HK1197739B - Vacuum pump - Google Patents

Description

The Commission has also adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to ionising radiation.

The present invention relates to a vacuum pump as defined in the general concept of claim 1.

The Technical Standards

Vacuum pumps are used to generate low pressure, for example as breast pumps for breast milk and as drainage pumps, especially in the area of thoracic or wound drainage.

WO 2011/035447 reveals a motor-driven breast pump for pumping breast milk with a vacuum membrane which simultaneously generates or transmits the vacuum, separates the air from the milk and transports the sucked milk.

WO 2008/057218 also reveals a vacuum membrane of a breast pump. This vacuum membrane is connected to a pump unit via a pressure line. It has a molded valve.

In particular, for drainage pumps, a measurement of the vacuum produced or created by the user is known.

The pressure is measured in a vacuum line or in an external suction or vacuum line by means of sensors of a known type, for example piezoelectric sensors.

A variety of pressure sensors are known at the present time. US 2003/0116702 reveals an optical pressure sensor with a housing, a membrane containing a light blocker, a photodiode, a photodetector and prisms that guide light from the photodiode to the photodetector.

WO 03/034014 reveals a pressure sensor for determining fluid pressure, whereby the pressure is transferred to a sensor via a membrane.

WO 2011/027117 also concerns a pressure sensor which uses a membrane to transmit pressure.

US2007/0060873 describes another membrane pump with pressure sensor.

The following shall be considered as a single product:

The invention is intended to create an improved vacuum pump with a pressure sensor, which can be used in particular as a breast pump for pumping human breast milk.

This task is solved by a vacuum pump with the characteristics of claim 1.

The vacuum pump according to the invention for the production of a pressure has a pump chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the outlet being equipped with a valve. Preferably the outlet is equipped with the valve, in particular a feedback valve. According to the invention, the pump chamber is equipped with a pressure sensor or a pressure sensor is located in the pump chamber.

The pressure sensor is placed on or in the vacuum chamber, which is also called the pump chamber, and the vacuum pump can be made small and compact. No additional line to a pressure sensor is required. The pressure is measured on site by placing the sensor element on or in the vacuum chamber, so no losses and leaks are to be taken into account.

The measured vacuum value can be used to control the pump, display the pump on a display for the user or otherwise.

The pressure sensor comprises a sensor membrane which is deflected in relation to the pressure in the pump chamber and thus transmits the prevailing pressure or the magnitude of a pressure change to a detector.

In a preferred embodiment, a flag is placed on the sensor membrane, the position of which is detectable relative to the pump chamber. The flag and the rest of the sensor membrane are preferably formed together in individual pieces, with the flag preferably being stiffer in comparison to the rest of the sensor membrane. The flag thus forms a transmission element that transmits the information regarding the deflection of the sensor membrane, i.e. the pressure change.

The detection of sensor membrane deflection, in particular the change in position of the flag, can be done by known means, such as capacitive or inductive.

Preferably, the optical detector comprises a light emitter and a light detector, whereby the flag can be moved in a light path between the light emitter and the light detector by deflecting the sensor membrane.

This sensor is used in a membrane vacuum pump in which a vacuum membrane forms a wall of the pump chamber, whereby the volume of the pump chamber is reduced and increased by movement of the vacuum membrane, thus cyclically generating the downward pressure in the pump chamber.

In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum membrane and the sensor membrane are formed together individually. Preferably, the sensor membrane forms a one-sided extension of the vacuum membrane. It is preferably located in a peripheral area of the vacuum membrane.

In another preferred embodiment, the vacuum membrane and the sensor membrane are two separate parts, preferably both round.

The sensor membrane and the vacuum membrane are preferably made of silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The sensor membrane may be thinner or thicker than the vacuum membrane. It is preferably the same thickness, in particular 0.8 mm.

In particular, the vacuum membrane is preferably plate-shaped with circular recesses and elevations.

The pump chamber has a first chamber area and a second chamber area connected to this first chamber area via a passageway. Both chamber areas have the same pressure level. The first chamber area serves as the pump area, the second as the sensor area. The vacuum membrane covers the first chamber area and the sensor membrane the second chamber area.

The passage opening is rejuvenated compared to the first chamber area and preferably consists of a connecting channel between the first and second chamber area. The second chamber area may have the same diameter as the connecting channel, or it may be wider or have a larger volume. The volume of the connecting channel and/or the diameter of the passage opening remains constant even with moving sensor membrane and vacuum membrane. The volumes of the first and second chamber area change with moving membranes.

In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum membrane has a centre point, where this centre point is connected to a drive element to operate the vacuum membrane, preferably with a connecting head to connect it to the drive unit.

The vacuum pump according to the invention can be used in particular as a breast pump for pumping breast milk or as a drainage pump, in particular for wound or thoracic drainage. The vacuum membrane can be driven directly by a motor and a mechanical power transmission unit, such as a pulley bar, but it can also be operated manually or connected to a motor or manually operated vacuum generating pump unit by a vacuum line.

In particular, the thoracic pump chamber of the media separator membrane according to WO 2011/035447 can be equipped with such a pressure sensor.

Other embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The following is a brief description of the drawings:

The following illustrations are intended to be illustrative only and not to be interpreted restrictively.The illustrations show:Figure 1a perspective representation of a vacuum pump according to the invention in use as a breast pump;Figure 2a vacuum pump according to Figure 1 in partial explosion representation;Figure 3a magnified section of the exhaust volume according to Figure 2;Figure 4a part of the vacuum pump according to Figure 2 in a further enlarged explosion representation with a slightly differently designed sensor unit;Figure 5a longitudinal perspective representation of the vacuum pump chamber in the position shown inFigure 1;Figure 6a vacuum pump in the position shown in Figure 7a vacuum pump chamber in the first and second dimensions;Figure 7a vacuum pump using a second and a second membrane and a perspective representation of the vacuum pump chamber in the position shown in Figure 7a;

The following shall be considered as a single unit of account:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the vacuum pump according to the invention in the form of a breast pump for pumping human breast milk. It has a vacuum pump housing 1 with an electric motor 10. A breast cap unit 5 includes a breast cap 51 with a breast-cap funnel 52 which can be securely attached to a breast and a first line 50. This first line 50 is soluble via a first coupling 53 to the breast pump housing 1. A combination unit 4 has a single collection tank 44 with a connecting support 43 and a second line 41. This second line 41 is soluble via a second connecting head 40 which connects it to the vacuum pump 43 or 42 which is soluble via the second line 42 which is soluble in the second line.

As shown in Figure 2, a lid 13 is attached to an outer wall of housing 1 and preferably is soluble, for example, screwed. In this lid 13 a pump chamber is formed, facing housing 1. It consists of two chamber areas 14, 15. Both chamber areas 14, 15 are essentially circular and each form a depression in the lid 13. The first chamber area 14 has a significantly larger diameter than the second chamber area 15. The two chamber areas 14, 15 are connected by a connection channel 18.

In the first chamber area 14 there is an input opening 143 to which the first coupling 53 of the sternum unit 5 is connected. It is plugged in here. In the second chamber area 15 there is an output opening 150 which is fitted against the outer side of the lid 13 with a valve 3. Preferably this output opening 150 is centrally located in the circular chamber area 15. The valve is preferably a back valve, especially a beak valve. Other types and types of valves can also be used.

The first chamber area 14 has a circular dihedral 140; at a distance from this dihedral 140 there is a closed ring 141 with an internal, preferably flat base 144; the ring is permeated by radial grooves 142 connecting the base 144 to the outer side of the ring 141; the entrance opening 143 and the lateral end of the connection channel 18 are located between dihedral 140 and ring 141, preferably diametrically opposite each other.

In the intended use of the chest pump, the inlet 143 is preferably located above the connection channel 18 or the first chamber area 14 above the second chamber area 15.

The membrane 2 is preferably made of silicon or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The membrane 2 has a circular membrane body 21 with a nearly fully circular rim 20. The membrane body 21 with its rim 20 is preferably plate-shaped. It preferably has elevations and recesses. In the middle of the membrane body 21 is a single-shaped or fixed connection head 22. This connection head 22 is connected or fixed via a copper part 7 (Figure 4) with a force transfer solution 11 of the drive.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the drive has the electric motor 10 mentioned above, which is fitted with a rotor 16. On the rotor 16 there is a piston head 110 of the transmission shaft 11, for example a piston rod. A piston head 110 opposite the head 110 of the transmission shaft 11 is formed as a connecting element 111. This connecting element 111 is connected to the membrane 2 via the coupling part 7. For this purpose, the housing 1 has a first passage opening 12. Thus, a rotational motion of the motor 10 over the transmission shaft 11 is transmitted in a more precise linear motion of the membrane 2 of the power transmitter 21.

The membrane body 21 covers the first chamber area 14, in particular the ring 141 and the cavity enclosed by it. The linear movement of membrane 2 along the longitudinal axis of the connecting head 22 allows a downward pressure to be generated inside the cavity and thus in the first chamber area 14.

The membrane 2 also has a one-sided extension in the form of a flap 23. The flap 23 is essentially rectangular and flat-formed. On this flap 23 there is a nose or flag 24 which is shaped in front of the flap 23 perpendicular to the housing 1. The flag 24 is preferably more rigidly formed than the flap 23 and, as the remaining membrane 20, 21. Only the connecting head 22 preferably has an equal or greater stiffness.

The flap 23 covers the second chamber area 15 and the flap 24 preferably lies above the exit 150 when mounted. At least the flap 24 is in the second chamber area 15. The flap 23 area is also held tightly between the lid 13 and the outer side of the housing wall 1 so that the pump chamber formed by the two chamber areas 14 and 15 is sealed against the housing 1. The outer side of the housing wall 1 is preferably flattened. The flap 23 area above the second chamber area 15 forms a sensor membrane. The second chamber area 15 forms a sensor area as described below.

In the area of flag 24 the housing 1 has a second passageway 17 through which the flag 24 can pass. On either side of this second passageway 17 on the inside of the housing 1 is an optical sensor unit 6. It has a light emitter 60, e.g. a photodiode, and a light detector 62, e.g. a photodiode. Light emitters 60 and light detector 62 are preferably arranged together with a control and evaluation electronics 61 on a common circuit board. Light emitters 60 and 62 are diametrically opposite each other at the edge of the second passageway 17 17 . Light emitters 60 and 62 define a light path or path which runs straight to the flag 24 and is transferable through this passageway.

Figures 5 and 6 show the movement of membrane 2 and Figures 2 and 6 show the tightly-enclosed edge 20 and periphery of the flap 23 between housing 1 and lid 13.

In Figure 5, the membrane 2, specifically the membrane body 21, is pulled over the coupling part 7 and the drive 1 to the housing 1. The volume of the first chamber area 14 is increased. Air from the first line 50 of the thoracic unit 5 is drawn into the chamber. The backflow valve 3 is closed. The depressurization in the first chamber area 14 also pulls the sensor membrane, that is, the part of the lobe 23 above the second chamber area 15, into the second chamber area 15. This moves the flap 23 to the output opening 150 and thus away from the light emitter 60 and the light detector 62. The flap 23 thus moves at least partly out of the light path.

In Figure 6 the membrane 2 is pressed against the base 144 and the membrane body 21 is pressed against the base 144. Preferably, the membrane body 21 is on this base 144. The connection to the first line 50 of the chest unit 5 is preferably cut off by the membrane 2 closing the entrance opening 143. The valve 3 is open. The sensor membrane 23 is relaxed and flat and the flag 24 protrudes into the light path and thus covers at least part of the light emitter 60. This corresponds to a zero position for the measurement of the vacuum. Depending on the vacuum or underpressure generated, the sensor flag 24 is pulled from a wide range of angles, as shown in Figure 5.The measured vacuum value is exactly the vacuum value of the pump chamber, since the first chamber area 14 and the second chamber area 15 are always at a common pressure level due to the connection channel 18. The position of the flag 24 in the light path can be transmitted to a control unit of the pump and used to control the pump even without assigning a specific vacuum value. Furthermore, another means of detecting the position of the flag 24 can be used instead of an optical sensor unit 6.

The vacuum pump is also used as a breast pump for pumping human breast milk. The same parts are designated with the same reference digits as in the first example and are not described in detail here. However, unlike the first example, membrane 2 is no longer shown in a single section. The sensor membrane and vacuum membrane are two separately formed membranes. The vacuum membrane is rounded and is formed by the membrane 21 and the sensor edge 20 . The 23' membrane is also rounded and preferably formed and shows the 24' plane.

As already described in WO 2011/035447, in both examples above, the pumped milk is pumped through the vacuum or pump chamber. The membrane 2 thus serves as a vacuum-producing membrane, for transporting the milk and for separating the media between the air in the pump housing and the milk. This membrane 2 can also be coupled to a vacuum-producing pump unit according to the further examples of WO'447 so that it is moved by a cyclic pressure applied to it via a sub-line. In this case, it creates a pressure drop in the pump chamber 14, whereby this pressure drop is proportional to the cyclic pressure drop of the vacuum reservoir. The functions mentioned above are thus maintained.

The vacuum pump according to the invention has a relatively accurate and inexpensive vacuum sensor. BEZUGSZEICHENLISTE

1	Gehäuse	24	Fahne
10	Elektromotor
11	Kraftübertragungsstange	3	Ventil
110	Pleuelkopf
111	Verbindungselement	4	Milchsammeleinheit
12	erste Durchgangsöffnung	40	zweites Kopplungsteil
13	Deckel	41	zweite Leitung
14	erster Kammerbereich	42	drittes Kopplungsteil
140	Dichtrand	43	Verbindungsstutzen
141	Ring	44	Milchsammelbehälter
142	Radialrille
143	Eingangsöffnung	5	Brusthaubeneinheit
144	Grundfläche	50	erste Leitung
15	zweiter Kammerbereich	51	Brusthaube
150	Ausgangsöffnung	52	Brusthaubentrichter
16	Drehscheibe	53	erstes Kopplungsteil
17	zweite Durchgangsöffnung
18	Verbindungskanal	6	optische Sensoreinheit
60	Lichtemitter
2	Membran	61	Steuer- und
20	Rand	Auswerteelektronik
21	Membrankörper	62	Lichtdetektor
22	Verbindungskopf
23	Lappen	7	Kopplungsteil
23'	Sensormembran

Claims (10)

1. Vacuum pump for generating an underpressure, wherein the vacuum pump has a pump chamber (14, 15) with an inlet (143) and an outlet (150), wherein the outlet (150) is equipped with a valve (3) and wherein the pump chamber (14, 15) is provided with a pressure sensor (23, 23', 24) and wherein the pressure sensor comprises a sensor diaphragm (23, 23'), wherein the vacuum pump comprises a vacuum diaphragm (20, 21) for generating the underpressure in the pump chamber (14, 15) and wherein the pump chamber has a first chamber area (14) and a second chamber area (15), which is connected to this first chamber area (14) via a through-opening (18), wherein the inlet (143) is arranged in the first chamber area (14), and the outlet (150) is arranged in the second chamber area (15), characterized in that the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21) covers the first chamber area (14), and the sensor diaphragm (23, 23') covers the second chamber area (15).
2. Vacuum pump according to Claim 1, wherein a vane (24) is arranged on the sensor diaphragm (23, 23'), and the position of the vane (24) relative to the pump chamber (14, 15) is detectable.
3. Vacuum pump according to Claim 2, wherein an optical detection means (6) is present in order to detect the position of the vane (24).
4. Vacuum pump according to Claim 3, wherein the optical detection means (6) comprises a light emitter (60) and a light detector (62), and wherein the vane (24) is movable, by deflection of the sensor diaphragm (23, 23'), into a light path between light emitter (60) and light detector (62).
5. Vacuum pump according to Claim 1, wherein the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21) and the sensor diaphragm (23, 23') are formed together in one piece.
6. Vacuum pump according to Claim 5, wherein the sensor diaphragm (23) is an extension of one side of the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21).
7. Vacuum pump according to Claim 1, wherein the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21) and the sensor diaphragm (23') are two parts formed separately from each other.
8. Vacuum pump according to Claim 1, wherein the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21) has substantially a round cross section.
9. Vacuum pump according to Claim 8, wherein the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21) has a central point, and wherein this central point is connectable to a drive element (10, 11) for the actuation of the vacuum diaphragm (20, 21).
10. Vacuum pump according to Claim 9, wherein a connection head (22) for connection to the drive element (10, 11) is arranged at the central point.