Membrane Pump Air Release Valve with Segmented Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Suction pumps, particularly breast pumps, require a balance between high power and compact design with minimal maintenance and easy cleaning, while existing systems face challenges in efficient air release and leakage prevention.
Innovation Solution
The suction pump employs a partially lifted air release mechanism with a low-power electromagnet and a membrane design with a connecting pin, allowing for rapid underpressure cancellation and reduced part count, along with a modular construction and two-stage safety valve for reliable operation and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the air release opening is freed in a single step using a powerful electromagnet, then the underpressure cancellation is rapid, but the electromagnet becomes large and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The air release opening is divided into a first air release opening and a second air release opening. The first opening is freed initially to provide rapid underpressure cancellation, then the second opening is freed to complete the air release. This segmentation allows using a smaller electromagnet while maintaining effective pump operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The first air release opening is freed before the second air release opening. This preliminary action allows the underpressure to be partially cancelled early in the cycle, reducing the force requirement for the electromagnet while still achieving complete air release within the required time frame.
2Volume of stationary object
If the pump is designed to be compact, then the device size is reduced, but the power and performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is segmented into distinct functional components: a first pump chamber with a first membrane for generating underpressure, and a second pump chamber with a second membrane for air release. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, maintaining high power output in a compact overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The air release valve mechanism is integrated with the pump structure, sharing common components such as the housing and control systems. The electromagnet serves dual purposes in coordinating both pump chambers, reducing overall system size while maintaining full functionality.
3Reliability
If multiple components are used for air release control, then the operation is precise and reliable, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second air release openings are controlled by a single electromagnet acting on a common air release body. This merging of control functions into one actuator simplifies the device structure while maintaining reliable sequential opening of both openings, as the single electromagnet coordinates both release stages through its movement.
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 solution enables a compact, efficient, and easy-to-clean suction pump capable of high cycle rates (up to 120 cycles per minute) with reduced maintenance and no leakage, suitable for breast milk expression and drainage applications.
Implementation Method 1
If an electromagnet is used as such a means, a relatively low-power type can be used. The reason is that, when pulling up or lifting the air release body, the electromagnet can at first apply less force than it does at the end of the movement.
Implementation Method 2
The air release body is preferably a membrane. The lifting of its edge area is made easier if the lifted edge area is less thick than the rest of the membrane.
Data Source
AI summary
A suction pump, in particular a breast pump, comprises a bleed valve with a bleed opening, a bleed body which seals the bleed opening and an operating means for operating the bleed body. The bleed body may be operated such that upon opening the valve initially only a partial region of the bleed opening is released and subsequently a greater part thereof or the whole bleed opening is released. The suction pump provides a large functionality with the smallest size and, furthermore, is cheap to produce and easily assembled.