Peristaltic Pump Coupling with Rotational Play for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peristaltic pumps in dialysis machines experience increased wear and noise due to load changes and torque reversals, leading to undesirable stress on drive components and acoustic emissions, particularly in the run-in and run-out areas where the rotor engages and disengages with the fluid line.
Innovation Solution
A coupling structure with a rotational play is introduced, allowing for 'free-wheeling' within a defined angular range, reducing negative load transmission to the drive shaft and gear unit, and enabling smoother torque transmission, which compensates for radial force variations and reduces acoustic impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotor is rigidly coupled to the drive shaft, then torque transmission is efficient, but load changes and torque reversals cause increased wear and noise on drive components
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to adapt to varying load conditions. The coupling can accommodate torque reversals and load changes during the run-in and run-out areas of the rotor's rotation, preventing rigid stress transmission to the drive shaft and gear unit while maintaining reliable torque transmission during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the rotor is rigidly coupled to the drive shaft, then torque transmission is direct, but noise emissions increase due to torque variations in run-in and run-out areas
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure incorporates shock-absorbing or cushioning characteristics that prepare for and mitigate the impact of torque reversals before they reach the drive shaft. This cushioning effect reduces the noise generated by sudden load changes during the run-in and run-out areas while maintaining sufficient torque transmission during the pumping phase.
3Ease of operation
If the rotor is firmly secured to the drive shaft, then torque transmission is stable, but maintenance and fluid line replacement become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is designed as a separable connection between the rotor and drive shaft, allowing the rotor to be easily removed for maintenance and fluid line replacement. The coupling maintains stable torque transmission during operation through positive engagement features while enabling quick disassembly when maintenance is required, balancing operational reliability with ease of maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A peristaltic pump for an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, especially for a dialysis machine, for conveying fluid in the apparatus is disclosed. The peristaltic pump includes a rotor driven by a drive shaft, the rotor interacting with an elastically deformable fluid line so as to form a cross-sectional constriction which is displaced along the fluid line for conveying fluid by rotation of the rotor, wherein the rotor is coupled to the drive shaft by a coupling structure so as to transmit a torque, wherein the coupling structure couples the rotor and the drive shaft with a play in the direction of rotation relative to each other.