Modular Peristaltic Pump Head for Wear Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional peristaltic pumps experience accelerated component wear, making frequent and difficult repairs or replacements necessary, especially in applications requiring sterile conditions or handling reactive or radioactive fluids.

Innovation Solution

A modular peristaltic pump head design featuring a housing assembly with removable sections, an expandable and collapsible roller assembly, and a flexible conduit with overmolded end fittings, allowing for easy disassembly and replacement without disconnecting the entire pump head from the drive mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional peristaltic pump heads are used, then fluid isolation and metered flow capabilities are maintained, but component wear occurs at an accelerated rate requiring frequent repair or replacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent durabilityVSAvoidpump head service life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The pump head is divided into modular components including a housing assembly, roller assembly, and flexible conduit that can be independently replaced. The housing assembly itself is segmented into first and second housing sections that can be disassembled to access internal components, enabling targeted replacement of worn parts without replacing the entire pump head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design enables easy replacement of the flexible conduit and roller assembly as consumable components while retaining the housing assembly and drive mechanism. This allows recovery and reuse of durable components while replacing only the worn flexible conduit and rollers, reducing waste and maintenance costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Reliability

If frequent repair or replacement of pump head components is performed, then component wear is addressed, but the process is difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent durabilityVSAvoidpump head repair difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The pump head is divided into modular components including a housing assembly, roller assembly, and flexible conduit that can be independently replaced. The housing assembly itself is segmented into first and second housing sections that can be disassembled to access internal components, enabling targeted replacement of worn parts without replacing the entire pump head.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The roller assembly and flexible conduit are designed to be easily extracted from the housing assembly without requiring disconnection of the entire pump head from the drive mechanism. The first housing section serves as a tool to facilitate removal of the roller assembly, making maintenance simple and quick.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 3:

The first housing section is configured to serve dual purposes: as a structural component of the pump head and as a tool for expanding and contracting the roller assembly during maintenance. This self-service design eliminates the need for external tools, simplifying the repair process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If the entire housing assembly is disconnected from the drive mechanism for component replacement, then complete access is achieved, but the repair process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent accessVSAvoidrepair time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The roller assembly and flexible conduit are designed to be easily extracted from the housing assembly without requiring disconnection of the entire pump head from the drive mechanism. The first housing section serves as a tool to facilitate removal of the roller assembly, making maintenance simple and quick.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The first housing section serves multiple functions: as a structural component of the pump head, as a tool for expanding and contracting the roller assembly, and as a protective cover during maintenance operations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional tools or complete disassembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10036380B1Peristaltic pump head and related methods

Publication Date: 2018.07.31 STENNER PUMP CO INC

AI summary

A peristaltic pump head includes a housing assembly adapted for mounting to a drive mechanism, a roller assembly arranged with the housing assembly and a flexible conduit extending through the housing assembly and engageable by the roller assembly to impel fluid therethrough. The roller assembly and the flexible conduit are removable from the housing assembly without disconnecting the entire housing assembly from the drive mechanism. The roller assembly can include an axially extending drive shaft, a roller control body fixedly mounted to the drive shaft, at least a first end plate rotatably mounted about the drive shaft, and at least a first roller arm pivotably mounted to the first end plate. The flexible conduit can include a length of hollow tubing made of an elastomeric material, and at least one overmolded end fitting made of a rigid polymeric material and fused to an end of the hollow tubing.