Membrane Suction Pump Unit

• US 20100086419A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 04/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Rebsamen, Christoph, Felber, Marcel
• Application Number:
  US12/530,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20100086419A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/472
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 45/04 having plate-like flexible members, e.g. diaphragms F04B45/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 49/03 by means of valves

Abstract

A membrane suction pump unit has a dimensionally stable membrane frame (1), a dimensionally stable monobloc membrane cover (3), which has a pump chamber (31) with a floor region and a side wall (36) encircling the floor region and widening outwards away from the floor region, and a monobloc pump membrane (2), which has a membrane plate (20), a flexible membrane piston (21), at least one inlet valve flap (23) and at least one outlet valve flap (24). The membrane plate (20) is arranged between the membrane frame (1) and the membrane cover (3), and membrane frame (1), pump membrane (2) and membrane cover (3) are connected to one another by means of connecting elements (15, 15′, 15″) in a preset position. The membrane piston (21) passes through the membrane frame (1), and the membrane piston (21) covers a pump chamber (31) of the membrane cover (3). According to the invention, there are more than three connecting elements (15, 15′, 15″), forming a material and/or positive fit.

Claims

1. Membrane suction pump unit with a dimensionally stable membrane frame, a dimensionally stable monobloc membrane cover, which has a pump chamber with a floor region and a side wall encircling the floor region and widening outwards away from the floor region, and with a monobloc pump membrane, which has a membrane plate, a flexible membrane piston, at least one inlet valve flap and at least one outlet valve flap, the membrane plate being arranged between the membrane frame and the membrane cover, and membrane frame, pump membrane and membrane cover being connected to one another by means of connecting elements in a preset position, the membrane piston passing through the membrane frame, and the membrane piston covering a pump chamber of the membrane cover, wherein there are more than three connecting elements and in that they form a material and/or positive fit.

2. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the connecting elements are plugged into seat openings of the membrane frame and/or the membrane plate and are welded, riveted or bonded to the membrane frame or the membrane plate.

3. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which there are six to twelve, preferably nine connecting elements.

4. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the connecting elements pass through the pump membrane exclusively in its outer edge region.

5. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the membrane cover has a thickness which is uniform over approximately its entire surface.

6. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the connecting elements are pins or snap-in elements.

7. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which at least some of the connecting elements are arranged on the membrane frame.

8. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which at least some of the connecting elements are arranged on the membrane cover.

9. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which membrane cover and membrane frame are made from plastic and the connecting elements are connected integrally to the membrane cover or the membrane frame.

10. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which at least some of the connecting elements are provided with longitudinal ribs.

11. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which at least some of the connecting elements are provided with a positioning aid.

12. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the membrane cover and/or the membrane frame has socket-like seats for taking up the connecting elements.

13. Suction pump unit according to claim 12, in which the socket-like seats are interconnected by ribs.

14. Suction pump unit according to claim 12, in which the seats have an unround, in particular polygonal, cross-section.

15. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the membrane plate has inlet and outlet valve flaps and on one side has a first sealing lip, the sealing lip completely encircles the membrane piston, the inlet and outlet valve flaps are located inside a region enclosed by the sealing lip, and the connecting elements pass through the membrane plate outside this circular sealing lip.

16. Suction pump unit according to claim 15, in which the membrane plate has, on the opposite side, a second sealing lip which cooperates with the first sealing lip and likewise encloses the membrane piston and the inlet and outlet valve flaps.

17. Suction pump unit according to claim 16, in which the first and second sealing lips are congruent.

18. Suction pump unit according to claim 1, in which the pump membrane is designed in one piece from a flexible material.

19. Membrane suction pump unit with a dimensionally stable membrane frame, a dimensionally stable monobloc membrane cover, which has a pump chamber with a floor region and a side wall encircling the floor region and widening outwards away from the floor region, and with a monobloc pump membrane, which has a membrane plate, a flexible membrane piston, at least one inlet valve flap and at least one outlet valve flap, the membrane plate being arranged between the membrane frame and the membrane cover, and membrane frame, pump membrane and membrane cover being connected to one another by means of connecting elements in a preset position, the membrane piston passing through the membrane frame, and the membrane piston covering a pump chamber of the membrane cover, characterized in that there are more than three connecting elements.

20. Membrane suction pump unit with a dimensionally stable membrane frame, a dimensionally stable monobloc membrane cover, which has a pump chamber with a floor region and a side wall encircling the floor region and widening outwards away from the floor region, and with a monobloc pump membrane, which has a membrane plate, a flexible membrane piston, at least one inlet valve flap and at least one outlet valve flap, the membrane plate being arranged between the membrane frame and the membrane cover, and membrane frame, pump membrane and membrane cover being connected to one another by means of connecting elements in a preset position, the membrane piston passing through the membrane frame, and the membrane piston covering a pump chamber of the membrane cover, characterized in that the connecting elements form a material and/or positive fit.

21. Membrane suction pump unit with a dimensionally stable membrane frame, a dimensionally stable monobloc membrane cover, which has a pump chamber with a floor region and a side wall encircling the floor region and widening outwards away from the floor region, and with a monobloc pump membrane, which has a membrane plate, a flexible membrane piston, at least one inlet valve flap and at least one outlet valve flap, the membrane plate being arranged between the membrane frame and the membrane cover, and membrane frame, pump membrane and membrane cover being connected to one another by means of connecting elements in a preset position, the membrane piston passing through the membrane frame, and the membrane piston covering a pump chamber of the membrane cover, characterized in that the membrane cover has a thickness which is uniform over approximately its entire surface.

22. Suction pump unit according to claim 21, in which the membrane cover has an underside which faces away from the pump membrane and which is designed structured.