodiment, the method for closing and opening a device comprises a handle pivotably mounted on a housing / flap by means of a first handle axis, and a lever joint pivotally connected to the handle at a second lever joint axis and to a sliding cam at a third lever joint axis. During opening, the sliding cam initially moves in the closing direction and only moves in the opening direction after passing through a dead center point between the second lever joint axis and the first handle axis, passing through the first lever joint axis. Brief description of the characters

[0024] The invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which one embodiment is shown by way of example. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the connection between the sliding mechanism, the hinge lever and the handle of the device for opening and closing. Fig. 2shows a perspective view of individual components of the device for opening and closing arranged in a housing. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the housing of the opening and closing device without components. Fig. 4 shows a top view of components of the device for opening and closing in the closed state. Fig. 5 shows a top view of components of the device for opening and closing in the dead center position. Fig. 6 shows a top view of components of the device for opening and closing in the open state. Character description

[0025] In Figure 1Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the connection between a sliding cam 1, a hinged lever 2, and a handle / handle 4 of the opening and closing device. The handle 4 is rotatably mounted on a (first) handle / flap handle axis 6 and is rotatably connected at one end, opposite the other handle area with respect to the handle axis 6, to one end of the hinged lever 2 via a (second) lever joint axis 8. The hinged lever 2 is in turn rotatably connected at its other end to the sliding cam 1 by means of a (third) lever joint axis 10.

[0026] The handle 4 is essentially flat on its front side, i.e., the surface of the handle 4 facing the operator, i.e., an outside of a device / equipment or the like. Its grip area is ergonomically designed, meaning that the back side has rounded corners and edges for improved, ergonomic finger placement. The handle 4 is rotatably mounted on the (first) handle axis 6. The handle 4 extends beyond the (first) handle / rotation axis 6. In other words, the handle 4 forms a long lever for pulling and pushing on one side of the handle axis 6 and a shorter lever on the other side for pivoting the first lever joint axis 8 and thus actuating the lever joint 2 itself, resulting in a leverage effect.

[0027] The lever joint 2 is pivotally connected at one end to the handle 4 via the second lever joint axis 8 and at the other end to the sliding cam 1 via the third lever joint axis 10. The lever joint 2 is angled in a groove on one side, which engages / contacts the handle 4 when it is opened, and rounded on the other side. The angled section preferably has an angle between 90° and 180° and particularly preferably an angle between 120° and 145°.

[0028] The sliding cam 1 is designed to be flat, preferably made of strip steel. The sliding cam 1 has at least one engagement longitudinal groove 12, which opens in the sliding direction of the sliding cam 1, particularly in the closing sliding direction, such that when the sliding cam 1, which is mounted, for example, on a flap, is moved into the closing position, a bolt 32 arranged on the side of a device housing (e.g., the housing of a medical pump) is inserted into the engagement longitudinal groove 12 and thus pulls the flap, which is pivotally mounted on the housing, against the housing. Furthermore, the sliding cam 1 has a stop surface / stop edge / guide edge / guide surface 14, which points towards the front of the flap. This stop surface or stop edge / guide edge 14 is in contact with the (first) handle axis 4 and is prevented by it from rotating about the third lever pivot axis 10.The (first) handle axis 4 preferably has a roller to minimize friction between itself and the slider cam 1.

[0029] In Figure 2 A perspective view of individual components of the opening and closing device, arranged in the housing 16 of the flap / door, is shown. In other words, the sliding cam 1, the lever joint 2, the handle 4 and a spring 18 are shown in their assembled / installed state.

[0030] The sliding cam 1 therefore rests on its flat side on the housing 16 of the flap, more precisely on the upper edge of the flap or the like. While the sliding cam 1 forms the stop edge 14 on one side, against which the end of the (first) handle axis 4 slides in contact, on the opposite side of the sliding cam 1 it is held or guided by a sliding cam guide 20 of the flap housing 16. On the upper side of the flap housing 16, i.e., in the perspective view of the Figures 1 or 3At the top, a guide groove 22 is provided. The guide groove 22 is designed as an elongated slot in which an upper section of a third lever pivot axis 10 is guided. This third pivot axis is arranged between the slide cam 1 and the lever joint 2 as a third hinge. The elongated slot 22 is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slide cam 1. In other words, the slide cam 1 rests on the flap housing 16 and is connected to the pivot lever 2 via the (third) lever pivot axis 10, which in turn is connected to the handle 4 via the (second) lever pivot axis 6.

[0031] In Figure 3 The housing 16 of the flap is shown alone, without any other components. The handle 4 is spring-loaded in the closing direction, i.e., towards the outside of the flap, by the spring 18 and is indirectly connected to the flap housing 16 by the spring 18 and directly by a through-bearing dome for the flap handle 24 on the upper side of the top view. Figure 2, i.e., the side facing the slide gate 1, and a bearing dome for the flap handle 26 is mounted on the lower side. In other words, the handle shaft 6 sits on / in the flap housing 16 on / in the lower bearing dome 26, while it is guided through the upper through-bearing dome 24 and protrudes through it on the other side of the flap housing 16. The lever joint 2 is located in a space 28 within the flap housing 16, in which it can rotate.

[0032] The spring 18 is held at one end / strut in a spring receptacle 30 of the flap housing 16. The spring 18 is wound several times around the handle axis 6 in its central section and is attached / held at its other end / strut to the handle 4 in such a way that the spring 18 pre-tensions the handle 4 in the closing direction, i.e., the position that the handle 4 assumes when closed.

[0033] In Figure 4This shows a top view of the components of the device for opening and closing in the closed position. In other words, it shows Figure 4 the state when the handle is in its closing position. In this position, the device housing-side bolt 32 is located in the longitudinal groove 12 provided and adapted for this purpose, so that the flap is pulled firmly against the device housing. An imaginary line, so to speak an imaginary axis 34, is drawn between the third lever joint axis 10 and the first handle axis 6. In the Figure 4In the top view, the second lever pivot axis 8 is located below the closed end position, i.e., towards the outside of the flap. When the handle 4 is actuated, i.e., when the handle 4 is opened, the slider cam 1 moves in the direction of arrow 36, first away from the first handle axis and then towards it. The direction of movement 36 indicates the axis on which the slider cam 1 can move. Since the slider cam 1 is moved by the third lever pivot axis 10, which is guided by the guide groove 22, the movement of the slider cam 1 is parallel to the guide groove 22.

[0034] If the handle 4 is further actuated, i.e., pulled, and thus rotates clockwise around the (first) handle axis 6, the (second) lever joint axis 8 is guided clockwise around the handle axis 6 on a radius r and reaches the dead center position as in Figure 5The dead center position is the position in which the second lever joint axis 8 is located on the imaginary axis 34 between the (first) handle axis 6 and the third lever joint axis 10. Simultaneously, the second lever joint axis 8 also rotates around the third lever joint axis 10 on a radius. Because the third lever joint axis 10 is movable in the guide groove 22 in the direction of movement, the distance between the third lever joint axis 10 and the (first) handle axis 6 increases. This results in the slider cam 1 moving away from the (first) handle axis 6 in the direction of movement 36 towards the bolt 32. Preferably, the slider cam 1 moves by approximately 0.3 mm due to the rotation of the handle 4 and the resulting positioning of the second lever joint axis 6 on the imaginary axis 34. The handle is preferably rotated by the angle αThe lever arm moves approximately 6° to the axis of movement 36 in the direction of the flap's front. Further actuation of the handle 4 causes the second lever arm axis 8 to leave its dead center and continue moving clockwise around the (first) handle axis 6 by radius r. This changes the direction in which the slide gate 1 is moved, and the slide gate 1 moves away from the bolt 32. The distance between the third lever arm axis 10 and the (first) handle axis 4 decreases.

[0035] In Figure 6The device for opening and closing is shown in its fully open position. In this position, the handle 4 is in a position where it has traversed an angle β of approximately 85° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the sliding cam 1. The sliding cam 1 travels a distance d of approximately 15 mm, thereby disengaging the bolt 32 from the guide groove 12. The lever joint 2 forms a stop 38, which is defined by the angle on the side of the lever joint 2. The stop 38 limits the relative rotation of the handle 4 in the opening direction, preferably to an angle of approximately 85°. In other words, the handle 4 and the lever joint 2 act together according to the toggle lever principle, with the handle 4 being limited to the relative opening angle by the stop 38. Reference symbol list

[0036] 1 Slider track 2 Lever joint 4 Handle / Flap handle 6 Flap handle axis (first hinge) 8 Lever joint axis (second hinge) 10 Lever joint axis (third hinge) 12 Spherical bearing roller guide / guide groove 14 Stop surface / guide surface 16 Flap housing 18 Spring 20 Slider track guide 22 Guide groove 24 Through bearing dome for flap handle 26 Mounting bearing dome for flap handle 28 Installation space for lever joint 30 Spring receptacle 32 Counter bearing roller / bolt 34 Imaginary axis 36 Direction of movement of slider track 38 Stop α angle α β Angle β dDistance d rRadius r

Claims

1. A pump housing comprising a flap or door and a device for opening and closing the flap or door, the device comprising: a handle (4) that is pivotally attached to a flap or door housing (16) on a handle axis (6) forming a first hinge, and a lever joint (2), which is respectively connected pivotably to the handle (4) on a lever joint axis (8) forming a second hinge, and, on a lever joint axis (10) forming a third hinge, to a slide (1) which is guided longitudinally on the flap or door housing (16) relative to the latter, the lever joint axis (10) forming the third hinge and the handle axis (6) forming the first hinge lying on an imaginary line (34); wherein the lever joint axis (8) forming the second hinge, in the closed position of the handle (4), is located on one side of the imaginary line (34) in an opening direction of the handle (4) and, in the open position of the handle (4), is located on the other side of the imaginary line (34), the slide (1) having an engagement longitudinal groove (12) which opens in the closing direction of the slide such that, when the slide (1) is shifted in the closed position due to pivoting of the handle (4) in the closing direction, a bolt (32) arranged on the side of the pump housing slides into the engagement longitudinal groove (12) and thus tightens the flap or door pivotably mounted on the pump housing to the pump housing, wherein the slide (1) has a contact surface / edge or guide surface / edge (14) which points in the direction of the front side of the flap, the contact surface / edge or guide surface / edge (14) being in contact with a handle axis (4) and being prevented by the latter from turning about the third lever joint axis (10).

2. The pump housing according to claim 1, wherein the handle (4) is prestressed in the closing direction by means of a spring (18).

3. The pump housing according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lever joint (2) is angled, preferably at an angle between 90° and 180° and particularly preferably at an angle between 120° and 145°.

4. The pump housing according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lever joint (2) has or forms a stop (38) limiting the opening angle of the handle (4), wherein the stop (38) preferably limits the opening angle of the handle (4) to preferably about 85° with respect to the direction of movement.

5. The pump housing according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lever joint axis (10) forming the third hinge is at the same time configured for guidance in a guide groove (22) of the flap housing (16).

6. The pump housing according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (1) is supported on the handle axle (6), preferably on a roller at the end of the handle axle (6).

7. The pump housing according to claim 5, wherein the slide (1) is configured to be guided along the guide groove (22), wherein the guide groove (22) is preferably arranged parallel to a front side of the housing.

8. The pump housing according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the slide (1) engages the bolt (32) in the closed state and releases it in the open state.

9. A method for closing and opening a pump housing according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein during pivoting of the handle (4) in the opening direction the slide (1) first moves from a closing position to an open position in the closing direction and, after passing through the first lever joint axis (8) through a dead center between the lever joint axis (10) forming the third hinge and the handle axis (4) forming the first hinge, further moves in the opening direction.