Vacuum Pump Integrated Pressure Sensor Diaphragm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vacuum pumps, particularly breast pumps, lack precise underpressure measurement capabilities, which is not customary in breast pumps but essential for effective operation, and external sensors introduce losses and leakages.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a pressure sensor within the pump chamber, utilizing a sensor diaphragm that deflects with pressure changes, allowing for precise underpressure measurement without additional lines, using optical detection means to determine the deflection and convert it into a measurable signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a pressure sensor is placed outside the pump chamber and connected via a vacuum line, then the pump structure remains simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to losses and leakages in the connection line
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure sensor is merged with the pump chamber by placing the sensor element directly inside the chamber. This eliminates the need for separate connection lines between the sensor and pump chamber, thereby eliminating losses and leakages in the connection line while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor diaphragm is introduced as an intermediary element that transmits the pressure information from the pump chamber interior to the sensor element. The sensor diaphragm deflects according to the pressure prevailing in the pump chamber, allowing indirect measurement without direct exposure of the sensor element to the vacuum environment.
2Measurement precision
If additional connection lines are added to connect external pressure sensor to pump chamber, then measurement capability is improved, but losses and leakages increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor element is extracted from the external environment and placed directly inside the pump chamber. This eliminates the connection line that would otherwise cause vacuum losses and leakages, while the sensor diaphragm provides the necessary interface for pressure transmission.
3Volume of moving object
If the pump chamber volume is reduced for compactness, then device size is improved, but sensor placement options are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is integrated directly into the pump chamber structure, merging two functions (pumping and sensing) into a single compact unit. This eliminates the need for separate sensor housing and connection lines, enabling compact design without increasing overall device volume.
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
Enables precise measurement and control of underpressure, reducing losses and leakages, and allowing for compact and reliable vacuum pump design suitable for breast pumps and drainage applications.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor diaphragm, which is deflected according to the pressure prevailing in the pump chamber and thus transmits to a detector the prevailing pressure or the extent of a pressure change
Implementation Method 2
the position of the diaphragm is detected by an optical detection means. The optical detection means preferably comprises a light emitter and a light detector, and the vane is movable, by deflection of the sensor diaphragm, into a light path between light emitter and light detector
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum pump for generating an underpressure has a pump chamber (14, 15) with an inlet (143) and an outlet (150), wherein the outlet (150) is equipped with a valve (3). According to the invention, the pump chamber (14, 15) is provided with a pressure sensor (23, 23′, 24). This vacuum pump has a relatively precise and inexpensive vacuum sensor. It is also advantageous that the sensor, being integrated in the pump chamber, is not susceptible to failure and takes up a small amount of space.