Spring-Coupled Proportional Pinch Valve for Stable Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pinch valves used for proportional control in continuous flow systems face challenges with coarse pressure or flow control due to large changes in pressure or flow resulting from small anvil movements, and require high pinch forces and costly mechanisms for larger tubing and higher pressures.
Innovation Solution
A proportional pinch valve design featuring an anvil indirectly coupled to a displacement element via an elastic spring element, allowing force-controlled pinching that compensates for back pressure variations, providing stable pressure control and reducing control sensitivity through defined elasticity and a longer pinched tubing length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a displacement-controlled anvil design is used, then the valve structure is simple, but pressure control sensitivity is too high and control stability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spring element as an intermediary between the drive mechanism and the anvil. This spring element decouples the direct displacement control, allowing the anvil to be force-controlled rather than displacement-controlled. The spring absorbs displacement variations and translates them into controlled force changes, reducing control sensitivity and improving pressure control stability.
2Measurement precision
If small anvil movements are used for fine pressure control, then pressure control resolution is improved, but response speed decreases due to slow linear movement of precision mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional precision mechanical displacement control system (leadscrew) with a force control system using a spring element. Instead of relying on slow mechanical linear movement to achieve fine control, the system uses the spring's elastic properties to provide fine force control while maintaining faster response capabilities through the drive mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If larger tubing and higher pressures are handled, then application range is expanded, but pinch force requirements increase and valve cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from displacement to force through the introduction of the spring element. This allows the valve to handle larger tubing and higher pressures more effectively, as the spring can provide the necessary pinch forces while maintaining control stability. The force-controlled approach enables better adaptation to varying pressure conditions without requiring proportionally larger and more expensive valve components.
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 solution enables stable proportional control of pressure over a large range with reduced sensitivity to noise and increased control resolution, incorporating a spring element for self-correction of pressure deviations and optional ridge for enhanced pressure utilization.
Implementation Method 1
the anvil is indirectly coupled to the displacement element via an elastic spring element. The elastic spring element provides a defined play (i.e. elasticity) for the anvil at least as long as the tubing is not fully pinched so that displacement of the anvil is force-controlled by the elastic spring element
Data Source
AI summary
A proportional pinch valve for controlling the pressure of a fluid in a continuous flow system comprises an anvil for pinching a length of a tubing in the continuous flow system, and a drive mechanism including a displacement element for moving the anvil towards the tubing. The anvil is indirectly coupled to the displacement element via an elastic spring element. The elastic spring element provides a defined play (i.e. elasticity) for the anvil at least as long as the tubing is not fully pinched so that displacement of the anvil is force-controlled by the elastic spring element. A method of controlling the pressure of a fluid in a continuous flow system makes use of such a proportional pinch valve.