Stable flow regulator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12188581-B2
Application number	US-202217994715-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2022
Priority date	Nov 28, 2022
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

A stable flow regulator assembly includes a body having an aperture that received a tube. The assembly also includes a worm gear that extends through, and is rotationally movable relative to, the body. A worm wheel is rotationally positioned within the body and is pivotably moved within the body by engagement with the worm gear. The worm wheel also includes a slot, configured to align with the aperture, through which a tube may be extended, and as the worm wheel is moved within the body, the slot and the aperture are moved out of and into alignment to compress and release compression upon the tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stable flow regulator assembly for regulating fluid flow, comprising:
a body comprising:
a first side configured to be coupled to a second side;
a first and second gear mount aligned on an axis between the first side and second side;
a tube pathway configured to receive and retain a tube extending through the body;
a worm gear comprising a gear thread and configured to be rotationally positioned through the first and second gear mount along the axis; and
an actuator configured to be positioned within, and moveable relative to, the body, the actuator comprising teeth configured to engage the gear thread and a tube slot,
wherein the body and the actuator are configured to receive the tube without extending an end of the tube through the tube pathway and the tube slot, and rotation of the worm gear translates to movement of the actuator within the body to move the actuator from an open configuration, wherein the regulator permits fluid flow, to a closed configuration, wherein the regulator restricts fluid flow.

2. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second sides each comprise respective first and second apertures, the apertures configured to be aligned when the first side is coupled to the second side, wherein the actuator comprises a worm wheel comprising a rotation axis, the teeth spaced from the rotation axis, and the tube slot, the worm wheel being configured to be rotationally held within the body, the teeth being configured to engage the gear thread, and the tube slot being configured to align with the first and second apertures, wherein rotation of the worm gear translates to rotation of the worm wheel and moves the tube slot relative to the first and second apertures.

3. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 1 , wherein an interface between the actuator and the body is configured to compress the tube when the actuator is in the closed configuration.

4. A stable flow regulator assembly comprising:
a body comprising:
a first side configured to be coupled to a second side;
the first and second sides each comprising respective first and second apertures, the apertures configured to be aligned when the first side is coupled to the second side;
a first and second gear mount aligned on an axis;
a worm gear comprising a gear thread and configured to be rotationally positioned through the first and second gear mount along the axis; and
a worm wheel comprising a rotation axis, worm wheel teeth spaced from the rotation axis, and a tube slot, the worm wheel being configured to be rotationally held within the body, the worm wheel teeth being configured to engage the gear thread, and the tube slot being configured to align with the first and second apertures, wherein the body and the worm wheel are configured to receive a tube without extending an end of the tube through the first and second apertures and the tube slot,
wherein rotation of the worm gear translates to rotation of the worm wheel and moves the tube slot relative to the first and second apertures.

5. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tube slot and the first and second apertures are each configured to receive a tube therethrough.

6. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 5 , wherein when the tube slot is moved relative to the first and second apertures, the tube slot is configured to compress the tube.

7. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 6 , wherein when the worm gear is rotated in an opposite direction, the tube slot moves toward alignment with the first and second apertures and releases compressive forces on the tube.

8. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the worm wheel comprises opposingly extending shafts that are received by the first and second sides of the body and about which the worm wheel pivots.

9. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the body comprises a planar surface along an interior surface of the first and second apertures, and wherein the tube slot is configured to press the tube against the planar surface when the worm wheel moves in a first, closing direction.

10. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the body comprises a first channel and the worm wheel comprises a second channel, and the first and second channels align to form a loading passage.

11. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first and second apertures and the tube slot are sized to receive therethrough the tube folded upon itself.

12. The stable flow regulator assembly of claim 4 , wherein an interface between the worm wheel and the body is configured to compress the tube when the worm wheel is rotated within the body.

13. A flow regulator assembly comprising:
a body comprising an enclosed housing having an aperture extending through the body;
a worm gear comprising a gear thread and configured to be rotationally positioned through the body; and
a worm wheel configured to be rotationally positioned within the enclosed housing and to be moved rotationally by rotation of the worm gear, the worm wheel comprising a tube slot configured to align with the aperture,
wherein the body and the worm wheel are configured to receive a tube without extending an end of the tube through the aperture and the tube slot, and rotation of the worm gear translates to rotation of the worm wheel within the body and moves the tube slot relative to the aperture.

14. The flow regulator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the tube slot and the aperture are each configured to receive a tube therethrough.

15. The flow regulator assembly of claim 14 , wherein when the tube slot is moved relative to the aperture, the tube slot is configured to compress a tube extending through the aperture.

16. The flow regulator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the body comprises a planar surface along an interior surface of the aperture, and wherein the tube slot is configured to press the tube against the planar surface when the worm wheel moves in a first, closing direction.

17. The flow regulator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the body comprises a first channel and the worm wheel comprises a second channel, and the first and second channels align to form a loading passage.

18. The flow regulator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the aperture and the tube slot are sized to receive therethrough the tube folded upon itself.

Assignees

• Carefusion 303 Inc

Inventors

• Sanikommu Narsi Reddy

Classifications

• F16K7/06

  by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means {(F16K7/045 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61M39/284

  Lever clamps · CPC title

• A61M5/16813

  by controlling the degree of opening of the flow line · CPC title

• F16K7/061 Primary

  Screw clamps · CPC title

• A61M39/283 Primary

  Screw clamps · CPC title