Peristaltic pump

Abstract

A pump for circulating a medium comprises: an elastically deformable hose which lies against a pressing surface, with a medium inlet and a medium outlet; and pressing elements which move along the hose and press the hose part in contact with a pressing element against the pressing surface while locally compressing and closing the hose part; whereby medium is drawn in via the medium inlet and discharged under pressure via the medium outlet. The pump has the special feature that a cavity is defined in the pump housing, the pressing surface of which cavity forms a boundary and in which cavity the hose and the pressing means with the pressing elements are accommodated; and the cavity is hermetically sealed and filled with a filling medium.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A peristaltic pump for circulating a medium, wherein the pump comprises: 
 a pump housing;    a pressing surface present in the pump housing;    an elastically deformable hose, wherein a part of the hose lies against the pressing surface, wherein the hose has a medium inlet and a medium outlet;    pressing means with a plurality of equidistantly placed pressing elements, wherein the pressing means are drivable such that the pressing elements move along the hose, wherein the pressing means during operation thereof press the part of the hose in contact with one of the plurality of pressing elements against a part of the pressing surface while locally compressing and closing the hose part;    wherein during driving of the pressing means, the medium is drawn in via the medium inlet and discharged under pressure via the medium outlet; and    a cavity defined in the pump housing, wherein the pressing surface of the pump housing forms a boundary, wherein the hose and the pressing means with the pressing elements are accommodated in the cavity, wherein the cavity is hermetically sealed and filled with a filling medium.    
   
   
       17 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the pump is a linear pump.  
   
   
       18 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the pressing surface is curved and at least a part of the pressing surface is substantially in the form of a circular arc having a central axis, wherein the pressing means is a rotor and wherein pressing elements are rollers or cams placed at equal angular and radial positions, wherein the rotor is rotatingly drivable around a central axis.  
   
   
       19 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising pressing means for feeding additional filling medium, under pressure, to the cavity, such that the hose is subjected to compression while maintaining a passage such that the quantity of medium circulated per unit of displacement of the pressing elements is reduced.  
   
   
       20 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the pressing means are adapted to feed to the cavity, under pressure, a quantity of additional filling medium, wherein the additional quantity is adjustable such that the quantity of medium circulated per unit of displacement of the pressing elements is adjustable.  
   
   
       21 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the filling medium is a liquid.  
   
   
       22 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the liquid is water.  
   
   
       23 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the liquid is a coolant and lubricant.  
   
   
       24 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the filling medium is a gas.  
   
   
       25 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the gas is air.  
   
   
       26 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the filling medium is a combination of a liquid and a gas.  
   
   
       27 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein a chosen pressure prevails in the gas.  
   
   
       28 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in the filling medium present in the cavity.  
   
   
       29 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the adjusting means comprise a cylinder, wherein a piston is sealingly displaceable and fixable at a selectable position, wherein a space bounded by the cylinder and the piston connects to the cavity in the pump housing.  
   
   
       30 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , further comprising pressure difference means for creating a chosen positive pressure difference between the interior of the hose and the medium present in the cavity such that the hose has an ability to expand.  
   
   
       31 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the medium is a liquid, a gas, a slurry, a granulate, or a combination of two or more thereof  
   
   
       32 . The peristaltic pump as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the pressing elements are rollers or cams.