초록 ▼

A pinch valve for use with a liquid dispensing cabinet is comprised of a tube pinching device configured to translate between an open position and a closed position and an electrically powered linear actuator configured to provide a valve opening force to the tube pinching device, The pinching devic

A pinch valve for use with a liquid dispensing cabinet is comprised of a tube pinching device configured to translate between an open position and a closed position and an electrically powered linear actuator configured to provide a valve opening force to the tube pinching device, The pinching device is coupled to a spring device configured to apply a valve closing force to the tube pinching device. The pinch valve is additionally comprised of an operator handle facilitating manual opening of the tube pinching device. The pinching device is rotatable in the valve body. The valve body has a front surface heat sink against which a tube pinching force is applied by a tube pinching device and a rear surface with a concavity configured to receive a tube carrying a heat transferring fluid. The tube pinching device can be operated electrically or manually.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pinch valve comprising: a tube pinching device comprising a handle, the handle including a pinching edge, the handle being attached to a rotatable and linearly translatable rod portion having a first end attached to the handle, the rod portion, its first end and the handle being configured to t

1. A pinch valve comprising: a tube pinching device comprising a handle, the handle including a pinching edge, the handle being attached to a rotatable and linearly translatable rod portion having a first end attached to the handle, the rod portion, its first end and the handle being configured to translate linearly between a first valve open position and a second valve closed position responsive to force provided to the rod portion from at least one of: an electrically powered linear actuator, a valve closing spring and a user pulling on the tube handle of the pinching device, the handle including a pinching edge;andan electrically powered linear actuator configured to provide a mechanical valve opening force to the tube pinching device, the valve opening force being generated to act in a first direction which causes the tube pinching device to translate from the closed position to the open position. 2. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is additionally configured to selectively provide a valve closing force to the tube pinching device, the valve closing force acting in a second direction opposite the first direction and causing the tube pinching device to translate from the valve open position to the valve closed position. 3. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the tube pinching device is coupled to a spring device configured to apply a valve closing force to the tube pinching device, the valve closing force acting in a second direction opposite the first direction and having a magnitude less than the magnitude of the mechanical valve opening force. 4. The pinch valve of claim 1, wherein the handle has an opening that is sized, shaped and arranged to receive at least one finger and wherein the tube pinching device is additionally configured to be capable of being linearly translated manually between an open position and a closed position by actuation of the operator handle and capable of being rotated manually when in said open position. 5. The pinch valve of claim 4, wherein the operator handle is comprised of an edge, through which the valve closing force is applied toward a fixed surface. 6. The pinch valve of claim 1, further comprised of a valve body, and wherein the rod portion extends at least part way through the valve body, the rod portion being rotatable in the valve body. 7. A pinch valve comprising: a handle having an open center bounded by an exterior edge, the open center region being sized and shaped to be able to receive a finger, a first portion of the exterior edge of the handle being configured to apply a tube pinching force against a surface;an elongated and rotatable rod having first and second ends, the first end of the rod being attached to the handle;a refrigerated heat sink formed from a block of metal, the heat sink comprising a first side that faces away from the block of metal, a first portion of the first side being formed to have a first channel that is substantially vertical, the first channel having a width and a depth, the width and depth selected to receive a length of a flexible tube that extends downwardly from a container of liquid that is to be dispensed and restrict side-to-side translation of a tube in the first channel, the first side of the heat sink having a second portion to which the tube pinching force is applied, the heat sink additionally comprising a second side having a second channel, which is sized, shaped and arranged to receive a length of tubing, configured to carry a refrigerated heat transfer fluid;a tube pinching spring coupled to the elongated rotatable rod and, configured to urge the elongated rod and first portion of the handle toward the first side of the heat sink; andan electrically powered linear actuator coupled to the elongated rod and configured to move the elongated rod and first portion of the handle away from the first side of the heat sink. 8. The pinch valve of claim 7, wherein the second portion of the first side is set back from the first portion by a distance substantially equal to the depth of the first channel. 9. The pinch valve of claim 7, wherein the second channel is substantially horizontal. 10. The pinch valve of claim 7, wherein the first channel is concave and has a bottom, which is substantially co-planar with the second portion of the first side, and wherein the second side of the heat sink comprises a second concave channel, configured to receive the length of tubing carrying that is configured to carry a refrigerated heat transfer fluid and provide thereby, a direct thermal and mechanical coupling of a heat-absorption fluid to the heat sink. 11. The pinch valve of claim 7, wherein the rod and the handle are configured to be translated away from the second portion of the first side of the heat sink by manually pulling the handle away from the heat sink. 12. The pinch valve of claim 11, wherein the handle and rod are additionally configured to be manually pulled and manually rotated. 13. The pinch valve of claim 12, wherein the first portion of the handle is a narrowed edge. 14. A liquid dispenser comprising: a refrigerated cabinet having an interior, which is sized and shaped to receive at least two containers of liquid to be dispensed, each of the containers being provided with elongated flexible tubes through which liquid from inside the container can flow, the cabinet being additionally comprised of a pinch valve for each container, each pinch valve comprising:a refrigerated heat sink against which a tube pinching force is applied to a flexible tube by a tube pinching device, the refrigerated heat sink comprising a first substantially vertical channel formed in a first side of the heat sink, the first channel being sized, shaped and arranged to receive a length of the flexible tube from a container, that is extended from inside the cabinet, the refrigerated heat sink additionally comprising a second substantially horizontal channel formed into a second side of the refrigerated heat sink, the second channel being sized, shaped and arranged to receive a length of tubing carrying a heat-absorbing fluid, the refrigerated heat sink being capable of conducting heat between a liquid in a flexible tube in the first channel and a length of tubing carrying heat-absorbing fluid;an elongated pinch bar extending at least part way through the valve body, the pinch bar having a first end to which a valve opening force is applied by a linear actuator;a spring device coupled to the elongated pinch bar and providing a valve closing force thereto; andan electrically powered linear actuator configured to provide a valve opening force to the first end of the elongated pinch bar, the valve opening force acting in a second direction that is away from a rear side of a cabinet to which the pinch valve is attached. 15. The liquid dispenser of claim 14, wherein the first side of the refrigerated heat sink has first and second portions, wherein the first channel is a concavity having a length, width and depth and is formed into the first portion of the first side, wherein the second portion of the first side is set back from the first portion by a distance substantially equal to the first channel depth. 16. The liquid dispenser of claim 14, wherein the second channel is a substantially horizontal concavity formed into the second side. 17. The liquid dispenser of claim 14, further comprising a spring device configured to apply a valve closing force to the tube pinching device, the valve closing force acting in a second direction opposite the first direction and having a magnitude less than the magnitude of the valve opening force.