Patent ID: 6279869
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: F16K

Abstract:
A pinch valve for proportionally controlling a fluid flow through a flow line, comprising:a valve housing defining a passage through which the flow line is received;a valve element mounted within said housing with said flow tube extended therebetween, including at least one pinch jaw that is moveable toward and away from an opposed pinch jaw between an open position displaced from said opposed pinch jaw and a closed position wherein the flow line is engaged between said pinch jaw and said opposed pinch jaw to restrict the fluid flow through the flow line; anda valve actuator comprised of a shape memory alloy extended about said pinch jaws for applying a force to said pinch jaws to cause at least one pinch jaw to be moved toward said opposed pinch jaw, a series of pulley members mounted within said valve housing and about which said shape memory alloy is extended to enhance said pulling force applied by said shape memory alloy to move said at least one pinch jaw to close the valve and restrict the fluid flow while enabling said shape memory alloy to be of decreased dimensions, and a power source communicating with said shape memory alloy for actuating said shape memory alloy to cause said shape memory alloy to move at least one of said pinch jaws to proportionally control the fluid flow through the flow line as desired.