Peristaltic Dosing Pump Tool-less Clamping and Feedback Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing peristaltic dosing pumps face challenges with inaccurate liquid dispensing due to slippage and require tool-assisted elastomeric tube replacement, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

A peristaltic dosing pump with a tool-less clamping mechanism, non-stepper motor, and rotation detection system, featuring a spring biased clutch for rotor alignment, enabling precise liquid dispensing and easy tube replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a non-stepper motor with friction drive is used, then the device complexity and cost are reduced, but the manufacturing precision of liquid dispensing deteriorates due to slippage between motor and rotor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor complexityVSAvoidliquid dispensing accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A rotation detection arrangement (such as optical or Hall effect sensors) monitors the rotor's rotation and provides feedback to a controller. The controller adjusts motor operation based on this feedback to achieve accurate volumetric dispensing without requiring a expensive stepper motor, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If a traditional elastomeric tube replacement procedure is used, then the device complexity remains simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to time-consuming and tool-required replacement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereplacement mechanism complexityVSAvoidtube replacement convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The pump housing incorporates a dynamic clamping arrangement that can be quickly released and repositioned without tools. This allows the elastomeric tube to be accessed and replaced rapidly by simply opening the clamp, moving the tube, and reclosing the clamp, dramatically improving ease of operation while keeping the mechanism simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If a rotor alignment mechanism is required, then the manufacturing precision of rotor engagement is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the need for careful pre-alignment by the user

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotor-drive shaft alignmentVSAvoiddosing head installation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotor is equipped with a spring-biased clutch arrangement that automatically self-aligns with the drive shaft when the dosing head is clamped onto the pump housing. The spring mechanism absorbs misalignment and guides the rotor into proper engagement without requiring the user to perform careful pre-alignment, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining manufacturing precision.

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 high-accuracy, tool-less tube replacement and precise liquid dispensing, suitable for a wide range of applications with minimal user intervention and reduced operational complexity.

Implementation Method 1

The rotor preferably includes a spring biased clutch arrangement such that the dosing head can be clamped on the pump housing without a user having to carefully pre-align a rotor with a drive shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring bias: Spring

Implementation Method 2

Suitable rotation detection arrangements include inter alia optical arrangements, Hall effect arrangements, and the like.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4196680B1Improvements in peristaltic dosing pumps
Publication Date: 2025.10.08 RED SEA AQUATICS DEV LTD
  • EP4196680B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4196680B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4196680B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Peristaltic dosing pump (11) including a pump housing (13), a dosing head (16), and a manual tool-less clamping arrangement (17) for repeated detachable clamping of the dosing head on the pump housing. Reef aquarium LED array illumination units (110) having a planar LED array (122) for emitting illumination and a 3D stadium lens (123) centrally mounted with respect thereto and underlying same for projecting a generally homogenous spectrum, diverging generally stadium shaped illumination beam (111).