Device for pinching and cutting a flexible tube

Abstract

A pinching and cutting device (1, 1') comprising: a housing with a lower body and an upper body movably mounted for rotation on the lower body between an open and a closed position; two tube pinching members, each with a lower arm and an upper arm movably mounted for rotation on the lower arm between a tube insertion position and a tube clamping position, the pinching members being mounted in the housing so that the passage of the upper body from the open to the closed position causes the pinching members to pass from the insertion position to the clamping position; and a cutting member arranged between the two pinching members and movably mounted for translation on one of the lower and upper bodies between a retracted and an extended position for cutting the tube. (Figure from the abbreviation: Fig. 1A)

Description

Title of the invention: Device for pinching and cutting a flexible tube

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of transport of liquid or gaseous fluids and more particularly to a device for pinching and cutting a flexible tube.

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In the field of biopharmaceutical production, it is known to use fluid transport conduits in the form of flexible tubing to connect bioreactors to other circuit elements such as tanks, pumps, centrifuges, sensors, connectors, filters, bags...

[0004] These fluid circuits are single-use and must therefore be dismantled section by section at the end of each production run. In particular, the bags filled with substances must be separated from the other circuit components aseptically, without any fluid leakage, to prevent any contamination of the production area or skin risk to the operator.

[0005] Thus, it is common practice to equip fluid transport lines with aseptic disconnect devices at each point where a break in the fluid circuit must be made at the end of production. These disconnect devices are generally sterilized valve connectors, which are particularly bulky and expensive due to their single-use nature.

[0006] It is also common practice to first insert metal sleeves onto the fluid transport lines at each point where a break in the fluid circuit will be required at the end of production. These sleeves are designed to be crushed to create a tight seal on the fluid transport lines, and then cut in half with a blade. However, crushing and cutting the sleeve requires a specific tool. Moreover, once crushed and cut, the sleeve has sharp points that could injure the operator or damage the bags filled with substances, so it is necessary to cover the crushed sleeve halves with a protective cap that could easily be forgotten.

[0007] Other disconnection solutions have the advantage of not needing to be integrated into the fluid circuit design. For example, at the end of production, a section of the fluid transport conduit is heat-sealed and then cut in the middle using a specific device. In addition to being expensive and bulky, this device requires up to 4 minutes to perform the heat sealing and cutting of the section of the fluid transport conduit. Moreover, such a solution is not applicable only to thermoplastic fluid transport conduits, so silicone ones are excluded.

[0008] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention therefore aims to provide a device for pinching and cutting a flexible tube, making it possible to overcome at least in part the aforementioned problems. Summary of the invention

[0010] To this end, the invention proposes a device for pinching and cutting a flexible tube, comprising: • a housing comprising a lower body and an upper body mounted movably in rotation on the lower body around a first axis of articulation, between an open position and a closed position; • two tube clamping devices, comprising a lower arm and an upper arm movably mounted for rotation on the lower arm along a second articulation axis parallel to the first articulation axis, between a tube insertion position and a tube clamping position, the clamping devices being mounted in the housing such that the passage of the upper body from the open position to the closed position entails the passage of the clamping devices from the insertion position to the clamping position; and • a cutting element arranged between the two pinching elements and mounted movably in translation on one of the lower and upper body of the housing along a first sliding axis orthogonal to the first articulation axis between a retracted position and an extended position to cut the tube.

[0011] According to the invention, the pinching members are mounted movably in translation on the lower body and / or the upper body of the housing along a second sliding axis parallel to the first articulation axis in order to be removed from the housing in the closed position.

[0012] Thus, the movement of the upper body of the housing from the open position to the closed position results in a double, airtight clamping of the tube. Then, the movement of the cutting element from the retracted position to the extended position causes the tube to be severed between the two clamping points. A simple pulling force applied to each of the severed tube sections then allows the clamping elements to be removed from the housing without the need to open the housing.

[0013] Such a device thus makes it possible to pinch and section a flexible tube quickly and safely, while being compact, inexpensive and compatible with all materials in which a flexible tube can be made.

[0014] According to a particular feature, the lower arms of the pinching members include externally a transverse dovetail groove, and the lower body of the housing includes two tenons each cooperating with the groove of one of the lower arms to achieve the sliding of the pinching members along the second sliding axis.

[0015] According to another particular feature, the pinching members are mounted movable in translation on the upper body of the housing along the second sliding axis to be removed from the housing in the closed position.

[0016] In particular, the upper body of the housing includes internally drive rods for the upper branches of the pinching members in the insertion position, and the upper branches of the pinching members include drive rings through which the drive rods extend so that a rotation of the upper body towards its open position causes a rotation of the upper branches of the pinching members towards their insertion position.

[0017] According to another particular feature, the housing includes means for locking the upper body in the closed position.

[0018] In particular, the upper body of the case is held in the closed position by clipping said upper body onto the lower body.

[0019] According to another particular feature, the clamping organs include means for locking the upper branch in the clamping position.

[0020] In particular, the upper branch of the pinching members is held in the closed position by clipping said upper branch onto the lower branch.

[0021] According to another particular feature, the cutting member comprises a main body and a blade, the main body having a guide rod having a first end provided with a blade holder in which the blade is housed, and a second end, opposite the first end, provided with a pull ring for the cutting member extending outside the housing.

[0022] In particular, the guide rod includes a base arranged to form a sliding connection with the lower body of the housing along the first sliding axis. Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The invention will be better understood in the light of the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0024] [Fig. 1 A] [Fig. 1 A] is a perspective view of a device for pinching and sectioning a tube, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, before pinching;

[0025] [Fig.1B] [Fig.1B] is a view similar to [Fig.1A], after pinching, in which the pinching and sectioning device is devoid of its removable obstacle;

[0026] [Fig.2A] [Fig.2A] is a perspective view of the upper body of the housing of the pinching and cutting device illustrated in figures 1A-1B;

[0027] [Fig.2B] [Fig.2B] is a perspective view of the lower body of the housing of the pinching and cutting device illustrated in figures 1A-1B;

[0028] [Fig.3A] [Fig.3A] is a perspective view of one of the pinching members of the pinching and sectioning device illustrated in Figures 1A-1B, in the open position;

[0029] [Fig.3B] [Fig.3B] is a view analogous to [Fig.3A], in which the clamping member is in the clamping position;

[0030] [Fig.4A] [Fig.4A] is a perspective view of the cutting member of the pinching and sectioning device illustrated in figures 1A-1B;

[0031] [Fig.4B] [Fig.4B] is an exploded view of the cutting element illustrated in [Fig.4A];

[0032] [Fig. 5A] [Fig. 5A] is a perspective view of the cutting organ in the body lower part of the housing of the pinching and sectioning device illustrated in figures 1A-1B, in the retracted position;

[0033] [Fig.5B] [Fig.5B] is a view analogous to [Fig.5A], in which the cutting element is in the extended position;

[0034] [Fig.6A] [Fig.6A] is a view of the pinching and sectioning device illustrated in figures 1A-1B, after removal of the removable obstacle and insertion of the tube;

[0035] [Fig.6B] [Fig.6B] is a view analogous to [Fig.6A], after pinching the tube;

[0036] [Fig.6C] [Fig.6C] is a view analogous to [Fig.6A], after sectioning of the tube ;

[0037] [Fig.6D] [Fig.6D] is a view analogous to [Fig.6A], after removal of the tube sections;

[0038] [Fig.7A] [Fig.7A] is a perspective view of a variant of the pinching and sectioning device illustrated in [Fig.1A], after insertion of the tube;

[0039] [Fig.7B] [Fig.7B] is a view similar to [Fig.7A], before sectioning of the tube;

[0040] [Fig.7C] [Fig.7C] is a view analogous to [Fig.7A], after sectioning of the tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] With reference to Figures IA and IB, a pinching and sectioning device 1 for a flexible T-tube, according to a particular embodiment of the invention, comprises: • a housing 100 articulated along an axis XiOo to form a clamp, • two clamping devices 200 of the T-tube or clamps, housed in a removable inside the 100 case, and • a cutting element 300 of the T tube, arranged between the two pinching elements 200 and carried by the housing 100.

[0042] Tube T, visible in figures 6A to 6D, is typically intended for biopharmaceutical applications.

[0043] The housing 100 comprises a lower body 110 and an upper body 120 movably mounted for rotation on the lower body 110 about the axis Xi00 via a hinge 130, between an open position in which the upper body 120 is away from the lower body 110 ([Fig. 1A]) and a closed position in which the upper body 120 is brought closer to the lower body 110 ([Fig. 1B]). The housing 100 also includes, as will be seen later, means for locking the upper body in the closed position. It should be noted that the housing 100 has a longitudinal plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the axis Xioo of articulation of the housing 100, the two clamping members 200 being arranged on either side of this plane of symmetry and the cutting member 300 extending between the two clamping members 200 in this same plane of symmetry.

[0044] With reference to [Fig.2B], the lower body 110, of overall parallelepiped shape, has an external surface 110.1, substantially flat, intended to rest on a piece of furniture, and an internal surface 110.2 for receiving the two pinching members 200.

[0045] The lower body 110 also comprises: • a rear end comprising a central clevis 111 forming a female joint of the hinge 130; • a front end, opposite the rear end, comprising a transverse appendage 112 forming a female part of the locking means for the upper body 120 in the closed position; and • a central part comprising two straight tenons 113 arranged between the yoke 111 and the appendage 112 to form, as will be seen later, means of guiding in translation the pinching elements 200 in the housing 100.

[0046] The yoke 111 comprises two identical arms 111.1 arranged on either side of the plane of symmetry of the housing 100. The arms 111.1, which are substantially rectangular in shape, extend parallel to the plane of symmetry of the housing 100 and project from the internal surface 110.2 of the lower body 110 from a central edge of the rear end of said lower body 110.

[0047] The appendage 112 projects from the inner surface 110.2 of the lower body 110 from a free edge of the front end of said lower body 110, across the entire width of said lower body 110 and perpendicular to the arms 111.1 of the yoke 111. The appendage 112 has a free end provided with a slot 112.1 for receiving a male portion of the locking means of the upper body 120 in the closed position. The slot 112.1 extends parallel to the articulation axis XiOo of the housing 100 and has a substantially rectangular cross-section, the male portion of the locking means being, as will be seen later, supported by the upper body 120.

[0048] The tenons 113, in the form of a dovetail, extend along an axis Xn3 parallel to the axis Xioo of articulation of the housing 100, projecting from the internal surface 110.2 of the lower body 110 from a lateral edge of said lower body 110. The tenons 113 extend on either side of the plane of symmetry of the housing 100 and are perpendicular to said plane of symmetry.

[0049] The lower body 110 further comprises: • a longitudinal groove 114, in the shape of a dovetail, which extends in retreat from the internal surface 110.2 of the lower body 110 from a free edge of the front end of said lower body 110, along an axis Y3Oo orthogonal to the axis Xioo and belonging to the plane of symmetry of the housing 100, to form, as will be seen later, means for guiding in translation of the cutting element 300 in the housing 100 along said axis Y300; • two longitudinal walls 115 which are arranged on either side of the groove 114 between the cleat 111 and the tenons 113 and which extend outward from the internal surface 110.2 in order, as will be seen later, to partially conceal the cutting element 300; • two studs 116 which are arranged on either side of the groove 114 between the tenons 113 and the appendage 112 and which extend outward from the internal surface 110.2 in order, as will be seen later, to oppose the sliding of the cutting element 300 in the housing 100 along the axis Y3Oo; and • two retaining tabs 117, deformable between a rest state and a flexed state, which extend transversely from the arms 111.1 of the yoke 111 towards the plane of symmetry of the housing 100 and which have a longitudinal L-shaped section to form, as will be seen later, means for retaining the cutting element 300 in the housing 100.

[0050] With reference to [Fig.2A], the upper body 120, in the shape of a half-shell, has an external surface 120.1, substantially convex, on which a user is intended to place the palm of one of his hands to exert a pressure force on said upper body 120 tending to bring said upper body 120 into the closed position, and an internal surface 120.2 for hooking the two pinching members 200.

[0051] The upper body 120 also comprises: • a rear end comprising a pivot axis 121 to form a male joint of the hinge 130; • a front end, opposite the rear end, comprising an elastically deformable locking tab 122 arranged to form the male part of the locking means for the upper body 120 in the closed position; and • a central part comprising two bosses 123 arranged between the articulation axis 121 and the locking tongue 122 to form, as will be seen later, means for closing the pinching members 200.

[0052] The articulation axis 121 extends along the articulation axis Xioo of the housing 100 and includes two ends received for adjustment in notches 111.2 provided in the arms 111.1 of the yoke 111 of the lower body 110 (figures IA and IB).

[0053] The locking tab 122 extends projecting from the inner surface 120.2 from a free edge of the front end of said upper body 120, over the entire width of the upper body 110 and perpendicular to said inner surface 120.2. The locking tab 122 is arranged to be received in the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110 and has a free end provided with a transverse relief 122.1, in the shape of a fir tree tooth, arranged to cooperate with a free edge of a bottom of the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110 when the upper body 120 is in the closed position.

[0054] The bosses 123 are arranged on either side of the plane of symmetry of the housing 100 between the hinge axis 121 and the locking tab 122, and extend in projection from the internal surface 110.2, parallel to said plane of symmetry.

[0055] The upper body 120 further comprises: • two cylindrical drive rods 124 which extend perpendicularly in projection from the bosses 123 towards the outside of the housing 100 to form, as will be seen later, means for opening the pinching devices 200; • two retaining tabs 125, elastically deformable between a rest state and a deformed state, which extend perpendicularly projecting from the bosses 123 outwards from the housing 100 and which have an S-shaped longitudinal section and to form, as will be seen later, means of retaining the clamping elements 200 in the housing 100 by defining passage sections with the drive rods 124; and • two ribs 126 which are arranged to move the retaining lugs 117 of the lower body 110 from their resting state to their flexed state when the upper body 120 moves from the open position to the closed position, so as to form, as will be seen later, means for releasing the cutting member 300.

[0056] With reference to Figures 3A and 3B, the clamping elements 200 are identical here and comprise a lower arm 210 and an upper arm 220 movably mounted for rotation on the lower arm 210 along an axis X2Oo via a flexible link 230, between an open or insertion position of the tube T in which the upper arm 220 is away from the lower arm 210 ([Fig. 3A]) and a closed or clamping position in which the upper arm 220 is brought closer to the lower arm 210 ([Fig. 3B]). It should be noted that the clamping elements 200 here, like the housing 100, have a longitudinal plane of symmetry that is perpendicular to the axis X2oo of articulation of the clamping elements 200.

[0057] The lower branch 210, of overall parallelepiped shape, has an external surface 210.1, substantially flat, resting on the internal surface 110.2 of the lower body 110 of the housing 100, and an internal pinching surface 210.2 of the tube T.

[0058] The external surface 210.1 of the lower branch 210 includes a transverse dovetail or mortise groove 211 cooperating with the corresponding tenon 113 of the lower body 110 of the housing 100, so that the pinching members 200 are mounted sliding on the lower body 110 of the housing 100 along the axis Xn3.

[0059] The internal surface 210.2 of the lower arm 210 includes a transverse groove 212 extending parallel to the articulation axis X2Oo of the clamping member 200 to form a first clamping jaw of the tube T. The groove 212 includes two lateral walls 212.1 and a bottom 212.2 connecting the two lateral walls 212.1. The bottom 212.2 has free edges provided with a transverse relief 212.3 arranged to ensure anchoring of the clamping member 200 on the tube T and also a tight clamping of said tube T. The reliefs 212.3 extend orthogonally to the articulation axis X2Oo of the clamping member 200.

[0060] The upper branch 220, of overall parallelepiped shape, has an external surface 220.1 for attaching said upper branch 220 to the internal surface 120.2 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100, and an internal surface 220.2 for pinching the tube T.

[0061] The external surface 220.1 of the upper arm 220 includes a free end provided with a drive ring 221 of the upper arm 120 of the housing 100 in the insertion position. The drive ring 221 extends in the plane of symmetry of the clamping element 200 and receives the corresponding drive rod 124 from the upper body 120 of the housing 100, such that a rotation of said upper body 120 towards its open position causes the upper arms 220 of the clamping elements 200 to rotate towards their insertion position. It is thus understood that the drive rods 124 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100 extend through the drive rings 221 of the upper arms 220 of the clamping elements, so that an opening of the housing 100 causes the clamping elements 200 to open.

[0062] Conversely, a rotation of the upper body 120 of the housing 100 towards its closed position causes a rotation of the upper arms 220 of the clamping members 200 towards their clamping position under the effect of the pressure exerted by the bosses 123 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100 on the external surfaces 220.1 of said upper arms 220. It is thus understood that a closure of the housing 100 causes a closure of the clamping members 200.

[0063] It will be noted that in contact with the drive rings 221, the bosses 123 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100 also form stops for sliding along the axis Xn3 of the pinching members 200 towards the inside of the housing 100.

[0064] It should also be noted that the drive rings 221 have a cross-section larger than the passage sections defined by the drive rods 124 and the retaining tabs 125 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100, so that said retaining tabs 125, in their rest state, resist the sliding of the clamping elements 200 outwards from the housing 100 along the Xn3 axis. It is understood that the drive rods 124 and the retaining tabs 125 hold the clamping elements 200 substantially immobile inside the housing 100 while allowing their removal from said housing 100 via an elastic deformation of the retaining tabs 125, which pass from their rest state to their deformed state in which said retaining tabs 125, together with the drive rods 124, define a passage section equal to or slightly larger than the cross-section of the drive rings 221 of the elements pinching 200.

[0065] The internal surface 220.2 of the upper arm 220 includes two grooves defining a transverse tenon 222 extending parallel to the axis X2oo of articulation of the clamping member 200 to form a second clamping jaw of the tube T. The tenon 222 is arranged to be received in the groove 212 of the lower arm 210 when the upper arm 220 is in the clamping position and thus define a clamping section of the tube T sufficient to clamp said tube T securely.

[0066] The upper arm 220 also includes a free end provided with a locking hook 223 for said upper arm 200 in the clamping position. The locking hook 223 is arranged to cooperate, when the upper arm 220 is in the clamping position, with an edge of a transverse, fir-tree tooth-shaped relief 213, projecting from a free end of the lower arm 210. It is understood that the locking hook 223 and the relief 213 together form locking means for the upper arm 220 in the clamping position.

[0067] The cutting element 300 is mounted movably in translation on the lower body 110 of the housing 100 along the axis Y3oo, between a retracted position in which the cutting element 300 extends globally into the housing 100 ([Fig.5A]) and an extended position in which the cutting element 300 extends globally outward from the housing 100 (5B), and presents here, like the housing 100 and the pinching elements 200, a longitudinal plane of symmetry to which said axis Y3Oo belongs.

[0068] With reference to figures 4A and 4B, the cutting member 300 comprises a main body 310 and a blade 320 for cutting the tube T. The main body 310 has a guide rod 311 having a first end provided with a blade holder 312 and a second end, opposite the first end, provided with a pull ring 313 for the cutting member 300.

[0069] It will be noted that the blade holder 312 and the traction ring 313 are made of the same material as the guide rod 311 and form a single piece.

[0070] The guide rod 311 is generally rectangular in cross-section and includes a lower face having a base 311.1, here flexible, for guiding the cutting member 300 in translation, and an upper face having a groove 311.2 for inserting the blade 320 into the blade holder 312.

[0071] The base 311.1 extends longitudinally along the entire length of the guide rod 311 and is received in the dovetail groove 114 of the lower housing body 110. The base 311.1 has a substantially constant cross-section having an inverted V shape complementary to the cross-section of the groove 114 of the lower housing body 110, such that said base 311.1 and said groove 114 together form a sliding joint defining the first means of guiding the cutting element 300 in the housing 100 along the Y300 axis.

[0072] The guide rod 311 also includes lateral faces having toothed grooves 311.3 cooperating with fir-tree tooth shaped reliefs 116.1 carried by the studs 116 of the lower body 110 of the housing 100 to oppose the sliding of the cutting member 300 towards the extended position and prevent any sliding of said cutting member 300 towards the retracted position.

[0073] The blade holder 312 projects from the upper face of the guide rod 311 and, together with the groove 311.2, defines a slot 314 for receiving the blade 320. The slot 314 extends in the plane of symmetry of the cutting member 300 and is delimited by two lateral walls 312.1 extending from the upper face of the guide rod 311, an upper wall 312.2 connected to the upper face of the guide rod 311 via the lateral walls 312.1, and an end wall 312.3 connecting the lateral walls 312.1 together and forming a bottom of the slot 314.

[0074] The side walls 312.1 each include a through hole 312.4, substantially rectangular in cross-section, receiving a free end of the corresponding retaining tab 117 of the lower body 110 of the housing 100. The retaining tabs 117, in their rest state, thus prevent the cutting element 300 from sliding towards its extended position by substantially holding said cutting element 300 in the vicinity of its retracted position. It is understood that the retaining tabs 117, in their rest state, hold the cutting element 300 in the vicinity of its retracted position. The means for retaining the cutting element 300 in the vicinity of its retracted position, formed by the retaining tabs 117 and the holes 312.4, are said to be inactive.

[0075] When the upper body 120 of the housing 100 reaches its closed position, the ribs 126 of said upper body 120 exert a pressure force on the retaining tabs 117 tending to move said retaining tabs 117 from their rest state to their flexed state in which the free ends of the retaining tabs 117 extend outside the holes 312.4 of the side walls 312.1 of the blade holder 312. It is understood that the retaining tabs 117, in their flexed state, do not oppose the sliding of the cutting element 300.

[0076] The blade 320, substantially rectangular in shape, is housed in the slot 314 delimited by the blade holder 312 and comprises a cutting front end 320.1 extending slightly back from an entry orifice of the slot 314 and a rear end 320.2, opposite the front end, cooperating substantially with the bottom of the slot 314. The blade 320 also comprises an upper side provided with a notch 320.3 in which is received a relief 312.5 in the shape of a fir tree tooth extending projecting from an internal surface of the upper wall 312.2 of the blade holder 312 to irreversibly hold said blade 320 in position in the slot 314 of said blade holder 312.

[0077] It should be noted that the blade 320 here includes a transverse hole 320.4 to facilitate the gripping of said blade 320 when inserting it into the blade holder 312. It is understood that this hole 320.4 is optional.

[0078] It should also be noted that in the retracted position, the blade holder 312 and in particular the sharp front end of the blade 320 extend between the walls 115 of the lower body 110 of the housing in order to conceal the cutting element 300 and to avoid any injury to the operator.

[0079] It will also be noted that the blade 320 is arranged upstream of the groove 212 of the lower branch 210 when the cutting member 300 is in the retracted position, and downstream of said groove 212 when said cutting member 300 is in the extended position.

[0080] The traction ring 313, substantially cylindrical in shape, extends around a central axis which is substantially perpendicular to the Y3Oo sliding axis of the cutting member 300 and to the Xioo articulation axis of the housing 100, and is intended to receive a finger of the user to bring the cutting member from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0081] It will be noted that in the retracted position, the pull ring 313 is partially received in a notch provided at the front end of the lower body 110 of the housing, and that in the extended position, said pull ring 313 is away from the lower body 110 of the housing 100.

[0082] The pinching and sectioning device 1 further includes a removable obstacle 400 arranged to prevent the insertion of the locking tab 122 of the upper body 120 of the housing into the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110 of the housing, so that said upper body 120 cannot reach its closed position, which prevents its locking in the closed position.

[0083] With reference to [Fig.1A], the obstacle 400 here comprises a cap 401 arranged to fit tightly onto the appendage 112 of the lower body 110 of the housing so as to obstruct an inlet orifice of the slot 112.1. The cap 401 comprises side walls from which protruding gripping lugs 401.1 extend to facilitate removal of the cap 401 by the operator.

[0084] It should be noted that the pinching and cutting device 1 is here sterilized at the factory in order to be free from any contamination before being stored in an aseptic plastic bag.

[0085] The operation of the connection assembly 1 will now be detailed with reference to figures 6A to 6D.

[0086] After unpacking the clamping and cutting device 1 from its plastic bag, the upper body 120 of the housing 100 is first brought into its open position, which causes the clamping members 200 to open. The upper arms 220 of these members then return to their insertion position under the action of the drive rods 124 of the upper body 120 ([Fig. 6A]). The clamping and cutting device 1 is then brought close to the tube T to be cut and positioned so that a section of the tube T extends transversely into the grooves 212 of the lower arms 210 of the clamping members 200. The cap 401 is then removed to allow the upper body of the housing 100 to return to its closed position.

[0087] The upper body 120 of the housing 100 is then brought from the open position to the closed position by manually applying pressure to the external surface 120.1 of said upper body 120, which has the effect of bringing the upper branches 220 of the clamping members 200 into the clamping position under the action of the bosses 123 of the upper body 120 and thus generating a double sealing crushing of the tube section T and an anchoring of the tube T in the clamping members 200 ([Fig.6B]). The upper body 120 of the housing 100 is automatically held in the closed position via the clipping of the locking tab 122 in the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110, and the upper arms 220 of the pinching members 200 are held in the clamping position via the clipping of the locking hooks 223 on the transverse reliefs 213 of the lower arms 210 of the pinching members 200.

[0088] The passage of the upper body 120 of the housing 100 from the open position to the closed position also causes the deformation and bending of the retaining tabs 117 under the action of the ribs 126 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100, the retained tabs 117 then passing from their rest state to their bent state and causing the release of the cutting member 300.

[0089] The cutting member 300 is then brought from the retracted position to the extended position by exerting a pulling force on the traction ring 313 of said cutting member 300 ([Fig.6C]), which causes a displacement of the blade 320 resulting in a sectioning of the tube T between the two pinching members 200.

[0090] Finally, a tensile force is exerted on each of the clamped portions of tube T to slide the pinching members 200 along their sliding axis Xn3 until they are withdrawn from the housing 100. It is understood that this tensile force is sufficient to move the retaining tabs 125 of the upper body 120 of the housing 100 from their rest state to their deformed state under the effect of the forces exerted by the drive rings 221 on said retaining tabs 125 ([Fig.6D]).

[0091] The pinching and sectioning device 1, deprived of its pinching members 200, is then discarded.

[0092] Figures 7A to 7C illustrate a clamping and cutting device 1' which is a variant of the clamping and cutting device 1. The clamping and cutting device 1' differs from the clamping and cutting device 1 in that the cap 401 is replaced by a hook 401' formed from the material with the pull ring 313 of the cutting member 300. The L-shaped hook 401' comprises a first arm 401.1' projecting from a lateral face of the pull ring 313 along an axis parallel to the central axis of said pull ring 313, and a second arm 401.2' projecting from one end of the first arm 401.1' along an axis parallel to the Y3Oo sliding axis of the cutting member 300. ([Fig.7C]). The first branch 401.1' and the second branch 401.2' are arranged so that when said cutting member 300 is in retracted position, the second branch 401.2' obstructs the entry of the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110 of the housing 100 and prevents the insertion of the locking tab 122 of the upper body 120 of the housing into said slot 112.1.

[0093] It is understood that the hook 401' forms, like the cap 401, a removable obstacle 400' preventing the insertion of the locking tab 122 of the upper body 120 of the housing into the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110 of the housing when the cutting member 300 is in the retracted position ([Fig.7A]).

[0094] It will then be necessary to move the cutting element 300 from the retracted position ([Fig. 7A]) to an intermediate position arranged between said retracted position and the extended position ([Fig. 7B]) before moving the upper body 120 of the housing from the open position to the closed position ([Fig. 7C]). It should be noted that the intermediate position is chosen so that the blade 320 has not yet begun to cut the tube T.

[0095] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0096] The cap 401 and the hook 401' can also be replaced by any type of removable obstacle such as, for example, a shutter arranged to be inserted into the slot 112.1 of the lower body 110 of the housing to prevent the insertion of the locking tab 122 of the upper body 120 of the housing into said slot 112.1. The shutter can be connected by a flexible link to said lower body 110 of the housing to prevent the loss of said shutter.

[0097] Although the bottom 212.2 of the groove 212 of the lower branches 210 of the pinching members 200 includes here two reliefs 212.3 to ensure a tight clamping anchoring of said tube T, the number of reliefs 212.3 may be equal to one or greater than two.

[0098] These reliefs do not necessarily extend orthogonally to the X2Oo axis of articulation of the pinching organ 200.

[0099] The toothed grooves 311.3 of the cutting element 300 can be arranged so that the operator has haptic feedback related to sliding.

[0100] The tenons 113 can be carried by the upper body 120 of the housing 100, the drive rods 124 and the retaining tabs 125 then being carried by the lower body 110 of said housing 100.

[0101] The upper arms 210 of the pinching elements 200 can also be mounted movably in translation on the upper body 120 of the housing 100.

[0102] The holes 312.4 receiving the retaining tabs 117 to hold the cutting member 300 in the vicinity of its retracted position can be arranged to hold the cutting member 300 in the retracted position.

Claims

1.

2. Demands A pinching and sectioning device (1, 1') for a tube (T), comprising: • a housing (100) comprising a lower body (110) and an upper body (120) mounted movably in rotation on the lower body along a first axis of articulation (Xi00), between an open position and a closed position; • two clamping members (200) of the tube, comprising a lower arm (210) and an upper arm (220) movably mounted for rotation on the lower arm about a second articulation axis (X2 oo) parallel to the first articulation axis, between a tube insertion position and a tube clamping position, the clamping members being mounted in the housing such that the passage of the upper body from the open position to the closed position causes the clamping members to pass from the insertion position to the clamping position; and • a cutting member (300) arranged between the two clamping members and mounted to move in translation on one of the lower and upper housing bodies along a first sliding axis (Y3Oo) orthogonal to the first articulation axis between a retracted position and an extended position to cut the tube, the pinching elements being mounted mobilously in translation on the lower body and / or the upper body of the housing along a second sliding axis (Xn3) parallel to the first articulation axis so as to be removed from the housing in the closed position. Clamping and sectioning device (1, 1') according to claim 1, wherein the lower arms (210) of the clamping members (200) externally comprise a transverse dovetail groove (211), and the lower body (110) of the housing (100) comprises two tenons (113) each cooperating with the groove of one of the lower arms to achieve the sliding of the clamping members along the second sliding axis (Xn3).

3. Pinch and section device (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pinching members are mounted movably in translation on the upper body (120) of the housing along the second sliding axis (Xn3) to be removed from the housing in the closed position.

4. A pinching and cutting device (1, 1') according to claim 3, wherein the upper body (120) of the housing (100) internally comprises drive rods (124) of the upper arms (220) of the pinching members (200) in the insertion position, and the upper arms (220) of the pinching members (200) comprise drive rings (221) through which the drive rods extend so that a rotation of the upper body towards its open position causes a rotation of the upper arms of the pinching members towards their insertion position.

5. Pinch and sectioning device (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (100) includes means for locking the upper body (120) in the closed position.

6. Pinch and sectioning device (1, 1') according to claim 5, wherein the upper body (120) of the housing (100) is held in the closed position by clipping said upper body onto the lower body (110).

7. Clamping and sectioning device (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the clamping members (200) include means for locking the upper arm (220) in the clamping position.

8. Pinch and section device (1, 1') according to claim 7, wherein the upper arm (220) of the pinching members (200) is held in the closed position by clipping said upper arm onto the lower arm (210).

9. A pinching and cutting device (1, 1') according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cutting member (300) comprises a main body (310) and a blade (320), the main body having a guide rod (311) having a first end provided with a blade holder (312) in which the blade is housed, and a second end, opposite the first

10. end, provided with a pull ring (313) of the cutting element extending outside the housing. Pinch and sectioning device (1, 1') according to claim 9, in which the guide rod (311) includes a base (311.1) arranged to form a sliding connection with the lower body (110) of the housing (100) along the first sliding axis (Y3Oo).