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US 8,894,035 B2Granted
Pinch valve having pivotably mounted upper and lower casings
AssigneeOxO Fab Inc.
InventorsFrederic Ruelland, Clement Simard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a pinch valve having upper and lower casings respectively supporting upper and lower pinch elements. The upper and lower casings are adapted for receiving a sleeve. A synchronization mechanism drives movements of the upper and lower pinch elements for pinching the sleeve. The upper and lower casings are connected by a pivot allowing pivoting of one or the other of the upper and lower casings for opening of the pinch valve, and for ease of access to the sleeve for maintenance purposes.
Claims20
A pinch valve in combination with a replaceable sleeve, the pinch valve comprising:
- an upper casing and a lower casing each comprising a sleeve rim engageable with a section of a lip of the replaceable sleeve, the upper casing and the lower casing being pivotably connected and being pivotable between a closed position where the sleeve rim of the upper casing and the lower casing is engaged to the lip of the replaceable sleeve and an open position where the sleeve rim of at least one of the upper casing and the lower casing is disengaged from the lip of the replaceable sleeve;
- and
- a synchronization mechanism comprising:
- a synchronisation shaft;
- an upper pinch element operatively engaged with the synchronisation shaft;
- a lower pinch element selectively operatively engageable with and disengageable from the synchronisation shaft, each one of the upper pinch element and the lower pinch element extending on a respective side of the replaceable sleeve when operatively engaged to the synchronisation shaft, and being movable with respect to one another, the lower pinch element being disengaged from the synchronisation shaft when the upper casing and the lower casing are in the open position.
3 more elements
A replaceable sleeve pinch valve comprising:
- an upper casing and a lower casing defining therebetween a sleeve receiving channel in which a removable sleeve is insertable, the upper casing and the lower casing beign pivotally connected to one another and being pivotable between a closed position and an open position, the open position allowing insertion and removal of the removable sleeve from the sleeve receiving channel and the closed position preventing removal of the removable sleeve from the sleeve receiving channel;
- and
- a synchronization mechanism comprising:
- an upper pinch element and a lower pinch element movable respectively to one another to pinch the sleeve, the upper pinch element and the lower pinch element being located respectively on an upper side of the sleeve receiving channel and a lower side of the sleeve receiving channel when the upper casing and the lower casing are in the closed position;
- and
- a synchronization shaft releasably connectable to the lower pinch element.
3 more elements
A method for replacement of the replaceable sleeve pinch valve, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an upper casing and a lower casing defining therebetween a sleeve receiving channel in which a removable sleeve is insertable, the upper casing and the lower casing being pivotally connected to one another and being pivotable between a closed and an open position, the open position allowing insertion and removal of the removable sleeve from the sleeve receiving channel and the closed position preventing removal of the removable sleeve from the sleeve receiving channel;
- providing a synchronization mechanism comprising:
- an upper pinch element and a lower pinch element movable respectively to one another to pinch the sleeve, the upper pinch element and the lower pinch element being located respectively on an upper side of the sleeve receiving channel and a lower side of the sleeve receiving channel when the upper casing and the lower casing are in the closed position;
- and
- a synchronization shaft releasably connectable to the lower pinch element;
- disconnecting the synchronization shaft from the lower pinch element;
- pivoting at least one of the upper casing and the lower casing in the open position;
- pivoting the at least one of the upper casing and the lower casing in the closed position;
- and
- reconnecting the synchronization shaft to the lower pinch element.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.