Leak detector for a persitaltic pump
AssigneeWatson-Marlow Limited
InventorOliver Warren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A peristaltic pump is provided comprising a drive unit, a pumphead comprising a pressing element. The pumphead is connectable to the drive unit such that, when connected, the pressing element is driveable by the drive unit to exert a peristaltic action on a tube arranged within the pumphead. The pumphead further comprises an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver which are mounted on the drive unit and a reflector element mounted on the pumphead. The reflector element is arranged on the pumphead such that when the pumphead is connected to the drive unit, radiation emitted by the emitter is reflected by the reflector element towards the receiver.
Claims20
A peristaltic pump comprising a drive unit, a pumphead comprising a pressing element, the pumphead being connectable to the drive unit such that, when connected, the pressing element is driveable by the drive unit to exert a peristaltic action on a tube arranged within the pumphead, and an optical sensor, wherein the optical sensor comprises an emitter and a receiver which are mounted on the drive unit and a reflector element mounted on the pumphead, the reflector element being arranged on the pumphead such that when the pumphead is connected to the drive unit, radiation emitted by the emitter is reflected by the reflector element towards the receiver, wherein a reservoir is arranged within the pumphead to receive liquid which escapes from the tube arranged within the pumphead, the reflector element being arranged with respect to the reservoir such that when liquid is present in the reservoir, at least part of the reflector element is immersed in the liquid, the reflector element being configured such that immersion of at least part of the reflector element in liquid varies the amount of radiation reflected towards the receiver.
A peristaltic pump, comprising:
- a drive unit;
- a pumphead having a pressing element, the pumphead connectable to the drive unit such that, when connected, the pressing element is driveable by the drive unit to exert a peristaltic action on a tube arranged within the pumphead;
- an optical sensor having an emitter and a receiver mounted on the drive unit;
- an auxiliary chamber arranged with the pumphead to receive liquid that escapes from the tube arranged within the pumphead, the auxiliary chamber arranged in fluid communication with a pumping chamber within which the pressing element is disposed, the auxiliary chamber in normal use being a dry chamber;
- and
- a reflector element mounted on the pumphead, wherein when the pumphead is connected to the drive unit, radiation emitted by the emitter is reflected by the reflector element towards the receiver, the reflector element being arranged with respect to the auxiliary chamber such that when liquid is present in the auxiliary chamber, at least part of the reflector element is immersed in the liquid, the reflector element being configured such that immersion of at least part of the reflector element in liquid varies the amount of radiation reflected towards the receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.