Pinch valve and pinch valve unit

Abstract

A pinch valve unit comprises a pinch valve (12) and a valve drive (10). A valve housing (16) has an insertion slot (26), starting from an axial end (20), for a tube, said insertion slot being equipped with a locking part (48) that is rotatably mounted in a guide (56). The locking part has a receiving slot (66) which can be aligned with the insertion slot (26) in order to insert a tube into the receiving slot (66) and then to rotate the locking part (48) in order to close the insertion slot (26). When the tube is pinched, it lies in the receiving slot (66) end adapted to the shape of the tube in order to support the tube symmetrically.

Description

[0001] Hose pinch valve and hose pinch valve unit

[0002] The invention relates to a pinch valve and a pinch valve assembly. Pinch valves are used, among other things, to shut off flexible hoses that transport fluids or, for example, abrasive, corrosive, and fibrous products. Typically, pinch valves are used in single-use applications, e.g., in pharmaceutical, biotechnological, or chemical applications, where the fluid-carrying hoses are used only once and then replaced.

[0003] In this system, a hose runs through a valve housing where a pinch valve, axially displaceable by a valve actuator, presses against the hose, compressing it. The valve actuator is attached to the hose pinch valve and, together with the valve, forms a hose pinch valve unit. This allows for the replacement of both the valve actuator and the hose pinch valve, for example, in case of a defect. It is also common for the pinch valve to be used as a replacement part, allowing it to be swapped for a different one when worn or when using a different hose.

[0004] In practice, it is important that the hoses can be quickly inserted into the valve housing, are securely positioned there to be compressed by the pinch part, and can be quickly removed from the valve housing again, for example when the hose or the hose pinch valve needs to be replaced.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a hose pinch valve and a hose pinch valve assembly that enable quick and reliable insertion and removal of the hose, as well as reliable sealing when closing. This object is achieved by a hose pinch valve with an axial longitudinal axis, comprising a valve housing with an actuator-side housing section and an adjacent hose receiving section in which a locking element is mounted. The hose receiving section has an axially extending insertion slot extending transversely to the longitudinal axis through the valve housing from an axially free end of the hose receiving section, into which the hose can be inserted from the axial, free end. A guide is formed in the wall defining the insertion slot adjacent to the insertion slot.with which the locking part, provided with a receiving slot, is rotatably guided about a pivot axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis such that, in an open position, the receiving slot is aligned with the insertion slot and a hose can be inserted into the receiving slot via the insertion slot, and in a locked position rotated to this effect, the insertion slot is closed by the locking part and the receiving slot is open towards the drive-side housing section.

[0006] The insertion slot is open towards the end of the housing opposite the end to which the valve actuator is attached, so that, typically with a vertical pinch valve (actuator facing upwards), the hose can be quickly inserted and removed from below. To ensure the hose is securely housed within the valve casing and, most importantly, perfectly supported when the pinch section compresses it, a locking element is located inside the insertion slot. This locking element can be rotated from the outside so that its receiving slot, into which the hose enters via the insertion slot, ultimately faces the actuator-side section of the casing, i.e., it is open in the direction from which pressure is exerted on the hose.Because the hose sits in the receiving slot and is supported by the U-shaped wall of the locking element, the hose is evenly supported within the locking element during the crimping process. This improves the opening and closing of the hose. In other words, when the hose is crimped, it rests in the end of the receiving slot, which is shaped to fit the hose, providing symmetrical support. The locking element is typically rotated 180° between the open and locked positions. This ensures that the receiving slot is always aligned along the axial longitudinal axis in these positions. This longitudinal axis is also the axis along which the crimping element moves.

[0007] The locking element rotates around the hose, and its position within the valve housing is defined by a guide, such as a ring guide. Typically, the guide is a sliding guide.

[0008] To mount the locking element in the housing section, one embodiment of the invention provides for pushing the locking element transversely to the longitudinal axis into the insertion slot from one side of the insertion slot. This reduces the assembly effort and eliminates the need for complicated additional openings in the valve housing to facilitate assembly.

[0009] To prevent the inserted locking element from being pulled out of the valve housing and / or to hold the locking element in the insertion direction, a locking element may be provided. This locking element is, for example, a block that is attached to the valve housing, for example in the insertion slot, in a non-destructive manner, possibly with one or more screws.

[0010] A twisting of the locking part in the insertion slot can be prevented by a releasable position holder that fixes the locking part in the open and closed positions.

[0011] Optionally, the actuator can also serve as the position holder. This saves on components and reduces complexity.

[0012] For storage of the position holder, it can project into a sleeve-shaped extension provided on the locking part and be axially displaceable within it.

[0013] When the sleeve-shaped extension projects outwards, it engages in an outwardly open groove in the wall, which also defines the insertion slot. The extension moves within this groove as the locking element rotates. The groove, with respect to its longitudinal extent, lies in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, since the locking element also moves within this plane when it is rotated.

[0014] The extension can, which is not to be understood as restrictive, be positioned laterally in the groove or guided to determine the position of the locking part in the direction of the axis of rotation.

[0015] The position holder can be laterally displaced towards and away from the locking element and, in both the open and closed positions, sits within a retaining geometry in the valve housing. This positive-locking fit of the position holder within the retaining geometry, which may be designed to complement it, secures the locking element against rotation. Naturally, the position holder can also be spring-loaded, i.e., pre-tensioned into the position in which it engages the retaining geometry, thus creating a kind of detent connection.

[0016] The drive-side housing section can accommodate the pinch part, which is movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis towards and away from the locking part in order to clamp or release a hose held in the valve housing.

[0017] This crimping element is preferably an interchangeable part that can be attached to an axially movable drive plunger of a valve actuator, particularly without damage. A convex or cylindrical extension on the crimping element projects towards the locking element to press against the hose from the outside and compress it in a defined manner. The shape of the extension, which is particularly complementary to the receiving slot in the locking element, allows for a simple and complete seal of the hose.

[0018] To ensure easy access to the locking element in any direction of rotation, as well as access to the position holder, the axially free end of the hose receiving section can be cylindrical or dome-shaped on the outside. In a side view, the dome or cylinder preferably has an outer radius whose center point lies on the axis of rotation of the locking element.

[0019] The problem is also solved by a pinch valve unit comprising a pinch valve according to the invention and an associated valve actuator. The valve actuator has an actuator plunger to which a pinch element is attached. This pinch element is received in the actuator-side housing section and is moved back and forth axially by the actuator plunger. As mentioned, this pinch element is preferably a replaceable element.

[0020] A mounting plate can be provided for easy attachment of the valve actuator to the housing. This plate is attached to a free end face of the actuator-side housing section. The valve actuator is then attached to this mounting plate.

[0021] The mounting plate preferably closes the space provided inside the valve housing in which the crimping element is housed and moved. This space is accessible by removing the mounting plate, allowing the crimping element to be inserted.

[0022] The fastening between the drive plunger and the crushing part can be achieved, for example, by a spring-loaded detent element, which is housed, for example, in the drive plunger and, together with the drive plunger, penetrates an opening in the crushing part in order to then engage in lateral recesses in the wall of the opening in the crushing part.

[0023] For very simple alignment and mounting of the valve actuator, a receiving sleeve can be attached to the mounting plate, which receives and supports a shaft end of the valve actuator.

[0024] Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following description and the following drawings. These show:

[0025] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a variant of the hose pinch valve unit according to the invention with a hose pinch valve according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the hose pinch valve unit according to Figure 1 with the insertion slot closed, and

[0026] Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section view through the hose pinch valve unit according to Figure 1 with the insertion slot open.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a hose pinch valve unit consisting of a valve actuator 10, which can be a manual, hydraulic, electric, pneumatic or magnetic actuator, and a hose pinch valve 12 driven by the valve actuator 10.

[0028] The valve actuator 10, shown in section in Figure 2, is in the illustrated embodiment, for example, a pneumatic actuator that can move a drive plunger 14 back and forth along an axial longitudinal axis A.

[0029] The hose pinch valve 12 comprises a valve housing 16, which has an actuator-side, end-face end 18 and an opposite axial, free end 20, which in this case is dome-shaped.

[0030] The valve housing 16 is hollow inside and comprises an actuator-side housing section 22, which terminates at the end face 18, and an adjoining section extending in the opposite direction.

[0031] Hose intake section 24.

[0032] The hose receiving section 24 extends in the area of ​​an axially extending insertion slot 26, which extends axially from the end 20 into the valve housing 16 and is laterally continuous.

[0033] Starting from the insertion slot 26, a chamber 28 extends to the end 18 to accommodate a crimping element 30 (see Figure 3). The crimping element 30 is coupled to the drive plunger 14 via a detent device 32. The detent device 32 comprises, for example, a spring 34 and detent elements 36. The spring 34 sits between the two detent elements 36 and pre-tensions them outwards.

[0034] The crimping element 30 has a receiving opening for the drive plunger 14, in the wall of which recesses 38 (see Figure 2) are provided into which the locking elements 36 can engage to positively connect the drive plunger 14 to the crimping element 30. This locking device 32 allows the crimping element 30, which is designed as an interchangeable part, to be easily replaced.

[0035] The chamber 28 is closed at end 18 by a mounting plate 40, which has only one opening adapted to the cross-section of the actuator 14 for the actuator 14. A receiving sleeve 42 is attached to the mounting plate 40, into which a shaft end 44 of the housing 47 of the valve actuator 10 is inserted and thereby aligned relative to the valve housing 16 and fastened to it. Screw connections 46 couple the mounting plate 40 to the valve housing 16.

[0036] In the hollow interior of the valve housing 16, more precisely in the area of ​​the hose receiving section 24, a locking part 48 is provided, which is intended to open (Figure 3) and close (Figure 2) the insertion slot 26 for receiving a hose to be squeezed.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the locking part 48 has the form of a ring segment-shaped or U-shaped sleeve, as can be seen in Figure 1.

[0038] The locking element 48 can be inserted into the valve housing 16 from one side of the insertion slot 26, specifically in the region of the end of the insertion slot 26. A wall section acting as a stop prevents the locking element 48 from penetrating too deeply or from being inserted through the opposite side of the valve housing 16.

[0039] To prevent the locking part 48 from falling out or being pulled out of the valve housing 16 in the opposite direction to the insertion direction, a block-like locking part 50 is provided, which is screwed onto the valve housing 16 in the area of ​​the end of the insertion slot 26 after the locking part 48 has been inserted.

[0040] The locking part 48 has a radially projecting, sleeve-shaped extension 52 attached to it, which protrudes into an outwardly open groove 54 that starts from the insertion slot 26 and extends to the outside of the valve housing 16.

[0041] This groove 54 lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the locking part 48 into the insertion slot 26. The insertion slot 26, more precisely the wall that defines the insertion slot 26 on the inside, has a guide 56 incorporated into it, which is designed as a ring guide and whose diameter is adapted to the outer diameter of the locking part 48, so that the locking part 48 can be rotated 180° about a fictitious axis of rotation D (see Figure 3) in the aforementioned plane of the groove 54.

[0042] This rotation is carried out manually via an actuating element 58, in the form of a pin provided with a handle 60, the radially inner end of which projects into the extension 52 and is displaceable to a certain extent in its axial extension in the extension 52 by means of a retaining ring 62.

[0043] On its outer side, the valve housing 16 has a recess in the region of the end of the insertion slot 26, which has a retaining geometry 64 for receiving a thickened section of the actuating element 58. The retaining geometry 64 is at least partially complementary to the outer geometry of the actuating element 58 in that section of the actuating element 58 which can penetrate the retaining geometry 64.

[0044] Figures 2 and 3 show the retaining geometries 64, which are located on opposite sides of the valve housing at the end of the insertion slot 26.

[0045] As mentioned, the locking part 48 is C- or U-shaped and thus has a receiving slot 66 extending outwards inside it.

[0046] The receiving slot 66 preferably ends in a semicircular shape which is adapted to the geometry and dimensions of a hose to be squeezed.

[0047] In the open position shown in Figure 3, the receiving slot 66 is open towards the end 20, i.e., the insertion slot 26 merges into the receiving slot 66. It is clearly visible in Figure 3 that the width of the insertion slot 26 corresponds to the width of the receiving slot 66.

[0048] From below, a hose 68 can then be inserted through the insertion slot 26 into the

[0049] The hose 68 is inserted into the receiving slot 66 of the locking part 48. The locking part 48 is preferably large enough that, in cross-section, the hose 68 lies completely within the locking part 48.

[0050] The actuating element 58, which also serves as a position holder, is then manually pulled outwards in its longitudinal direction, so that the holder is released via the holding geometry 64 and a section with a smaller cross-section of the pin-like actuating element 58 is located in the area of ​​the holding geometry 64.

[0051] This allows the locking element 48 to be rotated 180° around the axis of rotation D (see Figure 3) until the locked position shown in Figure 2 is reached, in which the opening of the receiving slot 66 is directed in the opposite direction, i.e., towards the drive-side housing section 22 and thus towards the clamping element 30. In this position, the actuating element 58 is then pressed radially inwards again to engage in the retaining geometry 64 there and be locked in place.

[0052] Optionally, a preload spring may also be provided, which tends to push the actuating element 58 radially inwards into the locked position.

[0053] The crimping part 30 has on its side facing the inserted hose 68 a convex or cylindrical extension 70, which in cross-section (see Figure 2) corresponds to the shape of the end of the receiving slot 66 and thus to the diameter of the hose 68 minus the hose wall thickness or twice the hose wall thickness.

[0054] By actuating the valve actuator 10, the extension 70 is pressed against the hose 68, which is then deformed downwards until the opposite halves of the hose wall are pressed firmly against each other and the hose is clamped off.

Claims

Protection claims 1. A pinch valve with an axial longitudinal axis (A), comprising a valve housing (16) which has an actuator-side housing section (22) and an adjoining hose receiving section (24) in which a locking element (48) is mounted, wherein the hose receiving section (24) has an axially extending insertion slot (26) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (A) through the valve housing (16) from an axially free end (20) of the hose receiving section (24) at its end face, into which the hose can be inserted from the axial, free end (20), wherein a guide (56) is formed in the wall defining the insertion slot (26) adjacent to the insertion slot (26), with which the locking element (48) provided with a receiving slot (66) is rotatably guided about a rotation axis (D) extending transversely to the longitudinal axis (A),that in an open position the receiving slot (66) is aligned with the insertion slot (26) and a hose (68) can be inserted into the receiving slot (66) via the insertion slot (26) and in a twisted, locked position the insertion slot (26) is closed by the locking part (48) and the receiving slot (66) is open towards the drive-side housing section (22).

2. Hose pinch valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide (56) is a ring guide.

3. Hose pinch valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking part (48) can be inserted transversely to the longitudinal axis (A) into the insertion slot (26) from one side of the insertion slot (26).

4. Hose pinch valve according to claim 3, characterized in that a locking element is provided which prevents the locking element (48) from being pulled out of the insertion slot (26) after insertion.

5. Hose pinch valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an actuating element (58) is connected to the locking part (48) and can be actuated from outside the valve housing (16) and transmits the rotary movement of the locking part (48) to the locking part (48).

6. Hose pinch valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a position holder is provided which fixes the locking part (48) in the open and closed positions and / or that the actuating element (58) also forms the position holder.

7. Hose pinch valve according to claim 6, characterized in that the position holder projects into a sleeve-shaped extension (52) provided on the locking part (48) and is axially displaceable in it.

8. Hose pinch valve according to claim 7, characterized in that an outwardly open groove (54) is provided in the wall defining the insertion slot (26) for the sleeve-shaped extension (52), in which the extension moves when the locking part (48) is rotated, wherein the groove (54) extends in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation (D).

9. Hose pinch valve according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the position holder is laterally displaceable away from and towards the locking part (48) and sits in a retaining geometry (64) in the valve housing (16) in the open and closed positions, in which it secures the locking part (48) against rotation.

10. Hose pinch valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pinch part (30) is received in the drive-side housing section (22) which is movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis (A) towards and away from the locking part (48) in order to clamp a hose (68).

11. Hose pinch valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pinch part (30) is an interchangeable part that can be attached to an axially movable drive plunger (14) of a valve drive (10) and has a convex or cylindrical extension (70) that projects in the direction of the locking part (48).

12. Hose pinch valve according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial free end (20) of the hose receiving section (24) is dome-shaped on the outside.

13. Hose pinch valve unit comprising a hose pinch valve according to one of the preceding claims and a valve actuator associated therewith with an actuator plunger to which a pinch part (30) is attached, which is received in the actuator-side housing section (22) and is movable back and forth in the axial direction by the actuator plunger (14).

14. Hose pinch valve assembly according to claim 13, characterized in that a mounting plate (40) is attached to a free end face (18) of the actuator-side housing section (22) to which the valve actuator (10) is attached.

15. Hose pinch valve assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that a receiving sleeve (42) is attached to the mounting plate (40), which receives and supports a stem end (44) of the valve actuator (10).

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