Facilitating fluid or slurry movement in a peristaltic pump

An apparatus for facilitating control of fluid or slurry movement in a collapsible tube, the apparatus comprising the tube and a tube engager, wherein:

• the tube includes:
• first and second opposing wall portions having circumferentially varying thickness including first and second maximum thicknesses respectively, the first and second maximum thicknesses disposed on opposite sides of the tube;
• third and fourth opposing wall portions between the first and second opposing wall portions, the third and fourth opposing wall portions having third and fourth circumferentially minimum thicknesses respectively, the third and fourth minimum thicknesses disposed on opposite sides of the tube about halfway between the first and second maximum thicknesses;
• and
• wherein the first and second opposing wall portions are configured to be engaged by the tube engager to cause the tube to fold at the third and fourth minimum thicknesses to seal the tube;
• and
• the tube engager includes a vessel configured to surround the tube and hold a hydraulic fluid in engagement with the tube, the tube engager configured to selectively increase pressure of the hydraulic fluid to cause the tube to fold at the third and fourth minimum thicknesses to seal the tube;
• and
• the tube includes fifth and sixth opposing wall portions and seventh and eighth opposing wall portions longitudinally spaced from the first, second, third, and fourth wall portions and wherein:
• the fifth and sixth opposing wall portions have circumferentially varying thickness including fifth and sixth maximum thicknesses respectively, the fifth and sixth maximum thicknesses disposed on opposite sides of the tube;
• the seventh and eighth opposing wall portions are disposed between the fifth and sixth opposing wall portions, the seventh and eighth opposing wall portions having seventh and eighth circumferentially minimum thicknesses respectively, the seventh and eighth minimum thicknesses disposed on opposite sides of the tube about halfway between the fifth and sixth maximum thicknesses;
• the fifth and sixth opposing wall portions are configured to be engaged by the hydraulic fluid to cause the tube to fold at the seventh and eighth minimum thicknesses to seal the tube;
• and
• the seventh and eighth minimum thicknesses are greater than the third and fourth minimum thicknesses such that the tube is configured to fold at the third and fourth minimum thicknesses when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is at a first pressure level and the tube is configured to fold at the seventh and eighth minimum thicknesses when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid is at a second pressure level greater than the first pressure level.

An apparatus for facilitating control of fluid or slurry movement in a collapsible tube, the apparatus comprising the tube including:

• first and second opposing wall portions having circumferentially varying thickness including first and second maximum thicknesses respectively, the first and second maximum thicknesses disposed on opposite sides of the tube;
• and
• third and fourth opposing wall portions between the first and second opposing wall portions, the third and fourth opposing wall portions having third and fourth circumferentially minimum thicknesses respectively, the third and fourth minimum thicknesses disposed on opposite sides of the tube about halfway between the first and second maximum thicknesses;
• wherein the first and second opposing wall portions are configured to be engaged by a tube engager to cause the tube to fold at the third and fourth minimum thicknesses to seal the tube;
• and
• wherein the tube includes a first length portion, the first, second, third, and fourth wall portions extending along the first length portion, and the tube includes a second length portion and a third length portion coupled to opposite ends of the first length portion, wherein the second length portion has a generally constant wall thickness between an inner surface and an outer surface of the second length portion and the third length portion has a generally constant wall thickness between an inner surface and an outer surface of the third length portion.