US 12,352,372 B2
Pinch valve
Thomas G. DiLorenzo, Arvada, CO (US); and Davis Benz, Wheat Ridge, CO (US)
Assigned to Terumo BCT, Inc., Lakewood, CO (US)
Filed by Terumo BCT, Inc., Lakewood, CO (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/161,357.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/306,596, filed on Feb. 4, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0250883 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 7/04 (2013.01) 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A pinch valve comprising:
a base including
a first shaft having a base axis, the first shaft including a first end and a second end and having a length extending from the first end to the second end that is larger than a width substantially perpendicular to the length; and
a head disposed at the first end of the first shaft, the head including a contact protrusion and a peripheral portion, the contact protrusion having a cross-sectional shape of a bell curve having a first radiused surface that defines an apex disposed at a point furthest from the second end of the first shaft and centered around the base axis and a pair of second radiused surfaces on either side of the first radiused surface that connect the first radiused surface to the peripheral portion such that the peripheral portion has a first average dimension greater than a second average dimension of the first shaft, and such that the first radiused surface of the contact protrusion is disposed offset from and inside the peripheral portion; and
an anvil aligned with the base and including:
a second shaft having an anvil axis and including a first end and a second end, the base axis being colinear with the anvil axis; and
a pinch tip disposed at the first end of the second shaft, the pinch tip having two planar surfaces disposed at acute angles relative to the anvil axis to form an acute point having a radiused edge disposed at a point furthest from the second end of the second shaft and centered around the anvil axis, the radiused edge having a radius greater than or equal to about 0.1 millimeters to less than or equal to about 2 millimeters,
wherein the base and anvil are aligned to form a gap between the radiused surface and the acute point, the base and anvil are movable between a first position and a second position, the gap is a first distance at the first position, the gap is a second distance at the second position, and the second distance is less than the first distance.