Peristaltic Pump Roller Assembly with Flexible Arms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peristaltic pumps often impart unwanted flow and pressure pulsations and fail to properly compress tubing or elastomeric sheets due to the design of rotating roller heads.
Innovation Solution
A roller assembly with a central hub and flexible arms, each with a radial, arcuate, and bent section, featuring rollers that can move with respect to the central section, providing a parallel rolling surface to engage polymer sheets or flexible tubing, and utilizing spring pins and pivots to maintain consistent contact and compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If rotating roller heads are used to compress tubing or elastomeric sheet, then fluid can be moved through the peristaltic pump, but the rollers fail to properly compress the tubing or elastomeric sheet and impart unwanted flow and pressure pulsations
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly employs multiple rollers that rotate at different speeds and/or directions, creating a dynamic compression pattern that maintains consistent contact with the tubing throughout the pumping cycle. This dynamic configuration eliminates the pulsations caused by single rotating rollers while ensuring reliable compression for continuous fluid flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression function is divided into multiple independent rollers rather than using a single rotating roller head. Each roller can be independently controlled to optimize compression at different positions, ensuring consistent tubing compression and eliminating the pulsations that occur with monolithic roller designs.
2Productivity
If rotating roller heads are used to move fluid, then pumping function is achieved, but unwanted flow and pressure pulsations are imparted
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly uses coordinated periodic rotation of multiple rollers to create a continuous, non-pulsating compression wave through the tubing. The periodic action of multiple rollers overlapping in sequence smooths out flow variations, delivering fluid at a steady rate without the pulsations characteristic of single-roller designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple roller functions are merged into a single integrated assembly that operates in unison. The combined action of several rollers creates a unified compression pattern that eliminates the discontinuities and pulsations generated by separate or independently operating roller heads.
3Device complexity
If traditional roller head design is used, then simple structure is maintained, but proper compression of tubing or elastomeric sheet cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The roller assembly modifies key parameters including roller rotation speeds, roller spacing, and compression forces to achieve precise and consistent tubing compression. By optimizing these parameters across multiple rollers, the system attains high manufacturing precision in compression accuracy while maintaining a structurally manageable design.
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 solution ensures consistent and efficient fluid flow by maintaining rollers in contact with the tubing throughout their travel, reducing pulsations and improving compression, thereby enhancing the performance of peristaltic pumps.
Implementation Method 1
The spring pin exerts a force on the flat, the force provided by the flexible arm. The spring pin presses on the flat to bias the arm in an unpivoted position whereby the stop contacts the central section.
Implementation Method 2
Peristaltic pumps may operate by compressing a length of tubing to move a fluid in the tubing
Implementation Method 3
The rolling surface of the rollers is arranged to engage a polymer sheet or flexible tubing throughout travel of the arms.
Data Source
AI summary
A roller assembly comprises a central section with a hub, the central section having a plurality of pivots located around the central section; a plurality of arms, each arm having a roller end and a pivot end, the pivot ends coupled to the central section at the plurality of pivots such that each arm is capable of pivoting independently with respect to the central section, the roller ends and pivot ends of each arm located a distance of at least one roller width away from each other; a plurality of rollers, one roller coupled to each of the roller ends of the plurality of arms; wherein the plurality of rollers and arms are located around the central section such that the pivot is located a distance away from the roller.