Tubular pump

Abstract

The invention provides the arrangement of a resilient and flexible tubular element, with shape memory, which contains the product to be metered and which receives an action of limited compression of the walls thereof, in such a way that there is no contact between the internal walls of the opening of the tubular element which propels the product, in such a way that the product supply and discharge are controlled by respective valves situated before and after the compressible tubular metering element.

1 . A tubular pump for metering liquids, comprising:
 a resilient and flexible tubular element, with shape memory, for receiving a product to be metered and which is capable of receiving an action of limited compression of the walls thereof;   a ramming member for imparting the action of limited compression of the walls of the tubular element; and   respective valves situated before and after a region of the tubular element that is compressed by the ramming member to control a supply and discharge of the product.   
     
     
         2 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is compressed in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is compressed without there being contact between internal walls of the tubular element. 
     
     
         4 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the quantity of product that is metered is adjusted by varying at least one of an external diameter and an internal diameter of the tubular element. 
     
     
         5 . A tubular pump according to  claim 4 , wherein the diameter of the tubular element is varied by longitudinal drawing thereof. 
     
     
         6 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the quantity of product that is metered is adjusted by varying a transverse stroke of the ramming member. 
     
     
         7 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the quantity to be metered is adjusted by varying the length of the ramming member. 
     
     
         8 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is filled due to resilient expansion by recovery of its shape when compression ceases with one of the valves being an inlet valve that is open and the other valve being an outlet valve that is closed. 
     
     
         9 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the valves is an inlet valve and the other valve is an outlet valve and the valves are capable of selectively switching between a first state with both the inlet and outlet valves being closed when compression begins, and a second state with the inlet valve closed and the outlet valve open after compression begins and continues until compression ends. 
     
     
         10 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a stroke of the ramming member for compressing the tubular element is limited in an adjustable manner by fixed stops. 
     
     
         11 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a stroke of the ramming member for compressing the tubular element is determined by position sensors which are adjusted by a driving motor pulse count. 
     
     
         12 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the ramming member is operated by means of a hydraulic cylinder assembly. 
     
     
         13 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the ramming member is operated by means of electromagnets. 
     
     
         14 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is compressed by mechanical means combined with position controllers by a coding system and corresponding step-by-step motors. 
     
     
         15 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a speed at which the ramming member actuates is adjustable. 
     
     
         16 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the frequency at which the product is metered is adjustable. 
     
     
         17 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the valves and the ramming member are synchronized by means of an electronic unit which is incorporated into the pump. 
     
     
         18 . A tubular pump according to  claim 17 , wherein the electronic unit is capable of adjusting operating parameters of the pump to regulate a discharge rate, metering frequency and volume to be metered. 
     
     
         19 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the valves are valves for compressing flexible tubes which make complete throttling of the flexible tubes possible, in order to reach the closed valve position. 
     
     
         20 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of separate tubular elements, arranged on a single base and which receive the compressing action from the ramming member. 
     
     
         21 . A tubular pump according to  claim 20 , further comprising a plurality of ramming members to compress different tubular elements. 
     
     
         22 . A tubular pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular element consists of a single part from an initial point of entry of the liquid to a last point of filling of a receiver. 
     
     
         23 . Use of the pump according to  claim 1  for filling the micro-receivers of clinical analysis cards.