Overmolded Multi-Lumen Tubing Assembly for High-Pressure Peristaltic Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peristaltic pumps face challenges in achieving high pressures and flow rates while maintaining tube life and efficiency, often requiring larger motors and higher maintenance costs due to issues like ballooning and corrosion.
Innovation Solution
The use of a peristaltic tube pump system with multiple small-diameter tubes, each with a specific relationship between wall thickness and durometer, allows for high-pressure and high-flow-rate operations while reducing motor size and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If traditional single large-diameter tubing is used in peristaltic pumps, then high pressure can be achieved, but tube life decreases due to ballooning and the pump requires larger motors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single large-diameter tube into multiple smaller-diameter tubes bundled together. Each small tube has a diameter of 0.05 to 0.25 inches, while the bundle achieves an equivalent diameter of 0.5 to 2 inches. This segmentation prevents ballooning in individual tubes while maintaining high-pressure capability and flow rate, thereby extending tube life without requiring larger motors.
2Productivity
If traditional single large-diameter tubing is used, then high flow rate can be achieved, but the pump requires larger motors and higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid transport into multiple parallel small-diameter tubes, each experiencing lower pressure drops and more efficient peristaltic pumping. The combined flow capacity of multiple small tubes matches or exceeds that of a single large tube, while reducing the power requirements of the pump motor and energy consumption.
3Duration of action of moving object
If multiple small-diameter tubes are used, then tube life increases and energy consumption decreases, but the tubing assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small-diameter tubes into a single bundled assembly that functions as one integrated tubing unit. The tubes are bound together with a binding material to form a cohesive structure that can be installed and maintained as a single component, reducing operational complexity despite the increased number of individual tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The bundled tubing assembly provides multiple functions: it delivers high-pressure flow, extends tube life through prevention of ballooning, reduces energy consumption, and maintains a compact size. The universal design can replace various single-tube configurations across different pump applications.
4Reliability
If traditional metal clamps are used to secure tubing, then secure connection is achieved, but corrosion occurs due to metal fume leakage into the pump head
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional metal clamps with a binding material that secures the tubing bundle to the adapter. This substitution eliminates metal-to-tubing contact, preventing corrosion from metal fumes while maintaining secure mechanical connection. The binding material acts as an intermediary between the metal adapter and the tubing.
Solution Approach 2:
The binding material serves as an intermediary substance between the metal adapter components and the tubing. It provides secure mechanical attachment while isolating the tubing from direct contact with metal surfaces, thereby preventing corrosion and fume contamination in the pump head housing.
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
This approach enables efficient pumping at pressures exceeding 100 PSI with high flow rates, extending tube life, reducing energy consumption, and lowering operational and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
In use, the rollers rotate in a circular movement and compress the tubing against the wall, squeezing the fluid through the tubing ahead of the rollers
Implementation Method 2
the rollers rotate in a circular movement and compress the tubing against the wall
Data Source
AI summary
A tubing assembly is provided that can comprise a plurality of tubes or lumens that can be disposed within a head of a peristaltic pump. The tubing assembly can provide a flow rate or volume capacity that is generally equal to or greater than that achieved with a comparable prior art tube while operating at higher pressures than that possible using the prior art tube. Further, in accordance with some embodiments, the tubing assembly can achieve a longer working life than a comparable prior art tube, and the load on the pump motor can be reduced such that the pump life is increased and/or a larger pump motor is not required to achieve such advantageous results.