Fluid flow control apparatus

Claim 2

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: a flexible member and a rigid member connected intermediate the ends of said flexible member to define a toggle mechanism; and a valve member connected to one end of said flexible member and driven by said toggle mechanism, whereby motion of said rigid member actuates said valve member.

Claim 3

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible member is a ribbon spring.

Claim 4

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rigid member is the output shaft of a voice coil actuator.

Claim 5

A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said valve member is a tube pincher for squeezing an IV tube.

Claim 6

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongate, resilient member having one end fixed and its opposite end free to move at least linearly along the relaxation axis of said member when said member is flexed; a valve member carried at the free end of said resilient member; and a driver member connected intermediate the fixed and free ends of said resilient member to define, together with said resilient member, a toggle mechanism, whereby motion of said driver member drives said valve member.

Claim 7

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongate, resilient member having one end fixed and its opposite end free to move at least linearly along the relaxation axis of said member when said member is flexed; a valve member carried at the free end of said resilient member; and a driver member connected intermediate the fixed and free ends of said resilient member to define, together with said resilient member, a toggle mechanism, whereby motion of said driver member drives said valve member.

Claim 8

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said elongate, resilient member is a flat ribbon spring.

Claim 9

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said drive member is the output shaft of a voice coil actuator.

Claim 10

A combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said valve member is a tube pincher for squeezing an IV tube.

Claim 11

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongate, resilient member having one end fixed and its opposite end free to move at least linearly along the relaxation axis of said member when said member is flexed; a valve member carried at the free end of said resilient member; and an actuator means located intermediate the fixed and free ends of said resilient member and moveable in a direction generally perpendicular to said relaxation axis for flexing said resilient member to impart movement to said valve member.

Claim 12

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: an elongate, resilient member having one end fixed and its opposite end free to move at least linearly along the relaxation axis of said member when said member is flexed; a valve member carried at the free end of said resilient member; and an actuator means located intermediate the fixed and free ends of said resilient member and moveable in a direction generally perpendicular to said relaxation axis for flexing said resilient member to impart movement to said valve member.

Claim 13

A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said resilient member is a ribbon spring.

Claim 14

A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuator means is a voice coil actuator.

Claim 15

A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuator means is a solenoid.

Claim 16

A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said valve member is a tube pincher for squeezing an IV tube.

Claim 17

A combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said actuator means includes a rigid shaft having its opposite ends connected to said elongate resilient member and a second resilient member, respectively, whereby said shaft is supported in a floating suspension defined by both resilient members.

Claim 18

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: a first elongate, resilient member having a fixed end and a free end; a valve member carried at the free end of said resilient member; a second elongate, resilient member having a fixed end and a free end; and actuator means having a driver shaft with one end connected to said first resilient member intermediate said fixed end and said free end of said first member, said shaft also having its opposite end connected to said second resilient member, whereby movement of said shaft causes said first and said second resilient members to flex and impart movement to said valve member.

Claim 19

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: a first elongate, resilient member having a fixed end and a free end; a valve member carried at the free end of said resilient member; a second elongate, resilient member having a fixed end and a free end; and actuator means having a driver shaft with one end connected to said first resilient member intermediate said fixed end and said free end of said first member, said shaft also having its opposite end connected to said second resilient member, whereby movement of said shaft causes said first and said second resilient members to flex and impart movement to said valve member.

Claim 20

A combinaTion as set forth in claim 15, wherein said opposite end of said shaft is connected to said second resilient member intermediate said fixed end and said free end of said second member.

Claim 21

A combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said opposite end of said shaft is connected to said second resilient member at said free end of said second member.

Claim 22

A combination as set forth in claim 15, and further including: anchor means; and a pair of substantially parallel, elongate, spaced apart resilient elements having one pair of ends secured to said anchor means and having its opposite pair of ends coupled to said free end of said first resilient member.

Claim 23

A combination as set forth in claim 18, wherein said fixed end of said second resilient member is also secured to said anchor means.

Claim 24

A combination as set forth in claim 18, and further including: a pair of substantially parallel, elongate, spaced apart resilient elements having one pair of ends coupled to said fixed end of said first resilient member and having its opposite pair of ends coupled to said free end of said second resilient member.

Claim 25

A combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said first and said second resilient members are both ribbon springs.

Claim 26

A combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said actuator means is a voice coil actuator.

Claim 27

A combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said actuator means is a solenoid.

Claim 28

A combination as set forth in claim 15, wherein said valve member is a tube pincher for squeezing an IV tube.

Claim 29

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: first anchor means; second anchor means; junction means; a first elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor means and having its opposite free end attached to said junction means; a second elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said second anchor means and having its opposite free end attached to said junction means; a valve member coupled to said junction means; and actuator means having a driver shaft with one end connected to said first spring intermediate said one end and said free end of said first spring, whereby flexing of said first spring by said shaft imparts movement to said junction means and said valve member.

Claim 30

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: first anchor means; second anchor means; junction means; a first elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor means and having its opposite free end attached to said junction means; a second elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said second anchor means and having its opposite free end attached to said junction means; a valve member coupled to said junction means; and actuator means having a driver shaft with one end connected to said first spring intermediate said one end and said free end of said first spring, whereby flexing of said first spring by said shaft imparts movement to said junction means and said valve member.

Claim 31

A combination as set forth in claim 25, and further including: a third elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said second anchor means, said third spring also being coupled to the end of said driver shaft opposite said one end connected to said first spring, whereby said driver shaft is supported in a floating suspension.

Claim 32

A combination as set forth in claim 25, wherein said actuator means is a voice coil actuator and said valve member is an IV tube pincher.

Claim 33

A combination as set forth in claim 26, wherein said driver shaft is connected to the free end of said third spring.

Claim 34

A combination as set forth in claim 26, and further including: a second junction means, the free end of said third spring being attached to said junction means; and a fourth elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor means and having its opposite free end attached to said second junction means.

Claim 35

A combination as set forth in claim 29, wherein said actuator means is a voice coil actuator.

Claim 36

A combination as set forth in claim 30, wherein said valve member is an IV tube pincher.

Claim 37

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: a first anchor block; a second anchor block; a first, floating corner block; a second, floating corner block; a first elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said first corner block; a second elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to Said second anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said first corner block; a third elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said second anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said second corner block; a fourth elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said second corner block; a tube pincher carried at said first corner block and adapted to move therewith; and an actuator means having a driver shaft substantially normal to said first spring and said third spring, said shaft having one end connected to the center of said first spring and having its opposite end connected to the center of said third spring, whereby said shaft is supported in a floating suspension.

Claim 38

In a fluid flow control apparatus, the combination comprising: a first anchor block; a second anchor block; a first, floating corner block; a second, floating corner block; a first elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said first corner block; a second elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to Said second anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said first corner block; a third elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said second anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said second corner block; a fourth elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring having one end secured to said first anchor block and having its opposite free end attached to said second corner block; a tube pincher carried at said first corner block and adapted to move therewith; and an actuator means having a driver shaft substantially normal to said first spring and said third spring, said shaft having one end connected to the center of said first spring and having its opposite end connected to the center of said third spring, whereby said shaft is supported in a floating suspension.

Claim 39

A combination as set forth in claim 32, and further including: a fifth elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring parallel to and spaced apart from said second sring, said fifth spring having one end secured to said second anchor block and having its opposite end attached to said first corner block; and a sixth elongate, substantially flat ribbon spring, parallel to and spaced apart from said fourth spring, said sixth spring having one end secured to said first anchor block and having its opposite end attached to said second corner block.

Claim 40

A combination as set forth in claim 33, wherein said actuator means is a voice coil actuator.

Claim 41

A combination as set forth in claim 33, wherein said actuator means is a solenoid.