Balanced Reciprocating Drive for Hands-Free Breast Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hands-free breast pump designs are unbalanced, requiring significant force during the inward stroke, leading to potential misalignment and malfunction due to the breast cup popping out of its seat, and are inefficient with high power consumption and motor stress, making them difficult to assemble and use effectively.
Innovation Solution
A balanced push-pull vacuum generation system that applies pumping force to the bellows structure during both inward and outward strokes, utilizing a cam drive system to translate rotary electric motor power into reciprocating linear action, reducing the resiliency required of the bellows structure and optimizing the operating profile for reduced noise, motor current spikes, and gear stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If an unbalanced pump mechanism is used to apply force only during the inward stroke, then the breast cup can be simpler in design, but the mechanism requires significant force that can cause the breast cup to pop out of its seat and the motor experiences high stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a counterbalance mechanism where a counterweight is positioned to offset the force generated during the inward stroke. This counterbalancing force prevents the breast cup from popping out of its seat while maintaining the simplicity of the breast cup design. The counterweight system effectively neutralizes the excessive force that would otherwise require complex restraining features.
2Device complexity
If an unbalanced pump mechanism is used that relies on bellows resiliency for the outward stroke, then the mechanism can be simpler, but the motor requires higher power and experiences greater stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a balanced pump mechanism that applies motor force during both the inward and outward strokes through periodic cam-driven action. The cam mechanism converts rotary motor motion into reciprocating linear motion, providing controlled force application in both directions. This periodic force application balances the load on the motor, reducing peak power requirements and motor stress while maintaining mechanism simplicity.
3Reliability
If restraining features such as tabs, detent mechanisms or support rings are added to prevent the breast cup from popping out, then the breast cup can be secured in its seat, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a counterbalance mechanism to eliminate the need for complex restraining features. By positioning a counterweight to offset the force during the inward stroke, the system prevents the breast cup from popping out of its seat without requiring tabs, detent mechanisms, or support rings. This approach maintains reliability while keeping the device simple and easy to manufacture.
4Device complexity
If the bellows structure is designed with high resiliency to generate suction during the outward stroke, then the pump can be simpler, but the force required during the inward stroke increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a balanced pump mechanism that applies motor force during both inward and outward strokes through cam-driven periodic action. This eliminates the need for high bellows resiliency by providing active motor assistance during the outward stroke. The cam mechanism converts rotary motion into controlled reciprocating linear motion, distributing the force requirement evenly across both strokes and reducing the force needed to compress the bellows during the inward stroke.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The balanced design results in a more efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective breast pump with comparable suction levels at lower power consumption, longer battery life, and fewer parts, making it easier to manufacture and assemble while maintaining robust performance.
Implementation Method 1
The pump mechanism includes a cam drive system that translates rotary electric motor power into reciprocating linear action of an actuator arm that drives the bellows structure
Implementation Method 2
The bellows structure acts like a spring that charges (resists the pump force) during the inward stroke and discharges (assists the pump force) during the outward stroke
Data Source
AI summary
A hands-free breast pump that includes a balanced push-pull reciprocating drive system that applies pumping force to a vacuum chamber formed by a breast interface cup during inward and outward pump strokes. The breast pump includes a breast cup that has a resilient bellows structure that partially collapses the volume of the vacuum chamber during the inward stroke and recovers the volume of the vacuum chamber during the outward stroke. The pump mechanism includes a cam drive system that translates rotary electric motor power into reciprocating linear action of an actuator arm that drives the bellows structure. The bellows structure acts like a spring that charges (resists the pump force) during the inward stroke and discharges (assists the pump force) during the outward stroke, and the shape of the cam track is designed to produce a desired operating profile for the pump.