PERISTALTIC PUMPING MECHANISM HAVING A REMOVABLE COVER AND REPLACEABLE TUBING, ROLLERS AND PUMPING MECHANISM

• US 20070140880A1
• Filed: 12/10/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: G.H. Stenner & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: G.H. Stenner & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Fulmer, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 8,182,241 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/477.100
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 43/1253 by using two or more rollers as squeezing elements, the rollers moving on an arc of a circle during squeezing
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 53/22 Arrangements for enabling ready assembly or disassembly

Abstract

A peristaltic pump includes a pumping mechanism cover releasably coupled to a pumping mechanism base or gear case cover and configured to enshroud components including a roller assembly and tube. Removal of the pumping mechanism cover exposes the components to facilitate maintenance. The pumping mechanism cover may be locked into a closed position using a threaded bushing or a pivoting latch. A plurality of engagement studs may be provided to secure the pumping mechanism base to the gear case housing cover. The pumping mechanism base or gear case cover is configured for releasably engaging tubing inlet and outlet fittings. Thus, tubing may be installed or removed without having to disassemble or remove any other portion of the pumping mechanism base.

Claims

1. A peristaltic pumping mechanism comprising:

a removable tubing assembly and a removable roller assembly;

a pumping mechanism base configured for releasable coupling to a gear case housing;

a pumping mechanism cover releasably coupled in operable alignment to the pumping mechanism base;

a threaded bushing operably coupled to the pumping mechanism base by a hinged latch;

said pumping mechanism cover including a threaded hole for threadedly receiving the threaded bushing, and said pumping mechanism cover being configured to enshroud the removable tubing and roller assemblies.

2. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said pumping mechanism cover further includes a pair of parallel flanges, and said pumping mechanism base includes a pair of parallel slots configured to slidingly receive the pair of parallel flanges of the pumping mechanism cover.

3. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:

said hinged latch comprises a hinged latch base having distal and proximal ends and a lever having first and second ends; and

said hinged latch base being hingedly coupled to the pumping mechanism base at the distal end of the hinged latch base; and

said first end of said lever being hingedly attached to said proximal end of said hinged latch base; and

said threaded bushing being operably coupled to said second end of said lever.

4. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the tubing assembly comprises a tube having an inlet fitting at one end and an outlet fitting at an opposite end, said pumping mechanism base being configured to releasably engage the tubing inlet and outlet fittings.

5. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the gear case housing includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements adapted for releasable attachment of said pumping mechanism base, and said pumping mechanism base includes a plurality of corresponding attachment elements adapted to releasably engage the mechanical attachment elements of the gear case housing.

6. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the gear case housing includes a plurality of studs adapted for releasable attachment of said pumping mechanism base, and said pumping mechanism base includes a plurality of corresponding tapered arcuate apertures adapted to releasably engage the plurality of studs of the gear case housing upon insertion of the studs into the tapered arcuate apertures and rotation of the pumping mechanism base relative to the gear case housing.

7. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising

a drive shaft having a free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

said roller assembly comprising a spinner and at least one roller rotatably mounted along the periphery of the spinner;

said spinner having a central aperture;

said central aperture being adapted to operably, slidingly, releasably engage said free end of said drive shaft; and

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.

8. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising

a drive shaft having a keyed free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

said roller assembly comprising a spinner and at least one roller rotatably mounted along the periphery of the spinner;

said spinner having a central aperture configured to securely releasably engage said keyed free end of said drive shaft;

said central aperture being adapted to operably, slidingly, releasably engage said free end of said drive shaft; and

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said keyed free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.

9. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tubing assembly comprising a tube having an inlet fitting at one end and an outlet fitting at an opposite end, said pumping mechanism base being configured to releasably engage the tubing inlet and outlet fittings;

a drive shaft having a free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

said roller assembly comprising a spinner having a central aperture, said central aperture being adapted to operably engage said free end of said drive shaft;

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.

10. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein:

said pumping mechanism cover further includes a pair of parallel flanges, and said pumping mechanism base includes a pair of parallel slots configured to slidingly receive the pair of parallel flanges of the pumping mechanism cover;

said hinged latch comprises a hinged latch base having distal and proximal ends and a lever having first and second ends; and

said hinged latch base being hingedly coupled to the pumping mechanism base at the distal end of the hinged latch base; and

said first end of said lever being hingedly attached to said proximal end of said hinged latch base; and

said threaded bushing being operably coupled to said second end of said lever.

11. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 10, further comprising a tubing assembly comprising a tube having an inlet fitting at one end and an outlet fitting at an opposite end, said pumping mechanism base being configured to releasably engage the tubing inlet and outlet fittings.

12. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the gear case housing includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements adapted for releasable attachment of said pumping mechanism base, and said pumping mechanism base includes a plurality of corresponding attachment elements adapted to releasably engage the mechanical attachment elements of the gear case housing.

13. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the gear case housing includes a plurality of studs adapted for releasable attachment of said pumping mechanism base, and said pumping mechanism base includes a plurality of corresponding tapered arcuate apertures adapted to releasably engage the plurality of studs of the gear case housing upon insertion of the studs into the tapered arcuate apertures and rotation of the pumping mechanism base relative to the gear case housing.

14. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 12, further comprising

a drive shaft having a free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

said roller assembly comprising a spinner and at least one roller rotatably mounted along the periphery of the spinner;

said spinner having a central aperture;

said central aperture being adapted to operably, slidingly, releasably engage said free end of said drive shaft; and

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.

15. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 13, further comprising

a drive shaft having a keyed free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

said roller assembly comprising a spinner and at least one roller rotatably mounted along the periphery of the spinner;

said spinner having a central aperture configured to securely releasably engage said keyed free end of said drive shaft;

said central aperture being adapted to operably, slidingly, releasably engage said free end of said drive shaft; and

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said keyed free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.

16. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 15, wherein:

the tubing assembly comprises a tube having an inlet fitting at one end and an outlet fitting at an opposite end, said pumping mechanism base being configured to releasably engage the tubing inlet and outlet fittings;

a drive shaft having a free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

a roller assembly comprising a spinner having a central aperture, said central aperture being adapted to operably engage said free end of said drive shaft;

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.

17. A peristaltic pumping mechanism comprising:

a gear case cover;

a removable tubing assembly and a removable roller assembly;

a pumping mechanism cover releasably coupled in operable alignment to the gear case cover;

a pivot pin and a pivoting latch operably coupled to the gear case cover by the pivot pin;

said pumping mechanism cover including a pair of parallel flanges;

said pumping mechanism base including a pair of parallel slots configured to slidingly receive the pair of parallel flanges of the pumping mechanism cover;

said pivoting latch being operably configured to releasably lock the pumping mechanism cover to the gear case cover; and

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to enshroud the removable tubing and roller assemblies.

18. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 17, wherein the tubing assembly comprises a tube having an inlet fitting at one end and an outlet fitting at an opposite end, said pumping mechanism base being configured to releasably engage the tubing inlet and outlet fittings.

19. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 18, wherein the gear case housing includes a plurality of mechanical attachment elements adapted for releasable attachment of said pumping mechanism base, and said pumping mechanism base includes a plurality of corresponding attachment elements adapted to releasably engage the mechanical attachment elements of the gear case housing.

20. A peristaltic pumping mechanism according to claim 19, further comprising

a drive shaft having a keyed free end extending from said gear case housing through said pumping mechanism base;

said roller assembly comprising a spinner and at least one roller rotatably mounted along the periphery of the spinner;

said spinner having a central aperture configured to securely releasably engage said keyed free end of said drive shaft;

said central aperture being adapted to operably, slidingly, releasably engage said free end of said drive shaft; and

said pumping mechanism cover being configured to removably cover said keyed free end of said drive shaft and said roller assembly engaged thereon.