IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0427669
(2012-03-22)
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등록번호 |
US-8955819
(2015-02-17)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
22 |
초록
▼
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
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.
대표청구항
▼
1. 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 th
1. 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; andone 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. The cinch valve of claim 1 wherein each cable comprises multiple strands of wire and a coating material coupled to the multiple strands of wire. 3. The cinch valve of claim 2 wherein the coating material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber. 4. The cinch valve of claim 1 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. 5. The cinch valve of claim 1 wherein each elastic device is a compression spring configured such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, the compression spring is compressed and exerts a force that tends to push a corresponding one of the cables out of the woven closure. 6. The cinch valve of claim 1 wherein each elastic device is an extension spring configured such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, the extension spring is stretched and exerts a force that tends to pull a corresponding one of the cables out of the woven closure. 7. The cinch valve of claim 1 wherein the one or more elastic devices comprise: a first elastic device proximate the first end of each cable; anda second elastic device proximate the second end of the each cable. 8. The cinch valve of claim 1 wherein the plurality of cables comprises four cables, and wherein in the first position, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the first cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the third cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the fourth cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the first cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the second cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the fourth cable, and a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the third cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the second cable. 9. The cinch valve of claim 8 wherein in the woven closure, a flexible portion of the first cable passes over a flexible portion of the third cable and passes under a flexible portion of the fourth cable, a flexible portion of the second cable passes under a flexible portion of the third cable and passes over a flexible portion of the fourth cable, a flexible portion of the third cable passes under a flexible portion of the first cable and passes over a flexible portion of the fourth cable, and a flexible portion of the fourth cable passes over a flexible portion of the first cable and passes under a flexible portion of the second cable. 10. The cinch valve of claim 1 further comprising an actuator coupled to the orbital plate and operable to cause the orbital plate to rotate, relative to the first plate, between the first position and the second position. 11. The cinch valve of claim 1 wherein the cables are configured such that when the cables form the woven closure, each cable passes over two of the cables then under two of the cables, one of which is one of the cables it passed over. 12. 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; anda 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. 13. 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; andone 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. 14. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13 wherein each cable comprises multiple strands of wire and a coating material coupled to the multiple strands of wire. 15. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 14 wherein the coating material is selected from the group consisting of plastic and rubber. 16. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13 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. 17. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13 wherein each elastic device is a compression spring configured such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, the compression spring is compressed and exerts a force that tends to push a corresponding one of the cables out of the woven closure. 18. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13 wherein each elastic device is an extension spring configured such that when the plurality of cables converge to form the woven closure, the extension spring is stretched and exerts a force that tends to pull a corresponding one of the cables out of the woven closure. 19. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13 wherein the one or more elastic devices comprise: a first elastic device proximate the first end of each cable; anda second elastic device proximate the second end of the each cable. 20. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13, wherein the plurality of cables comprises four cables, and wherein in the first position, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the first cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the third cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the fourth cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the first cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the second cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the fourth cable, and a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the third cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the second cable. 21. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 20, wherein in the woven closure, a flexible portion of the first cable passes over a flexible portion of the third cable and passes under a flexible portion of the fourth cable, a flexible portion of the second cable passes under a flexible portion of the third cable and passes over a flexible portion of the fourth cable, a flexible portion of the third cable passes under a flexible portion of the first cable and passes over a flexible portion of the fourth cable, and a flexible portion of the fourth cable passes over a flexible portion of the first cable and passes under a flexible portion of the second cable. 22. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 13, wherein the cinch valve further comprises an actuator coupled to the orbital plate and operable to cause the orbital plate to rotate, relative to the first plate, between the first position and the second position. 23. The bulk bag unloading assembly of claim 13 further comprising: a paddle-type unloader or vibratory unloader coupled to the frame and disposed proximate to the spout end of the frame. 24. 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; anda 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. 25. 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; andone 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; andwherein 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; anda 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. 26. The cinch valve of claim 25, wherein the plurality of cables comprises four cables, and wherein in the first position, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the first cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the third cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the fourth cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the first cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the second cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the fourth cable, and a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the third cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the second cable. 27. 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; andone 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, andeach 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; anda 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. 28. The bulk bag unloading apparatus of claim 27, wherein the plurality of cables comprises four cables, and wherein in the first position, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the first cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the third cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the fourth cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the first cable, a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the second cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the fourth cable, and a flexible portion proximate to the first end of the third cable overlaps a flexible portion proximate to the second end of the second cable.
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