US 12,146,585 B2
Pinch valve actuated by non-contact force
Koji Tanabe, Palo Alto, CA (US); Ryoji Hiraide, Kyoto (JP); Hiroshi Nakamoto, Daito (JP); and Hiroaki Inoue, Daito (JP)
Assigned to I Peace, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US); and Aquatech Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 18/247,843
Filed by I Peace, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US); and Aquatech Co., Ltd., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Oct. 8, 2020, PCT No. PCT/JP2020/038111
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 4, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/074782, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 14, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366483 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. F16K 31/56 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/56 (2013.01) 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A valve comprising:
a case;
a tube disposed in the case;
a hinge fulcrum disposed in the case;
a contact member connected to the hinge fulcrum and capable of coming into contact with the tube; and
a driving device configured to apply a non-contact force to the contact member from outside of the case and change a contact force that is applied to the tube by the contact member to change an inner diameter of the tube; wherein the contract member is configured so as to close the tube in a case where the non-contact force is not applied to the contact member.