Hose Pump Planetary Gear Threading Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

The introduction of a hose into existing peristaltic pumps is difficult and time-consuming due to the laborious threading process between the rollers and counter-pressure body.

Innovation Solution

The hose pump design incorporates a first and second planetary gear for each squeezing roller, allowing the carrier and rollers to rotate when the pump is running, facilitating hose insertion by static friction, and an optional threading device with a worm spindle and guide rollers for automatic hose threading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the hose is threaded between the rollers and counter-pressure body in existing peristaltic pumps, then the pump can convey the medium, but the threading process is difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose threading speedVSAvoidhose threading difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hose is pre-threaded through the threading device and guide rollers before the pump operates. The threading device positions the hose between the squeezing rollers and counter-pressure body in advance, so that when the pump starts, the hose is already in the correct position and can immediately convey medium without difficult manual threading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A threading device with guide rollers acts as an intermediary mechanism between the hose and the pump's squeezing rollers. This intermediate device facilitates the hose insertion process by guiding and positioning the hose automatically, reducing the difficulty and time of direct threading between rollers and counter-pressure body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the carrier and squeezing rollers rotate when the pump is running, then hose insertion is facilitated by static friction, but the mechanism complexity increases with dual planetary gears

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehose insertion easeVSAvoidgear mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The first and second planetary gears are merged into a single integrated mechanism where the first planetary gear drives the squeezing rollers and the second planetary gear drives the carrier rotation. This combined mechanism achieves both roller rotation and carrier rotation through a unified gear system, reducing overall complexity compared to separate drive mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dual planetary gear mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: the first planetary gear set drives the squeezing rollers to rotate for hose squeezing, while the second planetary gear set drives the carrier to rotate to facilitate hose insertion through static friction. This multi-functional mechanism reduces the need for separate drive systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Use of energy by moving object

If manual threading is used in existing pumps, then the structure is simpler, but power consumption increases due to friction losses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidthreading mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The threading device with guide rollers and dual planetary gears enables the pump to automatically thread and position the hose without manual intervention. The carrier rotation driven by the second planetary gear creates static friction that automatically draws the hose into position, making the system self-servicing and reducing the need for external manual threading operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 simpler, faster hose threading and automatic insertion, reducing hose stress and friction losses, allowing for efficient operation with less power consumption.

Implementation Method 1

each squeezing roller being assigned a first planet wheel and a second planet wheel, the first planet wheel of each squeezing roller having a sun wheel which can be driven in rotation by the drive

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear mechanism: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 2

the second planet gear of each squeezing roller is coupled to the inner circumference of the housing acting as a ring gear. When the pump is running, both the carrier and the squeezing rollers rotatably mounted thereon are caused to rotate by this arrangement

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPlanetary gear mechanism: Epicyclic Gearing

Implementation Method 3

a tube can easily be threaded into the tube pump between the squeezing rollers and the counter bearing by inserting the tube or a tube end on the inlet side of the tube pump. The rotation of the carrier moves the squeezing roller closest to the inserted hose in the direction of the inserted hose, whereby the hose is squeezed between the outer circumference of this squeezing roller and the counter bearing and is drawn further into the hose pump by static friction on the hose surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStatic friction: Static Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2542279B1Hose pump with planetary gear
Publication Date: 2014.11.05 ULRICH GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2542279B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2542279B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2542279B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a hose pump (1) for delivering a medium conveyed through a hose, with a housing (2), a drive (7), a carrier (8) rotatable with respect to the housing, and a plurality of squeeze rollers (3) that are mounted rotatably on the carrier (8) and can be driven by the drive (7) via a gear (6) with a sun wheel (30) and with a first planet wheel (16) connected so as to rotate with the respective squeeze roller (3), wherein the rotating squeeze rollers (3), during operation of the pump, press a hose, which is inserted into the pump, by squeezing the hose against an abutment (4) and in this way convey the medium onwards through the hose in the delivery direction. In order to permit easier and quicker insertion of a hose in such a hose pump, the invention proposes that, in addition to the first planet wheel (16), each squeeze roller (3) is also assigned at least a second planet wheel (31), which is coupled to the inner circumference (2c), acting as hollow wheel, of the housing (2), in order to set the carrier (8) in rotation from the drive (7) during operation of the pump.