WO2021089762A1

WO2021089762A1 - Peristaltic pump with one-piece pump body and facilitated assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2021089762A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/081249
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sébastien Delvalac; Thibaut PIERQUIN
Original assignee: Nemera La Verpilliere
Priority date: 2019-11-06
Filing date: 2020-11-06
Publication date: 2021-05-14
Also published as: US20220389923A1; FR3102811A1; FR3102811B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a peristaltic pump (1) comprising: - a rotor (20) comprising a rotational shaft (25) and configured to be rotated so as to deform a flexible tube (30), - a housing (10) comprising a head for receiving (18) the flexible tube (30) and a body for supporting (19) the rotational shaft (25) of the rotor (20), the rotational shaft (25) being mounted to rotate freely relative to the support body (19), the receiving head (18) and the support body (19) for the housing (10) being formed as one piece.

Description

Title of the invention: Peristaltic pump with one-piece pump body and easy assembly The invention relates to a peristaltic pump for transferring a product, generally liquid, as well as a method of assembling such a peristaltic pump. The invention also relates to a device for dispensing a liquid product comprising such a pump.

A peristaltic pump is already known in the state of the art, in particular from document US Pat. No. 5,082,429, consisting of two parts, one independent of the other, on the one hand a base carrying a rotor, on the other hand a head , attached over the rotor so as to sandwich a distribution tube between the two parts. The pump includes a clamping arm to close the space formed by the two parts and to contact the rotor with the tube when the latter is mounted in the pump. The pump assembly is done manually. Thanks to the two parts which sandwich the tube, the distribution tube can be changed. This peristaltic pump has the disadvantage of having a relatively complex assembly. Indeed, like any other peristaltic pump known from the state of the art, the peristaltic pump as described in this document requires manual assembly, which presents a very long assembly time and a high production cost.

The aim of the invention is in particular to provide a peristaltic pump the assembly of which is facilitated, preferably which can be industrialized and in particular can be automated. To this end, the invention relates to a peristaltic pump comprising:

- a rotor comprising a rotation shaft and configured to be driven in rotation so as to deform a flexible tubing, a housing comprising a head for receiving the flexible tubing and a support body for the rotation shaft of the rotor, the rotation shaft being mounted to rotate freely relative to the support body, the receiving head and the housing support body being in one piece.

Thus, a single part is provided to ensure the function of supporting the rotor and receiving the flexible tubing, it is therefore not necessary to provide two separate parts which sandwich the flexible tubing. As a result, the number of parts to be assembled is reduced and the number of assembly steps is reduced. The assembly of the pump is easier which means that the industrialization and in particular, assembly automation becomes possible. The manufacturing cost is thus reduced. It will be understood that two single-piece parts are integral parts, preferably integral parts, or even molded parts, that is to say that the receiving head of the flexible tubing and the support body of the Rotor rotating shaft are part of the same single piece.

According to other optional characteristics of the peristaltic pump, taken alone or in combination:

The box includes:

. a mounting opening through which the rotor is assembled into the housing and,. deformable means permitting the deformation of the mounting opening and / or part of the rotor during assembly of the rotor.

The deformable means can thus allow a widening of the mounting opening or a reduction in width of a part of the rotor, for example of the rotation shaft. In the first case, the widening of the mounting opening allows the rotor rotation shaft to pass through the opening into the assembled position.

An assembly such as a snap-fit or press-fit is then possible. There is no need for any additional tools or steps.

- The deformable means comprise a ramp carried by the housing and configured to cooperate with the rotor rotation shaft in order to deform the mounting opening.

The ramp guides the rotation shaft in its movement and facilitates the deformation of the mounting opening. Advantageously, the deformable means comprise two ramps intended to cooperate with the two ends of the rotation shaft to facilitate the deformation of the mounting opening. - The deformable means include a recess allowing the deformation of the mounting opening. The recess makes it possible to make a part of the housing disposed in the vicinity of the recess deformable, which promotes deformation of the housing. More specifically, the presence of the recess promotes the deformation of the part forming the support body. The assembly of the rotor is thus facilitated. We understand that a recess is a through hole. Preferably, the recess is shaped along the ramp to further promote deformation of the mounting opening.

- The receiving head comprises a housing configured to receive the flexible tubing and a stop allowing the lateral retention of the flexible tubing. Thus, the flexible tubing is received and maintained only by the one-piece housing, for better stability and simplified assembly. The maintenance of the tubing produced by the stop makes it possible to limit the lateral movement generated by the rotor. It is understood that a lateral support corresponds to a support which prevents the displacement of the tubing along the axis of rotation of the rotor.

- The receiving head and the support body are integral, and the housing of the receiving head includes the stop, which is integral. - The receiving head comprises two opposite walls integral and forming two stops allowing the lateral retention of the flexible tubing. It is understood that the two opposite walls are the walls of the housing.

- The housing comprises an orifice for receiving the rotation shaft, preferably two orifices arranged on two opposite walls of the housing to form bearings. Thus, the rotor rotation shaft is carried entirely by the housing and not by two parts arranged on either side of the rotor and which must be assembled together. Preferably, the orifice is configured to allow rotation of the rotational shaft under the action of a rotor drive means.

- The peristaltic pump is configured to receive a flexible tubing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the housing comprising means for fixing the fluid inlet and / or the fluid outlet of the flexible tubing, for example slots for receiving the fluid inlet and / or the fluid outlet. The fixing means make it possible to minimize the movement of the flexible tubing generated by the deformation of the latter. They make it possible to maintain the tubing in a position and in a tension necessary for its stability for the passage of the fluid when the rotor is in motion. This arrangement also makes it possible to improve the life of the tubing and to prevent possible leakage due to wear. In the case of slits, this allows fixing of the flexible tubing by clamping.

- The peristaltic pump comprises a flexible tubing, the flexible tubing comprising complementary fastening means configured to cooperate with the fastening means, the complementary fastening means and the flexible tubing preferably being in one piece. The additional fixing means improve the fixing of the tubing, while not requiring the assembly of additional elements. - The peristaltic pump comprises at least one attached connector configured to place the flexible tubing in communication with a liquid product reservoir or a liquid product dispensing unit, the connector comprising the complementary fixing means configured to cooperate with the means of fixation.

The subject of the invention is also a method for assembling a peristaltic pump as described above, comprising the following steps:

- The flexible tubing is assembled on the rotor or in the receiving head of the housing, - The rotor is assembled in the housing,

- The rotor rotation shaft is connected to a drive means.

Optionally, the assembly process also includes the following steps: - The assembly opening and / or part of the rotor are deformed,

- Pass the rotor rotation shaft through the opening to the assembled position.

A further subject of the invention is a device for dispensing a liquid product comprising: - A unit for dispensing the liquid product,

- A reservoir for the liquid product,

- A peristaltic pump as described above, connecting the distribution unit and the reservoir.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which: [FIG. 1] Figure 1 is a sectional view of a peristaltic pump according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[Fig. 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the peristaltic pump of Figure 1;

[Fig. 3] Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view of a housing of the peristaltic pump of Figure 1;

[Fig. 4] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a peristaltic pump according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[Fig. 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the peristaltic pump of Figure 4, assembled; [Fig. 6] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a peristaltic pump according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[Fig. 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of the peristaltic pump of Figure 6, assembled. detailed description

There is shown in Figures 1 to 3 a peristaltic pump according to a first embodiment of the invention, designated by the general reference 1. The peristaltic pump 1 comprises a one-piece housing 10 as shown in FIG. 2. The housing 10 comprises an upper part, forming a reception head 18 of the flexible tubing 30, having the general shape of a half cylinder, and a part lower part forming a support body 19. The lower part forming a support body 19 consists of two opposite vertical walls 191, arranged in the extension of the cylindrical surface of the upper part forming a receiving head 18, and two side walls 192 opposed, which are substantially in the same plane as the flat surfaces of the upper part forming a receiving head 18.

The peristaltic pump 1 is configured to receive a flexible tubing 30 which is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The flexible tubing 30 has a fluid inlet 31 and a fluid outlet 32. The fluid inlet 31 is intended to be connected. to a liquid product reservoir and the fluid outlet 32 is intended to be connected to a liquid product distribution unit. Thus, the peristaltic pump 1, once put into operation, makes it possible to transfer liquid product from the reservoir to the unit of distribution. In this example, the product dispensed is a drug, and the delivery is by injection through a catheter.

The upper part forming a receiving head 18 of the flexible tubing 30 and comprises a housing 181 configured to receive the flexible tubing 30. This is visible in Figure 3 which is a sectional view and in perspective of a first half part of the tube. housing 10 according to a first plane of symmetry P1 of the housing 10. Consequently, it is understood that the housing 181 has a U-shaped profile according to the first plane of symmetry P1 of the housing 10.

The reception head 18 further comprises a stop 14 as shown in Figure 3, allowing the lateral retention of the flexible tubing 30. It is understood that this stop 14 is also present on the other half part of the housing 10 (not shown). in this figure).

The peristaltic pump 1 further comprises a rotor 20 comprising a rotation shaft 25 visible in FIG. 2. The rotor 20 is configured to be driven in rotation so as to deform a part of the flexible tubing 30 which is located in the upper part forming a receiving head 18 of the housing 10. Thus, the upper part forms a receiving head 18 of the housing 10 of the flexible tubing 30. The rotor 20 comprises three rollers 23 respectively mounted on a rod 24 allowing the free rotation of each associated roller . The rotor 20 further comprises a first plate 21 and a second plate 22 mounted on either side of the rollers 23. At least the first plate 21 comprises at its center a hollow 27 intended to cooperate with a drive means 40 such as visible in Figure 2 actuated by an electric motor. For example, the drive means 40 may be a cylinder provided with a protuberance 41 having a shape complementary to that of the hollow 27. Thus, the protuberance 41 on the drive means 40 mates with the hollow 27 of the first. plate 21 so that the drive means 40 can drive the first plate 21 as well as the whole rotor 20 in rotation. The first plate 21 and the second plate 22 further comprise holes 26 making it possible to receive one of the ends of each rod 24 so that when the rotor 20 is set in rotation, the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 drive the rods. 24 which themselves drive the rollers 23 so that they perform a rotational movement around the rotational shaft 25.

Each roller 23 is arranged so as to compress a portion of the flexible tubing 30 facing against the receiving head 18 when the peristaltic pump 1 is assembled. Thus, once the rotor 20 has been set in rotation, the rollers 23 which close off portions of the flexible tubing 30 during their rotation will move the liquid product retained in the same direction. Suction of the liquid product at the inlet of the pump peristaltic 1 is then possible due to the elasticity of the flexible tubing 30. This is the conventional operation of a peristaltic pump known in the technical field and which will therefore not be described in detail here.

Still in Figures 1 to 3, the lower part forms a support body 19 of the housing 10 of the rotation shaft 25 of the rotor 20, the rotation shaft 25 being mounted to rotate freely relative to the support body 19. For To do this, the housing 10 comprises two orifices 11 for receiving the rotation shaft 25, the orifices 11 being arranged on the two side walls 192 of the housing 10 to form bearings. The rotor 20, for its part, comprises respectively on the first plate 21 and the second plate 22 a disc 211 extending from the first plate 21 or the second plate 22 and having a diameter substantially identical to that of the orifices 11, each disc 211 cooperating with a corresponding orifice 11 for maintaining the rotor 20 in the support body 19. In the example illustrated, the disc 211 forms the rotation shaft 25.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 10 comprises a mounting opening 12 arranged at the end of the support body 19 which is disposed on the side opposite to the receiving head 18. The rotor 20 is assembled in the housing 10 by this mounting opening 12. The housing 10 further comprises deformable means 13, 13 'allowing the deformation of the mounting opening 12 during assembly of the rotor 20. In the example illustrated, the deformable means 13, 13' comprise ramps 13 carried by the housing 10, in particular at the level of the support body 19. For example, each ramp 13 is arranged on a vertical wall 191 as visible in FIGS. 2 and 3. The ramps 13 come into contact with the shaft. rotation 25 of the rotor 20. When the rotor 20 has passed through the mounting opening 12 by force, the rotation shaft 25 exerts pressure on the ramps 13, as well as on the side walls 192, tending to push them apart which allows the mounting opening 12 to be deformed to facilitate mounting of the rotor 20. In this example illustrated and as shown in Figure 3, the ramp 13 extends between the mounting opening 12 and the port 11.

Advantageously, the deformable means 13, 13 ′ further comprise recesses 13 ′ making it possible to promote the deformation of the mounting opening 12. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, each side wall 192 comprises two longitudinal recesses 13 ′ arranged in parallel. on either side of orifice 11 and of ramp 13.

In order to keep the flexible tubing 30 in place during the movement of the rotor 20, the housing 10 comprises means 15 for fixing the fluid inlet 31 and the fluid outlet 32 of the flexible tubing 30. In the example illustrated. in FIG. 2, the fixing means 15 are receiving slots 15 having a first semi-circular zone 151 connected to a second longitudinal zone 152. Each receiving slot 15 is arranged on a vertical wall 191 at the level of the mounting opening 12. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flexible tubing 30 comprises complementary fixing means 33 comprising, in this first embodiment, a first portion 331 cylindrical having a diameter slightly greater than the width of the second area 152 of the receiving slot 15 for a press fit. The complementary fixing means 33 also comprise a second portion 332 having the shape of a disc and linked to the first portion 331. The diameter of the disc formed by the second portion 332 is greater than that of the first zone 151 of the receiving slot 15. Each of the first and second portions 331, 332 is connected to the flexible tubing 30 and form a single block therewith. this. In this example, they are molded with the flexible tubing 30. The complementary fastening means 33 are arranged at two locations of the flexible tubing 30 to cooperate with all the receiving slots 15 present on the housing 10.

When assembling the peristaltic pump 1, the flexible tubing 30 is first assembled on the rotor 20 or in the receiving head 18 of the housing 10. Then, the rotor is assembled in the housing 10 and the shaft is connected. rotation 25 of the rotor 20 by the drive means 40 while taking care to pass the first portion 331 of the complementary fixing means 33 into the receiving slot 15.

A second embodiment is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and only the differences from the first embodiment of the invention are presented as follows:

The complementary fixing means 34, in this second embodiment, comprise two rings 34 arranged at two locations of the flexible tube 30, the rings 34 and the flexible tube 30 being in one piece. The fixing means 16 in this second embodiment comprise two housings 16 having a shape substantially complementary to the ring 34. Thus, when the peristaltic pump 1 is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 5, each ring 34 is inserted into the housing. 16 tightly to hold the flexible tubing 30.

A third embodiment is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and only the differences from the first embodiment of the invention are presented as follows:

The peristaltic pump 1 comprises two connectors 50 having a tubular body which are attached and connected respectively to the fluid inlet 31 and to the fluid outlet 32. The connectors 50 thus place the flexible tubing 30 in communication with a liquid reservoir. and a unit for dispensing the liquid product. Each connector 50 comprises a complementary fixing means 35 between the two ends of the connector 50 and extending therefrom. Fixing means 17 in this third embodiment comprise two housings 17 having a shape substantially complementary to a part, for example half of the complementary fixing means 35. Thus, when the peristaltic pump 1 is assembled as illustrated in FIG. 7, each means of complementary fastener 35 is inserted in the housing 17 in a tight fashion to hold the flexible tubing 30.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In particular, it is possible to deform part of the rotor 20, for example the rotation shaft 25 during assembly. Rotation shaft 25 may be retractable and retracted during assembly of the peristaltic pump to allow rotor 20 to pass through mounting opening 12.

Claims

[Claim 1] Peristaltic pump (1) comprising:

- a rotor (20) comprising a rotation shaft (25) and configured to be driven in rotation so as to deform a flexible tube (30),

- a housing (10) comprising a receiving head (18) of the flexible tubing (30) and a support body (19) of the rotation shaft (25) of the rotor (20), the rotation shaft ( 25) being mounted to rotate freely relative to the support body (19), the receiving head (18) and the support body (19) of the housing (10) being in one piece.

[Claim 2] Peristaltic pump (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the housing (10) comprises:

- a mounting opening (12) through which the rotor (20) is assembled in the housing (10) and,

- deformable means (13, 13 ’) allowing the deformation of the mounting opening (12) and / or part of the rotor (20) during assembly of the rotor (20).

[Claim 3] Peristaltic pump (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the deformable means (13, 13 ') comprise a ramp (13) carried by the housing (10) and configured to cooperate with the rotation shaft (25). ) of the rotor (20) to deform the mounting opening (12).

[Claim 4] Peristaltic pump (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, in which the deformable means (13, 13 ') comprise a recess (13') allowing the deformation of the mounting opening (12). .

[Claim 5] A peristaltic pump (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiving head (18) comprises a housing (181) configured to receive the flexible tubing (30) and a stopper (14) allowing lateral retention of the flexible tubing

(30).

[Claim 6] Peristaltic pump (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the receiving head (18) and the support body (19) are integrally formed, and the housing (181) of the receiving head (18) includes the stop (14), which is integral.

[Claim 7] Peristaltic pump (1) according to claim 5, in which the receiving head (18) comprises two opposing walls integrally formed and forming two stops (14) allowing the lateral retention of the flexible tubing (30).

[Claim 8] Peristaltic pump (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the housing (10) comprises an orifice (11) for receiving the rotation shaft (25), preferably two orifices arranged in two. opposite walls of the housing (10) to form bearings.

[Claim 9] A peristaltic pump (1) according to any preceding claim configured to receive a flexible tubing (30) having a fluid inlet (31) and a fluid outlet (32), peristaltic pump (1) in which the housing (10) comprises means (15, 16, 17) for fixing the fluid inlet

(31) and / or the fluid outlet (32) of the flexible tubing (30), for example receiving slots for the fluid inlet (31) and / or the fluid outlet (32).

[Claim 10] Peristaltic pump (1) according to the preceding claim, comprising a flexible tubing (30), and in which the flexible tubing (30) comprises complementary fixing means (33, 34, 35) configured to cooperate with the means fixing (15, 16, 17), the complementary fixing means (33, 34) and the flexible tubing (30) preferably being in one piece.

[Claim 11] Peristaltic pump (1) according to the preceding claim comprising at least one attached connector (50) configured to place the flexible tubing (30) in communication with a reservoir. liquid product or a liquid product dispensing unit, the connector (50) comprising the complementary fixing means (35) configured to cooperate with the fixing means (17).

[Claim 12] A method of assembling a peristaltic pump (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:

- The flexible tubing (30) is assembled on the rotor (20) or in the receiving head (18) of the housing (10),

- Assemble the rotor (20) in the housing (10),

The rotation shaft (25) of the rotor (20) is connected to a drive means (40).

[Claim 13] Device for dispensing a liquid product comprising:

A liquid product distribution unit,

A liquid product tank,

A peristaltic pump (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, connecting the dispensing unit and the reservoir.