Patent Publication Number: US-2013251561-A1

Title: Fluid Pump System

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/283,930, titled “Fluid Pump System” and filed Sep. 17, 2008, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/197,381, titled “Peristaltic Pump,” filed Aug. 5, 2005 and now abandoned. Both applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fluid pump systems. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a fluid pump system for laundry machines. The fluid pump system has a plurality of fluid pumps for dispensing fluids, for example, two detergents and a fabric softener. The invention also relates to peristaltic pumps. In an embodiment, a small peristaltic pump dispenses liquid detergent into a dish washing machine. In embodiments of the present invention the peristaltic pumps are snap-fit together. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Peristaltic pumps are well known in the prior art and may be defined as pumps which produce pulse-like contractions that propel matter along inside a tube. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a prior art fluid pump device. 
     Inside a casing  10 , there is a pump  12  in which a triangular rotor  14  rotates to compress a flexible rubber tube  16  against a curved wall  30  at points A and B. These points A and B change along the length of the tube  16  as the rotor  14  rotates around its central axis  18 . Three pins  20  hold three rollers  22  at tips X, Y and Z of the rotor  14  while four screws  24  hold front and back portions of the casing  10  together. The tube  16  has an inlet suction branch  16 C and an outlet delivery branch  16 D. Arrows I and O indicate the direction of flow of liquid detergent into and out of the tube  16 . A clear, hard plastic cover  26  with a tab  28  allows a user to view and to have access to the interior of the casing  10  in order to replace or repair any parts of the pump  12  and the rotor  14  which may break. 
     One disadvantage of this prior art device is that the constant vibration of an industrial washing machine in which it is used tends over time to cause the screws  24  to work loose from the casing  10 , thus causing the pump  12  inside to fail. Also, the constant vibration causes the pins  20  holding the rollers  22  in the rotor  14  to work loose and push up against the cover  26  until the cover  26  pops off. Once again the pump  12  fails. Thus, it is a problem in the prior art to develop a peristaltic pump which is resistant to constant vibrations that eventually caused earlier devices to become loose and fail. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention can be summarized as a fluid pump system which is capable of delivering a plurality of fluids on a predetermined schedule, as might be useful in, for example, a washing machine. The multiple fluids may be, for example, two detergents and one fabric softener. Generally speaking, the system comprises a housing, a plurality of pump assemblies, a single electrical component coupled to electric motors for each assembly, and a controller for operatively controlling each of the electric motors. 
     In a specific embodiment, a small screwless peristaltic pump is used which is resistant to constant vibrations caused by a machine to which it is attached so that the pump does not become loose and fall apart. An advantage of embodiments of the present invention can be to hold the pump together without screws when the pump is used in low torque and low vibration operations. 
     Another advantage of specific embodiments of the present invention can be to support a motor onto a rear casing portion of the housing. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention can be to make the pump, its internal rollers and a flexible tube impervious to deleterious ingredients contained in liquid detergent. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention can be that only a predetermined amount of the liquid detergent enters the pump because the synchronous motor, as controlled electronically, meters the detergent to prevent waste in the dish washing machine. 
     Yet another advantage of specific embodiments of the present invention can be to provide new fluid pump systems. 
     Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention can be to provide a fluid pump system having a plurality of fluid pumps for dispensing a plurality of fluids, for example two detergents and a fabric softener in a laundry machine. 
     Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments and the appended drawing figures. The features and advantages may be desired, but, are not necessarily required to practice the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention and its other advantages may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, a brief description of which is provided below for each figure, and the subsequent detailed description of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a known prior art device; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded front perspective view of an embodiment of a pump assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded front perspective view of an embodiment of a rotor and rollers inside the pump assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top end view of a front portion of a casing of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a front inside elevational view of a back portion of the casing of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded rear perspective view of another embodiment of a pump assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is an exploded front perspective view of a rotor and rollers inside the second embodiment of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a fluid pump system according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the fluid pump system of  FIG. 9  with a housing cover removed; 
         FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the fluid pump system of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a housing base of the fluid pump system of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the housing base of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the housing base of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a fluid outlet of the fluid pump system of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 16  is an electrical schematic diagram of the fluid pump system of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     There are at least two basic preferred embodiments of the peristaltic pump: a first embodiment for low torque and low vibration operations; and a second embodiment for high torque and high vibration operations. An embodiment of the fluid pump system is described following the descriptions of the peristaltic pump. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the first embodiment is illustrated. There is a small plastic peristaltic pump  112  contained in a main housing which has a front casing portion  100  and a cover or a rear casing portion  110 . The front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110  are snap-fitted together in a manner described below. A bracket  164  is formed integrally with a side of the front casing portion  100 . This bracket  164  attaches the main housing containing the pump  112  to a dish washing machine (not shown). An electrical plug  174  allows alternating current to be carried through wires  176  from an activator (not shown) when it is switched on by a user who desires to wash a load of dishes. Upon activation, an inlet suction branch  106  brings a predetermined amount of liquid detergent flowing from a reservoir (not shown) in a direction I into a flexible rubber U-shaped tube  116  held in place at an inlet to the pump  112  by a U-shaped inlet channel  104  integrally formed on a top surface of the front casing portion  100 . Inside the pump  112 , there is a plurality of plastic rollers  122  on tips X, Y and Z of a triangular plastic rotor  114  confined between the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110 . The rollers  122  compress the flexible tube  116  at equally spaced intervals against an interior side of a curved wall  130 . Although three rollers  122  are shown, a manufacturer may choose to use more or less rollers, for example, four or two rollers instead. Nevertheless, three rollers  122  are preferred. The rollers  122  are rolled along the flexible tube  116  as they are rotated by the rotor  114  which is turned by an output shaft  118  extending from a synchronous gear motor  132 . Ears  166  project from opposite sides of the motor  132 . Bosses  142  on an outer periphery of the front casing portion  100  extend through hollow cylindrical sleeves  144  into upper and lower holes in the ears  166  and are ultrasonically heated until they melt to spot weld the motor  132  to the rear casing portion  110 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , only a predetermined amount of the liquid detergent enters the pump  112  because the synchronous motor  132  meters the detergent to prevent waste in the dish washing machine. The amount of liquid is predetermined by the signal sent to the motor  132  which then turns its shaft  118  and the rotor  114  mounted thereon a predetermined number of times. 
     The motor  132  is rated at 120 volts of alternating current (AC) at 60 hertz (Hz). The rated current is 0.05 amps and the rated speed is 20 revolutions per minute (rpm), plus or minus 10%. 
     Pulse-like contractions are produced inside the flexible tube  116 . These contractions propel the liquid detergent in spurts along the inside of the flexible tube  116  held in place at an outlet from the pump  112  by a U-shaped outlet channel  108  until the liquid detergent is dispensed by being squirted out of an outlet delivery branch  160  in a direction O into the dish washing machine (not shown). The U-shaped outlet channel  108  is formed integrally on a top surface of the front casing portion  100 . 
     Instead of the metal pins used in the prior art device shown in  FIG. 1 , the pump  112  in  FIG. 2  is secured together against the constant vibrations of the dish washing machine by three types of plastic devices for snap-fitting the front casing portion  100  together with the cover or rear casing portion  110 . The first type is a C-shaped groove (not shown) in a circular recess  135  into which a C-shaped tongue  136  is inserted. In an alternate embodiment, at least a pair of straight grooves and a mating pair of straight tongues  136  may be used. The second type of plastic device is a trio of square, open-ended boxes  138  into which a trio of springy, plastic clip pairs  140  are inserted. At least two of these boxes  138  and clip pairs  140  are needed for the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110  to be snap-fitted together. The third type of plastic device is the pair of bosses  142  on each side of the front casing portion  100 . The bosses  142  are inserted through the pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves  144 . In an alternate embodiment, only one boss  142  and one sleeve  144  may be used. Note that the groove in the recess  135 , the boxes  138  and the bosses  142  are positioned on an outer periphery of the front casing portion  100  while the tongue  136 , the clip pairs  140  and the sleeves  144  are positioned on an outer periphery of an interior wall of the rear casing portion  110 . However, in an alternate embodiment, the groove in the recess  135 , the boxes  138  and the bosses  142  may be positioned on the rear casing portion  110  while the tongue  136 , the clip pairs  140  and the sleeves  144  may be positioned on the front casing portion  100 . An ultrasonic welding rod (not shown) is applied to three areas on an exterior wall of the rear casing portion  110  where the bosses  142  are inserted through the sleeves  144  into the ears  166  in order to heat and melt each boss  142  into its aligned sleeve  144  and ear  166  so that the boss  142 , the sleeve  144  and the ear  166  are fused together. Thus, the pump  112  is not jarred apart by the constant vibrations caused by the dish washing machine. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the triangular rotor  114  for low torque and low vibration operations is illustrated. The rotor  114  and its rollers  122  are exploded apart to show how they are connected together. A front face  146  of the rotor  114  has formed integrally on its inner side three stepped male inserts  148 . A rear face  150  has formed integrally on its inner side three aligned cylindrical barrels  152  with which the male inserts  148  mate. Each roller  122  has a cylindrical bore  156  through its center along its longitudinal axis  158 . Note that a dowel  154  is mounted inside the rotor  114  and aligns the plurality of mated inserts  148  and barrels  152  around a central D-shaped bore  172 . A single central large cylindrical barrel  170  carries the dowel  154  and surrounds the D-shaped bore  172  through which the shaft  118  of  FIG. 2  with its D-shaped cross section passes in order to rotate the rotor  114 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the rotor  114  is assembled in the following manner. First, the rollers  122  are slipped onto the barrels  152 . Second, the inserts  148  are plugged into the bores  156  of the barrels  152  so that the mated inserts  148  and the barrels  152  carry the rollers  122 . Simultaneously, the dowel  154  is inserted into a bore (not shown) made in the inner side of the front face  146 . The dowel  154  with its mating hole (not shown) are designed to make a foolproof orientation to ensure that the center hole (where the motor shaft gets inserted) with the D flat on the two halves, part  150  and part  146  are always on the same plane. The two halves, part  146  and part  150  are then pressed together with an interference fit to complete the assembly. In another embodiment, an ultrasonic welding tool (not shown) can be used to fuse the inserts and the barrels together. However, care should be taken so that too much heat is not applied in order to prevent the rollers  122  on the barrels  152  from being deformed. 
     In  FIG. 4 , there is shown a top end view of the front casing portion  100  which functions as part of the main housing for both the first and second embodiments. The U-shaped inlet channel  104  secures an entrance for the flexible tube (not shown) while the U-shaped outlet channel  108  secures an exit for the flexible tube. A top of one box  138  is also seen. In the first embodiment for low torque and low vibration operations, a pair of bosses  142  on each side, of which only the top boss  142  is seen, is insertable through the pair of hollow cylindrical sleeves  144  on each side shown in  FIG. 5  on the interior wall of the rear casing portion  110 . In  FIG. 4 , the bracket  164  attaches the front casing portion  100  to the dish washing machine (not shown). The front casing portion  100  is also secured to the rear casing portion  110  of  FIG. 5  by the trio of clip pairs  140  which are inserted into the boxes  138  of  FIG. 4 , of which only one box  138  is shown in  FIG. 4 . Likewise, in  FIG. 5 , the circular tongue  136  arranged on the interior wall of the rear casing portion  110  is inserted into the groove (not shown in  FIG. 4 , but see the back of the groove in the recess  135  illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). In  FIG. 5 , an opening  162  through the center of the rear casing portion  110  allows the output shaft  118  seen in  FIG. 2  to extend there through to engage with and drive the rotor  114  of  FIG. 3 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the pump  112  is shown to be assembled with the motor  132 . The operation of the pump  112  and the motor  132  in this first embodiment may be understood by following the path of movement of the liquid there through. Note that the liquid may be other than a detergent. Initially, the motor  132  is turned on when it receives a signal through the wires  176  of the plug  174  to meter the flow of liquid in the direction I into the inlet suction branch  106  which leads to the flexible tube  116  that is held securely by the U-shaped inlet channel  104 . To prevent waste of liquid detergent in the dish washing machine, the signal energizes the motor  132  to turn its shaft  118  seen in  FIG. 2  a predetermined number of times depending upon whether a small, medium or large amount of detergent is needed to clean the load in the dish washing machine. A predetermined amount of the liquid then enters the pump  112  where the rollers  122  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  intermittently compress the flexible tube  116  so that the even flow of liquid is converted into pulses of liquid. These liquid pulses exit the pump  112  through the flexible tube  116  that is held securely by the U-shaped outlet channel  108 . The liquid is then squirted out of the outlet delivery branch  160  in the direction O into the dish washing machine (not shown). While the rotor  114  of  FIGS. 2 and 3  is driven by the motor  132 , the pump  112  is seen in  FIG. 6  to be held together by the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110  which are secured by the two clip pairs  140  in the two boxes  138 . Another clip pair  140  in its box  138  is hidden from view. The pairs of sleeves  144  on the rear casing portion  110  and the pairs of bosses  142  on the front casing portion  100  stuck therein are also hidden from view. In this first embodiment for low torque and low vibration operations, the groove in the recess  135  and its mating tongue  136  of  FIG. 2  are not illustrated in  FIG. 6  because they are hidden inside the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110 , respectively. The bracket  164  is shown for attaching the entire assembly to the dish washing machine (not shown). 
     Note in  FIG. 2  that there are no screws holding the pump  112  together with its housing which includes the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110 . Also, in this first embodiment for low torque and low vibration operations, there are no screws supporting the motor  132  onto the exterior wall of the rear casing portion  110 . Note further that the pump  112 , the rollers  122  and the tube  116  are all impervious to deleterious ingredients contained in the liquid detergent. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the second embodiment for high torque and high vibration operations is illustrated. The pump  112  is contained in the main housing which has the front casing portion  100  and the cover or rear casing portion  110 . The front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110  are snap-fitted together in the manner described below. The bracket  164  is formed integrally with a side of the front casing portion  100  and attaches the main housing containing the pump  112  to the dish washing machine (not shown). The electrical plug  174  allows alternating current to be carried through the wires  176  from the activator (not shown) when it is switched on by a user. Upon activation, the inlet suction branch  106  brings a predetermined amount of liquid detergent flowing from a reservoir (not shown) in the direction I into the flexible tube  116  held in place at the inlet to the pump  112  by the U-shaped channel  104  integrally formed on the top surface of the front casing portion  100 . Inside the pump  112 , there is a plurality of rollers  122  on tips X, Y and Z of the rotor  114  confined between the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110 . The rollers  122  compress the flexible tube  116  at equally spaced intervals against the interior side of the curved wall  130 . The rollers  122  are rolled along the flexible tube  116  as they are rotated by the rotor  114  which is turned by the output shaft  118  (not shown but see  FIG. 2 ) extending from the motor  132 . Ears  166  of which only one is seen in  FIG. 7 , project from opposite sides of the motor  132 . Screws  168  are inserted into upper holes in the ears  166 , extend through the upper sleeves  144  on the rear casing portion  110  and pass through bores  178  in the front casing portion  100  where the screws  168  are secured at their ends by nuts  182  of which only one is shown. The bosses  142  extend from the front casing portion  100  through the lower sleeves  144  into the lower holes in the ears  166  and are ultrasonically heated until they melt to spot weld the motor  132  to the rear casing portion  110 . Of course, in an alternate embodiment, the screws  168  may be inserted into the lower holes in the ears  166  and the bosses  142  may be extended through the upper holes in the ears  166  to achieve the same result. Note that this combination of screws  168  and bosses  142  is intended for high torque and high vibration operations. 
     Pulse-like contractions are produced inside the flexible tube  116  as the rotor  114  rotates the rollers  122  along the curved wall  130  to compress the tube  116 . These contractions propel the liquid detergent in spurts along the inside of the tube  116  which is held in place at the outlet from the pump  112  by the U-shaped channel  108  until the liquid detergent is dispensed by being squirted out of the delivery branch  160  in the direction O into the dish washing machine (not shown). The channel  108  is formed integrally on a top surface of the front casing portion  100 . 
     Instead of the metal pins used in the prior art device shown in  FIG. 1 , the pump  112  in  FIG. 7  is secured together against the constant vibrations of the dish washing machine by three types of plastic devices for snap-fitting the front casing portion  100  together with the cover or rear casing portion  110 . The first type is the C-shaped groove  134  into which the C-shaped tongue  136  is inserted. The tongue  136  is not shown in  FIG. 7 , but see  FIG. 2 . In an alternate embodiment, at least a pair of straight grooves  134  and a mating pair of straight tongues  136  may be used. The second type of plastic device is the trio of square boxes  138  into which a trio of springy clip pairs  140  are inserted. Only one pair of the clips  140  is seen in  FIG. 7 . At least two of these boxes  138  and clip pairs  140  are needed for the front casing portion  100  and the rear casing portion  110  to be snap-fitted together. The third type of plastic device is the pair of bosses  142 , one on each side of the front casing portion  100 . The bosses  142  are inserted through the lower sleeves  144  into the lower ears  166  on the motor  132 . Note that the groove  134 , the boxes  138  and the bosses  142  are positioned on an outer periphery of the front casing portion  100  while the tongue  136  (not shown in  FIG. 7  but see  FIG. 2 ), the clip pairs  140  and the sleeves  144  are positioned on an outer periphery of an interior wall of the rear casing portion  110 . However, in an alternate embodiment, the groove  134 , the boxes  138  and the bosses  142  may be positioned on the rear casing portion while the tongue  136  of  FIG. 2 , the clip pairs  140  and the sleeves  144  may be positioned on the front casing portion  100 . An ultrasonic welding rod (not shown) is applied to three areas on the exterior wall of the rear casing portion  110  where the bosses  142  are inserted through the lower sleeves  144  into the lower holes in the ears  166  in order to heat and melt each boss  142  into its aligned lower sleeve  144  and lower hole of the ear  166  so that the boss  142 , the sleeve  144  and the ear  166  are fused together. Thus, the pump  112  is not jarred apart by the constant vibrations caused by the dish washing machine. 
     In this second embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , there is a skirt  180  at least partially surrounding the sleeves  144  on each side of the rear casing portion  110  to form a recessed area into which the ears  166  may fit so as to prevent wobbling of the motor  132  when it is activated. There are also skirts  180  in the first embodiment for low torque and low vibration operations. However, the skirts  180  are not seen in the first embodiment because  FIG. 2  is a front perspective view which hides the skirts  180 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the triangular rotor  114  for high torque and high vibration operations is illustrated. Three T-shaped supports  184  reinforce the rotor  114  against high torque and high vibrations. In the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  for low torque and low vibration operations, there are no T-shaped supports  184  reinforcing the rotor  114 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the rotor  114  and its rollers  122  are exploded apart to show how they are connected together. The front face  146  of the rotor  114  has formed integrally on its inner side three stepped male inserts  148 . The rear face  150  has formed integrally on its inner side three aligned cylindrical barrels  152  with which the male inserts  148  mate. Each roller  122  has a cylindrical bore  156  through its center along its longitudinal axis  158 . The dowel  154  is mounted inside the rotor  114  and aligns the plurality of mated inserts  148  and barrels  152  around the central D-shaped bore  172 . The single central large cylindrical barrel  170  carries the dowel  154  and surrounds the D-shaped bore  172  through which the shaft  118  of  FIG. 2  with its D-shaped cross section passes in order to rotate the rotor  114 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , the rotor  114  is assembled in the following manner. First, the rollers  122  are slipped onto the barrels  152 . Second, the inserts  148  are plugged into the bores  156  of the barrels  152  so that the mated inserts  148  and the barrels  152  carry the rollers  122 . Simultaneously, the dowel  154  is inserted into a bore (not shown) made in the inner side of the front face  146 . The dowel  154  with its mating hole (not shown) are designed to make a foolproof orientation to ensure that the center hole (where the motor shaft gets inserted) with the D flat on the two halves, part  150  and part  146  are always on the same plane. The two halves, part  146  and part  150  are then pressed together with an interference fit to complete the assembly. In another embodiment, an ultrasonic welding tool (not shown) can be used to fuse the inserts and the barrels together. However, care should be taken so that too much heat is not applied in order to prevent the rollers  122  on the barrels  152  from being deformed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9-16  an embodiment of a fluid pump system according to the present will now be described. The illustrated embodiment of the fluid pump system will be described in terms of a fluid pump system for a laundry machine. However, the present invention is not limited to laundry machines. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , the fluid pump system  200  has a housing  202 . The housing  202  has a housing cover  204  removably connected to a housing base  206  by a pair of screws  208 . Only the right side screw  208  is shown and the left side also has a screw  208  which is not shown. The housing  202  is generally closed on all sides and has fluid and electrical connections through walls of the housing  202  which are described below. The fluid pump system  200  can be easily mounted inside of a laundry machine and can dispense three different fluids, such as two different detergents and a fabric softener. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 10 and 11  in which the housing cover  204  has been removed, the fluid pump system  200  has three fluid pump assemblies  210 ,  212 ,  214  inside of the housing  202 . The fluid pump assemblies  210 ,  212 ,  214  can be peristaltic pumps as described above or other fluid pumps if desired. The first peristaltic fluid pump assembly  210  has a flexible tube  216  and a fluid inlet  218  and a fluid outlet  220 . The fluid inlet  218  and the fluid outlet  220  extend through a wall  222  of the housing base  206  to and exterior or the housing  202 . The fluid inlet  218  and the fluid outlet  220  are shown as hose barb connections, but can be any suitable fluid connections as desired. The second peristaltic fluid pump assembly  212  also has a flexible tube  224  and a fluid inlet  226  and a fluid outlet  228 . Similarly, the third peristaltic fluid pump assembly  214  also has a flexible tube  230  and a fluid inlet  232  and a fluid outlet  234 . The fluid inlets  226  and  232  and the fluid outlets  228  and  234  also extend through the wall  222 , or another wall, of the housing base  206  to the exterior of the housing  202 . The fluid inlets  226  and  232  and the fluid outlets  228  and  234  are also shown as hose barb connections, but can be any suitable fluid connections as desired. Wire ties  236  or other fasteners can be used to secure the flexible tubes  216 ,  224 ,  230  to their respective fluid inlets  218 ,  226 ,  232  and fluid outlets  220 ,  228 ,  234 . The fluid outlets  220 ,  228 ,  234  are further described below with reference to  FIG. 15 . 
     Each one of the three fluid inlets  218 ,  226 ,  232  can be fluidly connected to a separate source of fluid (not shown). For example, the fluid inlet  218  for the first fluid pump assembly can be connected to a first source of detergent, the fluid inlet  226  for the second fluid pump assembly can be connected to a second source of detergent, and the fluid inlet  232  can be connected to a source of fabric softener in a laundry machine. The fluid outlets  220 ,  228 ,  234  can be fluidly connected to the washing compartment in the laundry machine to dispense the detergents and fabric softener to wash soiled articles. 
     Each one of the fluid pump assemblies  210 ,  212 ,  214  has an electric motor  238  operatively connected to a fluid pump  240 . Preferably, the fluid pumps  240  are peristaltic fluid pumps, such as the peristaltic pumps described above in  FIGS. 2-8 . The electric motors  238  can also be the same motor described above in  FIGS. 2-8 . 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 12-14 , further details of the housing base  206  are shown. The housing base  206  has first, second and third fluid pump mounting locations  242 ,  244 ,  246 . The first fluid pump assembly  210  is mounted to the housing base  206  at the first fluid pump mounting location  242 . Similarly, the second and third fluid pump assemblies  212 ,  214  are mounted to the housing base at the second and third fluid pump mounting locations  244 ,  246 , respectively. Screws  248  ( FIGS. 10 and 11 ) can be used to mount the fluid pump assemblies  210 ,  212 ,  214  at their respective fluid pump mounting locations  242 ,  244 ,  246 . The first fluid pump assembly  210  is mounted to the first fluid pump mounting location  242  by placing the fluid pump  240  in the first fluid pump mounting location  242  of the housing base  206  with the motor  238  extending in a direction away from the housing base  206 , i.e. an upward vertical direction. In other words, the motor  238  is positioned vertically above the fluid pump  240 . Because the fluid pump  240  is vertically below the motor  238 , if the fluid pump  240  leaks fluid, the leaking fluid will drip or flow downward and not contact the electrical motor  238 . Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , two screws  248  extend through mounting tabs  250  and  252  of the fluid pump  240  and into screw holes  254  and  256  to secure the first fluid pump assembly  210  to the first fluid pump mounting location  242  of the housing base  206 . The second and third fluid pump assemblies  212 ,  214  are similarly mounted to the second and third fluid pump mounting locations  244 ,  246 , respectively, of the housing base  206 . As can be seen in  FIG. 11 , adjacent mounting tabs  250 ,  252  have corresponding contours or shapes that allow adjacent fluid pump assemblies to be nested or positioned close together. This allows for a more compact fluid pump system  200 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , the housing base  206  has a fluid collection area  258  adjacent the fluid pump mounting locations  242 ,  244 ,  246 . The fluid collection area  258  can collect fluids, if any, that leak from the fluid pump assemblies  210 ,  212 ,  214 . A plurality of drain holes  260  through a wall  262  of the housing base  206  allows fluid in the fluid collection area  258  to drain from the fluid pump system  200 . 
     The fluid outlet  220  of  FIGS. 9-11  for the first peristaltic fluid pump assembly  210  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 15 . The fluid outlets  228 ,  234  for the second and third peristaltic fluid pump assemblies, respectively, are the same as the fluid outlet  220 . The fluid outlet  220  has a 90.degree. elbow shape. Hose barbs  264 ,  266  are provided opposite ends of the fluid outlet  220  for fluid connection to flexible tubes. The fluid outlet  220  has a slide guide  268  for guiding the fluid outlet  220  in a back and forth sliding movement. The slide guide  268  has a first guide notch  270  in a first wall  272 . A second guide notch  274  can be provided in a second wall  276  if desired. 
     Referring also to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the housing base  206  has recesses  278 ,  280 ,  282 ,  284 ,  286 ,  288  on the outside of the wall  222 . The housing base  206  also has tabs  290 ,  292 ,  294  projecting from the wall  222  adjacent the recesses  278 ,  282 ,  286 , respectively. Referring also to  FIGS. 9-11 , the fluid outlet  220  is shown positioned in the housing base  206  with the hose barb  266  fluidly connected to the flexible tube  216 . The first wall  272  of the fluid outlet  220  is positioned in the recess  278  of the wall  222  of the housing base  206 . The tab  290  is positioned in the first guide notch  270  ( FIG. 15 ) of the first wall  272 . Accordingly, the first wall  272  of the fluid outlet  220  is resting on and supported by the tab  290 . Referring to  FIG. 11 , when the first peristaltic fluid pump assembly  210  operates, the peristaltic fluid pump  240  rotates counter-clockwise as viewed in  FIG. 11 . Operation of the peristaltic fluid pump  240  may tend to stretch the flexible tube  216  away from the peristaltic fluid pump  240 . The stretching flexible tube  216  pushes the fluid outlet  220  away from the peristaltic fluid pump  240 . The fluid outlet  220  slides on the tab  290  via the slide guide  268  ( FIG. 15 ). More specifically, the first guide notch  270  in the first wall  272  of the fluid outlet  220  slides on the tab  290 . As the flexible tube  216  retracts, the fluid outlet  220  retracts as it slides back on the tab  290 . Accordingly, the fluid outlet  220  is free to slide back and forth as the flexible tube  216  stretches and retracts. The free sliding movement of the flexible tube  216  and the fluid outlet  220  can prolong the operational life of the flexible tube  216  and reduce failure of an otherwise constrained flexible tube  216 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 15 , the second guide notch  274  in the second wall  276  of the fluid outlet  220  does not slide on the tab  290  because the second wall  276  would stop the sliding movement of the fluid outlet  220  when, and if, the second wall  276  contacts the inside surface of the wall  222  of the housing base  206  ( FIG. 11 ). Thus, the second guide notch  274  is not needed for the slide guide  268 . However, the tab  290  could be extended from the wall  222  to the inside of the housing base  206  such that the second guide notch  274  also slides on the tab  290 . Also, structures allowing movement of the fluid outlet  220  other than the structures illustrated and described herein can be used with the present invention. The fluid outlets  228 ,  234  operate the same as the fluid outlet  220  described above. Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the fluid inlets  218 ,  226 ,  232  have walls positioned in the recesses  280 ,  284 ,  288 , respectively, and are constrained in their positions and do not slide back and forth. Alternatively, the fluid inlets  218 ,  226 ,  232  and be configured to slide back and forth if desired. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the fluid pump system  200  has an electrical component  296  inside of the housing  202 . The electrical component  296  is electrically connected to the three electric motors  238  to supply electrical power to the electrical motors  238 . The electrical component  296  can be a PC board. The electrical component  296  is mounted to the housing base  206  by sliding the PC board into a slot  298  in a projection  300 . Referring also to  FIG. 9 , the electrical component  296  has an electrical connector  302  extending through a wall  204  of the housing  206  to the exterior of the housing  206 . The electrical connector  302  can be connected to an electrical power source to supply electrical power to the fluid pump assemblies  210 ,  212 ,  214  to pump fluids as desired. Referring to  FIGS. 10-12 , the projection  300  for the electrical component  296  has a cut-out  306  to avoid interference with the fluid outlet  234  when the fluid outlet  234  slides back and forth. 
       FIG. 16  shows an example of electrical schematic diagram of the fluid pump system  200 . The electrical component of  FIGS. 9-11  described above can be a PC board  308  of  FIG. 15 . The PC board  308  has 5 position header T 1  which can be the electrical connector  302  of  FIGS. 9-11  described above. The header T 1  can be connected to an electrical circuit  310  external to the fluid pump system  200  to supply electrical power to three pump motors MTR  1 , MTR  2 , MTR  3 . The PC board  308  also has three  3  position headers T 2 , T 2 , T 2 . Each one of the headers T 2  is wired to one of the pump motors MTR  1 , MTR  2 , MTR  3 . Position  1  of the header T 1  is a common lead which is connected to position  2  of the header T 2  connected to the MTR  1  and to position  2  of the header T 2  connected to the MTR  2  and to position  2  of the header T 2  connected to the MTR  3 . Position  2  of the header T 1  is not used. Position  3  of the header T 1  is connected to position  3  of the header T 2  connected to the MTR  1 . Position  4  of the header T 1  is connected to position  3  of the header T 2  connected to the MTR  2 . Position  5  of the header T 1  is connected to position  3  of the header T 2  connected to the MTR  3 . A capacitor C 1  is provided between position  1  and position  2  of each one of the headers T 2 , T 2 , T 2 . The position  1  of each one of the headers T 2 , T 2 , T 2  is not used. 
     The external electrical circuit  310  can be a controller of a laundry machine, for example. The external electrical circuit  310  selectively supplies power to the appropriate positions  1 - 5  of the header T 1 . The electrical power is then supplied to the positions  1 - 2  of the desired header T 2 , T 2 , T 2  to operate the desired pump motor MTR  1 , MTR  2 , MTR  3 . Electrical power supplied to positions  2  and  3  of header T 2  connected to the MTR  1  drives the MTR  1  clockwise CW when facing the motor shaft. Similarly, electrical power supplied to positions  2  and  3  of header T 2  connected to the MTR  2  drives the MTR  2  clockwise CW when facing the motor shaft, and electrical power supplied to positions  2  and  3  of header T 2  connected to the MTR  3  drives the MTR  3  clockwise CW when facing the motor shaft. The pump motor MTR  1 , MTR  2 , MTR  3  receiving the power operatively drives its fluid pump to pump fluid. In a laundry machine application, the pump motor MTR  1  may dispense a first detergent, the pump motor MTR  2  may dispense a second detergent, and the pump motor MTR  3  may dispense a fabric softener. The position  1  of the headers T 2 , T 2 , T 2  could be used to drive the MTR  1 , MTR  2 , MTR  3  counterclockwise when facing the motor shafts if desired. However, in a laundry machine application reverse operation of the fluid pumps by driving the motors MTR  1 , MTR  2 , MTR  3  counterclockwise is not needed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 13 , the fluid pump system  200  can be easily mounted to, for example, a laundry machine. The housing base  206  has a mounting tab  312  with mounting holes  314 . Screws through the mounting holes  314  can be used to mount the fluid pump system  200  to a desired location. Of course, any other suitable structure can be used to mount the fluid pump system. 
     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.