Pinch-type valve

Claim 2

A resilient valve body for a fluid pressure actuated pinch valve having a substantially oval-shaped flow passage cross section throughout its length, said valve body having a hollow substantially oval configuration including parallel top and bottom portions connected by semicircular end portions, flange means for securing the valve body oval faces to the faces of a valve housing in sealing relation therewith, and means for providing an outward folding movement of the valve body end portions upon application of a fluid pressure to the valve body in a valve housing, said latter means comprising a tapered elongated protruding portion extending longitudinally on the exterior of each end portion and an opposed coextending depression on the interior of each end portion, the thickness of said valve body being reduced between each said protruding portion and the corresponding depression.

Claim 3

A pressure fluid actuated pinch valve comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially oval cross-sectional shape, a hollow resilient valve body having a corresponding oval configuration throughout its length disposed within said housing and defining an oval-shaped flow passage therethrough, said valve body adapted to be secured in sealing relation within said housing to form a circumferential pressure fluid chamber therebetween, means for admitting a pressurized fluid to said pressure fluid chamber to resiliently deform said valve body thereby closing said flow passage, means on the end portions of said valve housing permitting unrestricted transverse outward expansion of the valve body end portions during closure of the valve, and means on said valve body end portions causing an outward folding movement of said end portions during pressurization of said pressure chamber thereby providing a fluidtight closure of said valve body along a straight seal line, said latter means comprising a tapered elongated protruding portion extending longitudinally on the exterior of each valve body end portion and an opposed coextending depression on the interior of each said end portion, said valve body having an area of reduced thickness in each said end portion.

Claim 4

A pressure fluid actuated pinch valve comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially oval cross-sectional shape, a hollow resilient valve body having a corresponding oval configuration throughout its length disposed within said housing and defining an oval-shaped flow passage therethrough, said valve body adapted to be secured in sealing relation within said housing to form a circumferential pressure fluid chamber therebetween, means for admitting a pressurized fluid to said pressure fluid chamber to resiliently deform said valve body thereby closing said flow passage, means on the end portions of said valve housing permitting unrestricted transverse outward expansion of the valve body end portions during closure of the valve, and means on said valve body end portions causing an outward folding movement of said end portions during pressurization of said pressure chamber thereby providing a fluidtight closure of said valve body along a straight seal line, said latter means comprising a tapered elongated protruding portion extending longitudinally on the exterior of each valve body end portion and an opposed coextending depression on the interior of each said end portion, said valve body having an area of reduced thickness in each said end portion.

Claim 5

A pressure fluid actuated pinch valve as claimed in claim 2 wherein the thickness of said valve body is reduced between each said protruding portion and the corresponding depression.

Claim 6

A pressure fluid actuated pinch valve comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially oval cRoss-sectional shape, a hollow resilient valve body having a corresponding oval configuration throughout its length disposed within said housing and defining an oval-shaped flow passage therethrough, said housing and valve body each having parallel top and bottom portions, the top and bottom portions of the valve body respectively adjoining the top and bottom portions of the valve housing in the open valve position, outwardly directed flanges on the oval faces of said valve housing, outwardly directed flanges on the oval faces of said valve body adapted to overlie said valve housing flanges in close fitting sealing relation to form a circumferential pressure fluid chamber between the housing and valve body, means for admitting a pressurized fluid to said pressure fluid chamber to resiliently deform said valve body thereby closing said flow passage, means on the end portions of said valve housing permitting unrestricted transverse outward expansion of the valve body end portions during closure of the valve, and means on said valve body end portions causing an outward folding movement of said end portions during pressurization of said pressure chamber thereby providing a fluidtight closure of said valve body along a straight seal line, said latter means comprising a tapered elongated protruding portion extending longitudinally on the exterior of each valve body end portion and an opposed coextending depression on the interior of each said end portion, said valve body having an area of reduced thickness in each said end portion.

Claim 7

A pressure fluid actuated pinch valve comprising a hollow valve housing having a substantially oval cRoss-sectional shape, a hollow resilient valve body having a corresponding oval configuration throughout its length disposed within said housing and defining an oval-shaped flow passage therethrough, said housing and valve body each having parallel top and bottom portions, the top and bottom portions of the valve body respectively adjoining the top and bottom portions of the valve housing in the open valve position, outwardly directed flanges on the oval faces of said valve housing, outwardly directed flanges on the oval faces of said valve body adapted to overlie said valve housing flanges in close fitting sealing relation to form a circumferential pressure fluid chamber between the housing and valve body, means for admitting a pressurized fluid to said pressure fluid chamber to resiliently deform said valve body thereby closing said flow passage, means on the end portions of said valve housing permitting unrestricted transverse outward expansion of the valve body end portions during closure of the valve, and means on said valve body end portions causing an outward folding movement of said end portions during pressurization of said pressure chamber thereby providing a fluidtight closure of said valve body along a straight seal line, said latter means comprising a tapered elongated protruding portion extending longitudinally on the exterior of each valve body end portion and an opposed coextending depression on the interior of each said end portion, said valve body having an area of reduced thickness in each said end portion.

Claim 8

A pressure fluid actuated pinch valve as claimed in claim 4 wherein the thickness of said valve body is reduced between each said protruding portion and the corresponding depression.