Peristaltic pump with cam action compensator

Claim 3

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said peristaltic means comprises: a cam shaft having a plurality of cams spaced in a helical relationship therealong; and a plurality of fingers operatively connected with said cams.

Claim 4

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising a casing for operatively mounting said cam shaft thereon.

Claim 5

An apparatus as recited in claim 3 further comprising a housing fixedly associated with said base, said housing having a plurality of grooves for receiving said fingers therein to constrain said fingers for linear reciprocal movment.

Claim 6

An apparatus as recited in claim 4 further comprising a hinge operatively connecting said housing with said casing.

Claim 7

An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said resisting means is a spring connected between said casing and said housing.

Claim 8

An apparatus as recited in claim 6 wherein said hinge is positioned with its transverse axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft.

Claim 9

An apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said base comprises a platen.

Claim 10

A linear peristaltic pump for pumping fluids through an IV tube having a cam action compensator which comprises: a platen mounted on said pump; a housing fixedly attached to said pump to receive said tube between said housing and said platen and support said tube therebetween in a substantially linear orientation; a plurality of fingers slidably mounted on said housing to squeeze said tube between said fingers and said platen to create a moving zone of occlusion along said tube; a cam shaft operatively coupled to said fingers; a casing having said cam shaft rotatably mounted thereon; and a hinge connecting said casing to said housing to establish an axis of rotation therebetween substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube for movement of said casing between a first position and a second position; and resisting means biased for yieldably urging said casing toward said first position onto said housing to compensate for the action between said fingers and said platen.

Claim 11

A linear peristaltic pump for pumping fluids through an IV tube having a cam action compensator which comprises: a platen mounted on said pump; a housing fixedly attached to said pump to receive said tube between said housing and said platen and support said tube therebetween in a substantially linear orientation; a plurality of fingers slidably mounted on said housing to squeeze said tube between said fingers and said platen to create a moving zone of occlusion along said tube; a cam shaft operatively coupled to said fingers; a casing having said cam shaft rotatably mounted thereon; and a hinge connecting said casing to said housing to establish an axis of rotation therebetween substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube for movement of said casing between a first position and a second position; and resisting means biased for yieldably urging said casing toward said first position onto said housing to compensate for the action between said fingers and said platen.

Claim 12

A peristaltic pump as recited in claim 9 wherein said cam shaft has a plurality of cams mounted in a helical relationship therealong.

Claim 13

A peristaltic pump as recited in claim 10 wherein said resisting means is a spring.

Claim 14

A peristaltic pump as recited in claim 11 wherein said fingers are formed with resilient arms to compensate for rotational motion of said fingers within said housing.

Claim 15

A peristaltic pump as recited in claim 12 further comprising a motor operatively connected with said cam shaft.

Claim 16

A cam action compensator for a linear peristaltic pump which comprises: a casing; a rotatable cam shaft operatively mounted on said casing; a plurality of fingers coupled to said cam shaft; a housing hingedly connected to said casing for establishing linear reciprocal movement of said fingers in response to the rotation of said cam shaft and for pivoting of said casing between a first position and a second position about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft; and means yieldably connecting said housing to said casing to bias said casing toward said first position to resist movement therebetween about the hinge axis.

Claim 17

A cam action compensator for a linear peristaltic pump which comprises: a casing; a rotatable cam shaft operatively mounted on said casing; a plurality of fingers coupled to said cam shaft; a housing hingedly connected to said casing for establishing linear reciprocal movement of said fingers in response to the rotation of said cam shaft and for pivoting of said casing between a first position and a second position about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft; and means yieldably connecting said housing to said casing to bias said casing toward said first position to resist movement therebetween about the hinge axis.

Claim 18

A compensator as recited in claim 14 wherein said cam shaft further comprises cams operatively connected with said fingers for peristaltic movement of said fingers.

Claim 19

A compensator as recited in claim 15 further comprising a resilient tube; and a platen operatively associated with said housing to hold said tube therebetween.

Claim 20

A compensator as recited in claim 16 wherein said fingers are formed with resilient arms to compensate for rotational movement of said fingers relative to said housing.

Claim 21

A compensator as recited in claim 17 wherein said hinged connection is oriented with its transverse axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cam shaft.

Claim 22

A compensator as recited in claim 18 wherein said resisting means is a spring.