Pinch Valve Recess Geometry for Precise Tube Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pinch valves in chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, medical, and life science industries lack accurate control behavior for adjusting fluid volume flow and pressure, leading to limited control over tube pinching.
Innovation Solution
A pinch valve design featuring a movable pinching member with a base member and a recess that allows for variable size adjustment along the pinching direction, enabling precise control of tube deformation and cross-sectional area changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a flat support member is used for supporting the tube, then the structure is simple, but the control behavior for adjusting volume flow and pressure is inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with a recess that creates a specific geometric shape (V-shaped, U-shaped, or semi-circular) in the region where the tube is supported. This local geometric modification allows the tube to deform in a controlled manner into the recess, improving volume flow and pressure control accuracy without requiring complex overall structural changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The recess introduces a new dimensional feature (depth) to the otherwise flat support member surface. This creates a three-dimensional geometry that guides tube deformation along the pinching direction, enabling more precise control of the tube's cross-sectional area change while maintaining simplicity in the base structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If the pinching member moves perpendicular to the tube, then the pinching action is direct, but the tube deformation is uneven and control is imprecise
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is designed with curved surfaces (V-shaped, U-shaped, or semi-circular) that guide the tube to deform smoothly and uniformly. This curved geometry ensures that as the pinching member moves in parallel to the tube, the tube material distributes evenly during deformation, achieving homogeneous cross-sectional area reduction and precise volume flow control.
3Manufacturing precision
If a recess with variable size is used, then the tube deformation is homogeneous and control accuracy improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The recess geometry is optimized locally at the support section where it is most needed for tube deformation control. The recess extends only along a portion of the pinching direction rather than the entire length, concentrating the geometric complexity only where it provides maximum benefit for controlling tube cross-sectional area changes.
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
The design provides a process-safe and user-friendly method for accurately controlling fluid flow and pressure, reducing costs, and enhancing the durability of the tube through more homogeneous adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the tube can deform sectionally into the recess
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2~4
Figure 5A~5D
AI summary
The invention relates to a pinch valve (2), including a pinching member (10), a base member (20) with a support section (22) facing the pinching member (10) and configured for receiving a tube (T), wherein the pinching member (10) is movable relative to the base member (20) along a pinching direction (4) for pinching the tube (T), and the support section (22) and/or the pinching member (10) comprises a recess (26) extending at least along the pinching direction (4) for receiving the tube (T) sectionally.