Pinch valve assembly

• US 6,079,691 A
• Filed: 04/27/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rocco V. Dragone
• Original Assignee: Rocco V. Dragone
• Inventors: Dragone, Rocco V.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US09/067,192
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 251/4, 251/7
• US Class Current: 251/7
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/027 the fluid flowing through a constrictable tubular diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 7/06 by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means F16K7/045 takes precedence

Abstract

The improved pinch valve assembly (10) functions to control the flow of fluids on a fluid system. The improved pinch valve assembly (10) controls plurality of fluid containing tubing (16). When the solenoid coil (22) is energized the plunger (28), which is securely attached to the shaft (31) which has a first pin (18A) and a second pin (18B) securely attached perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (31), moves forward. The forward motion of the shaft (31) causes the first pin (18A) to decompress the first tubing (16A) and the third tubing (16C) permitting fluid to flow therethrough. The forward motion of the shaft (31) further causes the second pin (18B) to also move forward compressing the second tubing (16B) and the fourth tubing (16D) stopping fluid flow. The forward motion of the shaft (31) still further causes the third pin (18C) to compress the helical spring (13). When the solenoid coil (22) is de-energized the plunger (28), which is securely attached to the shaft (31) which has the first pin (18A) and the second pin (18B) securely attached perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the shaft (31), moves aft. The aftward motion of the shaft (31) causes the first pin (18A) to compress the first tubing (16A) and the third tubing (16C) stopping fluid to flow therethrough. The aft motion of the shaft (31) further causes the second pin (18B) to also move aft releasing the second tubing (16B) and the fourth tubing (16D) permitting fluid flow. The aftward motion of the shaft (31) still further causes the third pin (18C) to decompress the helical spring (13). The helical spring (13) is biased in its released state to have sufficient force to compress the compress the first tubing (16A) and the third tubing (16C).

Claims

1. An improved pinch valve assembly (10) comprising:

A) a front block (12) which comprises a front block cylindrical indent (12A) and a front block first fastener opening (12BA) therethrough and a front block second fastener opening (12BB) therethrough;

B) a valve block (14) positioned rearwardly adjacent to the front block (12), the valve block (14) comprises a valve block front plate (14A) having a valve block front plate central opening (14AA) therethrough and a valve block front plate first fastener opening (14ABA) therethrough and a valve block front plate second fastener opening (14ABB) therethrough, the valve block (14) further comprises a valve block middle plate (14B) having a valve block middle plate central opening therethrough and a valve block middle plate first fastener opening therethrough and a valve block middle plate second fastener opening therethrough, the valve block (14) further comprises a valve block rear plate (14C) having a valve block rear plate central opening therethrough and a valve block rear plate first fastener opening therethrough and a valve block rear plate second fastener opening therethrough;

C) a plurality of tubing (16) positioned through the valve block (14), the plurality of tubing (16) comprises a first tubing (16A) positioned on an upper end between the valve block front plate (14A) and the valve block middle plate (14B), the plurality of tubing (16) further comprises a second tubing (16B) positioned on an upper end between the valve block middle plate (14B) and the valve block rear plate (14C), the plurality of tubing (16) comprises a third tubing (16C) positioned on a lower end between the valve block front plate (14A) and the valve block middle plate (14B), the plurality of tubing (16) further comprises a fourth tubing (16D) positioned on a lower end between the valve block middle plate (14B) and the valve block rear plate (14C);

D) a plurality of pins (18) positioned through the valve block (14), the plurality of pins (18) comprises a first pin (18A) positioned from top to bottom through the valve block front plate (14A), the plurality of pins (18) further comprises a second pin (18B) positioned from top to bottom through the first tubing (16A) and the third tubing (16C), the plurality of pins (18) further comprises a third pin (18C) positioned from top to bottom through the second tubing (16B) and the fourth tubing (16D);

E) a stop plate (20) which comprises a stop plate central shaft recepticle (20AB) having a stop plate central shaft central opening (20AA) therethrough, the stop plate (20) further comprises a stop plate first threaded opening (20BA) and a stop plate second threaded opening (20BB);

F) a first front threaded fastener (36A) positioned through the front block first fastener opening (12BA) and the valve block front plate first fastener opening (14ABA) and the valve block middle plate first fastener opening and the valve block rear plate first fastener opening engaging the stop plate first threaded opening (20BA);

G) a second front threaded fastener (36B) positioned through the front block second fastener opening (12BB) and the valve block front plate second fastener opening (14ABB) and the valve block middle plate second fastener opening and the valve block rear plate second fastener opening engaging the stop plate second threaded opening (20BB);

H) a solenoid coil (22) rearwardly positioned adjacent the stop plate (20), the solenoid coil (22) comprises a solenoid coil central opening (22A) therethrough, the solenoid coil (22) further comprises a solenoid coil wire (22B) extending from a top end thereof;

I) a stop plate end cap (24) rearwardly positioned adjacent the solenoid coil (22), the stop plate end cap (24) comprises a stop plate end cap central opening (24A) therethrough and a stop plate end cap first fastener threaded opening (24BA) therethrough and a stop plate end cap second fastener threaded opening (24BB) therethrough;

J) a hollow plunger (28) rearwardly positioned engaging the stop plate end cap (24), the hollow plunger (28) is positioned within the solenoid coil central opening (22A);

K) a gasket (32) rearwardly positioned adjacent the hollow plunger (28), the gasket (32) comprises a gasket central opening (32A) therethrough and a gasket first fastener opening (32BA) and a gasket second fastener opening (32BB) therethrough and a gasket notch (32C) therethrough which functions to accept the solenoid coil wire (22B) therein;

L) a rear block (34) rearwardly positioned adjacent the gasket (32), the rear block (34) comprises a rear block central indent (34A) therein and a rear block first fastener opening (34BA) therethrough and a rear block second fastener opening (34BB) therethrough and a rear block notch (34C) which functions to accept the solenoid coil wire (22B) therein;

M) a housing (26) abutting the stop plate (20) on a front end and abutting the rear block (34) on a rear end, the housing (26) is positioned over the solenoid coil (22) and the stop plate end cap (24) and the gasket (32), the housing (26) further comprises a housing first pin spring opening (26AA) therethrough having a housing first pin spring (26A) positioned therein, the the housing (26) further comprises a housing second pin spring opening (26BA) therethrough having a housing second pin spring (26B) positioned therein;

N) a shaft (31) which comprises a shaft front end (31A) and a shaft rear end (31B), the shaft (31) further comprises a shaft front slot (31C) and a shaft middle slot (31D) and a shaft rear slot (31E) therein, the shaft (31) is positioned through the valve block front plate central opening (14AA) and the valve block middle plate central opening and the valve block rear plate central opening and the stop plate central shaft central opening (20AA) and the plunger (28) and the gasket central opening (32A), the shaft front end (31A) is positioned in the front block cylindrical indent (12A), the shaft rear end (31B) is positioned in the rear block central indent (34A), a nut (30) threadably engaged on the shaft rear end (31B);

O) a helical spring (13) is positioned on the shaft (31) between the front block (12) and the valve block front plate (14A);

P) a first rear threaded fastener (38A) is positioned through the gasket first fastener opening (32BA) and the rear block first fastener opening (34BA) engaging the stop plate end cap first fastener threaded opening (24BA); and

Q) a second rear threaded fastener (38B) is positioned through the gasket second fastener opening (32BB) and the rear block second fastener opening (34BB) engaging the stop plate end cap second fastener threaded opening (24BB).