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US 2017/0321810 A1Published application
Bi-Stable Electrically Actuated Valve
AssigneePicoBrew, LLC, a Delaware Corporation
InventorAvi R. Geiger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pinch valve may use a spring force to close a collapsible tube at a pinch point, and may open with a cam mechanism, which may be controlled using an electric motor. The open and closed positions of the pinch valve may be stable without the use of continuing electrical energy, and electrical energy may be consumed during a change between positions. One arrangement may use multiple tubes in a circular arrangement with a cam that may operate one or more of the valves at a time. The cam mechanism may be driven by an electric motor.
Claims19
A valve comprising:
- a first collapsible tube;
- a first clamp disposed to pinch said first collapsible tube;
- a first closing force generator generating a closing force against said first clamp disposed to cause said first collapsible tube to be closed;
- a cam mechanism having an open and closed position, said closed position being disposed such that said first closing force generator causes said first collapsible tube to be closed, said open position being disposed such that said cam mechanism causes said first clamp to open and causing said first collapsible tube to be open.
1 more element
A valve bank comprising:
- a plurality of collapsible tubes;
- for each of said collapsible tubes:
- a clamp disposed to pinch said collapsible tube;
- and
- a closing force generator generating a closing force against said collapsible tube;
- a cam mechanism comprising a moving cam lobe mounted on a track, said moving cam lobe being disposed to open a first one of said clamps and thereby open a first one of said collapsible tubes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.