Pinch Valve Rod-Coupled Tube Structure for Reliable Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tube body in pinch valves deteriorates over time due to repeated pressing and releasing, leading to issues such as sticking, insufficient restoration, or plastic deformation, which affects the valve's ability to open and close reliably.
Innovation Solution
A pinch valve design featuring a tube body made of an elastic material with a cylindrically shaped rod member that can be snap-fit into a fitting recessed part on the pressing part, along with a transverse coupling part on the tube body, ensuring reliable control of opening and closing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tube body is repeatedly pressed and released by the pressing part, then the valve can perform opening and closing operations, but the material of the tube body deteriorates leading to sticking, insufficient restoration, or plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rod member as an intermediary component between the pressing part and the tube body. The rod member transmits the pressing force while being replaceable, thereby protecting the tube body from direct repeated mechanical stress that causes material deterioration. This mediator allows the pressing operation to continue without degrading the tube body material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter by using an elastic material for the tube body that can withstand repeated deformation without permanent damage. Additionally, the rod member is designed with specific dimensional parameters (length equal to the width of the tube body when fully closed) to optimize the force transmission and minimize stress concentration on the tube body.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the tube body material deteriorates, then the valve can continue to be operated, but the inner surfaces stick together or the tube body plastically deforms reducing response
Solution Approach 1:
The rod member serves as a mediator that separates the pressing part from direct contact with the tube body, reducing the mechanical stress and friction that cause material deterioration and sticking. This intermediary protection maintains the tube body's elastic properties and response speed over extended service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod member is designed to be replaceable and sacrificial, absorbing the wear and damage beforehand to protect the more critical tube body. By replacing the rod member instead of the entire tube body, the system maintains operational reliability and response speed without requiring complete valve replacement.
3Device complexity
If a traditional pressing mechanism is used without a rod member, then the structure is simpler, but the tube body cannot be reliably controlled to open and close
Solution Approach 1:
The rod member is a simple cylindrical component that provides reliable force transmission between the pressing part and the tube body. This simple intermediary element ensures controlled opening and closing by evenly distributing the pressing force along the tube body's width, preventing localized stress that could cause unreliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rod member serves multiple functions: it transmits pressing force, protects the tube body from direct stress, provides a reference dimension for proper valve closure (its length matches the tube body width when closed), and acts as a replaceable sacrificial component. This multi-functionality achieves reliable control without significantly increasing structural complexity.
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 allows for precise and reliable control of opening and closing, minimizing damage to the tube body and maintaining functionality even with material deterioration, while avoiding stress concentration and ensuring easy assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a tube body (3) made of an elastic material having a flow path formed inside... pressing or releasing the tube body (3) by the pressing part (4) through the rod member (6) makes the tube body (3) deform
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A pinch valve 1 comprises a tube body 3 made of an elastic material having a flow path formed inside, a pressing part 4, a rod member 6 attached to a front end of the pressing part 4, and a coupling part 35 provided on the outer surface of the tube body 3 and coupling the rod member 6 to the tube body 3 in a transverse arrangement with respect to the tube body 3, wherein pressing or releasing the tube body 3 by the pressing part 4 through the rod member 6 makes the tube body 3 deform and opens or closes the flow path.