MX2008008990A - Peristaltic pump including an elastically displaceable locking plate - Google Patents

Abstract

A peristaltic pump is provided. The peristaltic pump includes a housing for a motor, a receiving plate mounted to the housing, a locking plate, and a biasing member. The locking plate includes a first aperture capable of receiving a hook extending from a pump head, a second aperture capable of receiving a drive shaft of the pump head, and a release member. The biasing member elastically couples the receiving plate with the locking plate. Use of the release member by a user causes movement of the locking plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook when received in the first aperture thereby releasing the pump head from the locking plate.

Description

PERISTALTIC PUMP INCLUDING AN ELASTICALLY DISPLACABLE CLOSURE PLATE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The field of the description refers to peristaltic pumps in general. More specifically, the description relates to a peristaltic pump head that can be mounted to the peristaltic pump using an elastically displaceable closure plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Peristaltic pumps have been known for many years, and are commonly used for medical and research purposes. Peristaltic pumps are used, in particular, in research, in environmental science, and in chemistry laboratories, and in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agriculture, and food industries. Peristaltic pumps move a liquid through a tube without any part of the pump touching the liquid. Therefore, it is possible to pump liquids, such as blood, that are sensitive to external contamination. Typically, a pump comprises rotating rollers that compress a part of the flexible tube when they move to propel the liquid through the tube. Some peristaltic pumps have a removable head through which the tube passes in which at least fluid flows. The rollers are mounted on the periphery of a central hub of the head and are driven to rotate by compressing the tube successively against a fixed wall. The alternation of pressure and the release phases of an area of the tube, pumps the fluid that is going to be delivered. Some peristaltic pumps include a plurality of heads that can be mounted adjacent to each other, and urged to rotate by the same actuator. Accordingly, the first head of the stack can be fixed in a module having a motor connected to the means for driving the central hub of the head. Any of the remaining heads can be clamped successively, starting at the front face of the first head. Each head is also connected to the means for moving the anterior central hub of the head. The inclusion of a plurality of heads allows the supply of a fluid using a single impulse module. This is particularly useful, for example, in animal testing laboratories, so that a plurality of animals can receive the same dose of the same liquid at the same time. Peristaltic pumps with stackable heads are described, for example, in EP-A-0 61 9 859 and EPA-0 339 857. However, what is needed is a peristaltic pump with stackable heads in which the heads can be easily added and / or removed from the pump, particularly without interrupt the operation of the pump for such addition or removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In an exemplary embodiment, a peristaltic pump is provided that includes a mechanism for adding and / or removing one or more pump heads to / from the peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump includes, but is not limited to, a housing for an engine, a receiving plate mounted to the housing, a closing plate, and a destabilizing element. The closure plate includes, but is not limited to, a first opening having the ability to receive a drive shaft of the pump head, a second opening having the ability to receive a drive shaft of the pump head, and a release element. The destabilizing element elastically couples the receiving plate to the closing plate. The use of the release element by a user causes the movement of the closure plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook when it is received in the first opening, thus releasing the pump head from the closing plate. Another exemplary mode provides a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump includes, but is not limited to, a housing for an engine, a receiving plate mounted to the housing, a closing plate, and a destabilizing element. The closure plate includes, but is not limited to, a hook, an opening having the ability to receive a drive shaft of a pump head, and a release element. The destabilizing element elastically couples the receiving plate to the closing plate. The use of the release element by a user causes the movement of the closure plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook of the pump head when the pump head is mounted to the closure plate. Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following figures, the detailed description, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein similar numbers denote like elements. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a peristaltic pump including a plurality of pump heads in a position to be installed in the pump and a pump head mounted to the peristaltic pump, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mounting side of a pump head, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pump head of Figure 1, showing the detail of the drive shaft of the pump head, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a receiving plate of the pump drive module of Figure 1, without a pump head mounted to the drive module, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the driver module of Figure 4, indicating the detail of the drive shaft of the ippulser module, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the drive module of Figure 4 showing the detail of the mounting mechanism for mounting a pump head to the drive module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the assembly mechanism of Figure 4, with a pump head mounted to the driver module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, a peristaltic pump 30 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the peristaltic pump 30 may include a drive module 1, a first pump head 32, a second pump head 34, and a third pump head. pump 36. The drive module 1 includes a housing 38 enclosing a motor. The motor drives a central hub of the pump heads 32, 34, 36. The housing 38 includes a control panel 4 and a view screen 5 that allows an operator to adjust the operating parameters of the peristaltic pump 30. A receiving plate 6 is mounted to the housing 38. The receiving plate 6 includes an upper face 2 on which a push button 3 is mounted. By using the push button 3, the operator can release the first pump head 32, or a stack of pump heads are connected to the drive module 1 as described below. The receiver plate 6 is mounted on the driver module 1. As used in this description, the term "is assembled" includes attaching, attaching, connecting, associating, inserting, hanging, holding, fixing, attaching, securing, pasting, bonding with bolts, screwing, edging, welding, joining with welding, and other similar terms. The first pump head 32 includes a cassette 40, a second pressure button 9, and a second receiver plate 10. The cassette 40 includes a hole 7 and a slide control 8. The cassette 40 allows a flexible tube to be inserted ( not shown) therein conventionally through the hole 7. The slide control 8 can be used, also in a conventional manner, to adjust the positioning of the internal elements of the cassette 40 to provide permanent contact with sufficient pressure between these elements and the tube inserted into the hole 7, without considering the diameter of the tube used. The internal elements of cassette 40 are essentially; a central hub driven by a drive module 1 and its peripheral cylinders that compress the pipe wall periodically, thus creating the flow of fluids to be released. The cassette 40 is of a conventional design, and therefore will not be described or will illustrate in the present invention. The previously cited prior art documents provide exemplary embodiments of these internal elements, the general design of which can be included within the scope of the invention in a non-restrictive manner. The second pressure button 9 can be used to unlock the pump heads mounted on the second receiving plate 10 of the first pump head 32., by means of a mechanism that is described below. The second pump head 34 is shown ready to be mounted on a second receiving plate 10 of the first pump head 32. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the second pump head 34 includes four cassettes 40, a mounting plate 11, a third pressure button 9 ', and a third receiving plate 10'. Each of the four cassettes 40 includes a hole 7 '. Accordingly, four flexible tubes, instead of one, can be inserted into the second pump head 34. The third pressure button 9 'can be used to release the pump heads mounted on the receiving plate 10' of the second pump head. pump 34. The third pump head 36 is shown ready to be mounted on the third receiving plate 10 'of the second pump head 34. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the third pump head 36 includes two cassettes 40' , a second mounting plate 12, a fourth button of pressure 9", and a fourth receiving plate 10". Each of the two cassettes 40 'includes a hole 7". Accordingly, two flexible tubes, instead of one, can be inserted into the third pump head 36. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 1, the two holes 7"allow the passage of two flexible tubes of larger diameter than the tubes passing through the holes 7, 1 '. Accordingly, the third pump head 36 can be as thick as the second pump head 34, which allows the passage of four tubes of smaller diameter. The fourth pressure button 9"can be used to release any of the additional pump heads that can be mounted on the fourth receiving plate 10" of the third pump head 36. With reference to figure 2, a view is shown in FIG. perspective of the second pump head 34 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. A face 13 of the mounting plate 11 is shown. The second mounting plate 12 and / or the receiving plate 6 may include a similar face 13 for mounting to another pump head. The face 13 includes a plurality of hooks 17 extending from the surface of the face 13 opposite the cassettes 40. The face 13 also includes an opening 42 through which extends one end of the drive shaft 14 of the center hub of the vehicle. the second pump head 34. The plurality of hooks 17 it allows the operator to adjust the second pump head 34 both to one front face 18 of the receiving plate 6 and to a mounting plate of another pump head. With reference to Figure 3, the opening 42 of the face 13 is shown in greater detail. The drive shaft 14 includes strips 15 formed by means of longitudinal protuberances whose ends have bevels 16, the function of which is described below. With reference to Figure 4, the housing 38 with the front face 18 of the receiving plate 6 visible is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The receiving plate 6 includes an opening 44. An end 19 of the shaft driven by the motor of the driving module 1 is accessible through the opening 44. A closing plate 22 is mounted to the receiving plate 6 and includes a pressure button 3. The depression of the pressure button 3 causes an elastic displacement and frees a pump head connected to the drive module 1. In the exemplary embodiment of Figure 4, the closure plate 22 includes four closing openings 23 in which the plurality of hooks 17 of the mounting plate. With reference to Figure 6, the entry of any of the four closing openings 23 includes a bevel 24 which facilitates the introduction of the corresponding hook 17.

With reference to Figure 5, the end 19 of the shaft is shown in greater detail. The end 19 is configured in the form of a sleeve whose inner surface has second strips 20 formed by longitudinal protuberances whose ends have bevels 21. The second strips 20 are designed to receive between them strips 15 of the end of the drive shaft 14 of the second pump head 34. The drive shaft 14 is mounted to the drive shaft 1. The bevels 15 and 21 facilitate the reception of the drive shaft 14 of the head inside the end sleeve 19. Consequently, the drive shaft 14 can be received within the end 19 without the need to stop the motor of the drive module 1. With reference to Figure 7, a perspective view of the closure plate 22 mounted to the plate 6 is shown, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The pressure button 3 extends from the closure plate 22 through an opening in the upper surface 2 of the receiving plate 6. The closure plate 22 includes four closing openings 23, an opening 46, and openings 28. The end 19 of the shaft driven by the motor of the driver module 1 extends through the opening 46. The closure plate 22 tends to be pushed upwards by means of destabilizing elements 25, 26, guided for this purpose by means of the Fixed pins 27, which extend from the receiving plate 6 and penetrate into the openings 28 of the closure plate 22. The destabilizing elements 25, 26 may be springs. A pump head is mounted to the receiving plate 6 by means of a simple axial movement to couple the plurality of hooks 17 with the bevels 24 of the four closing openings 23 of the closure plate 22. The plurality of hooks 17 tend to push blocking the closure plate 22 downwards to allow passage through the four closing openings 23. At this point, the springs 25 and 26 push the closure plate 22 upwards again securing the plurality of hooks 17 against the four closing openings 23 of the closure plate 22. In the absence of the similar bevels 24 or bevels that can be formed in the plurality of hooks 17, it may be necessary to press the pressure button 3 to align the plurality of hooks 17 with the four closing openings 23. The release of the pressing button 3 locks the plurality of hooks 17 against the four closing openings 23. At the same time, the driving shaft end 14 of the pump head penetrates into the end 19 of the motor shaft of the drive module 1, and the two axes are coupled together. Therefore, a rotation of the motor shaft causes a rotation of the drive shaft of the pump head.

A subsequent depression of the pressure button 3 releases the majority of hooks 17 from the four closing openings 23. The closing plate 22 is pushed downwards, thereby loosening most of the hooks 17 and the pump head of the module drive 1 pulling the drive module 1. The receiving plates 10, 10 ', 10"of each pump head 32, 34, 36 are conveniently configured in the same manner as the receiving plate 6 and similarly include a closure plate mounted on the In particular, each receiving plate 10, 10 ', 10"includes a closure plate identical to the closing plate 22 including the four closing openings 23 and the pressing buttons 9, 9', 9" corresponding to to the pressure button 3 of the drive module 1. Therefore, a plurality of pump heads 34, 36 can be mounted in a starting sequence with the first pump head 32. The front end of the drive shaft 14 of the central hub of each pump head 32, 34, 36 is configured in the same manner as the end 19 of the drive shaft motor shaft 1 so that the center hub axis of a given pump head 32, 34, 36 receives itself the center hub axis. of the next pump head in the stack to drive next shaft under motor control. Therefore, any number of pump heads can be mounted in the sequence with the only limitation that is the driving power of the drive module motor 1. The mounting of the pump heads can occur with the engine stopped or with the engine running. This result is achieved, in particular, by the bevelled configuration of the strips 15, 20 of the ends of the axes, which facilitate the coupling, even when there is no exact alignment between the axes. If a plurality of additional pump heads 34, 36 are mounted in the first pump head 32 connected to the driver module 1, the pressure button 3 of the driver module 1 can be released to release all pile heads 32, 34, 36 while they stay connected to each other It is also possible to open a single head 32, 34, 36, or a group of consecutive pump heads, without any need to stop the drive module 1. In alternative embodiments, a head having a mounting plate can be used, but no receiving plate. In this case, the pump head is the last head of the battery, or the only head connected to the drive module 1. Several modifications are possible. For example, a smaller or greater number of hooks 17 and openings 23 may be used in a different configuration. Additionally, the direction of travel of the closure plate 22 can be changed, together with the shape of the hooks 17 and the openings 23. The push buttons 3, 9, 9 ', 9"can be replaced with any functionally equivalent means to allow the user to move the closure plates 22. With respect to the method for connecting each other the axes 14 of the central hubs of the heads 32, 34, 36 and the motor shaft driven by said motor can change their precise configurations, for example, the sleeve positions at the end 19 (and their corresponding parts on the heads of pump 32, 34, 36) and the end 14 of the shaft, which interacts with it, can be inverted In particular, the respective positions of the closure plates 22, the hooks 17 and the corresponding openings 23 can be reversed. In this case, the closing plates 22 and the openings 23 are placed on the faces 13 of the mounting plates of the pump heads 32, 34, 36 and the hooks 17 are placed on the receiving plates The configuration described and illustrated below is the most convenient , since it provides a driving module 1 with a front face 18 free of fragile projection elements, whose breaking as a result of an impact would make the drive module unusable. The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of example and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise form described, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from the practice of the invention. The above embodiments were chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and as practical applications of the invention to enable one skilled in the art to use the invention in several various modalities and with various modifications suitable for the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended to the present invention and their equivalents.

Claims (20)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, priority is claimed as contained in the following: CLAIMS 1.- A peristaltic pump comprising: a housing for a motor; a receiving plate mounted to the housing; a closure plate, the closure plate includes: a first opening having the ability to receive a hook extending from a pump head; a second opening having the ability to receive a drive shaft of the pump head; and an element of liberation; and a destabilizing element that elastically engages the receiving plate with the closing plate; wherein the use of the release element by a user causes the movement of the closure plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook when it is received in the first opening thereby freeing the pump head from the closure plate.
2. 2. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, further comprising the motor.
3. 3. - The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor includes a motor drive shaft, and also wherein one end of the motor drive shaft is accessible through the second opening.
4. 4. The peristaltic pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the end of the motor drive shaft includes a sleeve and a strip extending from an inner surface of the sleeve.
5. 5. - The peristaltic pump according to claim 3, characterized in that the end of the motor drive shaft includes a central hub and a strip extending from an outer surface of the central hub.
6. 6. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, further comprising a drive module for controlling the motor.
7. 7. The peristaltic pump according to claim 6, characterized in that the driving module comprises a control panel including a control for selecting an operating parameter of the pump head.
8. 8. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, further comprising the pump head, wherein the pump head comprises: a cassette configured to receive a tube; Y a mounting plate mounted to the cassette, the mounting plate includes the hook; and a third opening wherein one end of the drive shaft is accessible through the third opening.
9. 9. The peristaltic pump according to claim 8, characterized in that the drive shaft of the pump head is operatively coupled to a motor driving shaft of the motor to control the pumping of a fluid through the received tube.
10. 10. The peristaltic pump according to claim 8, characterized in that the pump head further comprises: a second receiving plate mounted to the cassette; a second closure plate, the second closure plate includes: a fourth opening having the capacity to receive a second hook extending from the second pump head; a fifth opening having the capacity to receive a second drive shaft of the second pump head; and a second release element; and a second destabilizing element elastically coupling the second receiving plate with the second closing plate; Where the use of the second release element by the user causes the movement of the second closure plate relative to the second receiving plate to release the second hook when it is received in the fourth opening thereby releasing the second pump head the second closing plate.
11. 11. The peristaltic pump according to claim 10, characterized in that the second receiving plate is mounted to the cassette on a side generally opposite the mounting plate.
12. 12. The peristaltic pump according to claim 10, characterized in that the second drive shaft of the second pump head is operably coupled to the drive shaft of the pump head to control the pumping of a fluid through a second tube received. for the second pump head.
13. 13. The peristaltic pump according to claim 9, characterized in that the drive shaft of the pump head includes a central hub and a strip extending from an outer surface of the central hub; wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor includes a sleeve and a second strip extending from an inner surface of the sleeve; wherein the sleeve has the ability to receive the central hub; Y further wherein the drive shaft is operably coupled to the motor drive shaft through a splice of the strip with the second strip.
14. 14. The peristaltic pump according to claim 9, characterized in that the drive shaft of the pump head includes a sleeve and a strip extending from an inner surface of the sleeve; wherein the motor drive shaft of the motor includes a central hub and a second strip extending from an outer surface of the central hub; wherein the sleeve has the ability to receive the central hub; and further wherein the drive shaft engages the motor drive shaft through a splice of the strip with the second strip.
15. 15. The peristaltic pump according to claim 12, further comprising the second pump head, wherein the second pump head comprises: a second cassette configured to receive a second tube; and a second mounting plate mounted to the second cassette, the second mounting plate includes the second hook; Y a sixth opening in which one end of the second drive shaft is accessible through the sixth opening.
16. 16. The peristaltic pump according to claim 13, characterized in that one end of the strip is beveled.
17. 17. The peristaltic pump according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor includes a motor drive shaft, and also because one end of the motor drive shaft is accessible through the second opening.
18. 18. The peristaltic pump according to claim 1, characterized in that the release element is a push button.
19. 19. The peristaltic pump according to claim 17, characterized in that the button is mounted for movement in a first direction that causes the compression of the destabilizing element.
20. 20. A peristaltic pump comprising: a housing for a motor; a receiving plate mounted to the housing; a closure plate, the closure plate includes a hook; an opening having the ability to receive a drive shaft of a pump head; Y an element of liberation; and a destabilizing element elastically coupling the receiving plate with the closing plate; wherein the use of the release element by a user causes movement of the closure plate relative to the receiving plate to release the hook from the pump head when the pump head is mounted to the closure plate.