Pinch valve subassembly

Abstract

The pinch valve subassembly includes a cage and a diaphragm disposed within the cage. The diaphragm is configured to seal-engage with the cage. Additionally, the cage includes an opening configured to receive a fluid flow and direct the fluid flow through the opening toward the diaphragm, thereby compressing the diaphragm and transitioning the pinch valve subassembly to a closed configuration. The pinch valve subassembly is configured to be disposed within a cavity of a housing in the installation configuration, and the pinch valve subassembly includes a seal that surrounds the cage and is configured to seal-engage with the housing in the installation configuration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications This application claims the priority and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 491,199, entitled "PINCH VALVE SUBASSEMBLY", filed on March 20, 2023, and the entire disclosure thereof is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

[0002] This disclosure generally relates to a pinch valve subassembly for use in directing fluid through a conduit system.

Background Art

[0003] Pinch valves are used to control the flow of fluid through a conduit system. For example, a pinch valve transitions between an open configuration (e.g., a fully open configuration) that allows fluid flow through a portion of the conduit system and a closed configuration (e.g., a fully closed configuration) that blocks fluid flow through a portion of the conduit system. A pinch valve can also transition to a configuration (e.g., a partially open configuration or a partially closed configuration) between the open and closed configurations to allow a specific amount of fluid, such as a target flow rate, to flow through the conduit system.

Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect, a pinch valve subassembly is provided. The pinch valve subassembly includes an elongate tubular diaphragm and an elongate cage disposed around the body of the elongate tubular diaphragm in a sealed engagement and having an inner surface configured to face the body. The elongate cage has a first end, a second end, and at least one opening extending from the outer surface of the elongate cage to the inner surface of the elongate cage between the first end and the second end. The pinch valve subassembly further includes a seal disposed between the first end and the at least one opening.

[0005] In another embodiment, a pinch valve subassembly is provided. The pinch valve subassembly comprises an elongated tubular diaphragm and an elongated cage having a first end, a second end, a hole extending from the first end to the second end, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the hole in the elongated cage is configured to receive the elongated tubular diaphragm such that the elongated cage is sealed-engaged with the elongated tubular diaphragm and arranged around the elongated tubular diaphragm, and at least one opening formed through the outer surface of the elongated cage and extending to the hole in the elongated cage.

[0006] In another embodiment, a pinch valve subassembly is provided. The pinch valve subassembly comprises an elongated tubular diaphragm and an elongated cage having a first end, a second end, a hole extending from the first end to the second end, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the hole in the elongated cage is configured to receive the elongated tubular diaphragm such that the elongated cage is sealed-engaged with the elongated tubular diaphragm and disposed around the elongated tubular diaphragm, and the elongated cage is configured to place the elongated tubular diaphragm under longitudinal tension, and at least one opening formed through the outer surface of the elongated cage and extending to the hole in the elongated cage.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method is provided. The method provides a pinch valve subassembly comprising coupling an elongated cage around the outer surface of the body of an elongated tubular diaphragm, wherein the pinch valve subassembly comprises at least one opening in the elongated cage that exposes the outer surface of the body of the elongated tubular diaphragm for fluid coupling the outer surface of the body of the elongated tubular diaphragm to the outer surface of the elongated cage, and the pinch valve subassembly comprises a seal extending beyond the outer surface of the elongated cage, and the method comprises positioning the pinch valve subassembly within an elongated cavity of a housing and fluid coupling a fluid source to at least one opening in the elongated cage.

[0008] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1A] This is a cross-sectional view of different conduit systems using pinch valve subassemblies according to specific embodiments presented herein. [Figure 1B] This is a cross-sectional view of different conduit systems using pinch valve subassemblies according to specific embodiments presented herein. [Figure 2] This is a cross-sectional view of a pinch valve subassembly used in a conduit system and configured to control the flow of fluid through the conduit system, according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of a pinch valve subassembly according to a specific embodiment presented herein. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the diaphragm of a pinch valve subassembly according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 5A] This is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conduit system using a pinch valve subassembly configured to prevent leakage of fluid flow, according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 5B] This is a cross-sectional perspective view of a conduit system using a pinch valve subassembly configured to prevent leakage of fluid flow, according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view of a conduit system using a pinch valve subassembly according to a specific embodiment presented herein. [Figure 7A] This is a perspective view of another pinch valve subassembly according to a specific embodiment presented herein. [Figure 7B] Figure 7A is a cross-sectional view of the pinch valve subassembly. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view of yet another pinch valve subassembly according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 9] This is a cross-sectional view of yet another pinch valve subassembly according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of another conduit system using a pinch valve subassembly according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 11A] This is a perspective view of yet another conduit system using a pinch valve subassembly according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 11B] Figure 11A is a cross-sectional view of the conduit system. [Figure 12A] This is a cross-sectional side view of another conduit system using a pinch valve subassembly according to a particular embodiment presented herein. [Figure 12B] This is a detailed cross-sectional side view of region A in Figure 12A. [Figure 13] This is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a conduit system according to a specific embodiment presented herein. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Different systems, such as water treatment plants, heating and cooling structures, sanitization systems, and hydraulic circuits, can utilize conduit systems to direct fluids (e.g., gases, liquids, vapor-gas mixtures, etc.). Conduit systems can include, for example, conduits, pipes, tubes, etc., for transporting fluids to different locations. Conduit systems can also include valves, such as pinch valves, to control fluid flow (e.g., flow rate, velocity). A pinch valve includes a body that defines an opening through which fluid can flow. The body can transition between open, closed, and / or intermediate configurations to regulate the fluid flow through the body. For example, the body can be made of a flexible or pliable material, and the walls of the body can be compressed toward each other to reduce the size of the opening defined by the body, thereby restricting or blocking the fluid flow through the body. The walls of the body can also move toward each other to increase the size of the opening, thereby increasing the fluid flow through the body.

[0011] It is desirable to improve the design of pinch valves to facilitate their installation in conduit systems and to enable the pinch valves to control the flow of fluid through the conduit system in a desired manner. Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to pinch valve subassemblies that can be easily inserted into cavities or recesses of housings of conduit systems. The pinch valve subassembly includes a diaphragm and a cage into which the diaphragm can be inserted. The cage includes an opening that allows the flow of a working fluid (e.g., gas) to force the diaphragm, thereby moving the diaphragm into a closed configuration.

[0012] According to embodiments presented herein, the diaphragm and cage engage in a sealing manner with each other to prevent undesirable flow of working fluid from the pinch valve subassembly, thereby allowing the working fluid to flow toward the diaphragm and transition the diaphragm to a closed configuration. Additionally, a seal can be coupled to the cage. In the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly within the cavity of the conduit system, the seal and housing engage in a sealing manner with each other to prevent undesirable flow of working fluid between the cage and the housing, and further forcing the working fluid toward the diaphragm. Thus, the interface between the diaphragm, cage, seal, and housing can facilitate the operation of the pinch valve subassembly transitioning to a closed configuration. The cage can be sized to allow the pinch valve subassembly to be easily inserted into the cavity and to fluidly couple to the conduit of the conduit system. For example, in many embodiments, the pinch valve subassembly can be fixed within the conduit system and fluidly coupled to the conduit by inserting the pinch valve subassembly into the cavity of the conduit system without using additional positioning components (e.g., without using pins or fasteners). Thus, the implementation form of the pinch valve subassembly can be simplified, improving the ease of manufacturing and / or production of the conduit system.

[0013] Figure 1A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary conduit system 100 capable of implementing embodiments of the technology presented herein. The illustrated conduit system 100 includes a manifold configuration that can include a plurality of inlets and / or a plurality of outlets. For example, the conduit system 100 may include a first port 102, a second port 104, a third port 106, and a fourth port 108. Each of the ports 102, 104, 106, and 108 allows the flow of process fluid (e.g., liquid, gas, vapor-gas mixture, slurry, mixture of materials) into and / or from the conduit system 100. In some embodiments, the conduit system 100 can be configured to discharge process fluid to different locations through a plurality of ports 102, 104, 106, and 108. Additionally or alternatively, the conduit system 100 can be configured to take in process fluid from different locations through a plurality of ports 102, 104, 106, and 108. In fact, the illustrated conduit system 100 can distribute and / or combine different process fluids. In an exemplary embodiment, the conduit system 100 can receive a flow of process fluid through a second port 104 and distribute the process fluid between a first port 102, a third port 106, and a fourth port 108 for discharge from the conduit system 100. In another exemplary embodiment, the conduit system 100 can receive flows of each process fluid through the second port 104 and the fourth port 108, combine the flows of each process fluid into a combined process fluid flow, and discharge the combined process fluid flow from the conduit system 100 through the first port 102.

[0014] The conduit system 100 includes a first pinch valve sub-assembly 110A fluidly coupled to a first port 102 and configured to control the flow of process fluid through the first port 102 (e.g., into or out of the conduit system 100). The conduit system 100 also includes a second pinch valve sub-assembly 110B fluidly coupled to a second port 104 and configured to control the flow of process fluid through the second port 104 (e.g., into or out of the conduit system 100). For example, as contemplated herein, each pinch valve sub-assembly 110 can define an opening through which process fluid can flow. The pinch valve sub-assembly 110 can be bent or deformed to adjust the size of the opening, thereby changing the flow characteristics (e.g., flow rate, flow velocity, amount of flow) of the process fluid through the pinch valve sub-assembly 110 and the corresponding ports 102, 104. Thus, the flow of process fluid through the conduit system 100 can be adjusted using the pinch valve sub-assembly 110 so that the conduit system 100 distributes and / or combines different process fluid flows.

[0015] In the illustrated embodiment, the pinch valve sub-assemblies 110 are positioned such that the respective flows of process fluid through the first pinch valve sub-assembly 110A and the second pinch valve sub-assembly 110B are arranged in an orientation that intersects (e.g., is perpendicular) to each other. However, in alternative embodiments, the pinch valve sub-assemblies 110 can be positioned such that the respective flows of process fluid are arranged in line or parallel to each other.

[0016] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary conduit system 150 that can implement aspects of the technology presented herein. The conduit system 150 includes an in-line configuration that includes a single inlet and a single outlet. Thus, the illustrated conduit system 150 can receive and discharge a single process fluid flow. For example, the conduit system 150 includes a first port 152 and a second port 154, each of which can enable a process fluid to flow into and / or out of the conduit system 150. The conduit system 150 also includes a pinch valve subassembly 110 fluidly coupled to the first port 152 and the second port 154. The pinch valve subassembly 110 can control the flow of process fluid between the port 152 and the port 154 to control the flow of process fluid through the conduit system 150. For example, the opening defined by the pinch valve subassembly 110 can be adjusted to increase or decrease the flow of process fluid through the conduit system 150 via the ports 152, 154.

[0017] The ports 152, 154 of the illustrated conduit system 150 are collinear with each other (e.g., axially aligned). Thus, the process fluid can flow along a substantially straight path between the port 152 and the port 154. In an alternative embodiment, the ports 152, 154 can be offset from each other. For example, the ports 152, 154 can be oriented such that the process fluid flows, at least in part, within a curved, arcuate, stepped, wavy, or other non-linear path between the port 152 and the port 154.

[0018] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pinch valve subassembly 110 used in a conduit system 200 (e.g., conduit system 100, conduit system 150). The conduit system 200 includes a housing 202 (e.g., an outer housing, enclosure) that houses a conduit 204. The housing 202 defines a cavity or recess 206 (e.g., a blind hole extending to a certain depth within the housing 202), and the conduit 204 is fluid-coupled to the cavity 206. Thus, the conduit 204 can receive process fluid from the cavity 206 and / or discharge process fluid into the cavity 206.

[0019] The pinch valve subassembly 110 is insertable into the cavity 206 and can be fluidly coupled to the conduit 204 in a installed configuration in the cavity 206. For example, the housing 202 may include a back surface 208, a first internal housing wall 210 extending from the back surface 208, and a second internal housing wall 212 extending from the first internal housing wall 210. The back surface 208, the first internal housing wall 210, and the second internal housing wall 212 are exposed to the outer boundary of the cavity 206 and cooperate to define the outer boundary. The pinch valve subassembly 110 may include a diaphragm 214 having a body with a tubular profile defining an opening 216 extending from a first diaphragm end 218 to a second diaphragm end 219 of the body. In the installation configuration, the first diaphragm end 218 can abut against the back surface 208, and the opening 216 of the diaphragm 214 can overlap with the conduit 204 (for example, aligned concentrically). Thus, the process fluid can flow between the conduit 204 and the diaphragm 214.

[0020] The pinch valve subassembly 110 also includes a cage 220 (e.g., a sleeve) in which a diaphragm 214 can be disposed. For example, the cage 220 may include an internal cage surface 222 configured to accommodate the diaphragm 214 facing the profile of the external diaphragm surface 224. That is, the internal cage surface 222 can be positioned around the external diaphragm surface 224 in a sealing engagement to secure the diaphragm 214 within the cage 220 and capture it. In some embodiments, the diaphragm 214 can be manually inserted into and removed from the cage 220. For example, the diaphragm 214 may be made of a sufficiently flexible material (e.g., an elastomer) and can be partially deformed to allow insertion of the diaphragm 214 through and into the cage 220. An exemplary material for the diaphragm 214 is silicone (e.g., medical-grade silicone) to provide desirable flexibility, as well as resistance to degradation (e.g., chemical and / or mechanical degradation) and compatibility with various process fluid compositions (e.g., hydrogen peroxide). The diaphragm 214 can also be partially deformed to allow for removal of the diaphragm 214 from within the cage 220.

[0021] The cage 220 can also help to secure the pinch valve subassembly 110 within the cavity 206. For example, the cage 220 may include a first cage end 226, a second cage end 228, and a recess 230 disposed between the first cage end 226 and the second cage end 228. The recess 230 may extend around the outer circumference of the cage 220 (e.g., circumferentially), and the recess 230 may receive a seal 232 (e.g., an O-ring). In additional or alternative embodiments, the cage 220 does not include the recess 230, and the seal 232 may engage directly with or be fixed to the second cage end 228. In the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 110, the seal 232 may be compressed in contact with the first inner housing wall 210 of the housing 202 (e.g., via a compression fit).

[0022] As an example, the seal 232 can be made of a material that can impart a threshold amount of frictional force to the first internal housing wall 210 (e.g., rubber such as ethylene propylene diene monomer, polytetrafluoroethylene, or silicone such as medical-grade silicone). Thus, the contact between the seal 232 and the first internal housing wall 210 can prevent relative movement between the seal 232 and the housing 202. Thus, the seal 232 can fix the pinch valve subassembly 110 in the cavity 206 by preventing relative movement between the cage 220, the diaphragm 214 fixed within the cage 220, and the housing 202. The contact between the seal 232 and the cage 220 can also provide a desirable positioning of the pinch valve subassembly 110 in the cavity 206. For example, the seal 232 can center the pinch valve subassembly 110 in the cavity 206 (e.g., align it concentrically). Furthermore, the second cage end 228 can abut against the second internal housing wall 212 in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 110 within the cavity 206 (for example, via an interference fit). The abutment between the second cage end 228 and the second internal housing wall 212 can further prevent relative movement between the pinch valve subassembly 110 and the housing 202.

[0023] The conduit system 200 may also include a cap or connector 234 configured to connect to the housing 202 and extend over the cavity 206. For example, the cap 234 may include a flange 236 configured to engage with the outer housing wall 238, and the flange 236 may extend at least partially over the cavity 206. The cap 234 may also define an opening 240, which can be fluid-coupled to an opening 216 of the pinch valve subassembly 110 in the installation configuration of the cap 234 to the housing 202. Thus, process fluid can flow between the pinch valve subassembly 110 and the cap 234 through the openings 216, 240.

[0024] In some embodiments, the cap 234 can facilitate the desired flow of process fluid between the conduit 204, the pinch valve subassembly 110, and the cap 234. For example, in a configuration in which the cap 234 is installed on the housing 202, the cap 234 can compress the second diaphragm end 219 and the first diaphragm end 218 and the back surface 208 of the housing 202 relative to each other. In this way, the cap 234 can provide a sealing engagement between the diaphragm 214 and the cap 234, and between the diaphragm 214 and the back surface 208. Thus, undesirable flow of process fluid between the back surface 208 and the first diaphragm end 218 and / or between the second diaphragm end 219 and the cap 234 can be blocked, thereby forcing the flow of process fluid through the conduit 204, the pinch valve subassembly 110, and the cap 234.

[0025] As discussed herein, the diaphragm 214 can be bent or deformed to adjust the size of the opening 216. For example, a sufficiently flexible material of the diaphragm 214 can allow for some deflection of the diaphragm 214. In some embodiments, the conduit system 200 can be configured to cause deflection of the diaphragm 214 via a working fluid (e.g., compressed air). For example, the housing 202 can define a working fluid line 242, and the conduit system 200 can include a working fluid source 244 fluidly coupled to the working fluid line 242. The working fluid source 244 can be configured to direct the working fluid through the working fluid line 242 to the pinch valve subassembly 110. The cage 220 can include an opening 246 (e.g., a through hole) extending through the outer surface 248 of the cage 220 to the inner cage surface 222. The opening 246 exposes a portion of the diaphragm 214 (e.g., the external diaphragm surface 224) disposed within the cage 220, thereby allowing a portion of the diaphragm 214 and its outer surface 248 to be fluidly coupled (e.g., pneumatically coupled). The opening 246 can also be fluidly coupled to the working fluid line 242. Thus, the working fluid source 244 can output working fluid through the working fluid line 242 into the opening 246 and to the diaphragm 214. The working fluid output to the diaphragm 214 can provide sufficient force to flex the diaphragm 214 and adjust the opening 216. As an example, the working fluid source 244 can output working fluid to compress the diaphragm 214 from an open configuration to a closed configuration 250 (indicated by dashed lines), which can reduce the flow rate of process fluid through the opening 216.

[0026] The material of the diaphragm 214 can also be sufficiently elastic so that, when no force is applied to the diaphragm 214, it can adjust toward its basic shape or profile. For example, when there is no working fluid output by the working fluid source 244, the diaphragm 214 can expand and move out of the closed configuration 250 to increase the flow rate of process fluid through the opening 216. Thus, the working fluid source 244 can be operated (for example, manually via the user or automatically via the controller) to regulate the flow of process fluid through the pinch valve subassembly 110.

[0027] In certain embodiments, the first cage end 226 and the second cage end 228 can cooperate to provide poka-yoke features that enable desirable positioning and / or orientation of the pinch valve subassembly 110 within the cavity 206. For example, it may be desirable to position the pinch valve subassembly 110 within the cavity 206 such that the seal 232 adjacent to the second diaphragm end 219 is positioned more adjacent to the cap 234 than to the conduit 204. Therefore, it may be desirable to insert the pinch valve subassembly 110 into the cavity 206 such that the first cage end 226 is the leading end that is first inserted into the cavity 206 toward the rear 208, and the second cage end 228 is the rear end that is subsequently inserted into the cavity 206.

[0028] For this purpose, the second cage end 228 can extend radially beyond the first cage end 226. Additionally, the first internal housing wall 210 can be offset from the second internal housing wall 212 (e.g., not collinear) to provide a first distance 252 between the first internal housing walls 210 that is shorter than the second distance 254 between the second internal housing walls 212. The second distance 254 between the second internal housing walls 212 can accommodate the dimensions (e.g., width) of the first cage end 226 and the second cage end 228. Thus, each of the first cage end 226 and the second cage end 228 can extend between the second internal housing walls 212. However, the first distance 252 between the first internal housing walls 210 can accommodate the dimensions (e.g., width) of the first cage end 226 but not the dimensions of the second cage end 228. Therefore, the first internal housing wall 210 can prevent the second cage end 228 from being positioned between them, and thus prevent the second cage end 228 from contacting the back surface 208. In this way, the offset between the first internal housing wall 210 and the second internal housing wall 212 allows the first cage end 226 to be inserted into the cavity 206 before the second cage end 228 is inserted into the cavity 206, allowing the first diaphragm end 218 to contact the back surface 208 and the pinch valve subassembly 110 to be fully inserted into the cavity 206.

[0029] It should be noted that the cage 220 can be constructed from a sufficiently rigid material (e.g., metal, copolymer, rigid plastic such as acetal) that avoids substantial deformation and provides desirable machinability for forming recesses 230, openings 246, etc. For example, the material of the cage 220 can prevent deformation of the second cage end 228, which would otherwise allow the second cage end 228 to be inserted between the first internal housing walls 210. Thus, the material of the cage 220 can prevent undesirable orientation of the cage 220 within the cavity 206. In addition, the material of the cage 220 can prevent deformation of the cage 220 due to the flow of the working fluid. That is, the profile of the cage 220 can be generally maintained while the working fluid flows through the working fluid line 242. The maintained profile of the cage 220 allows the cage 220 to remain in contact with the diaphragm 214 (e.g., the first diaphragm end 218, the second diaphragm end 219) while the working fluid causes the diaphragm 214 to deflect.

[0030] In some embodiments, the conduit system 200 may have multiple cavities 206, and the pinch valve subassembly 110 may be easily insertable into any of the cavities 206. Thus, the implementation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 110 can be further simplified. For example, a pinch valve subassembly 110 of a common embodiment (e.g., having a common embodiment of the cage 220, having a common embodiment of the diaphragm 214) can be provided for insertion into each of the cavities 206. Thus, the manufacture, purchase, and / or installation of different embodiments of the pinch valve subassembly 110 (e.g., each dedicated to insertion into a specific one of the cavities 206) can be avoided. The use of a single embodiment of the pinch valve subassembly 110 can also simplify other operations performed on the conduit system 200, such as maintenance, replacement, and / or inspection of the pinch valve subassembly 110.

[0031] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pinch valve subassembly 110 in an assembled configuration, with a diaphragm 214 disposed within a cage 220. As an example, the cage 220 includes a hole 298 extending from a first cage end 226 to a second cage end 228, the hole 298 being configured to receive the diaphragm 214 (for example, by inserting one of the diaphragm ends 218, 219 into the hole 298 at one of the cage ends 226, 228, and then pulling the diaphragm 214 through the hole 298 to the other cage end 226, 228). As a result, the diaphragm 214 extends from the first cage end 226 to the second cage end 228 and seals with the cage 220. Each of the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220 can define an elongated structure extending along the longitudinal axis 300. For example, each of the diaphragm 214 and cage 220 may have a substantially cylindrical and tubular profile (e.g., having a circular cross-sectional shape). However, it should be noted that either the diaphragm 214 or cage 220 may alternatively have any other suitable corresponding shape, such as a prism-shaped profile.

[0032] As discussed herein, the cage 220 can secure a diaphragm 214 therein. For example, each of the first diaphragm end 218 and the second diaphragm end 219 may include a flange 302 extending radially outward from the body 304 of the diaphragm 214. These flanges 302 may include a raised sealing ring / lip 331 (e.g., a circumferentially extending portion extending from the flange) extending along the longitudinal axis. In a particular example, cage ends 226, 228 can engage with the flanges 302 to secure the diaphragm 214 within the cage 220. That is, the first cage end 226 may abut against the flange 302 of the first diaphragm end 218, and the second cage end 228 may abut against the flange 302 of the second diaphragm end 219. In some embodiments, the cage ends 226, 228 can apply force to their respective flanges 302 to place the diaphragm 214 under tension along the longitudinal axis 300. In this example, the raised sealing ring 331 functions to form a seal between the cage ends 226 and 228.

[0033] For example, the first cage end 226 can apply a force to the flange 302 of the first diaphragm end 218 in a first direction 306, and the second cage end 228 can apply a force to the flange 302 of the second diaphragm end 219 in a second direction 308, opposite to the first direction 306. In other words, each cage end 226, 228 can apply a force in directions 306, 308 away from each other, causing the diaphragm 214 to stretch away from its basic shape. However, the elastic properties of the diaphragm 214 can bias it and compress it toward its basic shape. In other words, the diaphragm ends 218, 219 can bias toward each other. By biasing the diaphragm ends 218 and 219 toward each other, the diaphragm ends 218 and 219 can be compressed toward the cage ends 226 and 228, thereby maintaining contact with the cage ends 226 and 228. Specifically, the raised sealing ring 331 at the first diaphragm end 218 can be compressed toward the first cage end 226, and the raised sealing ring 331 at the second diaphragm end 219 can be compressed toward the second cage end 228. Such contact between the raised sealing rings 331 and the cage ends 226 and 228 can provide a seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220, as will be further described herein.

[0034] Detailed drawing 310 provides an enlarged visualization of the flange 302, each of which includes a base portion 312 and a raised sealing ring 331 (raised portion) extending longitudinally from the base portion 312. As described above, the raised sealing ring 331 can facilitate maintaining contact between the flange 302 and the cage 220 extending between the diaphragm ends 218, 219. In this way, the raised sealing ring 331 provides a seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220. The raised sealing ring 331 can also help provide a seal between the diaphragm 214 and the housing / cap to secure the pinch valve subassembly 110 within the cavity of the housing. For example, the raised profile of the raised sealing ring 331 allows the raised sealing ring 331 to extend sufficiently away from the cage ends 226, 228 while still in contact with them. Therefore, the raised sealing ring 331 may be positioned to provide greater engagement with the cap positioned adjacent to the housing (e.g., the rear surface of the housing) and / or the cage ends 226, 228 (e.g., while the pinch valve subassembly 110 is positioned within the cavity of the housing). In certain embodiments, the raised sealing ring 331 may extend circumferentially around the body 304, thereby forming a ring configuration to provide a seal along the periphery of the diaphragm 214.

[0035] The flange 302 also has a thickness 332 sufficient to maintain the desired shape of the diaphragm 214. For example, the thickness 332 is sized so that the flange 302 can absorb compressive forces (e.g., applied by the cap 234) and avoid the transmission of compressive forces to the body 304, thereby preventing or at least suppressing compressive forces from distorting the diaphragm 214 (e.g., by bending the body 304) so ​​as to reduce the seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220 and / or between the diaphragm 214 and the cap 234. Thus, the sizing of the flange 302 further helps to maintain the desired positioning and functionality of the pinch valve subassembly 110.

[0036] As discussed herein, the cage 220 may include an opening 246 that allows the working fluid to contact the diaphragm 214 in order to transition the pinch valve subassembly 110 to a closed configuration 250. For example, the opening 246 is formed through an outer surface 248 extending between a first cage end 226 and a second cage end 228, and the opening 246 extends across the longitudinal axis 300 to a hole 298, thereby exposing the body 304 of the diaphragm 214 positioned within the cage 220. The cage 220 may also include a cavity 316 (e.g., a pneumatic cavity) to facilitate the direction of the working fluid into the opening 246. For example, the cavity 316 may include a recess having a V-shape, U-shape, inclined shape, parabolic shape, tapered shape, etc., that can guide the flow of the working fluid into the opening 246. Furthermore, the cavity 316 can extend circumferentially around the cage 220, and the opening 246 can be located in part of the cavity 316 and extend inward from the outer surface 248 of the cage 220 within the cavity 316 toward the body 304 of the diaphragm 214. In this way, the working fluid directed into the cavity 316 (for example, via the working fluid source 244 by the working fluid line 242) can flow along the outer surface 248 of the cage 220 into the opening 246 and onto the body 304. As an example, the cavity 316 can extend circumferentially from a first cage side 318 of the cage 220 (e.g., a first lateral side) to a second cage side 320 of the cage 220 (e.g., a second lateral side), but the opening 246 can be formed on the first cage side 318 rather than the second cage side 320. However, the working fluid directed into the cavity 316 at the second cage side 320 can flow circumferentially around the cage 220 along the outer surface 248 from the second cage side 320 to the first cage side 318 (for example, to pressurize the chamber formed between the cavity 316 and the first inner housing wall 210 of the housing 202), and then flow into the opening 246 at the second cage side 320.

[0037] Therefore, as long as the working fluid line 242 is fluidly coupled to the cavity 316, the opening 246 can receive working fluid through the working fluid line 242 even if the working fluid line 242 is not directly aligned with the working fluid line 242 (e.g., not concentric). In other words, the opening 246 can receive working fluid directed to any part of the cavity 316. Thus, the pinch valve subassembly 110 can be more easily installed within the housing 202 (e.g., manually installed by the user) to enable the desired operation of the pinch valve subassembly 110, such as not needing to position the pinch valve subassembly 110 in a specific orientation to align the opening 246 with the working fluid line 242. For example, the pinch valve subassembly 110 can be installed in several different orientations that are rotationally offset from each other around the longitudinal axis 300, but still allow the opening 246 to receive working fluid to transition the pinch valve subassembly 110 to the closed configuration 250.

[0038] It should also be noted that the tension on the diaphragm 214 provided by the cage 220 can maintain the desired structure of the diaphragm 214, such as while the working fluid is directed to move the pinch valve subassembly 110 into the closed configuration 250. For example, due to the flexible properties of the diaphragm 214, certain forces applied to the diaphragm 214 when not subjected to tensile force can cause a sudden undesirable change in the shape of the diaphragm 214 (e.g., buckling), such as undesirable movement of either of the diaphragm ends 218, 219. Such movement could otherwise cause disengagement between the diaphragm ends 218, 219 and the corresponding cage ends 226, 228, thereby reducing the coupling between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220 and / or reducing the seal provided between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220. The tension on the diaphragm 214 (e.g., via the cage 220) can mitigate undesirable changes in the shape of the diaphragm 214. Therefore, the tension of the diaphragm 214 improves the interface between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220, providing and maintaining a desirable coupling and / or seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220, even when an external force is applied to the diaphragm 214 (for example, by the working fluid).

[0039] Furthermore, the tension of the diaphragm 214 can distribute the force applied to the pinch valve subassembly 110 along the longitudinal axis 300. The stretched configuration of the diaphragm 214 under tension can distribute the force circumferentially around the diaphragm 214 (e.g., around the second diaphragm end 219). Thus, the force can be applied evenly or uniformly by the diaphragm 214, further preventing undesirable changes in the shape of the diaphragm 214. As an example, bending of the diaphragm 214 (e.g., of the body 304), which may result from a different and non-uniform force distribution and lead to a relatively high amount of force applied along the longitudinal axis 300 to a particular side of the diaphragm 214, can be avoided by a more uniform force distribution.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 230 and the seal 232 disposed within the recess 230 are positioned between the second cage end 228 and the opening 246 along the longitudinal axis 300. Additionally, the seal 232 disposed within the recess 230 can extend radially beyond the outer surface 248 of the cage 220. In this way, the seal 232 can maintain contact with the first internal housing wall 210 surrounding the outer surface 248 of the cage 220 in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 110. For example, the seal 232 can be positioned between the first internal housing wall 210 and adjacent to the second internal housing wall 212 in the installation configuration.

[0041] Figure 4 is a side view of the diaphragm 214. The illustrated diaphragm 214 includes a body 304 that extends generally along the longitudinal axis 300. Additionally, the diaphragm 214 includes diaphragm ends 218, 219 that extend radially beyond the body 304. Furthermore, the diaphragm 214 may include a tapered portion 350 that extends between the body 304 and the diaphragm ends 218, 219 to provide a transition region. The transition region (embodied by the tapered portion 350 and its versions) can extend radially outward from the body 304 at an angle 352 with respect to the longitudinal axis 300. Thus, the transition region can provide a smooth transition from the relatively thin body 304 to the relatively wide diaphragm ends 218, 219. Such a transition can further allow the diaphragm 214 to maintain a desirable shape. For example, the tapered portion 350 can help absorb some of the strain applied to the diaphragm 214 (e.g., by the working fluid directed relative to the body 304) and reduce the amount of strain applied to other parts of the diaphragm (e.g., diaphragm ends 218, 219). Reducing the amount of strain applied to other parts of the diaphragm ends 218, 219 can resist undesirable changes in the shape of the diaphragm 214. For example, the tapered portion 350 can help maintain the desired seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220 while a force is applied to the diaphragm 214.

[0042] Figure 5A is a cross-sectional view of the conduit system 200 in which the pinch valve subassembly 110 is installed. As discussed herein, the flange 302 (raised sealing ring 331) of the diaphragm 214 can maintain contact with the cage 220 to provide a seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220. The seal between the diaphragm 214 and the cage 220 can prevent undesirable flow of working fluid from the pinch valve subassembly 110. For example, during the operation of the working fluid source 244 that outputs working fluid, the working fluid can flow through the working fluid line 242 into the opening 246 of the cage 220 and flow against the body 304, compressing the body 304 and causing the pinch valve subassembly 110 to transition to a closed configuration 250. The compression of the body 304 can move a portion of the body 304 inward away from the cage 220, thereby forming a space 398 between the body 304 and the cage 220. Therefore, the working fluid can flow along the first working fluid passage 400 into the space 398 formed between the body 304 and the cage 220. However, the flange 302 can remain sealed and engaged with the cage 220 in the closed configuration 250 of the pinch valve subassembly 110, and this sealed engagement between the flange 302 and the cage 220 can prevent the flow of working fluid between the flange 302 and the cage 220. Thus, the flow of working fluid from the space 398 to the outside of the pinch valve subassembly 110 can be prevented through the interface between the flange 302 and the cage 220. Thus, the sealed engagement between the flange 302 and the cage 220 can cause the working fluid to collide with the body 304, driving compression of the body 304 and establishing the closed configuration 250 of the pinch valve subassembly 110.

[0043] Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of the conduit system 200 in which the pinch valve subassembly 110 is installed. In the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 110, a portion of the cage 220 can be offset from the first internal housing wall 210 of the housing 202. Thus, during the operation of the working fluid source 244 that outputs the working fluid, a portion of the working fluid can flow along the second working fluid passage 450 between the cage 220 and the first internal housing wall 210. However, the seal 232 of the pinch valve subassembly 110 can remain sealed and engaged with the first internal housing wall 210 in the closed configuration 250 of the pinch valve subassembly 110. Thus, the seal 232 prevents undesirable flow of working fluid between the cage 220 and the housing 202 (e.g., out of the cavity 206) and can further force the working fluid to flow toward the main body 304.

[0044] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary conduit system 500 that can implement embodiments of the technology presented herein. The illustrated conduit system 500 includes a plurality of pinch valve subassemblies 110 positioned in a configuration parallel to one another. For example, the conduit system 500 may include a third pinch valve subassembly 110C, a fourth pinch valve subassembly 110D, a fifth pinch valve subassembly 110E, and a sixth pinch valve subassembly 110F. Each of the pinch valve subassemblies 110 can be fluid-coupled to a first port 502. Thus, process fluid can flow between the first port 502 and each of the pinch valve subassemblies 110C, 110D, 110E, and 110F. Additionally, the pinch valve subassemblies 110C, 110D, 110E, and 110F can be fluid-coupled to additional ports. For example, the third pinch valve subassembly 110C can be fluid-coupled to the second port 504, the fourth pinch valve subassembly 110D can be fluid-coupled to the third port 506, the fifth pinch valve subassembly 110E can be fluid-coupled to the fourth port 508, and the sixth pinch valve subassembly 110F can be fluid-coupled to the fifth port 510. The pinch valve subassembly 110 can control the flow of process fluid through each of the ports 504, 506, 508, and 510. For example, a separate working fluid source 244 can control the configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 110 to adjust the flow of process fluid through the pinch valve subassembly 110 and the corresponding one of the ports 504, 506, 508, and 510. In this way, the pinch valve subassembly 110 can control the flow of process fluid between the first port 502 and each of the other ports 504, 506, 508, and 510.

[0045] It should be noted that in certain implementations, different shapes of pinch valve subassemblies may be available. For example, alternative pinch valve subassemblies may have different diaphragm shapes / arrangements and / or different cage shapes / arrangements. Figures 7A, 7B, 8-10, 11A, and 11B illustrate various embodiments of pinch valve subassemblies and / or conduit systems incorporating different pinch valve subassembly configurations. However, it should be noted that each of the pinch valve subassemblies considered herein can be used within the same conduit system, such as by positioning them within similar cavities. In fact, in some embodiments, embodiments of different pinch valve subassemblies can be used interchangeably so that a single conduit system can incorporate embodiments of different pinch valve subassemblies, and / or so that an embodiment of one pinch valve subassembly can replace an embodiment of another pinch valve subassembly in the same conduit system.

[0046] Figure 7A is a perspective view of another pinch valve subassembly 610 in an assembled configuration, with a diaphragm 614 disposed within a cage 620. The illustrated diaphragm 614 may be similar to the diaphragm 214, but the illustrated cage 620 includes features that differ from the cage 220, as will be further described herein. The diaphragm 614 includes an opening 616 configured to direct process fluid through the diaphragm 614, and the cage 620 includes an opening 646 (e.g., at least one opening) configured to expose the diaphragm 614 and direct working fluid towards the diaphragm 614 to close the pinch valve subassembly 610.

[0047] Figure 7B is a cross-sectional view of a pinch valve subassembly 610 having a diaphragm 614 fixed within a cage 620 via flanges 702, etc., which extend radially outward from the main body 704 and abut against and seal the respective cage ends 626, 628 of the diaphragm 614 (for example, causing the diaphragm 614 to be under tension along the longitudinal axis 300). The opening 646 fluid-couples the main body 704 to the outer surface 648 of the cage 620, allowing the working fluid to abut against the diaphragm 614, deform the main body 704, and transition the pinch valve subassembly 610 into a closed configuration. The cage 620 may also include a cavity 716 with a recess having a shape (e.g., V-shaped, U-shaped, inclined, parabolic, tapered) that can guide the flow of the working fluid into the opening 646. The cavity 716 can extend circumferentially around the cage 620, and the opening 646 is located in part of the cavity 716 and can extend inward from the outer surface 648 of the cage 620 toward the body 704 of the diaphragm 614, so that the working fluid directed into the cavity 716 can flow along the outer surface 648 into the opening 646 and onto the body 704. Thus, the pinch valve subassembly 610 can be more easily installed in various rotational orientations, etc., to enable the desired operation (e.g., the flow of working fluid onto the body 704), as long as the cavity 716 can receive the working fluid.

[0048] The cage 620 includes a first recess 630A disposed between the opening 646 and the first cage end 626 of the diaphragm 614 along the longitudinal axis 300, and a second recess 630B disposed between the opening 646 and the second cage end 628 of the diaphragm 614 along the longitudinal axis 300. Each of the recesses 630 is configured to receive its respective seal 632 (e.g., its respective O-ring) to secure the pinch valve subassembly 610 within the housing. The cage 620 also includes a first groove or notch 760A (e.g., a first circumferential groove) disposed between the first recess 630A and the first cage end 626 along the longitudinal axis 300, and a second groove or notch 760B (e.g., a second circumferential groove) disposed between the second recess 630B and the second cage end 628 along the longitudinal axis 300. The groove 760 can assist in the installation and / or removal of the pinch valve subassembly 610 from the housing, as further discussed herein.

[0049] In the illustrated embodiment, the opening 646 of the cage 620 is aligned with a central axis 770 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis 300 at the center of the diaphragm 614 and cage 620 along the longitudinal axis 300. The recess 630 is substantially symmetric with respect to the central axis 770, and the groove 760 is substantially symmetric with respect to the central axis 770. Thus, the opening 646 is positioned equidistant from each seal 632 and each groove 670. Such a configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 610 can facilitate the installation of the pinch valve subassembly 610 and facilitate the desired positioning of the pinch valve subassembly 610 during installation. For example, either of the cage ends 626, 628 of the illustrated pinch valve subassembly 610 can be a leading end that is initially inserted into the cavity of the conduit system (e.g., toward the rear), and either of the cage ends 626, 628 can be a trailing end that is subsequently inserted into the cavity. Therefore, the pinch valve subassembly 610 can be installed in multiple orientations. Thus, the user does not need to orient the pinch valve subassembly 610 in a specific way (for example, so that a particular one of the cage ends 626, 628 becomes the tip) to enable its installation. However, in additional or alternative embodiments, one of the cage ends 626, 628 extends radially beyond the other cage end 626, 628. For example, the cage 620 has a tapered or frustoconical configuration and is configured to be positioned within a cavity having a corresponding shape. Such configurations of the cage 620 and cavity provide poka-yoke features to assist in inserting the pinch valve subassembly 610 into the cavity, for example, by facilitating the smaller of the cage ends 626, 628 to become the tip that can be initially inserted into the cavity without contacting the wall defining the cavity (e.g., the tapered wall). Furthermore, by utilizing separate seals 632 on both sides of the central axis 770, the movement of the pinch valve subassembly 610 can be more effectively restricted.For example, a seal 632 located in the first recess 630A and adjacent to the first cage end 626 can prevent movement of the first cage end 626, and a seal 632 located in the second recess 630B and adjacent to the second cage end 628 can prevent movement of the second cage end 628. Thus, the movement of both cage ends 626 and 628 is better restricted by the separate seals 632. Furthermore, the symmetry of the pinch valve subassembly 610 around the central axis 770 can help distribute forces more uniformly, for example, by avoiding force concentration in a particular part of the diaphragm 614 (e.g., one of the ends). As a result, the desired shape of the diaphragm 614 can be maintained to seal against the cage 620 and / or the conduit system housing.

[0050] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a further pinch valve subassembly 810 having a diaphragm 814 fixed within the cage 820 via a flange 902 or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the flange 902 extends to the outer edge 972 of the cage 820. Such extension of the flange 902 can increase the size of the flange 902 and, therefore, increase the structural strength of the flange 902. For example, the flange 902 can apply greater forces to the cage 820. Consequently, the flange 902 can maintain a sealing engagement with the cage 820, for example, by withstanding the relatively high pressure applied by the working fluid between the body 904 of the diaphragm 814 and the cage 820 while the diaphragm 814 is deformed (for example, the diaphragm 814 is compressed inward away from the cage 820). Thus, the flange 902 can maintain the coupling between the diaphragm 814 and the cage 820 and help direct the working fluid onto the diaphragm 814.

[0051] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of yet another pinch valve subassembly 1010 having a diaphragm 1014 fixed within a cage 1020 via a flange 1102 or the like. The illustrated diaphragm 1014 includes a body 1114 having a tapered wall 1174. For example, the diaphragm 1014 includes a tapered portion 1150 extending from the flange 1102, and the tapered wall 1174 extends between the tapered portions 1150. The tapered wall 1174 extends inward away from the cage 1020, thereby providing a space 1198 between the body 1114 and the cage 1020, even while the working fluid is not directed onto the body 1114 and does not compress it. However, the flange 1102 remains sealed-engaged with the cage 1020 to prevent undesirable working fluid flow between the flange 1102 and the cage 1020 (instead of against the body 1114). The tapered wall 1174 reduces the thickness 1176 of the body 1114. The reduced thickness 1176 of the body 1114 can reduce the amount of force that can be applied to deform (e.g., compress) the body 1114. For example, a relatively low amount of pressure from the working fluid can be provided to close the diaphragm 1014. Thus, the thickness of the body 1114 can be configured (e.g., by changing the shape of the tapered wall 1174) to vary the amount of pressure used to close the pinch valve subassembly 1010 (e.g., with respect to the pressure of the working fluid flowing through the diaphragm 1014). For example, a pinch valve subassembly 1010 with a diaphragm 1014 having a particular thickness 1176 can be selected and / or manufactured so that a target pressure of the working fluid can close the pinch valve subassembly 1010.

[0052] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a pinch valve subassembly 610 positioned within a conduit system 1200. However, it should be noted that the use of the pinch valve subassembly 610 is provided merely as an example, and any of the pinch valve subassemblies considered herein can be incorporated into the conduit system 1200. The conduit system 1200 includes a conduit 1204 and a housing 1202 containing a cavity 1206 fluid-coupled to the conduit 1204, thereby allowing the conduit 1204 to receive process fluid from and / or discharge process fluid into the cavity 1206. The pinch valve subassembly 610 is insertable into the cavity 1206 and can be fluid-coupled to the conduit 1204 in a mounting configuration such that one of the flanges 702 of the diaphragm 614 abuts against the rear surface 1208 of the housing 1202. In addition, the cap or connector 1234 is configured to connect to the housing 1202, extend over the cavity 1206, and abut against the other side of the flange 702 of the diaphragm 614. The cap 1234 defines an opening 1240 which is fluid-coupled to the opening 616, allowing for the flow of process fluid between the pinch valve subassembly 610 and the cap 1234 in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 610.

[0053] In the installation configuration, the opening 616 of the pinch valve subassembly 610 overlaps (for example, concentrically aligned) with the conduit 1204, allowing the flow of process fluid between the conduit 1204 and the diaphragm 614. Additionally, the housing 1202 defines the working fluid line 1242, and the conduit system 1200 includes a working fluid source 1244 fluid-coupled to the working fluid line 1242. In the installation configuration, the opening 646 and cavity 716 are fluid-coupled to the working fluid line 1242, thereby allowing the working fluid source 1244 to output working fluid through the working fluid line 1242 into the opening 646 and to the diaphragm 614, compressing the diaphragm 614 and closing the pinch valve subassembly 610.

[0054] As considered, either of the cage ends 626 or 628 can be the leading end that is initially inserted into the cavity 1206. For example, the housing 1202 includes a first inner wall 1210 in the cavity 1206 that spans a first distance 1252 from each other, and the first distance 1252 can accommodate the size of both the first cage end 626 and the second cage end 628. Thus, either the first cage end 626 or the second cage end 628 can be initially inserted into the cavity 1206 and positioned between the first inner wall 1210. Therefore, in the illustrated conduit system 1200, the second cage end 628 is the front end and the first cage end 626 is the rear end, such that the first diaphragm end 618 of the diaphragm 614 abuts against the cap 1234 and the second diaphragm end 619 abuts against the rear surface 1208. In an alternative embodiment, the first cage end 626 may be the front end and the second cage end 628 may be the rear end, such that the second diaphragm end 619 abuts against the cap 1234 and the first diaphragm end 618 abuts against the rear surface 1208. In either case, the working fluid source 1244 is configured to direct the working fluid to control the opening and closing of the pinch valve subassembly 610. In this way, the pinch valve subassembly 610 is facilitated in the housing 1202 without affecting the operation of the conduit system 1200.

[0055] The housing 1202 further includes a second inner wall 1212 that extends radially outward from the first inner wall 1210 in the cavity 1206 and is tapered. Thus, the second distance 1254 across the second inner walls 1212 is greater than the first distance 1252 across the first inner walls 1210. The second inner walls 1212 can facilitate the ease of installation and / or removal of the pinch valve subassembly 610 in the cavity 1206. For example, in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 610, the pinch valve subassembly 610 extends between the second inner walls 1212 to provide a gap between the cage 620 (e.g., the first cage end 626) and the second inner wall, increasing accessibility to the groove 760. For example, a tool 1230 such as a screwdriver and / or hook can extend through the gap into the groove 760. Next, the tool 1230 can be used as a lever to move the pinch valve subassembly 610 relative to the housing 1202 by contacting the cage 620 while positioned within the groove 760, thereby removing the pinch valve subassembly 610 from the cavity 1206. Similarly, the tool 1230 can also be used to move the pinch valve subassembly 610 relative to the housing 1202, thereby positioning the pinch valve subassembly 610 within the cavity 1206. By enabling the use of the tool 1230 to move the pinch valve subassembly 610 relative to the housing 1202, the groove 760 and the second inner wall 1212 allow for easier removal of the pinch valve subassembly 610 from and / or installation within the cavity 1206.

[0056] Figure 11A is a perspective view of a conduit system 1300 (e.g., an inline conduit system) capable of carrying out embodiments of the technology presented herein. The conduit system 1300 includes a first conduit 1302 (e.g., an inlet conduit), a second conduit 1304 (e.g., an outlet conduit), and an intermediate assembly 1306. The intermediate assembly 1306 is configured to direct fluid between the first conduit 1302 and the second conduit 1304. For example, the conduit system 1300 directs process fluid from the first conduit 1302, through the intermediate assembly 1306, into the second conduit 1304.

[0057] The intermediate assembly 1306 includes a first adapter, connector, or cartridge 1308 configured to connect to the first conduit 1302, a second adapter, connector, or cartridge 1310 configured to connect to the second conduit 1304, and a pinch valve housing or enclosure 1312 configured to connect to the first adapter 1308 and the second adapter 1310. In this way, the first adapter 1308, the second adapter 1310, and the pinch valve enclosure 1312 cooperate to connect the first conduit 1302 and the second conduit 1304 to direct the process fluid through them. The pinch valve enclosure 1312 is configured to receive and secure a pinch valve subassembly (not shown), such as one of the embodiments of pinch valve subassemblies considered herein. Therefore, the pinch valve enclosure 1312 directs the fluid between the first adapter 1308 and the second adapter 1310 via the pinch valve subassembly. The illustrated first adapter 1308, second adapter 1310, and pinch valve enclosure 1312 have a cylindrical shape, but in alternative embodiments, the first adapter 1308, second adapter 1310, and pinch valve enclosure 1312 can have any other suitable shape (e.g., a rectangular prism shape).

[0058] The pinch valve enclosure 1312 is also configured to be coupled to a working fluid source 1344. The working fluid source 1344 is configured to direct the working fluid into the pinch valve enclosure 1312 to close the pinch valve subassembly. Thus, the working fluid source operates to control the flow of process fluid through the intermediate assembly 1306, and therefore between the first conduit 1302 and the second conduit 1304.

[0059] Figure 11B is a cross-sectional view of the conduit system 1300, which includes a first conduit 1302, a second conduit 1304, and an intermediate assembly 1306. The first adapter 1308 includes a first cavity 1350 and a first opening 1352, which are fluid-coupled to each other. The first conduit 1302 extends into the first cavity 1350 and abuts against the first inner wall 1354 of the first adapter 1308, fluid-coupled to the first opening 1352. A first seal 1356 (e.g., an O-ring) extends around the first conduit 1302 and abuts against the first conduit 1302 and the second inner wall 1358 of the first adapter 1308, securing the first conduit 1302 within the first cavity 1350. A first retainer or collar 1360 surrounding the first conduit 1302 extends into the first cavity 1350 and abuts against the third inner wall 1362 of the first adapter 1308, further securing the first conduit 1302 within the first cavity 1350. Similarly, the second adapter 1310 includes a second cavity 1364 and a second opening 1366, which are fluid-coupled to each other. The second conduit 1304 extends into the second cavity 1364 and abuts against the first inner wall 1368 of the second adapter 1310, fluid-coupled to the second opening 1366. A second seal 1370 (e.g., an O-ring) extends around the second conduit 1304 and abuts against the second conduit 1304 and the second inner wall 1372 of the second adapter 1310, securing the second conduit 1304 within the second cavity 1364. A second retainer or collar 1374 surrounding the second conduit 1304 extends into the second cavity 1364 and abuts against the third inner wall 1375 of the second adapter 1310, further securing the second conduit 1304 within the second cavity 1364. Note that the illustrated adapters 1308 and 1310 have similar features to the illustrated conduit system 1300, but adapters with different features can be implemented in additional or alternative embodiments to couple with conduits 1302 and 1304. In practice, the conduits 1302 and 1304 can be coupled to each other and to the pinch valve enclosure 1312 using any suitable components such as clamps.

[0060] The pinch valve enclosure 1312 includes a chamber 1376. In the illustrated embodiment, the pinch valve subassembly 610 is positioned within the chamber 1376, but in alternative embodiments, any of the pinch valve subassemblies considered herein may be disposed within the chamber 1376. When the pinch valve subassembly 610 is positioned within the chamber 1376, the opening 616 of the pinch valve subassembly 610 is aligned with the first opening 1352 of the first adapter 1308 and the second opening 1366 of the second adapter 1310, thereby fluid-coupled the pinch valve subassembly 610 to conduits 1302, 1304 which are fluid-coupled to the first opening 1352 and the second opening 1366, respectively. Therefore, the process fluid can flow through the conduit system 1300 via the first conduit 1302, the first opening 1352 of the first adapter 1308, the opening 616 of the pinch valve subassembly 610, the second opening 1366 of the second adapter 1310, and the second conduit 1304. Furthermore, the pinch valve enclosure 1312 includes a channel 1314 that extends to the chamber 1376 and is configured to receive a working fluid source 1344. While the pinch valve subassembly 610 is positioned within the chamber 1376, the opening 646 of the pinch valve subassembly 610 is configured to fluid-couple to the channel 1314 (e.g., via a cavity 716). As a result, the pinch valve subassembly 610 is configured to fluid-couple to the working fluid source 1344 positioned within the channel 1314. For example, the working fluid source 1344 is configured to direct the working fluid through the channel 1314, through the chamber 1376, through the opening 646, toward the diaphragm 614, to close the pinch valve subassembly 610, thereby controlling the flow of process fluid through the conduit system 1300.

[0061] The seal 632 of the pinch valve subassembly 610 is configured to abut against the first inner wall 1378 of the pinch valve enclosure 1312, thereby preventing excessive flow of working fluid between the first inner wall 1378 of the pinch valve enclosure 1312 and the cage 620 of the pinch valve subassembly 610. Thus, the seal 632 biases the flow of working fluid from the chamber 1376 to the opening 646, facilitating the closing of the pinch valve subassembly 610. Additionally, the pinch valve enclosure 1312 includes a second inner wall 1380 that extends radially outward from the inner wall 1378 of the pinch valve enclosure 1312 in the chamber 1376 and tapers. For example, a groove 760 of the pinch valve subassembly 610 is positioned between the second inner wall 1380, and a gap is formed between the cage 620 and the second inner wall 1380 to provide access to the groove 760. Therefore, a tool (e.g., tool 1230) can be inserted into the groove 760 to facilitate the removal of the pinch valve subassembly 610 from the chamber 1376 of the pinch valve enclosure 1312, and / or the installation of the pinch valve subassembly 610 into it.

[0062] The illustrated adapters 1308 and 1310 are configured to be coupled to the pinch valve enclosure 1312 using their respective fasteners 1382. That is, the fastener 1382 attaches the first adapter 1308 to the pinch valve enclosure 1312 by passing through the first adapter 1308 and extending into the pinch valve enclosure 1312, or attaches the second adapter 1310 to the pinch valve enclosure 1310 by passing through the second adapter 1310 and extending into the pinch valve enclosure 1312. However, other components such as clamps, adhesives, welds, and latches can be used in addition to or instead of the fastener 1382 to couple the adapters 1308 and 1310 and the pinch valve enclosure 1312 together.

[0063] It should be noted that the intermediate assembly 1306 can be easily installed (e.g., manually) within and removed from the conduit system 1300. For example, conduits 1302 and 1304 can be easily coupled to and removed from adapters 1308 and 1310, respectively, via seals 1356 and 1370 and / or retainers 1360 and 1370. Thus, the intermediate assembly 1306 can be easily modified, such as for selectively incorporating the intermediate assembly 1306 in a specific location (e.g., to couple with specific conduits 1302 and 1304). Furthermore, the intermediate assembly 1306 occupies a limited physical footprint. For example, the first dimension 1384 of the intermediate assembly 1306 (e.g., length) can be less than 100 millimeters (mm), such as a value of 40 mm to 60 mm, and the thickness 1386 of the pinch valve enclosure 1312 can be less than 5 mm, such as a value of 3 mm to 4 mm. The compact size of the intermediate assembly 1306 facilitates its transport. Additionally, integrating the intermediate assembly 1306 within the conduit system 1300 does not significantly increase the overall size of the conduit system 1300, thereby enabling flexible use of the conduit system 1300 in desired configurations.

[0064] Figure 12A is a cross-sectional side view of another conduit system 1400 that can implement embodiments of the technology presented herein. Figure 12B is a detail view of “Area A” in Figure 12A. Figures 12A and 12B are considered in relation to each other for ease of explanation.

[0065] As shown, the conduit system 1400 includes a pinch valve subassembly 1410 which includes a diaphragm 1414 and a cage 1420 surrounding the body 1504 of the diaphragm 1414. The pinch valve subassembly 1410 is positioned within the housing 1402 of the conduit system 1400. In the illustrated example, the pinch valve subassembly 1410 includes features similar to those of the pinch valve subassembly 620, such as a plurality of seals 1432 and a plurality of recesses 1460, but in additional or alternative embodiments, the pinch valve subassembly 1410 includes features similar to those of the pinch valve subassembly 110. In any case, the diaphragm 1414 and / or the cage 1420 include features to facilitate fastening to each other and / or to the housing 1402 of the conduit system 1400.

[0066] As described above, the detail view in Figure 12B provides a larger visualization of area A of the pinch valve subassembly 1410. As illustrated in Figure 12B, the flange 1502 of the diaphragm 1410 includes a base portion 1512, a first raised sealing ring 1531A (first raised portion) extending from the base portion 1512 away from the cage 1420 (e.g., longitudinally) toward, for example, the rear surface 1408 of the housing 1402, and a second raised sealing ring 1531B (second raised portion) extending from the base portion 152 toward the cage 1420 (e.g., longitudinally). For example, in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly 1410, the first raised sealing ring 1531A is configured to abut against the back surface 1408 to reduce the relative movement of the diaphragm 1414 relative to the housing 1402, and the second raised sealing ring 1531B is configured to abut against the cage 1420 to reduce the relative movement of the diaphragm 1414 relative to the cage 1420. Thus, the raised sealing rings 1531 cooperate to secure the diaphragm 1414 and the pinch valve subassembly 1410 within the housing 1402. In some embodiments, each of the raised sealing rings 1531 includes an arc-shaped (e.g., semicircular) shape, but the raised sealing rings 1531 can have any preferred shape (e.g., corrugated or ribbed profile, angular) in additional or alternative embodiments.

[0067] Furthermore, the rear surface 1408 of the housing 1402 includes a lip 1552 that extends toward and abuts against the flange 1502 between the first raised sealing ring 1531A and the body 1504 of the diaphragm 1414, and the cage 1420 (e.g., the ends of the cage 1420) includes a bump 1550 that extends toward and abuts against the flange 1502 of the diaphragm 1414 between the second raised sealing ring 1531B and the body 1504 of the diaphragm 1414. Thus, the bump 1550 of the cage 1420 and the lip 1552 of the housing 1402 extend to contact and abut (e.g., compress) the flange 1502 of the diaphragm 1414, so that the flange 1502 extends a smaller passage between the cage 1420 and the housing 1402. The smaller passage helps to prevent the diaphragm 1414 from moving relative to the cage 1420 and the housing 1402. Thus, the diaphragm 1414 and the pinch valve subassembly 1400 are further secured within the housing 1402. In this way, the contoured (e.g., stepped) profiles of the diaphragm 1414, cage 1420, and housing 1402 cooperate to facilitate contact between the diaphragm 1414, cage 1420, and housing 1402, securing the pinch valve subassembly 1400 within the housing 1402. For example, the bump 1550 of the cage 1420 and the lip 1552 of the housing 1402 prevent the flange 1502 (e.g., base portion 1512) from sliding toward the body 1504 of the diaphragm 1414, for example, while the fluid is directed toward the body 1504 of the diaphragm 1414 and compresses the body 1504. As a result, flange 1502 maintains contact with cage 1420 and housing 1402.

[0068] In additional or alternative embodiments, similar features considered with respect to a flange 1502 configured to engage with the rear surface 1408 of the housing 1402 are incorporated into a flange 1502 configured to engage with a cap coupled to the housing 1402. That is, such a flange 1502 includes a base portion, a first raised sealing ring extending from the base portion away from the cage toward the cap, and a second raised sealing ring extending from the base portion toward the cage. Thus, the first raised sealing ring reduces the relative movement of the diaphragm 1414 with respect to the cap, and the second raised sealing ring reduces the relative movement of the diaphragm 1414 with respect to the cage 1420, thereby cooperating to secure the diaphragm 1414 and the pinch valve subassembly 1410 within the housing 1402. Furthermore, the cap may include bumps similar to those of the cage 1420, such that the bumps extend toward and abut against the flange 1502 between the second raised sealing ring and the diaphragm body 1504, thereby helping to prevent movement of the diaphragm 1414 relative to the cap. It should also be noted that any combination of such features can be independently and separately implemented in the pinch valve subassembly 1410. For example, one of the flanges 1502 may include a raised sealing ring extending toward the cage 1420 (e.g., a second raised sealing ring 1531B) but not a raised sealing ring extending away from the cage 1420 (e.g., a first raised sealing ring 1531A). As another example, one of the rear surfaces 1408 or the cage 1420 may include a lip 1552 or a bump 1550, respectively.

[0069] Figure 13 is a flowchart of a method 1450 for manufacturing a conduit system, such as any of the conduit systems 100, 150, 200, 500, 1200, 1300, and 1400 discussed herein. For example, the operation of method 1450 can be performed manually by a user, such as a technician, operator, and / or manufacturer. It should be noted that method 1450 can be carried out in different ways in additional or alternative embodiments. For example, additional operations can be performed with respect to the described method 1450. Additionally or alternatively, certain steps of the depicted method 1450 can be deleted, modified, and / or performed in a different order.

[0070] In block 1452, an elongated cage is coupled around an elongated tubular diaphragm to provide a pinch valve subassembly. The pinch valve subassembly comprises at least one opening configured to fluidly couple the elongated tubular diaphragm to the outer surface of the elongated cage, at least one circumferential recess on the outer surface of the cage, and an O-ring disposed in at least one circumferential recess. In one example, the elongated cage has a hole, and the elongated tubular diaphragm is inserted into one of the ends of the elongated cage and pulled through the hole to the opposite end of the cage, extending between the ends of the cage along the longitudinal axis. As a result, the elongated cage is disposed around the elongated tubular diaphragm in a sealing engagement such that the inner surface of the elongated cage is disposed around and facing a portion of the elongated tubular diaphragm (e.g., the body). At least one opening in the pinch valve subassembly extends from the outer surface of the elongated cage to the inner surface of the elongated cage, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, to a hole in the elongated cage, exposing a portion of the elongated tubular diaphragm disposed within the hole. In one configuration, the elongated cage, depending on its coupling to the diaphragm, places the elongated tubular diaphragm under longitudinal tension. For example, the ends of the elongated cage apply force to each diaphragm end, causing them to stretch away from one another.

[0071] In block 1454, the pinch valve subassembly is positioned within an elongated cylindrical cavity of the housing. For example, the pinch valve subassembly is inserted into the cavity, with one end of the diaphragm abutting against the back surface of the housing. A cage-coupled seal engages with the inner housing wall of the housing to fix the position of the pinch valve subassembly within the cavity. In some embodiments, the elongated cylindrical cavity includes a longitudinal axis, the pinch valve subassembly is inserted into the elongated cylindrical cavity in any rotational orientation around the longitudinal axis, and the diaphragm of the pinch valve subassembly is exposed to the fluid line in any rotational orientation around the longitudinal axis via a circumferential cavity that extends around the diaphragm and is fluid-coupled to at least one opening in the diaphragm.

[0072] In block 1456, a working fluid source is fluid-coupled to at least one opening in the cage, thereby enabling the working fluid source to output a flow of working fluid to the portion of the diaphragm exposed by the at least one opening, thereby transitioning the pinch valve subassembly to a closed configuration. In a particular example, a cap is coupled to the housing so as to cover the cavity, and the cap engages with the diaphragm. Thus, the cap compresses the pinch valve subassembly against the rear, further securing the pinch valve subassembly within the cavity.

[0073] Certain aspects of the technology presented herein have been described with reference to various explanations of fluid dynamics. These explanations are provided for illustrative purposes only, and it should be understood that the inventions presented herein will function regardless of a true understanding of fluid dynamics.

[0074] While specific uses of the technology have been illustrated and discussed above, it should be understood that the disclosed technology can be used in a variety of devices, according to many examples of the technology. The above discussion does not mean that the disclosed technology is suitable only for implementations in systems similar to those illustrated in the figures. In general, the processes and systems described herein can be practiced using additional configurations, and / or some described embodiments can be excluded without departing from the processes and systems disclosed herein.

[0075] This disclosure describes several aspects of the Art with reference to the accompanying drawings, and only some of the possible aspects are shown. However, other aspects can be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided so as to convey to those skilled in the art that this disclosure is thorough and complete and that the scope of possible aspects is fully communicated.

[0076] As should be understood, the various embodiments (e.g., parts, components) described with respect to the figures herein are not intended to limit the systems and processes to any particular embodiment described. Therefore, the methods and systems herein can be practiced using additional configurations, and / or some of the described embodiments can be excluded without departing from the methods and systems disclosed herein.

[0077] While specific embodiments are described herein, the scope of the Art is not limited to those specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize other embodiments or improvements within the scope of the Art. Accordingly, specific structures, operations, or media are disclosed only as illustrative embodiments. The scope of the Art is defined by the following claims and any equivalents therein.

[0078] Furthermore, it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not mutually exclusive, and various embodiments can be combined with others in any of several different ways. That is, the above disclosure is considered to encompass multiple different embodiments that have independent utility. Although each of these embodiments is disclosed in a preferred form, the specific embodiments disclosed and illustrated herein should not be considered in a restrictive sense, as numerous modifications are possible. The subject matter of this disclosure includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and partial combinations of the various elements, features, functions, and / or characteristics disclosed herein. Accordingly, it is appropriate to interpret the appended claims broadly and in accordance with the scope of this disclosure set forth in the following claims.

[0079] Furthermore, it should be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “top,” “bottom,” “inside,” “outside,” “inside,” and “outside” used herein are merely descriptive of reference points and do not limit this disclosure to any particular orientation or configuration. In addition, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as an example should not be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment of this disclosure. In addition, it should be understood that consumables or parts thereof described herein may be fabricated from any preferred material or combination of materials, such as plastics or metals, and their derivatives, and combinations thereof.

[0080] Finally, as used herein, the term “comprises” and its derivatives (such as “comprising”) should not be understood in an exclusive sense; that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc. Similarly, where any description describes “one” or “first” element or its equivalent, such disclosure should be understood to include the incorporation of one or more such elements, without requiring or excluding two or more such elements. On the other hand, as used herein, the term “about” and its family of terms (such as “approximately”) should be understood to indicate a value very close to those associated with the terms described herein. That is, a reasonable deviation from the exact value should be acceptable, as a person skilled in the art will understand that such deviations from the indicated value are unavoidable due to measurement inaccuracies, etc. For example, the term “about” may indicate a tolerance of plus or minus 0.002 inches, 0.001 inches, or up to 0.005 inches. The same applies to the terms “about,” “approximately,” and “substantially.” Furthermore, for the purposes of this disclosure, the phrase "A and / or B" means (A), (B), or (A and B), and the phrase "A, B, and / or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

Claims

1. A pinch valve subassembly, A long, slender tubular diaphragm comprising the main body, An elongated cage having an inner surface configured to be sealed and engaged with the elongated tubular diaphragm and disposed around the body of the elongated tubular diaphragm, wherein the elongated cage has a first end, a second end, and at least one opening extending from the outer surface of the elongated cage to the inner surface of the elongated cage between the first end and the second end, A pinch valve subassembly comprising: a seal disposed between the first end and the at least one opening.

2. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated cage includes a circumferential recess disposed between the first end and the at least one opening, and the seal is disposed within the circumferential recess.

3. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the seal includes an O-ring.

4. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated cage includes a circumferential pneumatic cavity, and the at least one opening of the elongated cage is disposed within the circumferential pneumatic cavity.

5. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated cage is configured to seal and engage with the elongated tubular diaphragm, and the elongated tubular diaphragm is positioned under longitudinal tension.

6. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the elongated cage further comprises a circumferential groove between the seal and the first end.

7. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, wherein the tubular diaphragm comprises a flange configured to contact the first end of the elongated cage, and the flange includes a raised sealing ring extending longitudinally from the base of the flange.

8. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 7, wherein the tubular diaphragm comprises an additional flange configured to contact the second end of the elongated cage, the additional flange includes an additional raised sealing ring extending longitudinally from an additional base of the additional flange, and the raised sealing ring and the additional raised sealing ring extend away from each other.

9. A conduit system comprising a pinch valve subassembly as described in claim 1, Includes a housing having an inner wall defining an elongated cavity having a longitudinal axis, A conduit system comprising a pinch valve subassembly configured to be installed in the elongated cavity in a plurality of different orientations that are rotationally offset from one another around the longitudinal axis, wherein at least one opening in the elongated cage is configured to receive working fluid from a fluid source through the outer surface of the elongated cage in each of the different orientations that are rotationally offset from one another around the longitudinal axis.

10. The conduit system according to claim 9, wherein the housing includes an additional inner wall extending from the inner wall, the inner wall and the additional inner wall cooperate to define the elongated cavity, the first distance being between the inner walls and the second distance being between the additional inner walls, the second distance being greater than the first distance.

11. The conduit system according to claim 10, wherein the elongated cage of the pinch valve subassembly further includes a groove adjacent to the first end, the groove being positioned between the additional inner walls in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly.

12. The conduit system according to claim 10, wherein the second end of the elongated cage is configured to engage with the end of the elongated tubular diaphragm, the housing has a back surface extending from the inner wall, and the end of the elongated tubular diaphragm is configured to engage with the back surface in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly.

13. The conduit system according to claim 12, comprising a cap coupled to the housing and configured to extend over the elongated cavity, wherein the cap is configured to engage with an additional end of the elongated tubular diaphragm.

14. The conduit system according to claim 9, wherein the seal of the pinch valve subassembly is configured to engage with the inner wall in the installation configuration of the pinch valve subassembly.

15. The conduit system according to claim 9, wherein the elongated cavity includes a cylindrical profile.

16. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 1, further comprising an additional seal disposed between the second end and the at least one opening.

17. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 16, wherein the at least one opening is positioned equidistant from the seal and the additional seal.

18. A pinch valve subassembly, A long, slender tubular diaphragm, An elongated cage having a first end, a second end, a hole extending from the first end to the second end, and an outer surface extending between the first end and the second end, wherein the hole of the elongated cage is configured to receive the elongated tubular diaphragm such that the elongated cage is sealed and engaged with the elongated tubular diaphragm and disposed around the elongated tubular diaphragm, and the elongated cage is configured to place the elongated tubular diaphragm under longitudinal tension, A pinch valve subassembly comprising: at least one opening formed through the outer surface of the elongated cage and extending to the hole of the elongated cage.

19. The elongated cage has at least one circumferential recess disposed between the first end and the at least one opening, and the pinch valve subassembly is The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 18, further comprising an O-ring disposed in at least one circumferential recess, wherein the O-ring is sized to extend beyond the outer surface of the elongated cage.

20. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 18, wherein the elongated cage includes a circumferential pneumatic cavity, and the at least one opening is disposed within the circumferential pneumatic cavity.

21. A conduit system comprising a pinch valve subassembly according to claim 18, The first conduit and The second conduit, A conduit system comprising: an intermediate assembly coupled to the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the pinch valve subassembly is disposed within the intermediate assembly and configured to be fluidly coupled to the first conduit and the second conduit.

22. The aforementioned intermediate assembly is A first adapter connected to the first conduit, A second adapter connected to the second conduit, A pinch valve subassembly according to claim 21, comprising: a housing coupled to the first adapter and the second adapter, the housing comprising a chamber configured to receive the pinch valve subassembly, the housing comprising an opening configured to receive working fluid from a working fluid source and to direct the working fluid through the at least one opening of the pinch valve subassembly.

23. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 18, wherein the elongated tubular diaphragm includes a first end and a second end, and at least the first end of the elongated tubular diaphragm includes a raised sealing ring that extends longitudinally from the base of the first end of the elongated tubular diaphragm.

24. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 23, wherein the second end of the elongated tubular diaphragm includes an additional raised sealing ring that extends longitudinally from an additional base of the second end of the elongated tubular diaphragm toward the raised sealing ring of the first end of the elongated tubular diaphragm.

25. The aforementioned elongated tubular diaphragm is A long, slender cylindrical body, A first flanged end is provided at the first end of the elongated cylindrical body, The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 18, comprising a second flanged end disposed at the second end of the elongated cylindrical body.

26. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 18, wherein the elongated tubular diaphragm comprises a flange configured to contact the first end of the elongated cage, and the flange comprises a raised sealing portion extending from the base of the flange toward the elongated cage.

27. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 26, wherein the elongated cage is disposed around the body of the elongated tubular diaphragm, and the elongated cage includes a bump extending toward the flange of the elongated tubular diaphragm between the raised sealing portion and the body of the elongated tubular diaphragm.

28. The pinch valve subassembly according to claim 26, comprising an additional raised sealing portion extending from the base of the flange in a direction away from the elongated cage, wherein the additional raised sealing portion is configured to abut against the back of the housing of the conduit system or a cap configured to be coupled to the housing of the conduit system in an installation configuration in which the pinch valve subassembly is installed within the housing.

29. A method for manufacturing a conduit system, To provide a pinch valve subassembly comprising a long cage attached to the outer surface of a long, narrow tubular diaphragm body, wherein the pinch valve subassembly includes at least one opening in the long cage that exposes the outer surface of the long, narrow tubular diaphragm body for fluid coupling of the outer surface of the long, narrow tubular diaphragm body to the outer surface of the long cage, and the pinch valve subassembly includes a seal extending beyond the outer surface of the long cage. Positioning the pinch valve subassembly within the elongated cavity of the housing, A method comprising fluid coupling a fluid source to the at least one opening in the elongated cage.

30. The elongated cavity includes a longitudinal axis, and positioning the pinch valve subassembly within the elongated cavity is The method according to claim 29, comprising inserting the pinch valve subassembly into the elongated cavity, wherein the pinch valve subassembly is operable to be inserted into the elongated cavity in at least a plurality of rotational orientations around the longitudinal axis, and the elongated tubular diaphragm of the pinch valve subassembly is exposed to a fluid line fluidly connected to the fluid source in each of the plurality of rotational orientations around the longitudinal axis.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein inserting the pinch valve subassembly into the elongated cavity includes bringing the pinch valve subassembly into contact with the back surface of the housing, and the method includes coupling the cap to the housing to compress the pinch valve subassembly against the back surface.

32. The method according to claim 30, wherein inserting the pinch valve subassembly into the elongated cavity includes engaging the seal with the inner housing wall of the housing.

33. Attaching the elongated cage around the elongated tubular diaphragm means Inserting the elongated tubular diaphragm into the first end of the elongated cage, The method according to claim 29, comprising pulling the elongated tubular diaphragm through the second end of the elongated cage, wherein the first end and the second end of the elongated cage extend the respective ends of the elongated tubular diaphragm, thereby placing the elongated tubular diaphragm under longitudinal tension.

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