US3816033A

US3816033A - Multi-channel pump

Info

Publication number: US3816033A
Application number: US00308418A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Fried; O Botero
Original assignee: Greiner Scientific Corp
Current assignee: Greiner Scientific Corp
Priority date: 1972-11-21
Filing date: 1972-11-21
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11
Also published as: FR2207538A5; JPS5311681B2; CA982408A; GB1425047A; JPS4983002A; DE2326144A1

Abstract

A multi-channel pump and more particularly a peristaltic pump having a single casing carrying drive means, the casing including a portion for receiving from 1 to 10 or more individual pump units which are arranged in side by side relation, each of the pump units being independently operable by the drive means on the casing; each of the pump units being removably mounted on the casing for independent use or removal; each of the pump units carrying flexible tubing for peristaltic action by the pump unit; the drive means on the casing comprising a pair of spaced drive units operating at respectively different speeds, the pump units being adapted to be selectively arranged in either of two positions on the casing so as to operatively engage one of the drive units for operation at one speed or to operatively engage the other of the drive units for operation at the other speed.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Fried et al.

1451 June 11, 1974 MULTI-CHANNEL PUMP [75] inventors: George Fried, Stamford, Conn.;

Oscar Botero, Woodside, NY.

[73] Assignee: Greiner Scientific Corporation, New

York, NY.

[22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 308,418

[52] US. Cl 417/429, 417/475, 417/477 [51 Int. Cl. F04b 23/04, F04b 43/08 [58] Field of Search 417/429, 475, 477, 476

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,123,712 l/l9l5 Driver 417/429 2,376,917 5/1945 Hiltz 417/429 X 2,935,028 5/1960 Ferrari et al 1 417/477 X 3,124,270 3/1964 Cornell 417/429 X 3,298,238 l/l967 Lea 417/429 X 3,384,080 5/1968 Muller 417/477 X 3,507,585 4/1970 Mercer 417/475 3,723,030 3/1973 Gelfand 417/477 X Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Assistant Examiner-Richard E. Gluck [5 7] ABSTRACT A multi-channel pump and more particularly a peristaltic pump having a single casing carrying drive means, the casing including a portion for receiving from 1 to 10 or more individual pump units which are arranged in side by side relation, each of the pump units being independently operable by the drive means on the casing; each of the pump units being removably mounted on the casing for independent use or removal; each of the pump units carrying flexible tubing for peristaltic action by the pump unit; the drive means on the casing comprising a pair of spaced drive units operating at respectively different speeds, the pump units being adapted to be selectively arranged in either of two positions on the casing so as to operatively engage one of the drive units for operation at one speed or to operatively engage the other of the drive units for operation at the other speed.

16 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUR 11 m4 3.8161333 31m 1 or 3 FIGJ W .mmasiiiiliW .imm W PAIENTEBJH 11 mm 38 16L033 SHEEI 2 OF 3 mun.

PATENTEDJUN 1 1 m4 3816L033 sum an; a

102 43 FIG-7 162 MULTI-CHANNEL PUMP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional peristaltic pumps are primarily of the single channel type, for pumping a single flow of liquid. If multiple flows of liquid or gases are required, a plurality of pumps each carrying its own drive motor, must be used. This entails substantial pump costs.

More recently, it has been proposed, to provide pumps having a plurality of channels associated with a single drive motor. However, the number of channels is fixed in such pumps and if the requirement is for more channels than the fixed channel capacity of such pumps, then two or more pumps will be needed, again increasing overall pump costs.

Recent applications of peristaltic pumps requires substantial numbers of channels for simultaneous pumping. Thus, in ecology tests large and varying numbers of reagent flow may be required and appropriate pumping means must be provided. This normally entails the use of two or more complete pump units, each having its own motor drive. Since the cost of the motor drive is a substantial part of the overall pump cost, the investment in pumps can be substantial.

Further, with known multi-channel pumps, the rate of flow is uniform for each channel. To have channels of different flow rates, separate pumps must be used, each pump having a desired flow rate. Here again, the pumps are inflexible and the separate pumps required represent large capital investment.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved multi-channel peristaltic pump which has a single motor drive but is arranged to accommodate any given number of individual pump units, each of the units being arranged for operation from the single motor drive; the units being quickly and easily operatively associated or disassociated with the single motor drive.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pump of the character described, wherein the motor drive is located at one end of a casing having an open top portion, individual pump units being adapted to be removably arranged in any desired number in side by side relation in the open top portion of the casing, the motor drive including driving gear means and each pump unit including driven gear means for meshing with the driving gear means by merely locating the units in the open top portion of the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump of the character described, wherein the individual pump units may be releasably locked on the casing for operation and readily unlocked to allow for removal of the selected pump units from the casing; or for positioning the pump units on the casing in an inoperative position thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a pump of the character described, wherein the motor drive includes a pair of elongated drive gears arranged to rotate at respectively different speeds, each pump unit having driven gear means for meshing with one of the elongated gears in one position of the pump unit on the casing, or meshing with the other of the elongated gear means in another position of the pump unit on the casing, thereby providing variations on pump flow rates as well as any desired number of pumping channels.

Still another object of this invention is to provide improved individual peristaltic pumping units for use in a multi-channel pump having a casing and a single motor drive mounted thereon, such units including a peristaltic roller plate mounted between a pair of closely spaced plate members, together with a backing member removably disposed between the plate members and in opposed relation to the roller plate for receiving tubing therebetween; the roller plate having peripheral driven portions adapted to project below the lower edges of the plate members for driven engagement with the motor drive.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide individual pump assemblies of the character described which include latching means for locking engagement with the casing with which the units are associated to retain the units in selected operative or inoperative relationship to the casing.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a multi-channel peristaltic pump having a single motor drive for operating a varied number of individual pump units; the individual pump units being removably mounted on a casing portion of the pump, thereby providing a high degree of flexibility in pumping varied flows of reagents or the like, as required; and further, such pump units having alternative positions on the casing portion of the pump to provide alternative pumping rates to thereby provide further flexibility in the operation of the pump as a whole.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a multi-channel peristaltic pump of the character described, which is of simple construction; which has but a single motor drive for a varied number of individual pumping units; the pumping units being of a construction and a mode of association with the motor drive as to make the mounting, removal, or interchange of the pumping units quick and easy; and resulting in a moderate cost measured in terms of the substantial and varied capacities of pumping units.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a multi-channel pump embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view thereof showing the arrangement of driving gears;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a single pumping unit, with parts broken away and parts in section;

FIG. 5 is a transverse view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, with parts in section; showing an individual pump unit mounted on a casing and in an inoperative condition;

FIG. 6 is a partial elevational view, similar to that of FIG. 5, showing the individual pump unit disposed in one position on the casing for operation at one speed;

and.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The instant invention is directed essentially to a multi-channel pump, Le. a pump made up of a plurality of individual units, with each unit adapted to pump a different fluid reagent or the like. Further, such pump comprises a single operating motor having drive means by which one or more pump units are driven simultaneously; and each pump unit being quickly engaged with or disengaged from the drive means.

Further, the drive means of the pump may comprise a pair of drive members rotating at respectively different speeds; the individual pump units being adapted to be disposed in one position on the casing for operation from one of the pair of drive members, or an alternative position on the casing for operation from the other of the pair of drive members.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, a multi-channel peristaltic pump embodying the invention, is generally indicated at 10. The same comprises a base B including at one end thereof an enclosed motor casing generally indicated at C and an open top cradle portion A extending from one side of motor casing C for mounting scribed. The casing C comprises a bottom wall 11, up-

standing side walls 12, a top wall 13 and

end walls

14, 15. Suitable speed control means, not shown, is located within casing C and in circuit with motor M. The control knob 16 on top wall 13 regulates the speed control means. An on-and-off switch and a reversing switch, not shown, are also disposed within casing C and suitably -connected in circuit with motor M. The

control knobs

17, 18 on top wall 13, respectively operate said on-and-off, and reversing switches.

The open top cradle portion 10A comprises a bottom wall 11A,

side wall portions

20, 21. Side wall portions 20A, 21A of angular cross section extend above

side wall portions

20, 21 and terminate in outwardly extending

flange portions

22, 23. The outer edge of

flange portions

22, 23 are formed with longitudinally extending

bead portions

24, 25 for the purpose hereinafter appearingThe cradle portion 10A further includes an end wall 26.

The open space in cradle 10A, between

walls

15 and 26 is adapted to accommodate one or more individual pump units, generally indicated at 27 and of a flat configuration. Such units are later described in detail. Any given number of pump units 27 may be arranged in cradle 10A, in side by side relation and operated by motor M.

To this end, the output shaft 28 of motor M has a gear 28A fixed thereto for meshing with a similar size drive gear 29. ln turn, gear 29 meshes with a larger idler gear 30 on a stub shaft 30A, which in turn meshes with a drive gear 31 of similar size. Driving means extend from drive gears 29, 31 in the form of a pair of

elongated gear members

33, 34 respectively having reduced

end portions

29A, 31A fixed to gears 29, 31, said

gear members

33, 34 having longitudinally extending

gear teeth

33A, 34A respectively. The

elongated gear members

33, 34 extend longitudinally in cradle portion 10A adjacent bottom wall 11A thereof with their axes in a common horizontal plane.

The

gear members

33, 34 are journalled at their opposite ends by way of reduced

end portions

29A, 31A in suitable bearings, not shown, on

walls

15, 26. The comparative size of gears 29, 31 is such that gear 29 will operate at a relatively high speed, whereas gear 31 will operate at a relatively low speed; such differential speeds being also respectively transmitted to

gear members

33, 34.

Each of the flat pump units 27 is adapted to receive a single tubing T, or a pair of tubings T, T for suitable operation in a peristaltic manner and thus pump a given reagent or other liquid or gases to the output side of such tubings.

Thus, a pump unit 27 comprises a pair of similar

thin metal plates

40, 41. Plate 40 comprises a central portion 42 of generally rectangular shape with oppositely disposed, laterally projecting wing portions 43 defined by an outer vertical edge 44, top edge 45, bottom edge 46. The central portion 42 is further defined by inset depending vertical edge portions 47 which extend from the inner ends of bottom edge 46. Portion 42 is further defined by bottom edge portions 48 extending toward each other and joined by a centrally disposed arcuate edge portion 49.

The top edge 50 of plate portion 42 terminates at its opposite ends in hooked portions 51 extending toward each other and defined in part by vertical edge portions 52 which merge at their lower ends with edges 45.

The elements forming a peristaltic pump structure are disposed between

plates

40, 41. Thus, a circular roller plate 55 is mounted between

plates

40, 41; said plate 55 having a hub portion 56 for mounting a shaft 57 carried in a bushing 58 fixed in plate portions 42. The plate 55 is stiffened by integral radial ribs 59 projecting from one side thereof. A series of molded nylon or other plastic rollers 60 are rotatably mounted on studs 61 fixed at one end thereof to peripheral portions of plate 55 on one side thereof. The periphery of plate 55 is formed with gear teeth 62 for selectively engaging teeth 33A of gear member 33 or teeth 34A of gear member 34, when units 27 are mounted in cradle 10A; the lower portions of said teeth 62 projecting below edge 49 of

plates

41, 42.

A protective thin shield 63 of molded plastic encloses A the upper portions of teeth 62 on plate 55. Shield 63 comprises an upper, annular skirt portion 64 of greater radial dimension than that of a lower annular skirt portion 64. Shield portion 64 has a rim portion 64A which overlies teeth 62, FIG. 4. The shield 63 lies against the inner surface of roller plate 55, with inner annular edge thereof disposed between the inner edges of rollers 60 and the opposed surface of roller plate 55.

Combined spacer means and guide means for tubings T, or T, T" is located between

plates

40, 41. To this end a pair of similar, molded

plastic spacer members

65, 66 are disposed between

plates

40, 41. The spacer member includes a portion 67 formed with a concave edge 68 for receiving rim portion 64A of shield 63; a bottom edge 69 coincident with edge 48 of plate 41, and a right angle edge 70 coincident with

edges

45, 52 of plate 41.

Projecting outwardly of the inner surface of spacer member 65 is a T shaped portion 71 having a vertical portion 72 abutting

plates

40, 41 and a horizontal portion 73 extending to plate 40 and having an inner end overlying the portion 64 of shield 63. Threaded bores 74, 75 are adapted to receive assembly screws 76 for securing

plates

40, 41 to said

spacer members

65, 66.

Means is provided for providing a backing member for coaction with rollers 60 on roller plate 55 to act on the pump tubings T, T and T. To this end there is provided a flat molded plastic member 77 of yoke shape with opposite end portions 78 interconnected by a central raised backup portion 79, having a concave bottom edge 80. The backing portion 79 is formed with a longitudinal slot 81 for receiving therein a stem member 82 having reversely threaded, spaced

opposite end portions

83, 84. The stem member 82 is retained between the walls defining slot 81 by a collar 85 overlying said stem member and a grommet 86 holding said collar 85 in place.

A pair of cylindrical locking units 87 having threaded openings 88 extending transversely thereof, are threaded on threaded

portions

83, 84 respectively of stem member 82. A knob 89 fixed to one end of stem member 82 allows for rotation of stem member 82 in either direction to move locking members 87 toward or away from each other. The inward movement of locking units 87 is limited by vertical edge portions 89 of central portion 79. Locating pins 90 are mounted on end portions 78, projecting from one surface thereof.

It is understood that with backup member 77 separated from

plates

40, 41; the tubings T, or T, T" are disposed with their central portions overlying the rollers 60 and their opposite end portions overlying horizontal portions 73 of

spacer members

65, 66. The backup member 77 may then be mounted between the upper portions of

plates

40, 41 and the concave edge 80 thereof is properly located with respect to the opposed rollers 60, by the locating pins 90 which abut vertical edges 52 of

plates

40, 41.

The locking members 87, being in intially retracted positions on stem member 82, readily clear the hooked portions 51 of said

plates

40, 41. By rotating stem member 82 through knob 89, in the proper direction, locking members 87 are outwardly displaced to abut the hooked portions 51 of

plates

40, 41 to securely position backup means 77 in proper relation to the rollers 60 on roller plate 55, with the tubings T, or T, T" therebetween.

Means is provided for retaining the tubings T, T or T" against longitudinal shift when the pump unit 27 is in operation. To this end, horizontal outer end portions 91 of backup member 77 are formed with vertically extending threaded openings 92 to receive threaded pins 93. Friction shoes 94 are connected to the lower ends of pins 93 for relative movement, with vertical guide portions 95 on said shoes received in appropriate guide slots 96 formed in portions 78. Rotatable knobs 97 fixed to pins 93 immediately above shoes 94, allow for adjusted vertical movement of said shoes 94. Friction strips 98 on the bottom of shoes 94 and friction strips 98A on horizontal portion 73 of

spacer members

65, 66, which are in opposed relation to friction strips 98, afford means for engaging the tubing portions therebetween to prevent slippage thereof.

Selected pump units 27 may be mounted in the eradle A, in side by side relation, whereby the teeth 62 of roller plates 55 will mesh with the teeth 33A of drive gear 33 or with teeth 34A of drive gear 34, as will be explained in detail.

Means is provided for releasably locking said pump units 27 on cradle 10A. To this end, molded plastic latch members 100 are pivotally mounted between wing portions 43 of

plates

40, 41. Latch members 100 are of rectangular tab shape with outwardly projecting ears 101 at the upper end thereof for reception in openings 102 in plate portions 43 of

plates

40, 41 with O rings 104 on ears 101 to allow said latches to be pivoted to desired angular positions. The major portion of said latch members depend below edge 46 of plate portions 43. The latch members 100 are formed on their inner surfaces with transversely extending, vertically spaced

recesses

105, 106.

For locking said pump units 27 in operative engagement with

gear members

33 or 34; the units 27 are positioned in cradle 10A so that latch members 100 are pivoted to allow upper recesses 105 to engage

bead edges

24, 25 of

cradle flanges

22, 23 as shown in FIGS. 6, 7.

If one or more of the pump units 27 is to be disengaged from operative connection to gear

members

33 or 34, yet left in cradle 10A; the units 27 are so positioned relative to cradle 10A so that the lower latch recesses 106 receive

bead edges

24, 25, thereby locking said units 27 on cradle 10A, with gear teeth 62 in spaced relation to gear

teeth

33A, 34A, of

gear members

33, 34; as shown in FIG. 5.

It will be apparent that latch members 100 may be easily and quickly pivoted to either lock or unlock any of pump units 27 in relation to cradle 10A, to thereby facilitate mounting, removing or interchanging any number of pump units 27, as dictated by the pumping pattern desired.

Inasmuch as

gear members

33, 34 respectively operate at different speeds, the rotational axis of geared roller plate 55 is so located on

plates

40, 41, as to dipose the same in offset relation to the center of the spacing between

gear members

33, 34 when the pump unit 27 is located on cradle 10A. It follows that pump units 27 may take alternate positions on cradle 10A. In one case, teeth 62 of roller plate 55 engage the teeth 33A of gear member 33, as shown in FIG. 6; while upon turning the unit 27 through an angle of the unit 27 will be so positioned as to bring its gear teeth 62 in meshing relation with the gear teeth 34A of gear member 34, as shown in FIG. 7.

The tubing T may be of conventional diameters and wall thicknesses, as known in the peristaltic pump art. Either a single tubing T may be associated with pump units 27, or in the case of very small diameter tubings, a pair of such tubings t and T" may be used in a single pump unit 27; see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

Knobs

16, 17 and 18 are manipulated to control motor speed; to reverse the motor and to stop and start the operation of the apparatus.

It will be apparent that with the pumping apparatus of the instant invention, a single motor drive may operate a varied number of pumping units to provide different pumping patterns, depending on the number of units used; the number of tubings involved; and the selected positions of the pump units on the cradle. Thus, the cost of providing a substantial range of pumping patterns is kept at a minimum with the use of a single motor drive.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-channel pump apparatus comprising base means, motor means mounted on said base means, plural pump units adapted to be selectively mounted on said base means, an elongated rotatable drive means mounted on said base means, said rotatable drive means being coupled to said motor means and adapted to drive said pump units, means for removably mounting each of said pump units on said base means, each of said pump units including fluid carrying tubing means extending into said units, means within each pump unit for progressively compressing said tubing means during operation, rotatable driven means formed on the outer periphery of each of said pump units and adapted to engage said elongated rotatable drive means at selected positions along the length thereof to be driven thereby, said progressive compressing means mounted on said rotatable driven means, means for disengageably mounting each of said rotatable driven means of said pump units to said pump unit drive means for individual and simultaneous operation.

2. Pump apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each of said pump units comprises a flat pump assembly, said assemblies being adapted to be selectively arranged in side by relation on selected portions of said base means for disengageable connection of each said operating means with said rotatable drive means.

3. Pump apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said drive means comprises an elongated gear member and each said driven means comprises gear means for meshing with said elongated gear member at selected positions along the length thereof in accordance with the position of the pump unit and its associated gear means relative to said base means.

4. Pump apparatus as in claim 2, and further including interengageable means on each of said pump assemblies and said base means for releasably locking said assemblies to said base means.

5. Pump apparatus as in claim 2, and further including latch means for selectively releasably locking said pump units to said base means in one position in which said drive means is in disengaged relation to said driven means, or in another position in which said drive means is in engaged relation to said driven means.

6. Pump apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises a pair of elongated gear members, means for rotating each of said pair of elongated gear members at respectively different speeds and said driven means comprises gear means, means for selectively positioning said pump assemblies on said base means, whereby in one of said positions, said gear means engages one of said pair of gear members for operation at one speed and in another of said positions said gear means engages the other of said pair of gear members for operation at another speed.

7. Pump apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said elongated gear members are disposed in laterally spaced relation to each other, the axis of said gear means being in laterally offset relation to the center of the lateral spacing of said pair of elongated gear members, whereby each of said pump assemblies may be selectively disposed in one position on said base means whereby said gear means theroof meshes with one of said pair of elongated gear members or in another position on said base means whereby said gear means thereof meshes with the other of said pair of elongated gear members.

8. Pump apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said base means comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side walls providing an open top, and'a pair of end walls connecting said side walls, said motor means being disposed outwardly of one of said end walls, said elongated gear member extending longitudinally between said base side walls, said side walls including longitudi nally extending flange portions extending from the upper edges thereof, each of said pump units including laterally related, shoulder portions for seating on said base flange portions to locate the lower peripheral edge portion of said driven gear means between said base walls for engagement with said elongated gear member.

9. A pump apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said each pump unit comprises a pair of opposed, spaced plate members, spacer means between said plate members, a roller plate carrying roller members extending from one side of said roller plate and along the periphery thereof, said roller plate being rotatably mounted between said spaced plate members.

10. A pump as in claim 9 wherein said driven means comprises peripheral gear means on said roller plate.

11. A pump unit as in claim 9, and further including movable latch means mounted between said spaced plate members to releasably lock said pump unit to said base support means.

12. A pump unit as in claim 9 and further including movable latch means mounted on said pump units for selectively releasably locking said pump units to said base means in one position in which said drive means is in disengaged relation to said driven means, or in another position in which said drive means is in engaged relation to said driven means.

13. A pump unit as in claim 9, and further including a backing member disposed between said plate members, in opposed relation to said roller members, said roller plate including driven means thereon for engaging with the drive means on said base means when said pump unit is associated with said base means.

14. A pump unit as in claim 13 wherein flexible tubing is adapted to be disposed between said backing member and the roller members on said roller plate, and adjustable friction means mounted on said spacer means for frictionally holding said tubing against shift relative to said backing means.

15. A pump unit as in claim 10 wherein said roller plate is disposed adjacent said spacer means, and further including shield means for the gear means on said roller plate for protecting said tubing against wear.

16. A pump unit as in claim 13, and further including coacting means on said backing member and said plate members for removably mounting said backing member between said plate members.

Claims

8. Pump apparatus as in claim 3, wherein said base means comprises a pair of longitudinally extending side walls providing an open top, and a pair of end walls connecting said side walls, said motor means being disposed outwardly of one of said end walls, said elongated gear member extending longitudinally between said base side walls, said side walls including longitudinally extending flange portions extending from the upper edges thereof, each of said pump units including laterally related, shoulder portions for seating on said base flange portions to locate the lower peripheral edge portion of said driven gear means between said base walls for engagement with said elongated gear member.