Fluid flow control clamp and method for using same
First Claim
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1. A clamp apparatus for precisely controlling and metering the flow of fluid through a flexible conduit, comprising:
- (a) a resilient pad adapted to aid in partially occluding or completely occluding said conduit; and
(b) a rigid force means structured to be moved to partially occlude a plurality of positions to maintain said flexible conduit in a plurality of different states of partial occlusion or in a state of complete occlusion, such that when said force means is activated or adjusted to various positions, said force means directly contacts said flexible conduit which in turn directly contacts and is supported by said resilient pad, and said resilient pad moves in response to said activation or adjustment of said force means, said resilient pad having sufficient rigidity to permit complete occlusion and sufficient resiliency to compress to varying degrees in response to movement of said force means towards said resilient pad, thereby permitting a continuous and wide range of small incremental adjustments in the degree of partial occlusion which in turn achieves a wide range of fluid flow rates.
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Abstract
A clamp apparatus useful for controlling the flow of fluid through a flexible conduit which comprises: a resilient pad element adapted to aid in at least partially occluding the conduit; and a force system structured to be moved to at least partially occlude the flexible conduit such that when the force system is activated the flexible conduit contacts both the resilient pad element and the force system and the resilient pad element moves in response to the activation of the force system, provided that the force system is adapted to maintain the flexible conduit in at least one state of partial occlusion.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A clamp apparatus for precisely controlling and metering the flow of fluid through a flexible conduit, comprising:
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(a) a resilient pad adapted to aid in partially occluding or completely occluding said conduit; and (b) a rigid force means structured to be moved to partially occlude a plurality of positions to maintain said flexible conduit in a plurality of different states of partial occlusion or in a state of complete occlusion, such that when said force means is activated or adjusted to various positions, said force means directly contacts said flexible conduit which in turn directly contacts and is supported by said resilient pad, and said resilient pad moves in response to said activation or adjustment of said force means, said resilient pad having sufficient rigidity to permit complete occlusion and sufficient resiliency to compress to varying degrees in response to movement of said force means towards said resilient pad, thereby permitting a continuous and wide range of small incremental adjustments in the degree of partial occlusion which in turn achieves a wide range of fluid flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for precisely controlling and metering the flow rate of a fluid through a flexible conduit comprising the step of:
(a) providing a rigid force means for applying and maintaining a substantially constant amount of force to a first portion of the periphery of said flexible conduit sufficient to partially occlude said flexible conduit to any one of a plurality of different states of partial occlusion or to completely occlude said flexible conduit, provided that a second portion of the periphery of said flexible conduit substantially opposite said first portion is in direct contact with and is supported by a resilient material which moves in response to the application of said force, said resilient material having sufficient rigidity to permit complete occlusion and sufficient resiliency to compress to varying degrees in response to application of varying amounts of said force against said flexible conduit, thereby permitting a continuous and wide range of small incremental adjustments in the degree of partial occlusion which in turn achieves a wide range of fluid flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A clamp for a flexible conduit comprising:
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(a) a supporting structure; (b) a resilient pad carried by the supporting structure and adapted to have the flexible conduit extend over the pad; (c) a rigid force-applying member having an at least partially spherical force-applying surface; and (d) means for mounting the force-applying member on the supporting structure for movement of the force-applying surface toward and away from the resilient pad whereby the flexible conduit can be squeezed between the resilient pad and the force-applying surface, said resilient pad having sufficient rigidity to permit complete occlusion and sufficient resiliency to compress to varying degrees in response to application of the force-applying surface against said flexible conduit, thereby permitting a continuous and wide range of small incremental adjustments in the degree of partial occlusion which in turn achieves a wide range of fluid flow rates. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification