Peristaltic pump with rigid fluoroplastic tubing
First Claim
1. A peristaltic pump for transporting fluids, said peristaltic pump comprising(a) a pump housing containing a pumptube passageway;
- (b) a pumptube having inlet and outlet ends extending outside the pump housing, a pumping section contained within the pumptube passageway, and a fluid passageway extending through the pumptube from the inlet end to the outlet end; and
(c) a plurality of pressure rollers rotatably mounted within the housing, whereby each roller in turn contacts and compresses the pumping section of the pumptube contained within the pumptube passageway so as to transport fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end of the pumptube;
wherein at least the pumping section of the pumptube comprises an inner tube contained within an outer tube, wherein the inner tube is a first rigid fluoroplastic tubing and the outer tube is a second rigid fluoroplastic tubing such that the outside diameter of the inner tube and the inner diameter of the outer tube are closely matched, and wherein the pumptube is preformed to fit within pumptube passageway such that the pumptube within the pumping section is flattened into an oval-like shape with an oval-shaped fluid passageway such that the pressure rollers contact and compress the pumping section of the pumptube essentially along the flattened side of the oval-like shape and wherein the pumping section of pumptube returns to its flattened, oval-like shape when not compressed by the pressure rollers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved peristaltic pump using a pumptube comprising an inner tube and an outer tube each of rigid fluoroplastic material, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), is provided. The pumping section of the pumptube which contacts the pressure rollers of the peristaltic pump is preformed or shaped into a flattened, oval-like shape which approximately conforms to the pumptube passageway in the peristaltic pump. The pressure rollers contact and compress the flattened side of the pumptube and, thereby, effect the transport or pumping of the fluid. Methods for preparing the pumptubes of this invention are also provided. Corrosive, hot, and/or high pressure fluids can be readily handled using the improved pumptubes and peristaltic pumps provided.
56 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A peristaltic pump for transporting fluids, said peristaltic pump comprising
(a) a pump housing containing a pumptube passageway; -
(b) a pumptube having inlet and outlet ends extending outside the pump housing, a pumping section contained within the pumptube passageway, and a fluid passageway extending through the pumptube from the inlet end to the outlet end; and (c) a plurality of pressure rollers rotatably mounted within the housing, whereby each roller in turn contacts and compresses the pumping section of the pumptube contained within the pumptube passageway so as to transport fluid from the inlet end to the outlet end of the pumptube; wherein at least the pumping section of the pumptube comprises an inner tube contained within an outer tube, wherein the inner tube is a first rigid fluoroplastic tubing and the outer tube is a second rigid fluoroplastic tubing such that the outside diameter of the inner tube and the inner diameter of the outer tube are closely matched, and wherein the pumptube is preformed to fit within pumptube passageway such that the pumptube within the pumping section is flattened into an oval-like shape with an oval-shaped fluid passageway such that the pressure rollers contact and compress the pumping section of the pumptube essentially along the flattened side of the oval-like shape and wherein the pumping section of pumptube returns to its flattened, oval-like shape when not compressed by the pressure rollers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pumptube suitable for use in a peristaltic pump having a pumptube passageway and a plurality of pressure rollers for contacting and compressing the pumptube whereby a fluid can be transferred, said pumptube comprising
(a) inlet and outlet ends; -
(b) a pumping section located between the inlet and outlet ends; and (c) a fluid passageway extending through the pumptube from the inlet end to the outlet end; wherein at least the pumping section of the pumptube comprises an inner tube contained within an outer tube, wherein the inner tube is a first rigid fluoroplastic tubing and the outer tube is a second rigid fluoroplastic tubing such that the outside diameter of the inner tube and the inner diameter of the outer tube are closely matched, and wherein the pumptube is preformed to fit within pumptube passageway such that the pumptube;
within the pumping section is flattened into an oval-like shape with an oval-like fluid passageway such that the pressure rollers contact and compress the pumping section of the pumptube essentially along the flattened side of the oval-like shape and wherein the pumping section of pumptube returns to its flattened, oval-like shape when not compressed by the pressure rollers. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of preparing a pumptube suitable for use in a peristaltic pump having a pumptube passageway and a plurality of pressure rollers for contacting and compressing the pumptube whereby a fluid can be transferred, wherein the pumptube passageway can be opened for insertion of the pumptube and progressively closed around the pumptube, said method comprising
(a) forming a length of tubing comprising at least an inner tube within an outer tube, wherein the inner tube is a first rigid fluoroplastic tube and the outer tube is a second rigid fluoroplastic tube, wherein the inside diameter of the outer tube and the outside diameter of the inner tube are closely matched, and wherein the length of tubing has a fluid passageway extending throughout the length of the tubing; -
(b) placing a central portion of the length of tubing in the pumptube passageway in the open position; and (c) progressively and slowly closing the pumptube passageway around the central portion of the length of tubing by bringing the pressure rollers into compressive contact with the central portion of the length of tubing while flowing a liquid through the tubing, whereby the compressive pressure of the pressure rollers on the central length of the tubing is progressively and slowly increased so as to permanently form and shape the central portion of the length of the tubing into the approximate configuration of the pumptube passageway with a flattened, oval-like shape and with an oval-like fluid passageway such that the pressure rollers of the peristaltic pump will contact and compress the flattened side of the flattened, oval-like shape and the oval-like fluid passageway when the formed and shaped pumptube is operated in the peristaltic pump. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification