AP354A

AP354A - Valve closing actuator.

Info

Publication number: AP354A
Application number: APAP/P/1992/000378A
Authority: AP
Inventors: Barrett Morley Musgrave Payne
Original assignee: Payne Barrett Morley M; Sullivan John Lawrence
Priority date: 1991-04-29
Filing date: 1992-04-29
Publication date: 1994-08-09
Also published as: AP9200378A0

Abstract

The invention provides an improved valve closure for pinch-type valves which comprises a pair of jaws adapted to be moved towards each other by means of a pair of inflatable diagrams associated with the jaws which, when moved towards each other, pinch a sleeve within a housing accommodating the jaws.

Description

Thp 'invention provides an improved valve closure for pinrht/P'- valves whicn comprises a pair of jaws adapted to be rhnvr-H towards each other by means of a pair of lnfla'abl® _rj j p · -,-agms associated with the jaws which, when -ovea h,,r( =, otner, pinch a sleeve within a Κοι=;πη arr'>'i'<nr,dating the jaw^c.

fe (56) Documents cited: AP 30 =US 4781356

US 3830462 _bad ORIGINAL J)

APPLICANTS CONTD

JOHN LAWRENCE SULLIVAN 4 STUTTAFORD ROAD FORTUNES GATE BULAWAYO

ZIMBABWE bad original $

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This invention relates to valve closure means and is particularly directed to providing means adapted for closure of pinch-type valves.

According to the invention, a valve closure means includes a housing adapted at least partly to embrace a deformably resiliant valve sleeve; at least two co-acting jaw members within the housing and disposed transverse the valve sleeve; inflatable diaphragm means associated with each jaw member and adapted in a first or deflated configuration, to allow its jaw member to rest upon an outer peripheral zone of the valve sleeve and in a second or inflated configuration, to drive its jaw member towards its co-acting jaw member so as to pinch the valve sleeve between the j aws .

Also according to the invention, each inflatable diaphragm displays a substantially triangular cross section and is located in a comp 1 emen tai 1y shaped cavity in the housing of the closure means .

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2.

Further according to the invention each jaw member displays a hal f-dumbe 1 1 shape in end elevation; the rounded ends of the dumbell allowing compression of the valve sleeve by the jawj without crushing of the valve sleeve to the point of fracture or delamination of the elements of its construction.

In order to illustrate the nature of the invention an example will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying dr aw i ngs bu t without limitation of the inventive concept.

Figure	1 ι	illustrates a side elevation	of the closure	di sposed
abou t	the	valve sleeve in the fully open	conf i gurat i on;
F i gure	2	is a side elevation of the	c1osure abou t	the	valve
sieeve	i n	the fully pinched configuration;
F i gure	3	is an end elevation of a	jaw pair in	the	open

configuration;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of a jaw pair in the fully pinched configuration and showing the dumbell shape;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the closure in the open position without a valve sleeve interposed; in each of the drawings, the same numeral shall have the same value.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 10 indicates a deformably resiliant valve sleeve having a reinforcing braid element interwoven into the body of the sleeve 10; and the whole being retained in a metal housing 12 which is provided with a pair of jaw slots 13 and 14 adapted to allow jaws 15 and 16 to impinge upon peripheral zones 17 and 13 of the sleeve 10.

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3.

Jaws 15 and Ιό are associated with diaphragms 1? and 20 which are adapted to be inflated throught nozels 21 and 22 from the deflated position shown in figure 1 to the inflated configuration shown in figure 2. Diaphragms 1? and 2Θ are contained within a substantially triangularly shaped cavity shown generally by numerals 23 and 24 which cavities are created by reinforcing members 25 and 26 which form part of the closure housing 27 which is adapted at least partially to embrace valve sleeve 10.

In a presently preferred form of the invention, diaphragms 19 and 20 are constructed from flat transmission belting reinforced by spring seal plates 28 and 29.

In figure 2 sleeve 10 is shown in the pinched configuration whenjaws 15 and 16 have been driven towards each other by expansion of the diaphragm elements 1? and 20 to the extent that the diaphragms 19 and 20 occupy substantially the whole of the triangular cavities 23 and 24 as illustrated. Simultaneous reference to figure 4 indicates the dumbe11 shape shown at 30 and 31 created by the particular configuration of the jaws 15 and 16 and the purpose of which is to minimise crushing effect upon sleeve 10 when in the pinched configuration.

It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that the design and construction of the closure member as illustrated herein with reference to the drawings results in a positive closure of a pinch-type valve and it has been found in practice that the particular design of the diaphragm members 19 and 20 in association with the substantially triangular cross section cavity arrangement 23 and 24 allows the use of almost any closure fluid such as air, gas, water, oil or even grease and that the actual fluid volume required is only approximately half of that

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4.

required to effect	c1osure	of the	same stroke	and	force as in
conventional known	air and	h ydrau1 i	i c p i s t i on s	and	cyl i nders. In
addition , there are	cons i derablke	advan tages	i n	the actual
construction of the	c1osure	whereby ,	,for examp 1e,	, i t	does not need

honed internal cylinder walls and chromed and micro-ground piston shafts and the like. It also does not require fluid piston seals and glide rings,shaft seals or the like and nor does it require filtrational lubrication of the actuating fluid amongst others.

The closing jaws are provided with well rounded areas at each epd illustrated at 30 and 31 in figures 3, 4 and 5 to eliminate or substantially reduce the crushing effect which develops when the valve sleeve is compressed which is a serious defect in many of the pinch valves already in use. Other advantages of the invention will spring readily to the mind of those skilled in the ar t .

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Claims

CLAIMS:

1. & valve cicsi^e nea's mciuanq a Ousi^g adapted at least partly to emo-ace a de^o^rmaDb resilient valve

s1eeve; at ieast two co-act ing j aw members w housing and disposed transverse tne valve inflatable diaphragm means ass etc i a tea witn member ano acapteo ι n a f ι rs t or

ae τιa tec configuration, to allow its jaw me-ncer to rest upon an outer peripheral zone of the valve sleeve and in a second or inflated configuration, to drive its jaw member towards it co-acting jaw member so as to pinch the valve sleeve between the jaws.
2. A valve closure means according to Claim 1 in which each inflatable diapn-agm oisplays a substantially triangular cress section ana is located in a com 1 ementa 11y shaped cavity in tne housing of tne closure means.
3. A viave c I o s u - e means according to c i a ι n i or claim 2 ι n w η ι c n eacn jaw mem per oisplays a •'aif-dumpeii s m a p e m eno elevatio;

a 1 lowing tne roundeo ends of tne dumpeli •ssion cf tne valve sleeve by the jaws without crusning of the valve sleeve to the point of fracture or delamination of the elements of its cons true t ion .