Peristaltic Pump Misalignment Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional peristaltic pumps face challenges with misalignment issues due to manufacturing tolerances, particularly in direct-coupled designs, which can lead to costly alignment processes and increased component expenses.
Innovation Solution
A peristaltic pump design featuring a rotor supported by a hub with a single bearing unit forming a misalignment pivot between the rotor and the housing, and a splined drive connection allowing for angular misalignment between the drive shaft and the output shaft, enabling tolerance of manufacturing-induced misalignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a direct-coupled pump design is used where the pumphead connects directly to the drive unit, then the gearbox can be smaller and less expensive, but the orientation of the rotor is fixed with respect to the hub which does not allow for angular misalignment between components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic misalignment compensation mechanism through the splined drive connection. The spline engagement allows the drive shaft to pivot angularly relative to the output shaft within certain limits, transforming the rigid fixed orientation into a flexible dynamic connection that adapts to manufacturing tolerances while maintaining the direct-coupled compact design
Solution Approach 2:
The splined drive connection acts as an intermediary element between the drive shaft and output shaft. This intermediate connection allows relative angular movement while still transmitting rotational motion and torque, effectively mediating between the fixed rotor orientation and the need for misalignment tolerance
2Adaptability or versatility
If a coupling is used to connect the drive unit to the pumphead, then misalignment between components can be corrected, but the alignment process is time consuming and costly, and the coupling itself is expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the misalignment compensation function from a separate coupling component and integrates it directly into the drive connection mechanism. The splined drive connection incorporates misalignment tolerance directly in the manufacturing stage, eliminating the need for a separate alignment process and reducing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive precision couplings and alignment procedures with a simpler, more cost-effective splined drive connection that inherently tolerates misalignment. This cheaper solution achieves the same functional outcome without requiring time-consuming alignment processes or expensive coupling components
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A peristaltic pump 2 comprising: a housing 10 having a hub 18; a rotor 12 disposed within the housing 10 and rotatably supported by the hub 18, the rotor 12 comprising a drive shaft 16 which extends through the hub 18, the drive shaft 16 configured to engage with an output shaft 8 of a drive unit 4 to form a drive connection; wherein a first misalignment pivot 32 is formed between the rotor 12 and the hub 18 and a second misalignment pivot 34 is formed between the drive shaft 16 and the output shaft 8 of the drive unit 4.