Three-way solenoid-operated pinch valve assembly
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorWarren C. Bergmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-way pinch valve assembly is operated with a single solenoid with one pinch valve mounted on each end of the solenoid, one valve will normally be open and the other valve will normally be closed. The plunger of the solenoid is split so that each movable pinch bar of each pinch valve is separately adjustable. A back-up pinch bar for each movable pinch bar is likewise adjustable. A three-way valve is provided by connecting the tubing from the two pinch valves to a T-fitting having a single outlet.
Claims11
A solenoid-operated pinch valve assembly having a solenoid and a pair of body portions carried by each end of the solenoid, a passage in each body portion intersecting a passage extending through said solenoid, a plunger nested in said passage in said solenoid and having biasing means for urging said plunger toward one of said passages in one of said body portions, a movable pinch bar affixed to one end of said plunger and extending into one of said passages in said body portions, a second movable pinch bar affixed to the other end of said plunger and extending into the other of said passages, a separate flexible tubing extending through each passage of said body portions with a portion of each tubing being in alignment with one of said movable pinch bars, a back-up pinch bar carried by each body portion in alignment with said portion of said flexible tubing and in alignment with one of said movable pinch bars, means on said plunger for adjusting the position of said movable pinch bars relative to said flexible tubing and means for adjusting said back-up pinch bars relative to said flexible tubing whereby said biasing means urges one of said movable pinch bars into position to restrict the flow in one of said tubings while the other pinch bar is in position to permit flow in the other of said tubings and means for energizing said solenoid for compressing said biasing means and moving said movable pinch bars for restricting flow in said other of said tubings while permitting flow in the said one of said tubings.
A solenoid-operated valve assembly comprising:
- (a) a solenoid defining a central, open-ended passageway therethrough;
- (b) plunger means nested within said passageway for movement in a first axial direction upon energization of said solenoid;
- (c) biasing means for moving said plunger means in a second axial direction opposite said first direction upon deenergization of said solenoid;
- (d) first and second fluid flow means disposed adjacent respective opposite ends of said solenoid in alignment with the open ends of said passageway;
- (e) first fluid control means affixed on a first end of said plunger means for restricting the flow of fluid through said first fluid flow means upon movement of said plunger means in said first axial direction;
- (f) second fluid control means affixed on a second end of said plunger means for restricting the flow of fluid in said second fluid flow means upon movement of said plunger means in said second axial direction;
- and,
- (g) adjustment means for permitting the flow of fluid through each respective fluid flow means upon the restriction of the flow of fluid through the oppositely disposed fluid flow means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.