Mechanically wound infusion pump

1 . An apparatus for a mechanical pump, comprising:

a mechanical power reserve;

a wheel train, wherein the wheel train comprises a series of gears and wheels through which an energy from the mechanical power reserve is transferred to a main infusion wheel;

an escapement comprising an escape wheel, a balance wheel, a pallet fork, and a hairspring, wherein the escape wheel is attached to the wheel train, and wherein the hairspring is attached to the balance wheel to allow the balance wheel to swing in precise increments, and wherein the balance wheel is connected to the pallet fork which causes the pallet fork to move back and forth in precise increments, which in turn causes the escape wheel and the wheel train to move in precise increments; and,

the main infusion wheel which powers the mechanical pump, wherein the main infusion wheel is turned by the wheel train.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , also comprising means for storing the energy in the mechanical power reserve.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 also comprising a means for adjusting an amount of the hairspring which is active, thus adjusting a rate at which the balance wheel turns, changing a rate at which the escape wheel and the wheel train turn, thereby adjusting a speed of the mechanical pump.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for adjusting the amount of the hairspring which is active comprises one or more movable regulator pins which can be adjusted to alter an active length of the hairspring.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanical pump comprises a linear peristaltic pump, wherein the mechanical power reserve turns the series of gears that operate a series of compression elements, causing said elements to compress and relax a length of a flexible tubing in sequence, thereby pumping fluid through the flexible tubing.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mechanical power reserve comprises at least one mainspring, barrel and gear forming a mainspring assembly.

7 . An apparatus for a mechanically wound infusion pump, comprising:

a housing;

a winding crown;

a mechanical power reserve, connected to the winding crown such that when the winding crown is twisted, power is stored in the mechanical power reserve;

a wheel train by which power is transferred from the mechanical power reserve to a main infusion wheel;

the main infusion wheel which powers the mechanically wound infusion pump; and,

an escapement comprising an escape wheel, a balance wheel, a pallet fork, and a hairspring, wherein the escape wheel is attached to the wheel train, and wherein the hairspring is attached to the balance wheel to allow the balance wheel to swing in precise increments, and wherein the balance wheel is connected to the pallet fork which causes the pallet fork to move back and forth in precise increments, which in turn causes the escape wheel, the wheel train, and the main infusion wheel to move in precise increments, which allows for precise determination of the amount of fluid to be pumped, controlled by a rate of rotation of the main infusion wheel.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the mechanical power reserve comprises at least one mainspring, barrel and gear forming a mainspring assembly, the mainspring assembly being connected to the winding crown and the wheel train.

9 . An apparatus for a mechanically wound infusion pump, comprising

a housing;

a winding crown;

a mechanical power reserve connected to the winding crown;

a wheel train connected to the mechanical power reserve by which a power is transferred from the mechanical power reserve to a main infusion wheel;

an escapement which regulates a release of energy from the mechanical power reserve through the wheel train comprising an escape wheel, a balance wheel, a pallet fork, and a hairspring, wherein the escape wheel is attached to the wheel train, and wherein the hairspring is attached to the balance wheel to swing in precise increments, and wherein the balance wheel is connected to the pallet fork which causes the pallet fork to move back and forth in precise increments, which in turn regulates the release of energy from the mechanical power reserve through the wheel train;

the main infusion wheel; and,

wherein the main infusion wheel is turned by the wheel train and powers the mechanically wound infusion pump.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the mechanical power reserve comprises at least one mainspring, barrel, and gear forming a mainspring assembly, the mainspring assembly being connected to the winding crown and the wheel train.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the mechanical power reserve comprises at least two or more mainspring assemblies connected to each other so as to store additional power in the mechanical power reserve, the mainspring assemblies being connected to the winding crown and the wheel train.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the wheel train comprises a series of gears turned by the main power reserve and regulated by the escapement.

13 . A method of pumping fluid without using electricity comprising;

providing a mechanical power reserve;

providing a means for storing energy within the mechanical power reserve;

providing a pump;

regulating a release of energy from the mechanical power reserve through the use of an escapement;

transferring the energy from the mechanical power reserve through a series of gears to the pump; and,

using the energy released from the mechanical power reserve to power the pump;

wherein the escapement comprises an escape wheel, a balance wheel, a pallet fork, and a hairspring, wherein the escape wheel is connected to the series of gears through which energy is transferred from the power reserve to the pump, and wherein the hairspring is attached to the balance wheel to allow the balance wheel to swing in precise increments, and wherein the balance wheel is connected to the pallet fork which causes the pallet fork to move back and forth in precise increments, which in turn causes the escape wheel to move in precise increments, thus regulating the energy transferred from the power reserve to the pump.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the mechanical power reserve comprises at least one mainspring, barrel and gear forming a mainspring assembly.

15 . The method of claim 14 also comprising turning a winding crown attached to the mainspring assembly in order to store energy in the mainspring assembly.