Multiple state valve
US5230497A · kind A · utility
2Cited by
5References
9Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jul 27, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 10, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16K7/045
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A multiple state pinch valve selectively controls the flow rate of fluid flowing within a flexible, resilient pinch tube. The valve includes a housing, and two biased pivot arm pinchers pivotally mounted in the housing on opposite sides of the pinch tube. Two springs bias respective ones of the pivot arm pinchers toward one another to pinch the tube, and two electromagnetic force field generators are mounted in the housing to selectively attract respective pivot arms away from one another to thereby selectively release some of the pinching of the tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.