Peristaltic Tube Pump Asymmetric Roller Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing roller-type positive displacement pumps require high driving energy due to the moment of inertia caused by the center of gravity being away from the central axis, leading to inefficiencies in fluid conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A tube pump design featuring a flexible tube held by a holder part and rotated by a driving part with inclined rollers that reduce weight distribution radially outward, maintaining the center of gravity close to the axis, thereby reducing the moment of inertia and driving energy required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If rollers are designed with truncated cone shape and installed with smaller diameter facing radially inward, then the pumping function is achieved, but the moment of inertia increases and driving energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is designed with an asymmetric inclined plane surface instead of a symmetric truncated cone configuration. The inclined plane is positioned to face the tube, allowing the roller to press the tube effectively while keeping the center of gravity close to the rotation axis, thereby reducing the moment of inertia and driving energy requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The tube is pre-bent by the holder part to create a predetermined bent portion before the roller applies pressing force. This preliminary bending positions the tube optimally for the roller to press with minimal radial offset, reducing the moment arm and consequently the moment of inertia and driving energy
2Productivity
If the center of gravity of rollers is away from the central axis, then the pumping action is effective, but the moment of inertia increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller employs an asymmetric inclined plane geometry where the pressing surface is angled relative to the rotation axis. This asymmetric design allows the roller to effectively press the tube for fluid conveyance while positioning the mass distribution to keep the center of gravity close to the axis, minimizing the moment of inertia
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined plane is specifically positioned on the roller surface that contacts the tube, concentrating the pressing function in the local region needed for pumping while keeping the overall roller mass distribution balanced around the axis. This localized functional design achieves effective pumping without increasing moment of inertia
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 results in a pump assembly that consumes less driving energy while effectively conveying fluid, as the inclined plane on the rollers minimizes the weight distribution radially outward, preventing the center of gravity from shifting and reducing the moment of inertia.
Implementation Method 1
the moment of inertia of the rollers increases, and driving energy for rotating the rollers increases
Implementation Method 2
the center of gravity of the rollers are away from the central axis
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of pressing parts, each of which rotates around a central axis by a driving part, and presses a tube along a bent portion of the tube held by the holder part while rotating around the central axis
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A tube pump having small driving energy is provided. The tube pump includes: a flexible tube for conveying a fluid; a holder part holding the tube so that the tube is at least partially bent; a driving part; and at least one pressing part, rotationally driven around a first central axis by the driving part, and pressing the tube along the bent portion of the tube held by the holder part while rotating around the first central axis, thereby conveying the fluid in the tube. The pressing part has an inclined plane inclined from the side of the tube toward the side of the pressing part in a radially outward direction with reference to the first central axis.