Peristaltic Pump Radially Deformable Ring Tubing Wear
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional peristaltic pumps cause premature wear of flexible tubing due to high friction forces between the pressing members and the tubing, necessitating the use of expensive high-grade materials to prevent wear.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump design featuring a radially deformable ring that prevents direct contact between the pressing members and the flexible tubing, using the ring to apply compression and a ring anchor to prevent rotation, allowing for the use of lower-grade, less expensive tubing and simplifying the pump's construction for disposability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pressing members directly contact flexible tubing to convey liquid, then liquid conveyance is achieved, but tubing wear increases prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
A radially deformable ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the pressing members and the flexible tubing. The ring receives radial compression forces from the pressing members and transmits them to the tubing, preventing direct contact and friction between the pressing members and tubing, thereby eliminating premature tubing wear while maintaining effective liquid conveyance.
2Reliability
If high-grade flexible tubing is used to withstand friction forces, then tubing durability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially deformable ring serves as a protective intermediary that eliminates direct friction between pressing members and tubing. This allows the use of lower-grade, less expensive flexible tubing materials that would otherwise be unsuitable due to friction-induced wear, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining tubing durability through the protective ring mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables the use of cheaper, potentially disposable tubing by introducing the protective ring. The tubing can be made from lower-grade materials that are replaced periodically, while the expensive pressing members and ring mechanism are reused, optimizing the overall cost structure for applications where tubing replacement is acceptable.
3Reliability
If radially deformable ring is introduced to prevent direct contact, then tubing wear is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The radially deformable ring is designed as a thin, flexible component that deforms radially under compression from the pressing members and transmits this deformation to the flexible tubing. This thin-film approach minimizes the added complexity and volume of the protective mechanism while effectively preventing direct contact between pressing members and tubing, thus reducing wear without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 design reduces tubing wear and allows for the use of less expensive materials, simplifying manufacturing and enabling the pump to be used as a disposable system while maintaining effective liquid conveyance.
Implementation Method 1
the ring being deformable by the at least one pressing member upon rotation of the rotor to compress the flexible tubing against the inner wall of the cylindrical stator to thereby convey liquid along the flexible tubing
Implementation Method 2
Peristaltic pumps are used to pump liquids in a wide variety of applications... flexible tubing is compressed between the pressing members (e.g. pins or rollers) of a rotor and a stator, and liquid is conveyed through the flexible tubing as the rotor rotates
Data Source
AI summary
A peristaltic pump (10) comprises a drivable rotor (14), having at least one pressing member (15), and a cylindrical stator (12) in which the rotor (14) is rotatable. Flexible tubing (22), having an inlet side (24) and an outlet side (26), extends circumferentially around the cylindrical stator (12) against an inner wall (12a). The peristaltic pump (10) includes a radially deformable ring (28) positioned between the rotor (14) and the circumferentially extending flexible tubing (22). The ring (28) is deformed by the pressing member (15) upon rotation of the rotor (14) and this compresses the flexible tubing (22) against the inner wall (12a) of the cylindrical stator (12) to convey liquid along the flexible tubing (22). The radially deformable ring (28) includes a ring anchor (30) which prevents rotation of the radially deformable ring (28) during rotation of the rotor (14).