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US 8,955,819 B2Granted
Cinch valve with elastic elements
AssigneeAcrison, Inc.
InventorMarc S. Landry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cinch valve includes a first plate with a first aperture, an orbital plate with a second aperture that is substantially aligned with the first aperture. The first plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first (open) position and a second (closed) position. The cinch valve includes multiple cables, each of which has a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate. Rotation of the orbital plate from the first position to the second position causes the plurality of cables to converge and form a woven closure. One or more elastic devices are arranged such that when the plurality of cables converges to form the woven closure, each elastic device urges a corresponding one of the cables in a direction that tends to open the woven closure.
Claims28
A cinch valve comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first aperture;
- an orbital plate comprising a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture;
- a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate, wherein the orbital plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first position and a second position thereby causing the cables to converge to form a woven closure;
- and
- one or more elastic devices arranged with their longitudinal axes in a direction normal to that of a respective one of the cables and with their longitudinal axes in the same plane as that of a respective one of the cables such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, each elastic device urges the respective one of the cables in a direction that tends to open the woven closure.
2 more elements
A cinch valve comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first aperture;
- an orbital plate comprising a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture;
- a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate, wherein the orbital plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first position and a second position thereby causing the cables to converge to form a woven closure;
- one or more elastic devices arranged with their longitudinal axes in a direction normal to that of a respective one of the cables such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, each elastic device urges the respective one of the cables in a direction that tends to open the woven closure;
- a lower plate having a third aperture substantially aligned with the first and second apertures, wherein the orbital plate is disposed between the first and lower plates;
- and
- a plurality of grooved bearings coupled to the first and lower plates, each grooved bearing comprising a groove arranged to receive an edge of the orbital plate.
4 more elements
A bulk bag unloading apparatus comprising:
- a frame arranged to support a bulk bag;
- a cinch valve coupled to the frame and disposed proximate to a spout end of the frame, the cinch valve comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first aperture;
- an orbital plate comprising a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture, wherein the orbital plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first position and a second position;
- a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate, wherein rotation of the orbital plate from the first position to the second position causes the plurality of cables to converge and form a woven closure;
- and
- one or more elastic devices, wherein the elastic devices are arranged with their longitudinal axes in a direction normal to that of a corresponding one of the cables and with their longitudinal axes in the same plane as that of a respective one of the cables such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, each elastic device urges the corresponding one of the cables in a direction tending to open the woven closure.
4 more elements
A bulk bag unloading apparatus comprising:
- a frame arranged to support a bulk bag;
- a cinch valve coupled to the frame and disposed proximate to a spout end of the frame, the cinch valve comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first aperture;
- an orbital plate comprising a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture, wherein the orbital plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first position and a second position;
- a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate, wherein rotation of the orbital plate from the first position to the second position causes the plurality of cables to converge and form a woven closure;
- one or more elastic devices, wherein the elastic devices are arranged with their longitudinal axes in a direction normal to that of a corresponding one of the cables such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, each elastic device urges the corresponding one of the cables in a direction tending to open the woven closure;
- a lower plate having a third aperture substantially aligned with the first and second apertures, wherein the orbital plate is disposed between the first and lower plates;
- and
- a plurality of grooved bearings coupled to the first and lower plates, each grooved bearing comprising a groove arranged to receive an edge of the orbital plate.
6 more elements
A cinch valve comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first aperture;
- an orbital plate comprising a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture;
- a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate, wherein the orbital plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first position and a second position thereby causing the cables to converge to form a woven closure;
- and
- one or more torsion springs arranged such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, each torsion spring urges a respective one of the cables in a direction that tends to open the woven closure;
- wherein the first end of each cable is coupled to the first plate with a first fastener that extends into the first plate, and the second end of each cable is coupled to the orbital plate with a second fastener that extends into the orbital plate;
- and
- wherein each torsion spring comprises:
- a substantially helical body portion that is wrapped around a respective one of the first or second fasteners;
- a base portion that extends from a first end of the substantially helical body portion and is coupled either to the first plate or to the orbital plate;
- and
- a cable urging portion that extends from a second end of the substantially helical body portion and provides a physical impetus urging a corresponding one of the cables in a direction that opens the woven closure.
9 more elements
A bulk bag unloading apparatus comprising:
- a frame arranged to support a bulk bag;
- a cinch valve coupled to the frame and disposed proximate to a spout end of the frame, the cinch valve comprising:
- a first plate comprising a first aperture;
- an orbital plate comprising a second aperture substantially aligned with the first aperture, wherein the orbital plate is arranged to rotate relative to the first plate between a first position and a second position;
- a plurality of cables, each cable having a first end coupled to the first plate and a second end coupled to the orbital plate, wherein rotation of the orbital plate from the first position to the second position causes the plurality of cables to converge and form a woven closure;
- and
- one or more torsion springs arranged such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, each torsion spring urges a corresponding one of the cables in a direction tending to open the woven closure;
- wherein the first end of each cable is coupled to the first plate with a first fastener that extends into the first plate, and the second end of each cable is coupled to the orbital plate with a second fastener that extends into the orbital plate, and
- each torsion spring comprises:
- a substantially helical body portion that is wrapped around a respective one of the first or second fasteners;
- a base portion that extends from a first end of the substantially helical body portion and is coupled either to the first plate or to the orbital plate;
- and
- a cable urging portion that extends from a second end of the substantially helical body portion and provides a physical impetus urging a corresponding one of the cables in a direction that opens the woven closure.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.