Importance

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Abstract

A curvilinear peristaltic pump for pumping liquids through a resilient tube. The pump includes a curved concave platen against which a resilient tube is placed. A multi-lobed cam is positioned adjacent to the platen and tube. A plurality of pump fingers, each carrying a pinch finger, are mounted between tube and cam in a manner permitting radially outward movement of the pump fingers toward the platen. As the cam rotates, the fingers are pressed against the tube sequentially so as to pump liquid through the tube. A strain gauge beam is secured to the pump just beyond each end of the pump finger set. A sensing member secured to the free end of the beam is pre-loaded against the tube next to each endmost pump finger. When an input occlusion occurs, the tubing will collapse causing the beam to deflect toward the tube, changing its pre-load state. This motion will cause a negative voltage change indicative of the input occlusion. At the other side, an output occlusion will cause the tubing to inflate, moving the beam member outward and deflecting the beam to cause a positive voltage change.

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First Claim