초록 ▼

A pinch valve has a pinch bar constructed and arranged to translate between two different positions when the pinch bar lies in any orientation. The pinch bar is comprised of two orthogonal legs, one of which extends through and rotates inside a hole formed into a body for the valve. Having the pinch

A pinch valve has a pinch bar constructed and arranged to translate between two different positions when the pinch bar lies in any orientation. The pinch bar is comprised of two orthogonal legs, one of which extends through and rotates inside a hole formed into a body for the valve. Having the pinch bar rotatable enables the pinch bar to be rotated away from where it would open and close a flexible tube.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pinch valve comprising: a pinch bar having first and second legs, which are substantially orthogonal to each other, the first leg having a length and an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the first leg, the second leg extending laterally across a first side of a valve surf

1. A pinch valve comprising: a pinch bar having first and second legs, which are substantially orthogonal to each other, the first leg having a length and an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the length of the first leg, the second leg extending laterally across a first side of a valve surface; andwherein the first leg of the pinch bar is translatable between first and second positions by linear translation of the first leg in first and second opposing directions, the first and second opposing directions being substantially parallel to the first leg's axis of rotation, such that linear translation of the first leg from the first position in the first direction, moves the first leg from the first position to the second position and moves the second leg of the pinch bar laterally away from the first side of the valve surface, linear translation of the first leg from the second position in the second direction moves the first leg from the second position to the first position and moves the second leg laterally toward the first side of the valve surface, the linear translation of the first leg between the first and second positions and the lateral translation of the second leg away from and toward the first side of the valve surface, being capable of pinching and un-pinching a flexible tube placed between the second leg and the first side of the valve surface. 2. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the valve surface comprises a heat sink. 3. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the pinch bar is configured to be rotatable relative to the valve surface such that rotation of the first leg around the axis of rotation, rotates the second leg through a corresponding angle. 4. The pinch valve of claim 3, wherein rotation of the first leg around the axis of rotation rotates the second leg to a park position. 5. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the pinch bar is configured such that translation of the first leg to the second position translates the second leg away from the valve surface. 6. The pinch valve of claim 1 further comprised of a spring coupled to the first leg and configured to urge the valve closed. 7. The pinch valve of claim 1, further comprising a solenoid operatively coupled to the first leg of the pinch bar and configured to translate the first leg between the first and second positions. 8. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the pinch bar is comprised of a handle that is configured to allow a user to manually open the pinch valve. 9. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the pinch bar is comprised of a handle that is configured to allow a user to grasp and rotate the pinch bar. 10. The pinch valve of claim 9, wherein the handle is J-shaped. 11. A pinch valve comprising: a valve surface;a pinch bar comprised of first and second legs, the first leg having a first length and a first axis of rotation, the second leg having a second length, at least part of the second leg being in front of the valve surface, the first and second legs being configured such that linear displacement of the first leg between first and second positions causes the second leg to translate laterally between third and fourth positions respectively, the third and fourth positions being relative to the valve surface;anda solenoid coupled to the first leg of the pinch bar and configured to translate the first leg between the first and second positions responsive to an electrical signal applied to the solenoid. 12. The pinch valve of claim 11, wherein the valve surface is comprised of a planar first part, and wherein the second leg and said first part are configured such that when the second leg is in said third position, a flexible pipe placed between the second leg and first part of the valve surface will be pinched, the second leg and said planar first part being configured such that when the second leg is in said fourth position, a flexible pipe placed between the second leg and first part will be substantially un-pinched. 13. The pinch valve of claim 11, wherein rotation of the first leg around the axis of rotation rotates the second leg through a corresponding angle measured around the axis of rotation. 14. The pinch valve of claim 11, wherein the first leg of the pinch bar has a substantially rectangular cross section. 15. A pinch valve comprising: a valve surface;a pinch bar comprised of first and second legs, the first and second legs having first and second lengths respectively, at least part of the second leg being in front of the valve surface, the first and second legs being configured such that displacement of the first leg between first and second positions causes the second leg to translate between third and fourth positions respectively, the third and fourth positions being relative to the valve surface;anda solenoid coupled to the first leg of the pinch bar and configured to translate the first leg between the first and second positions responsive to an electrical signal applied to the solenoid;wherein the second leg has a substantially J-shaped handle comprised of first and second substantially linear portions connected to each other by an intermediate U-shaped portion, the first and second substantially linear portions of the J-shaped handle being separated from each other by a distance equal to a width of the U-shaped portion, the width of the U-shaped portion being selected to allow a finger to fit inside the J-shaped handle portion. 16. The pinch valve of claim 15, wherein the first U-shaped channel portion of the valve surface has a first side comprised of a beveled edge, which is configured to engage the second leg and to lever the second leg from the third position to the fourth position as the first leg rotates about said axis of rotation. 17. The pinch valve of claim 15, wherein the J-shaped handle is configured to: enable the second leg to be manually urged from the third position to the fourth position and whereby the pinch bar first leg is manually urged from the first position to the second position; andmanually hold the second leg at the fourth position while simultaneously rotating the second leg and J-shaped handle about the geometric axis of rotation. 18. The pinch valve of claim 15, wherein the solenoid and J-shaped handle portion are configured to enable the valve to be opened manually. 19. The pinch valve of claim 15, wherein the valve surface is comprised of a thermally conductive material. 20. The pinch valve of claim 15, further comprised of a bias spring configured to urge the pinch bar to a closed position. 21. A method of operating a pinch valve comprised of a valve surface and a substantially L-shaped pinch bar having first and second orthogonal leg portions, at least part of the first leg portion extending through a hole formed in the valve surface, at least part of the second leg being in front of the valve surface and configured to extend laterally away from the hole and at least part way across the valve surface, the first and second legs being configured such that linear displacement of the first leg between first and second positions causes the second leg to translate laterally away from the valve surface and toward the valve surface respectively, the pinch valve being additionally comprised of a solenoid coupled to the first leg of the pinch bar and configured to selectively translate the first leg linearly between the first and second positions responsive to an electrical signal applied to the solenoid, the method comprising the steps of: manually drawing the second leg of the pinch bar away from the valve surface; andmanually rotating the first leg of the pinch bar through a first angle, which is centered substantially on the first leg, thereby rotating the second leg through the same first angle. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein linearly translating the first leg between the first and second positions laterally moves the second leg between third and fourth positions respectively, the third and fourth positions being determined relative to the first side of the valve surface, the method comprising the additional steps of: providing a first electrical signal to the solenoid, the first electrical signal causing the solenoid to move the first leg from the first position to the second position whereby the second leg moves from the third position to the fourth position. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of: resting the pinch bar against a stop, after the pinch bar is rotated through said first angle. 24. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of rotating the pinch bar through a first angle is further comprised of: rotating the second leg of pinch bar over a beveled edge on the first side, the beveled edge levering the second leg away from the first side of the valve surface.