Peristaltic Pump Cassette With Guided Tubes for Lower Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing peristaltic pumps in clinical diagnostics and life sciences face issues with rapid wear, contamination risks, and operational failures due to inhomogeneous liquids, leading to increased maintenance and potential system contamination.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump design featuring a spring-loaded pressure plate with guiding ribs and a locking mechanism, combined with a stepper motor and embedded software for monitoring and predictive maintenance, ensures proper tube alignment and contact pressure, reducing wear and enabling user-friendly hose replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a peristaltic pump uses a single tube design, then the structure is simple, but the reliability is reduced due to increased wear and contamination risks
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is divided into multiple independent tube channels (first tube, second tube, third tube) that can operate separately. This segmentation allows individual tube replacement without affecting other channels, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure plate and roller assembly serve multiple functions simultaneously: they apply compression force to all tubes, guide tube positioning through ribs, and enable synchronized operation of multiple tube channels, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability
2Ease of operation
If the hose replacement requires service technician training, then operational errors are reduced, but maintenance time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tube connectors are pre-configured with alignment features and the pressure plate is pre-positioned with guiding ribs that automatically guide correct tube installation. This preliminary arrangement of components allows operators to install tubes correctly without specialized training, reducing maintenance time while preventing operational errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system is designed to be self-guiding during tube installation through mechanical features like guiding ribs and alignment pins, allowing standard operators to perform maintenance independently without requiring service technician expertise, thus reducing both time loss and operational errors
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pump processes inhomogeneous liquids, then the pump handles diverse samples, but wear increases and durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure applied by the pressure plate and the compression force from rollers are optimized to work effectively with inhomogeneous liquids containing particles and varying viscosities. This parameter optimization allows the pump to handle diverse samples while reducing excessive wear, extending durability while maintaining versatility
4Reliability
If the pressure plate applies force against the tube, then backflow resistance is improved, but tube wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure plate applies compression force locally at specific points where needed for backflow resistance, while guiding ribs provide support and distribution in other areas. This localized quality distribution achieves effective backflow prevention while minimizing overall tube wear through optimized force application points
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 enhances durability, reduces maintenance costs, prevents contamination, and allows operators to replace hoses independently, ensuring reliable operation and timely maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (15) is located between pressure plate and a cover for applying a force to the pressure plate (10) against the at least one tube (5)
Implementation Method 2
the peristaltic pump, comprising a motor with a motor shaft and a cassette with a rotor that is connected to the motor, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of rollers
Data Source
AI summary
A peristaltic pump having a motor with a motor axis, a cassette with a rotor connected to the motor axis and a plurality of rollers, a tube partially surrounding the rotor between the rollers and a pressure plate mounted to a side wall, a spring between the pressure plate and a cover for applying a force to the pressure plate against the tube, and guiding ribs on an inner surface of the pressure plate facing the tube on both sides. The tube has a first end connected to a first vertical tube connector of a first external connector on one side of the rotor and a second end to a second vertical tube connector of a second external connector on the opposite side of the rotor. The first and second vertical tube connectors are connected to a connecting tube of a bridge providing at least one outlet.