Switching unit and pneumatic system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022049721-A1
Application number	US-201917296889-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Feb 17, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A switching unit may be provided for connecting a first pneumatic unit and a second pneumatic unit of a pneumatic system together. The switching unit comprises a main body having: a channel structure which extends through the main body; a first and a second inlet for introducing a pressure into the channel structure; a first and a second outlet for discharging at least some of the pressure from the channel structure; and a first and a second valve; wherein the first inlet can be brought into a pressure-exchange connection to the first outlet via a first channel by setting a first switch position of the first valve or to the second outlet via a second channel by setting a second switch position of the first valve, and wherein the second inlet can be brought into a pressure-exchange connection to the first outlet via a third channel by setting a first switch position of the second valve or to the second outlet via a fourth channel by setting a second switch position of the second valve.

First claim

1 . A switching unit for interconnecting a first pneumatic unit and a second pneumatic unit of a pneumatic system, wherein the switching unit comprises:
a main body with a channel structure extending through the main body, a first and a second inlet for introducing a pressure into the channel structure, a first and a second outlet for discharging at least some of the pressure from the channel structure, and also a first and second valve, wherein the first inlet may be brought into a pressure exchange connection with the first outlet via a first channel by setting a first switched position of the first valve or may be brought into a pressure exchange connection with the second outlet via a second channel by setting a second switched position of the first valve, and wherein the second inlet may be brought into a pressure exchange connection with the first outlet via a third channel by setting a first switched position of the second valve or may be brought into a pressure exchange connection with the second outlet via a fourth channel by setting a second switched position of the second valve.

2 . The switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second valve is a 3/2-way valve.

3 . The switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or the second valve is formed as a piston valve with a valve piston which is movable linearly inside the channel structure between the first and the second switched position.

4 . The switching unit of claim 3 , wherein the piston valve comprises a solenoid, wherein the valve piston is movable by an interaction with the solenoid.

5 . The switching unit of claim 4 , wherein the valve piston is movable from the first switched position into the second switched position by switching on an electrical current in the solenoid.

6 . The switching unit of claim 4 , wherein the piston valve has a return spring, by means of which the valve piston is movable from the second switched position into the first switched position if there is no current switched on in the solenoid.

7 . The switching unit of claim 4 , wherein the first and/or the second valve comprises a sensor for measuring a piston position of the valve piston of the first and/or second valve.

8 . The switching unit of claim 1 , wherein the main body comprises a metal.

9 . A pneumatic system comprising:
a first and a second pneumatic unit as well as a switching unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first pneumatic unit has a first diaphragm fluid pump and a first drive device, and wherein the second pneumatic unit has a second diaphragm fluid pump and a second drive device, and wherein the first and/or the second drive device are designed to drive the first and/or the second diaphragm fluid pump.

10 . The pneumatic system of claim 9 , wherein the first drive device is connected via a first inlet pressure line to the first inlet of the switching unit, the first diaphragm fluid pump is connected via a first outlet pressure line to the first outlet of the switching unit, the second drive device is connected via a second inlet pressure line to the second inlet of the switching unit, and the second diaphragm fluid pump is connected via a second outlet pressure line to the second outlet of the switching unit.

11 . A method for operating a pneumatic system according to claim 10 .

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a switched position of the first or second valve is altered in order to change to another drive device for the first or second diaphragm fluid pump.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the valve piston of the first valve is in the first switched position and/or the valve piston of the second valve is in the second switched position, so that the first diaphragm fluid pump is driven by the first drive device and/or the second diaphragm fluid pump is driven by the second drive device .

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the valve piston of the first valve is brought into the second switched position and/or the valve piston of the second valve is brought into the first switched position, so that the second diaphragm fluid pump is driven by the first drive device and/or the first diaphragm fluid pump is driven by the second drive device.

15 . The switching unit of claim 4 , wherein the first and/or the second valve comprises a Hall sensor and/or an encoder for measuring the piston position of the valve piston of the first and/or second valve.

16 . The switching unit of claim 8 , wherein the metal is aluminum.

Assignees

• Berlin Heart Gmbh

Inventors

• Oakley Matthew
• Reitinger Thomas

Classifications

• F15B20/004 Primary

  Fluid pressure supply failure · CPC title

• A61M60/435

  with diastole or systole switching by valve means located between the blood pump and the hydraulic or pneumatic energy source · CPC title

• F04B43/026

  each plate-like pumping flexible member working in its own pumping chamber · CPC title

• F04B43/073

  the actuating fluid being controlled by at least one valve · CPC title

• F15B2013/0409

  Position sensing or feedback of the valve member · CPC title