Pinch valve
First Claim
1. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits including backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein movement of the backing means is effected when pinching is effected on a number of fluid conduits greater than the predetermined number.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a multiple plurality of fluid conduits includes a rotatable single cam as part of a rotor within a stator for locating the fluid conduits. The cam periphery with different lobe surfaces for engaging movable means which is either a plunger or a endless belt which pinch or release multiple fluid conduits. The rotor integrally includes a gear, shaft and flag indicator and is operable by a stepper motor. A backing means about the stator resiliently resists movement.
66 Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits including backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein movement of the backing means is effected when pinching is effected on a number of fluid conduits greater than the predetermined number.
- 4. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits, wherein the valve body is a circumferential stator and wherein the actuator means is a circumferential rotor disposed within the stator.
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9. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits wherein the movable means are plungers arranged about a periphery of the valve body, the plungers being activated by the actuator means between a first position releasing the fluid conduits and a second position pinching the fluid conduits.
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10. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits and wherein the movable means is a belt engageable by the actuator means, the belt being movable between a first position wherein selected fluid conduits are released and a second position wherein selected fluid conduits are pinched.
- 11. A pinched valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits including backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits including backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein the backing means is movable relative to the actuator means, the backing material being selectively a compliant material or a stiff material supported with compliant anchorages.
- 15. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits and wherein the actuator means includes a motor, the motor including a pinion for interacting with a rotor, thereby to effect rotation of the rotor.
- 22. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits and wherein the valve body includes a stator, the stator having an element with circumferentially spaced slots, the slots being axially directed about the outside periphery of the stator, each slot being for accommodating a flexible fluid conduit, and wherein backing means is adapted to be located about the outside periphery of the stator with the flexible fluid conduits in the slots being between the stator and the backing means.
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25. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits including backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein the actuator means includes a cam, the cam having projecting portions for engaging the movable means thereby to effect pinching and wherein the movable means is a flexible endless belt, the belt being selectively constituted by a fluorocarbon compound or low friction material, and wherein the belt is stretched about the periphery of the cam and is clamped relative to the valve body such that the belt is restrained from movement relative to the stator and is movable relative to the cam such that the belt interacts with the flexible tubing thereby to selectively pinch or release the fluid conduits.
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26. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits and wherein the actuator means includes a cam, the cam having a peripheral portion divided into sixteen circumferential sections, and wherein with six fluid conduits, the number of different release and pinching positions is eight and wherein the conduits are connected with three pump means, each pump means having two ports.
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27. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits including backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein the backing means provides sufficient resistance in a direction against the pinching direction for effective pinching of a predetermined number of tubes and wherein the actuator means permits sufficient overtravel of the movable means to ensure effective pinching of the tubes, the overtravel being absorbed by the movement of the backing means after pinching of a predetermined number of fluid conduits.
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28. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits, the actuator means including a single cam, the cam having projecting portions for engaging the movable means thereby to effect pinching, and wherein the projecting portions are multiple spaced lobes extending about the periphery of the cam, the lobes being a portion of the cam periphery, and backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein the movable means are plungers arranged about a periphery of the valve body, the plungers being activated by the actuator means between a first position releasing the fluid conduits and a second position pinching the fluid conduits.
- 29. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits, the actuator means including a single cam, the cam having projecting portions for engaging the movable means thereby to effect pinching, and wherein the projecting portions are multiple spaced lobes extending about the periphery of the cam, the lobes being a portion of the cam periphery, and backing means mounted with the valve body and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected on up to a predetermined number of fluid conduits and wherein the movable means is a belt engageable by the actuator means, the belt being movable between a first position wherein selected fluid conduits are released and a second position wherein selected fluid conduits are pinched.
- 31. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, the valve body being a stator, actuator means including a rotor having an integrally formed cam and gear, the cam being cooperatively located with and movable relative to the stator thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits supported in the stator, movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the cam for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits, the cam including projecting portions for engaging the movable means thereby to effect pinching, the projecting portions being multiple spaced lobes extending about the periphery of the cam, the lobes being a portion of the cam periphery, and wherein the backing means is mounted with the stator and relatively with the fluid conduits such that the backing means is resistive when pinching is effected.
- 33. A pinch valve for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising a valve body for retaining flexible fluid conduits, actuator means cooperatively located with and movable relative to the valve body thereby to permit selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits, and movable means cooperatively located with and activated by the actuator means for effecting selective pinching or releasing of the multiple selected fluid conduits and wherein the movable means is a belt engageable by the cam, the belt being movable between a first position wherein selected fluid conduits are released and a second position wherein selected fluid conduits are pinched.
- 35. A method for selectively pinching or releasing a plurality of flexible fluid conduits comprising retaining flexible fluid conduits in a stator, moving a rotor having a single cam relative to the stator thereby to facilitate in selected different positions the selective pinching or releasing of multiple selected fluid conduits by the cam in each different position.
Specification