Pinch Valve Pivoting Tube Retaining Means
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pinch valves often struggle to retain small tubes in the non-pinched position, leading to tube escape and difficulties in cleaning and disinfection, especially in industries where frequent tubing exchange is necessary.
Innovation Solution
A pinch valve with a pivoting tube retaining means that can be positioned in multiple states, including a locking position to secure tubes of various sizes and a pivoting barrier to prevent escape, along with pinch protection mechanisms to prevent operator accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tube holding room with a bend (L or J shape) is provided to retain the tube, then the tube can be held in place, but it becomes more difficult to clean and disinfect the valve
Solution Approach 1:
The tube retaining means is divided into a barrier portion and a locking portion that can move independently between locked and unlocked positions. This segmentation allows the barrier to prevent tube escape while the locking mechanism provides secure retention, eliminating the need for complex bent geometries that hinder cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube retaining means is designed as a movable component that can transition between different positions (locked and unlocked). This dynamic design allows the barrier to be positioned to secure the tube during operation and moved away during cleaning, resolving the contradiction between retention reliability and ease of cleaning.
2Reliability
If the tube is compressed during insertion to fit into the pinch valve, then the tube can be secured, but it increases the difficulty of operation and risk of damage
Solution Approach 1:
The tube retaining means is positioned in an unlocked state before tube insertion, allowing the tube to be placed into the valve without compression. After insertion, the locking mechanism is engaged to secure the tube. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for forceful compression during insertion while ensuring reliable tube securing.
3Reliability
If a tube retaining means is added to prevent tube escape, then tube retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tube retaining means combines the barrier function and locking mechanism into a single integrated component that moves as one unit. This merging prevents tube escape through the barrier while the locking portion secures the tube, achieving reliable retention without adding multiple separate components that would increase complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
A pinch valve is adapted to hold at least one flexible tube in a tube holding room (7) and comprises a plunger (13) adapted to protrude into the tube holding room and pinch the tube against an opposite side wall (11) thereof. The plunger (13) is controllable to be positioned in at least two different positions, an open position where the tube in the tube holding room (7) is not pinched, and a pinching position where the tube is pinched between the plunger (13) and the opposing wall (11). The pinch valve further comprises a tube retaining means (19) adapted to prevent the tube from escaping from the tube holding room (7), especially when the plunger (13) is in the open position, and which can be pivoted into at least two different positions, a non locking position used during insertion of a tube into the tube holding room (7), and a locking position for retaining a tube inside the tube holding room (7) even when the plunger is in an open position.