Patent ID: 8002727

Claim:
A flow control valve, comprising: a flexible ring-shaped structure defining a central opening surrounded by non non-wetted surface thereof; said ring-shaped structure having a wetted surface there within in fluid communication with multiple flow ports; an actuator having a pivoting element with two ends, that fits within said ring-shaped structure; said actuator having fixed elements that with edges that oppose said two ends on respective sides such that when said pivoting element is pivoted in a first direction, it pinches a first two portions of said ring-shaped structure against a first two of said edges, said first two portions corresponding to a first two flow passages of said ring-shaped structure and such that when said pivoting element is pivoted a second direction, it pinches a second two portions of said ring-shaped structure against a second two of said edges, said second two portions corresponding to a second two flow passages of said ring-shaped structure, a configuration of said ports being such that communication between a first two of said flow ports is blocked while fluid communication between a second two of said flow ports is permitted when said pivoting element is pivoted in said first direction while communication between a second two of said flow ports is blocked while fluid communication between a first two of said flow ports is permitted when said pivoting element is pivoted in said second direction.