Compact vacuum pump

Abstract

A vacuum pump capable of pumping solid, liquid and gas, or any combination thereof, including a drive ( 40 ) and a manually disengageable pumping system connected thereto. The pumping system is composed of a two- or three-chambered canister ( 1, 18, 21 ) within which solids, liquids, and gases can be separated from one another. A highly flexible diaphragm ( 24 ) attached to the canister and sealed against it circumferentially, facilitates this separation, when reciprocating and pumping. The components of the pumping system are designed to be disposable, and the two- or three-chambered canister provides for a highly efficient pumping system that is significantly smaller in size than those previously known. The pump is particularly useful for medical applications.

1 . A vacuum pump capable of pumping solid, liquid and gas, or any combination thereof, including a drive and a manually disengageable disposable pumping system connected to said drive, wherein said disposable pumping system includes: 
 a three-chambered canister, wherein the first chamber has an inlet, and means are provided for retaining solids and preventing their passage from said first chamber to the second chamber; and said second chamber having a one-way valve at its exit, said valve allowing passage of liquid or gas out of said second chamber; and the third chamber having an outlets for the discharge of gas or liquid or any combination thereof; and said third chamber further being connected via a one-way valve, allowing entrance of liquid or gas through said valve, while preventing exit of liquid or gas through said valve;    integral means for pumping or displacement of gas and liquid, effective when coupled to said drive means and attached to a partition with said three-chambered canister, in which said valves are installed and sealing against it circumferentially;    a drive member attached to said pumping means, reciprocation of said drive member inducing reciprocation of said pumping means; and    means for mounting and engaging said disposable pumping system to the housing of said drive, said means being capable of simultaneously coupling said drive member to said drive;    wherein, in said assembled vacuum pump said drive is coupled to said pumping system in such a way that activation of said drive induces reciprocation of said pumping means, and said pumping system is capable of being attached or detached from said drive in a rapid and facile manner.    
   
   
       2 . A vacuum pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said three-chambered canister has a volume of approximately 100 cc.  
   
   
       3 . A vacuum pump according to  claim 1  or  2 , additionally including a vacuum outlet port, present in said second chamber, said outlet connected by tubing to an external vacuum gauge for the purpose of monitoring the pressure inside said first and second chambers.  
   
   
       4 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said means for retaining solids in said first chamber are included of a sieve.  
   
   
       5 . A vacuum pump according to  claim 1 , wherein said pumping means are included of a highly flexible diaphragm.  
   
   
       6 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said highly flexible diaphragm is capable of yielding or stretching when exposed to high load or resistance.  
   
   
       7 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said highly flexible diaphragm, when subjected to high loads, is capable of stretching to effectively reciprocate only a fraction of its area while the remainder of its surface remains stationary.  
   
   
       8 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, additionally including a disposable waste container for collection of discharged liquid, attached to the liquid discharge outlet of said third chamber.  
   
   
       9 . A vacuum pump, according to  claim 7 , wherein said disposable waste container is a waste bag, having any appropriate size.  
   
   
       10 . A vacuum pump according to  claim 8 , wherein the capacity of said waste bag is between 500 cc and 5 liters.  
   
   
       11 . The vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for mounting and engaging said pumping system to said drive include a mounting base protruding from the lower portion of said three-chambered canister, said mounting base adapted for mating and attaching to said drive housing.  
   
   
       12 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein drive rotates a crank, and said drive is coupled to said drive member via a reciprocating member connected to said crank, and said member is adapted to be coupled with said drive member.  
   
   
       13 . A vacuum pump according to  claim 12 , wherein coupling said mounting base to said drive housing, is affected simultaneously with the securing of said drive member to said reciprocating member in a single operation.  
   
   
       14 . A vacuum pump according to  claim 12  or  13 , additionally including a lock clip, capable of securing said drive member to said reciprocating member.  
   
   
       15 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said pumping system additionally including means for sealing said pumping system, for facilitating disposal of said pumping system, while containing the pumped waste.  
   
   
       16 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said pump is capable of maintaining an unlimited flow of matter therethrough, while maintaining uninterrupted vacuum pressure.  
   
   
       17 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said pump is capable of generating a vacuum pressure of approximately 650 mm of Mercury as measured in said first and second chambers.  
   
   
       18 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, wherein said pump is capable of continuously suctioning an unlimited volume of matter therethrough.  
   
   
       19 . A vacuum pump according to any preceding claim, additionally including a suction catheter tube attached to said inlet present in said first chamber, for allowing entry of matter into said three-chambered canister.  
   
   
       20 . A vacuum pump capable of pumping liquid and gas, having a drive, and a manually disengageable disposable pumping system connected to the drive, wherein said disposable pumping system includes: 
 a dual-chambered canister, wherein the first chamber has an inlet and a one-way valve at the exit of the first chamber, said valve allowing passage of liquid and gas out of said first chamber; and the second chamber having outlets for the discharge of liquid and gas; said chamber further being connected via a one-way valve, allowing entrance of liquid or gas through said valve, while preventing exit of liquid or gas through said valve;    pumping means, attached to said dual-chambered canister sealing against it circumferentially, wherein said pumping means are attached to a partition with said dual-chambered canister in which said valves are installed;    a drive member attached to said diaphragm, reciprocation of said drive member inducing reciprocation of said pumping means; and    means for mounting and engaging said disposable pumping system on the housing of the drive, wherein said means are capable of simultaneously coupling the drive member to the drive;    wherein in the assembled vacuum pump, the drive is coupled to said pumping system, such that activation of the drive induces reciprocation of said pumping means; and wherein said pumping system is capable of being attached or detached from said drive in a rapid and facile manner.    
   
   
       21 . A vacuum pump capable of pumping liquid and gas, having a drive and a disengageable disposable pumping system connected to the drive, wherein the disposable pumping system includes: 
 a first chamber having an inlet and a first one-way valve at its exit, allowing passage of liquid and gas through said first chamber; and a second chamber having an outlet for the discharge of air and an outlet for the discharge of liquid; and an inlet via a second one-way valve, allowing entrance of liquid or gas through said valve while preventing exit of liquid or gas through said valve;    a flexible diaphragm sealing against the exterior of said chambers so as to define a pump cavity whose inlet is said first one-way valve and whose outlet is said second one-way valve; and    a drive member attached to said diaphragm, reciprocation of which induces reciprocation of said diaphragm, said pump further including means for mounting said disposable pumping system on the housing of the drive, and for coupling said drive member to the drive.