Rotatable Pinch Valve Assembly for Easy Tube Change and Cleaning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art pinch valves, especially those used with dairy products, do not facilitate the installation and removal of bulk containers, requiring disassembly for tube passage and cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A pinch valve design with a spring-biased pinch bar and electrically actuated solenoid, allowing for easy manual operation and electrical actuation, combined with a removable pinch bar mechanism for simplified installation and cleaning, and a heat sink for improved thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If prior art pinch valves are used with fixed tube passages, then the valve structure is simple and reliable, but the installation and removal of bulk containers requires disassembly and is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch bar is divided into a fixed portion and a rotatable portion that can rotate relative to each other. The rotatable portion can be independently manipulated to facilitate tube installation and removal without disassembling the entire valve assembly, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pinch bar incorporates a rotatable portion that can dynamically change its orientation relative to the fixed portion. This dynamic capability allows the tube passage to be opened or adjusted during operation, enabling easy tube installation and removal without requiring complete disassembly of the valve assembly.
2Ease of operation
If the pinch bar is made fixed and stable, then the valve operation is reliable, but the tube passage cannot be easily accessed for installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch bar is segmented into fixed and rotatable portions, allowing the fixed portion to maintain valve operation reliability while the rotatable portion provides accessible tube passage for installation and removal operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable portion adds a rotational degree of freedom to the otherwise fixed pinch bar structure. This dimensional change allows the tube passage to be accessed and opened without compromising the stability of the fixed portion, enabling easy tube installation while maintaining valve reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the pinch bar is made rotatable for easy tube installation, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pinch bar is divided into fixed and rotatable portions, where the rotatable portion is a simple segmented component that adds minimal complexity while significantly improving tube installation ease. The segmentation allows independent optimization of each portion's function.
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
Enables efficient and easy installation, removal, and cleaning of pinch valves, enhancing operational speed and hygiene while maintaining fluid control in dairy and pharmaceutical applications.
Implementation Method 1
electrically actuated solenoid
Implementation Method 2
spring-biased pinch bar
Data Source
AI summary
A pinch valve for use with a liquid dispensing cabinet is comprised of a tube pinching device configured to translate between an open position and a closed position and an electrically powered linear actuator configured to provide a valve opening force to the tube pinching device, The pinching device is coupled to a spring device configured to apply a valve closing force to the tube pinching device. The pinch valve is additionally comprised of an operator handle facilitating manual opening of the tube pinching device. The pinching device is rotatable in the valve body. The valve body has a front surface heat sink against which a tube pinching force is applied by a tube pinching device and a rear surface with a concavity configured to receive a tube carrying a heat transferring fluid. The tube pinching device can be operated electrically or manually.