Flexible Tube Gripping for Tube Pump Pulsation Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Tube pumps used for liquid feeding experience pulsation due to periodic fluctuations in flow velocity, which is undesirable for applications requiring a constant flow velocity.
Innovation Solution
A liquid feeding assistance device with a flexible tube and a gripping member that adjusts its grip force based on flow velocity, either expanding or contracting to minimize pulsation by altering the cross-sectional area of the flow passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tube pump is used to feed liquid, then liquid can be fed without contact with other members (suppressing contamination risk), but pulsation occurs due to periodic fluctuation of flow velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible tube that can expand and contract to absorb pulsation. The tube acts as a flexible shell that deforms elastically in response to pressure fluctuations, thereby stabilizing the flow velocity while maintaining the closed liquid path that prevents contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gripping member that dynamically adjusts its grip on the tube based on flow conditions. By varying the grip strength, the system optimizes pulsation suppression while maintaining reliable liquid containment without contamination risk.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a gripping member grips the tube with constant force, then the tube is constrained, but pulsation suppression efficiency is reduced when the tube needs to expand during high flow velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The gripping member is designed with a spring mechanism that provides dynamic grip force. The spring allows the grip strength to vary with tube expansion and contraction, maintaining optimal constraint during low flow while permitting necessary expansion during high flow velocity periods, thus achieving both pulsation suppression and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the grip force parameter dynamically based on flow conditions. During high flow velocity, the tube expands and the grip force decreases automatically due to spring extension, allowing expansion. During low flow, the grip force increases to maximize pulsation suppression efficiency.
3Stability of the object's composition
If additional damper mechanisms are added to suppress pulsation, then flow velocity stability improves, but device complexity and working time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the pulsation suppression function with the existing flexible tube by adding a gripping member that constrains the tube. This integration allows pulsation suppression without requiring separate, complex damper mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining flow velocity stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible tube with gripping member provides self-regulating pulsation suppression. The system automatically adjusts to flow conditions without requiring external control mechanisms or additional components, simplifying the overall device structure while achieving stable flow velocity.
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 device effectively suppresses pulsation by enhancing the pulsation absorption ability through controlled expansion and contraction of the tube, reducing the need for additional damper mechanisms and minimizing working time and errors, especially suitable for single-use applications.
Implementation Method 1
The gripping member may grip the tube with a magnetic force. The gripping member may include a magnet and a magnetic body that faces each other with the tube interposed between the magnet and the magnetic body.
Implementation Method 2
a tube that is expandable and contractible depending on a flow velocity of liquid flowing in the tube
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
There are provided a liquid feeding assistance device, a cell processing apparatus, and a liquid feeding assistance method that can suppress the pulsation of liquid flowing in a flow passage. A liquid feeding assistance device includes a tube that is expandable and contractible depending on a flow velocity of liquid flowing in the tube, and a gripping member that grips the tube with a relatively small force during expansion of the tube and grips the tube with a relatively large force during contraction of the tube.