Pneumatic Pump Box Layout for Dry Air and Longer Accumulator Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical fluid delivery machines, particularly those using pneumatic pumping, face challenges with water corrosion, heat management, and the limited lifespan of pneumatic pressure accumulators, which affect the efficiency and reliability of renal failure therapy treatments.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a pneumatic pump box with a vacuum pump positioned at the top to minimize heat impact, a dryer to remove water from compressed air, and elastic bladders in accumulators that extend the delivery of positive and negative pressures, allowing for efficient and prolonged operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If water is present in compressed air supplied to the accumulator, then the compressor can operate continuously, but corrosion occurs in the solenoid valves and accumulator

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompressor continuous operationVSAvoidcorrosion resistance of valves and accumulator

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A dryer is introduced as an intermediary component between the compressor and accumulator to remove water from the compressed air. The dryer acts as a mediator that prevents water from reaching the accumulator and solenoid valves, thereby eliminating the corrosion problem while allowing the compressor to continue operating continuously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the vacuum pump is positioned to provide negative pressure to the accumulator, then pumping function is achieved, but heat from the vacuum pump affects other components in the pump box

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping functionVSAvoidheat impact on components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum pump is physically separated and positioned outside the main pump box enclosure. This extraction of the heat-generating component removes its thermal impact from the internal components while preserving its pumping function. The vacuum pump continues to provide negative pressure to the accumulator without its heat affecting other components inside the pump box.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If standard accumulators are used without elastic bladders, then the structure is simpler, but the positive and negative pressure accumulators deplete quickly and require frequent recharging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccumulator structureVSAvoidpressure delivery duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Elastic bladders are installed inside both the positive and negative pressure accumulators. These flexible membranes expand and contract to store and release pneumatic pressure, significantly extending the duration that pressure is available to drive the pneumatic pumps and valves. The bladders allow the accumulators to function as effective energy storage devices without increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

4Device complexity

If the pump box is designed as a single integrated unit, then component routing is simpler, but thermal management and water removal become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump box integrationVSAvoidthermal management and water removal

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pump box is segmented into functional zones with the vacuum pump positioned separately from the compressor and accumulator assembly. This segmentation allows independent thermal management of each component and facilitates efficient water removal routing from the compressor through the dryer. The physical separation maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling effective thermal and moisture management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

This configuration enhances the thermal efficiency, reduces corrosion risks, and extends the usability of pneumatic pressure accumulators, ensuring consistent and reliable fluid delivery during renal failure therapies.

Implementation Method 1

a dryer to remove water from compressed air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCondensation: Condensation

Implementation Method 2

the accumulator holding an elastic bladder that inflates under positive pressure air from the compressor, creating additional positive pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

a vacuum pump for creating negative pressure; and an accumulator storing the negative pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS11946466B2Medical fluid therapy machine including pneumatic pump box and accumulators therefore

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 VANTIVE US HEALTHCARE LLC

AI summary

A medical fluid delivery machine including: a medical fluid pump including a pneumatically actuated pump chamber and first and second pneumatically actuated medical fluid valve chambers located respectively upstream and downstream of the pneumatically actuated pump chamber; a compressor for creating positive pressure air; and an accumulator storing the positive pressure air for delivery to at least one of the pneumatically actuated pump chamber, the first pneumatically actuated medical fluid valve chamber, or the second pneumatically actuated medical fluid valve chamber, the accumulator holding an elastic bladder that inflates under positive pressure air from the compressor, creating additional positive pressure that increases the amount of positive pressure air that the accumulator can provide.