Clamping device for a delivery device

Abstract

A clamping device includes at least one clamp-in unit for clamping in at least one flexible-tube delivery element of a delivery device, wherein, for a delivery of a medium, a drive force is exertable on said flexible-tube delivery element by a drive unit of the delivery device, when the flexible-tube delivery element is arranged in the clamp-in unit, the clamp-in unit is configured to clamp the flexible-tube delivery element so that it is curved as a whole, and includes at least one clamping element, which includes a convex abutment element realizing an abutment surface for the flexible-tube delivery element, wherein the clamp-in unit includes at least the clamping element, which has at least one angled clamping surface, and which includes at least one adhesive element that is arranged on the clamping surface of the clamping element.

Claims

1. A clamping device for a delivery device, comprising: at least one clamp-in unit for clamping in at least one flexible-tube delivery element of the delivery device, wherein: for a delivery of a medium, a drive force is exertable on said at least one flexible-tube delivery element by means of a drive unit of the delivery device, at least in a state when the at least one flexible-tube delivery element is arranged in the clamp-in unit, the clamp-in unit is configured to clamp the at least one flexible-tube delivery element in such a way that it is curved as a whole, viewed in a cross section extending transversely to a delivery direction of the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, the clamp-in unit comprises at least one clamping element, which differs from a drive element of the drive unit and which comprises a convex abutment element realizing an abutment surface for the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, the at least one clamping element has at least one angled clamping surface, the at least one clamping element comprises at least one adhesive element that is arranged on the at least one angled clamping surface of the at least one clamping element, the clamp-in unit comprises at least one further clamping element that acts together with the at least one clamping element and delimits at least one concave recess, and the at least one concave recess comprises at least one breakthrough through which the drive element of the drive unit at least partially engages the at least one flexible-tube delivery element.

2. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the convex abutment element comprises-a at least one further concave recess, at least in a partial region.

3. The clamping device according to claim 2, wherein viewed in a cross section extending transversely to the delivery direction of the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, the at least one further concave recess of the convex abutment element is delimited by three circular arc sections of the convex abutment element, which are arranged in a partial region of the convex abutment element and are directly subsequent to one another.

4. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the convex abutment element of the at least one clamping element at least partly engages the at least one concave recess in a state when the at least one clamping element and the at least one further clamping element are connected to one another.

5. The clamping device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one further clamping element comprises at least one further angled clamping surface, and the least one further clamping element acts together with the at least one clamping element whereby said at least one angled clamping surface and said at least one further angled clamping surface are realized to correspond to one another.

6. The clamping device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one further angled clamping surface of the at least one further clamping element comprises the at least one further concave recess, which the at least one flexible-tube delivery element at least partly protrudes into, in at least one clamped state.

7. A delivery device, comprising: at least one clamping device, at least one flexible-tube delivery element, and at least one drive unit for generating a drive force that acts on the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, wherein: the at least one clamping device comprises at least one clamp-in unit for clamping in the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, the drive force acts onto the at least one flexible-tube delivery element for delivery of a medium at least in a state when the at least one flexible-tube delivery element is arranged in the clamp-in unit, the clamp-in unit is configured to clamp the at least one flexible-tube delivery element in such a way that it is curved as a whole, viewed in a cross section extending transversely to a delivery direction of the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, the clamp-in unit comprises at least one clamping element, which differs from a drive element of the drive unit and which comprises a convex abutment element realizing an abutment surface for the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, the at least one clamping element has at least one angled clamping surface, the at least one clamping element comprises at least one adhesive element that is arranged on the at least one angled clamping surface of the at least one clamping element, the clamp-in unit comprises at least one further clamping element that acts together with the at least one clamping element and delimits at least one concave recess, and the at least one concave recess comprises at least one breakthrough through which the drive element at least partially engages the at least one flexible-tube delivery element.

8. The delivery device according to claim 7, further comprising a base plate onto which each of the at least one clamping device, the at least one flexible-tube delivery element, and the at least one drive unit are affixed.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. The drawings show an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The drawings, the description and the claims contain a plurality of features in combination. Someone skilled in the art will purposefully also consider the features separately and will find further expedient combinations.

(2) It is shown in:

(3) FIG. 1 a delivery device according to the invention with at least one clamping device according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

(4) FIG. 2 the delivery device according to the invention with at least one partially demounted clamping device according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

(5) FIG. 3 a cross section of the clamping device according to the invention in a clamped-in state of a flexible-tube delivery element of the delivery device according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

(6) FIG. 4 a cross section of the clamping device according to the invention in a non-clamped state of the flexible-tube delivery element of the delivery device according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

(7) FIG. 5 a detail view of a clamp-in unit of the clamping device according to the invention, with the flexible-tube delivery element arranged therein, in a schematic representation, and

(8) FIG. 6 a detail view of the clamp-in unit of the clamping device according to the invention, without the flexible-tube delivery element arranged therein, in a schematic representation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

(9) FIG. 1 shows a delivery device 12 with at least one clamping device 10 and with at least one drive unit 20 for the purpose of generating a drive force that acts onto at least one flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 of the delivery device 12. The delivery device 12 is implemented as a pump device, in particular as a flexible-tube pump device. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, to improve comprehensibility, the delivery device 12 is depicted without a housing unit of the delivery device 12. The housing unit of the delivery device 12 may feature any implementation deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art. In particular, in a manner that is well-known to someone skilled in the art, the housing unit is configured to at least partially envelop and/or support components of the delivery device 12. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 a base plate 64 of the delivery device 12 is shown, which the housing unit is fixatable on.

(10) For a control and/or regulation of the drive unit 20, the delivery device 12 comprises at least one control and/or regulation unit 56 having an implementation that is already known to someone skilled in the art. The drive unit 20 is implemented as a helical drive unit or as an eccentric drive unit. At least one drive axis 58 of a drive element 26 of the drive unit 20 extends at least substantially in parallel to a delivery direction 22, 24 of at least one flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 of the delivery device 12, in particular at least substantially in parallel to a delivery direction 22, 24 through at least one delivery space of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18. The drive element 26 is embodied as a drive helix or as an eccentric shaft (FIG. 2). The drive element 26 is rotatably supported in the housing unit (not shown here) of the delivery device 12 or on the base plate 64, in a manner that is already known to someone skilled in the art. The drive axis 58 is implemented as a rotational axis of the drive element 26. For a delivery of a medium, the drive element 26 is configured to elastically deflect and/or deform the at least one flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, in particular in a state when the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is clamped in by a clamp-in unit 14 of the clamping device 10. The flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is embodied in such a way that it is elastically deformable. The drive element 26 is configured to generate a traveling-wave movement of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 along a longitudinal axis of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18. It is conceivable that the drive element 26 acts onto the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 directly or that an exciter element (not shown here in detail) of the delivery device 12, which the drive element 26 acts on directly, is arranged between the drive element 26 and the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, the exciter element transferring an impact of drive forces onto the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 that is at least partially adjacent to the exciter element. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, two clamp-in units 14 of the clamping device 10 are arranged so as to be distributed around the drive element 26. It is however also conceivable that the clamping device 10 comprises a plurality of clamp-in units 14 differing from one or two, said clamp-in units 14 being configured to clamp in at least one flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 respectively. Preferably all clamp-in units 14 of the clamping device 10 feature at least substantially analogous implementations.

(11) For a movement, in particular a rotation, of the drive element 26, the drive unit 20 comprises at least one motor unit 60. The motor unit 60 is implemented as an electromotor unit. It is however also conceivable that the motor unit 60 features a different implementation that is deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art like, for example, an implementation as a combustion motor unit, as a hybrid motor unit, or the like. The drive element 26 may be connected to a rotor shaft 62 of the motor unit 60 directly, in particular in a rotationally fixed manner, or indirectly, e.g. by means of a gear unit of the delivery device 12 or by at least one toothed-wheel element of the delivery device 12. The rotor shaft 62 has a rotational axis that extends at least substantially in parallel, in particular coaxially, to the drive axis 58 of the drive element 26. Other implementations and/or arrangements of the connection between the drive element 26 and the motor unit 60 are also conceivable, for example by means of an angular gear unit, by a switchable clutch, or the like. The delivery device 12 furthermore comprises at least one delivery medium storage unit (not shown here in detail) for a storage of a medium that is to be delivered, wherein, for a delivery of the medium, the delivery medium storage unit is connected at least to the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18.

(12) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the clamping device 10. The clamping device 10 for the delivery device 12 comprises at least one clamp-in unit 14 for a clamping of the at least one flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 of the delivery device 12, wherein for a delivery of a medium, by means of the drive unit 20 of the delivery device 12, a drive force is exertable on the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 at least in a state when arranged in the clamp-in unit 14. The clamp-in unit 14 is configured to clamp the flexible-tube delivery element 16, in such a way that it is curved as a whole when viewed in a cross section extending transversely to the delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18. In FIG. 3 the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 clamped by the clamp-in unit 14 is shown in a delivery-free state of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18. The clamp-in unit 14 is preferably configured to clamp the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 in such a way that it is as a whole at least substantially arc-shaped, viewed in a cross section extending transversely to the delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, wherein in particular opposite-situated inner wall regions of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 abut on each other. Particularly preferably the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 has, in a state when clamped by the clamp-in unit 14, an arc-like shape at least in a middle region of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, wherein peripheral regions of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, which are adjacent to the middle region and in which in particular at least more than 50% of a total extension of the inner wall of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 abut on each other, extend, starting from the middle region, tangentially away from the middle region.

(13) Preferentially, due to a clamping in the clamp-in unit 14, the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, when viewed in a cross section extending transversely to a delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, is transferred, starting from a circular shape (cf. FIG. 4), into a curved, in particular an arc-shaped, shape, in which inner wall sections of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 at least partly abut on one another (FIG. 3).

(14) The clamp-in unit 14 comprises at least one clamping element 28, 30, which is in particular embodied differently than the drive element 26 of the drive unit 20, and which comprises a convex abutment element 32 that realizes an abutment surface for the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18. The convex abutment element 32 comprises, at least in a partial region of the convex abutment element 32, a concave recess 34. When viewed in a cross section extending transversely to the delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, the concave recess 34 of the convex abutment element 32, is delimited by three circular-arc sections 36, 38, 40 of the convex abutment element 32, which are arranged in a partial region of the convex abutment element 32 and directly follow upon one another. The clamp-in unit 14 comprises at least the clamping element 28, 30 and at least one further clamping element 42, 44 that acts together with the clamping element 28, 30 and delimits at least one concave recess 46, in which at least the convex abutment element 32 engages at least partially in a state when the clamping element 28, 30 and the further clamping element 42, 44 are connected to one another. The further clamping element 42, 44 delimits at least the concave recess 46, which at least the drive element 26 of the drive unit 20 engages in at least partially for an impact of a drive force onto the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18.

(15) For a clamping in of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, the clamping element 28, 30 and the further clamping element 42, 44 are preferably fixatable on each other, in particular in a connection plane 68 of the clamp-in unit 14. For a fixation of the clamping element 28, 30 and the further clamping element 42, 44 on each other, the clamping device 10 preferably comprises at least one fixation unit 66 (FIGS. 1, 5 and 6). The fixation unit 66 may have any implementation deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art like, for example, an implementation as a screw fixation unit, as a clamp fixation unit, as a bayonet fixation unit, or the like. Preferentially, the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is, in a clamped-in state, arrangeable at least partly in the concave recess 46 of the further clamping element 42, 44 by means of the convex abutment element 32. The concave recess 46 of the further clamping element 42, 44 preferably comprises at least one break-through 82, through which the drive element 26 of the drive unit 20 is enabled to act onto the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 that is arranged in the clamp-in unit 14. The convex abutment element 32 preferably extends over and beyond the connection plane 68, in which the clamping element 28, 30 and the further clamping element 42, 44 are connected to one another, in particular into the concave recess 46 of the further clamping element 42, 44. The clamping element 28, 30 and the further clamping element 42, 44 are preferably embodied as clamp jaws. It is however also conceivable that the clamping element 28, 30 and/or the further clamping element 42, 44 have/has different implementations deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art.

(16) The clamping element 28, 30 comprises at least one angled clamping surface 48, in particular a clamping surface 48 that is angled relative to the connection plane 68. Preferably the clamping element 28, 30 comprises at least one further angled clamping surface 50, in particular a further angled clamping surface 50 that is angled relative to the connection plane 68. The clamping surface 48 of the clamping element 28, 30 is preferentially embodied in a one-part implementation with the convex abutment element 32. The further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30 is preferentially embodied in a one-part implementation with the convex abutment element 32. The clamping surface 48 and the further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30 preferably include an angle that is in particular smaller than 180° and greater than 45°. In particular, the clamping surface 48 and the further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30 delimit the concave recess 34 of the convex abutment element 32. Advantageously the clamping element 28, 30 comprises at least one adhesive element 70, which is arranged on the clamping surface 48 of the clamping element 28, 30 (FIGS. 4 to 6). The adhesive element 70 is configured to exert an adhesion force onto the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 in a state when clamped by the clamp-in unit 14, for the purpose of acting counter to a movement of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 along the clamping surface 48, in particular transversely to the delivery direction 22, 24. Preferably the clamping element 28, 30 comprises a further adhesive element 72, which is arranged on the further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30. In particular, the further adhesive element 72 features an implementation that is at least substantially analogous to the adhesive element 70. Preferentially the clamping element 28, 30 comprises a plurality of adhesive elements 70 and further adhesive elements 72, which are arranged on the clamping surface 48 and the further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30.

(17) The clamp-in unit 14 comprises at least the clamping element 28, 30 and at least the further clamping element 42, 44 that acts together with the clamping element 28, 30, wherein the clamping element 28, 30 and the further clamping element 42, 44 respectively comprise at least one angled clamping surface 48, 50, 52, 54, said clamping surfaces 48, 50, 52, 54 being embodied correspondingly to one another. The further clamping element 42, 44 comprises at least one angled clamping surface 52, in particular a clamping surface 52 that is angled relative to the connection plane 68. The further clamping element 42, 44 comprises at least one further angled clamping surface 54, in particular a clamping surface 54 that is angled relative to the connection plane 68. The clamping surface 52 and/or the further clamping surface 54 of the further clamping element 42, 44 are/is preferably embodied in a one-part implementation with the further clamping element 42, 44. The clamping surface 52 and/or the further clamping surface 54 of the further clamping element 42, 44 preferably delimit/delimits at least the concave recess 46 of the further clamping element 42, 44, which the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 protrudes into at least partly in at least one clamped state.

(18) Advantageously the further clamping element 42, 44 comprises at least one adhesive element 74, which is arranged on the clamping surface 52 of the further clamping element 42, 44 (FIGS. 4 to 6). The adhesive element 74 is configured to exert an adhesion force onto the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 in a state when clamped by the clamp-in unit 14, for the purpose of acting counter to a movement of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 along the clamping surface 52, in particular transversely to the delivery direction 22, 24. Preferably the further clamping element 42, 44 comprises a further adhesive element 76, which is arranged on the further clamping surface 54 of the further clamping element 42, 44. In particular, the further adhesive element 76 has an implementation that is at least substantially analogous to the adhesive element 74.

(19) Especially preferentially, in a state when clamped in by the clamp-in unit 14, the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is arranged between the clamping surface 48 and the further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30, and the clamping surface 52 and the further clamping surface 54 of the further clamping element 42, 44. Preferably, in a state when clamped by the clamp-in unit 14, the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is adjacent to the clamping surface 48 and the further clamping surface 50 of the clamping element 28, 30 and to the clamping surface 52 and the further clamping surface 54 of the further clamping element 42, 44.

(20) The clamping element 28, 30 comprises at least one feed-in opening 78, via which the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is guidable from one side of the clamping element 28, 30 to another side of the clamping element 28, 30, on which the convex abutment element 32 is arranged. The clamping element 28, 30 comprises at least one feed-out opening 80, via which the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is guidable from the side of the clamping element 28, 30 on which the convex abutment element 32 is arranged to the other side of the clamping element 28, 30 that faces away from the convex abutment element 32. Via the feed-in opening 78 and the further feed-out opening 80, the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is arrangeable on the clamp-in unit 14 in such a way that at least a partial region of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18 is arrangeable free from a drive force impact, in particular for a connection of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, for example, to a dosage unit, to an output unit, to the delivery medium storage unit, or the like. The convey abutment element 32 is, when viewed along the delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, arranged between the feed-in opening 78 and the feed-out opening 80. Preferably, viewed along the delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, the feed-in opening 78 is arranged upstream of the convex abutment element 32. Preferentially, viewed along the delivery direction 22, 24 of the flexible-tube delivery element 16, 18, the feed-out opening 80 is arranged downstream of the convex abutment element 32. However, a reverse arrangement of the feed-in opening 78 and the feed-out opening 80 is also conceivable.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 10 clamping device 12 delivery device 14 clamp-in unit 16 flexible-tube delivery element 18 flexible-tube delivery element 20 drive unit 22 delivery direction 24 delivery direction 26 drive element 28 clamping element 30 clamping element 32 abutment element 34 concave recess 36 circular-arc section 38 circular-arc section 40 circular-arc section 42 clamping element 44 clamping element 46 concave recess 48 clamping surface 50 clamping surface 52 clamping surface 54 clamping surface 56 control and/or regulation unit 58 drive axis 60 motor unit 62 rotor shaft 64 base plate 66 fixation unit 68 connection plane 70 adhesive element 72 adhesive element 74 adhesive element 76 adhesive element 78 feed-in opening 80 feed-out opening 82 break-through