Rotating Bobbin Tube Clamp for Precise Flow Restriction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamping mechanisms for flexible tubes in medical settings struggle to precisely control flow rates, often requiring significant deformation of the tube before a noticeable effect on flow is observed, and can cause strain on connections due to uneven grip strength and potential tube pulling.
Innovation Solution
A dual-bobbins mechanism with rotatable, translatable bobbins featuring tube-engaging surface portions that change shape around the circumference, allowing for precise control of flow restriction by altering the free space between the bobbins, and a friction-reducing arrangement to prevent tube pulling, with a synchronized rotation and movement system to ensure accurate and controlled deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual clamps squeeze the tube to restrict flow, then flow restriction is achieved, but the tube must be squeezed to about half its original diameter before a noticeable effect on flow rate is observed
Solution Approach 1:
The tube-engaging surface portions have varying shapes around the circumference of each bobbin, creating different local compression characteristics. This allows the clamp to apply pressure at optimal locations on the tube to achieve flow restriction with less overall tube deformation, addressing the issue where uniform squeezing requires excessive compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The bobbins are rotatable, allowing the shape of the tube-engaging surface portions to dynamically change relative to the tube during operation. By rotating the bobbins, the system can optimize the engagement geometry to achieve effective flow restriction with minimal tube deformation, rather than requiring static high-compression positioning.
2Measurement precision
If the tube is squeezed further to restrict flow, then flow restriction is improved, but strain on connections increases due to uneven grip strength and potential tube pulling
Solution Approach 1:
The varying shape of tube-engaging surface portions around the bobbin circumference creates localized compression zones that distribute pressure more evenly on the tube. This prevents concentrated stress points that would otherwise cause uneven grip strength and tube pulling, reducing strain on connections while maintaining effective flow restriction.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction-reducing arrangement is incorporated into the tube-engaging surface portions to preemptively reduce grip-induced friction before excessive compression occurs. This preliminary friction reduction prevents the tube from being pulled or strained on connections during the compression process, allowing for safer flow restriction at lower compression levels.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional clamps are used, then flow restriction can be achieved, but it is a challenge to set a flow rate at a particular restricted level
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable bobbins with varying surface shapes enable dynamic adjustment of compression geometry. By rotating the bobbins to different angular positions, the system can precisely control the amount and distribution of tube compression, allowing operators to set specific flow rates at restricted levels that would be difficult to achieve with static conventional clamps.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes geometric parameters (bobbin rotation angle, surface engagement depth) to achieve different flow restriction levels. This parameter variability allows for fine-tuned control over flow rates at restricted levels, providing the adaptability needed for precise flow rate setting while maintaining ease of operation through rotational adjustment.
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
Enables fine-tuned control over flow rates, allowing for significant reduction or complete blockage of flow, while minimizing strain on connections and preventing tube pulling, thus providing a versatile and reliable clamping mechanism for medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
axial rotation of the bobbins reduces the free space to allow a tube provided in the free space to be squeezed by an amount dependent on the rotation of the bobbins, so as to deform a tube sufficiently to affect flow through the tube
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping mechanism (30) for clamping a flexible tube comprises two rotatable bobbins (22, 32), each with a tube-engaging surface portion (24) defining boundaries of: a free space through which a tube may extend. The shape of: the tube-engaging surface portion (24) changes around the bobbin circumference, such that axial rotation of the bobbins (22, 32) reduces the free space and thereby squeezes the tube. This allows the flow through the tube to be altered dependent on the rotation of: the bobbins.