Valve for controlling fluid flow through a tube, and related systems and methods
OwnerRonald Anthony Schmaltzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A valve assembly for controlling the flow of fluid through a tube by pinching the tube to prevent fluid flow. The valve assembly includes a valve that receives the tube in a passage between a plunger and a bar. A spring urges the plunger toward the bar to pinch the tube closed. The bar focuses the pinching force of the plunger to reduce the pinching force required to prevent fluid flow. The valve assembly also includes a caliper for opening, locking open and closing the valve and that is attached to the valve with a cable. To open and close the valve, a main lever and lock lever, respectively are rotated in the same direction.
Claims24
A valve assembly for controlling the flow of a fluid through a tube comprising:
- a valve including a bar, a plunger, and a passage between the bar and the plunger for receiving the tube, wherein the plunger is moveable away from the bar to an open position where the fluid can flow through the tube, and moveable toward the bar to a closed position where the plunger pinches a portion of the tube against the bar to prevent or substantially prevent the flow of fluid through the tube;
- a caliper including a main lever operable to move the plunger to the open position and a lock lever pivotally attached to the main lever and operable to retain the plunger in the open position;
- and
- a cable including a caliper end attached to the lock lever and a valve end attached to the plunger.
A portable fluid recovery system comprising:
- a reservoir for storing a fluid and an drain tube attached to the reservoir for draining the fluid from the reservoir;
- and
- a valve assembly including:
- a valve including a bar, a plunger, and a passage between the bar and plunger where a portion of the drain tube is disposed, wherein the plunger is movable away from the bar to an open position where the fluid can flow through the drain tube, and moveable toward the bar to a closed position where the plunger pinches the portion of the drain tube against the bar to prevent or substantially prevent the fluid from flowing through the drain tube;
- and
- a caliper including a main lever operable to move the plunger to the open position and a lock lever pivotally attached to the main lever and operable to retain the plunger in the open position;
- and
- a cable including a caliper end attached to the lock lever and a valve end attached to the plunger.
A valve for controlling the flow of a fluid through a tube comprising:
- a valve body including a passage having a longitudinal axis and sized to receive the tube, and a cavity that opens into the passage and includes a closed end;
- a bar attached to the body and extending through the passage adjacent the longitudinal axis and opposite the cavity;
- a plunger movable within the cavity away from the bar to an open position where the fluid can flow through the tube, and toward the bar to a closed position where the plunger pinches a portion of the tube against the bar to prevent or substantially prevent the flow of fluid through the tube.
A method of controlling the flow of fluid through a tube comprising:
- inserting the tube into a passage of a valve between a bar of the valve and a plunger of the valve;
- moving the plunger toward the bar to a closed position wherein the plunger pinches the tube between the plunger and bar to prevent the fluid from flowing through the tube;
- pivoting a main lever of a caliper to move the plunger away from the bar to an open position that permits fluid to flow through the tube;
- pivoting a lock lever relative to the main lever against a caliper body to retain the plunger in the open position;
- and
- pivoting the lock lever relative to the main lever away from the caliper body to move the plunger to a closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.