Pinch Valve Flange Geometry for Easy Single-Piece Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pinch valves face difficulties in easily attaching a tube body with a flange part to a holding member, particularly when the holding member is formed as a single piece, as it requires elastic deformation of the tube body's end part, which can lead to damage and compromised seals.
Innovation Solution
A valve design featuring a tube body with cylindrically shaped tube main body and annular flange parts, where at least one flange part protrudes radially outward via a curved part, with specific curved surface parts and varying thicknesses to facilitate easy attachment to a single-piece holding member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the holding member is formed as a single piece, then the structural integrity and simplicity of the valve is improved, but the ease of attaching the tube body deteriorates because elastic deformation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The curved part is pre-formed on the tube body during manufacturing, creating a built-in deformation zone that will naturally deform during assembly without requiring additional force or complex operations. This preliminary preparation of the deformation capability resolves the contradiction by making the single-piece holding member assembly as easy as multi-piece assembly.
2Ease of operation
If the end part of the tube body is compressed radially inward to deform it, then the ease of inserting the tube body into the holding member is improved, but the risk of damage and seal compromise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved part creates a localized deformation zone with specific geometric properties (radius of curvature relationships) that concentrate the deformation in a controlled area. This local quality change allows the tube body to deform smoothly during insertion without compromising the seal integrity of other critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved part is pre-formed on the tube body during manufacturing, creating a built-in deformation zone that will naturally deform during assembly without requiring additional force or complex operations. This preliminary preparation of the deformation capability resolves the contradiction by making the single-piece holding member assembly as easy as multi-piece assembly.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a flange part is formed on the end part of the tube body, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of elastic deformation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The curved part creates a localized deformation zone with specific geometric properties (radius of curvature relationships) that concentrate the deformation in a controlled area. This local quality change allows the tube body to deform smoothly during insertion without compromising the seal integrity of other critical areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design allows for easy and reliable attachment of the tube body to the holding member, reducing the risk of damage and ensuring a secure seal, while also enabling efficient assembly and operation of the valve.
Implementation Method 1
it is necessary to make one of the end parts of the tube body elastically deform while inserting it inside the holding member
Data Source
AI summary
A pinch valve 1 comprises a tube body 3 made of an elastic material having a cylindrically shaped tube main body 31 and annular flange parts 32 provided on the two ends of the tube main body 31 and having a flow path formed inside and a holding member 20 formed as a single piece and able to accommodate the tube body 3, wherein at least one of the flange parts 32 protrudes radially outward at an end part of the tube main body 31 via a curved part 33, at the curved part 33, a first curved surface part 33ais provided at the outside of the tube body 3 and a second curved surface part 33bis provided at the inside of the tube body 3, and in a cross section taken along a center axis of the tube body, a largest radius of curvature R1 is formed smaller than the largest curvature of radius R2 at the second curved part 33b.