Pump

Abstract

A pump suitable for use in a portable domestic is also disclosed. The steam cleaner has a housing accommodating a releasable water tank. The pump transfers water from the tank to a boiler for generating steam. In use, steam exits a nozzle for cleaning etc.

1 . A peristaltic pump for moving a liquid, comprising:
 a motor having a motor shaft;   a pump housing, including a pump body, forming a pump chamber, the pump housing being fixed to the motor;   the pump chamber accommodating a number of rollers having an integral gear in mesh with a cog fixed to the motor shaft for rotation therewith;   a first gear carrier having a number of axles on which the rollers are rotatably mounted respectively for maintaining a fixed spatial relationship between the rollers; and a resiliently collapsible tube, passing through the pump chamber and arranged to be compressed against a wall of the pump chamber by at least one roller at all times as the rollers rotate within the pump chamber.   
   
   
       2 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gear carrier is rotatably mounted to the motor shaft. 
   
   
       3 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 2 , wherein the first gear carrier is rotatably mounted to the motor shaft by way of a bearing. 
   
   
       4 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the first gear carrier is mounted to the distal end of the motor shaft. 
   
   
       5 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein a second gear carrier is fitted to the distal end of the axles. 
   
   
       6 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 5 , wherein the second gear carrier is journalled on the motor shaft. 
   
   
       7 . A peristaltic pump according to  claims 1 , wherein the rollers have a cylindrical portion and a gear portion wherein the cylindrical portion has a smaller diameter than the gear portion. 
   
   
       8 . A peristaltic pump according to  claims 1 , wherein the pump housing is formed by a first part which connects directly to a housing of the motor and a second part. 
   
   
       9 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 1 , wherein the second part of the pump housing is formed by two parts, an pump body having a cavity forming a peripheral wall of the pump chamber and an upper part with the upper part and the first part forming upper and lower caps for the pump body and closing axial ends of the pump chamber for the pump chamber. 
   
   
       10 . A peristaltic pump according to  claim 9 , wherein the upper and lower caps are connected to the pump body by snap fit connectors.