Patent attributes
A pinch valve assembly for use in fluidic applications has an inlet and outlet with a flexible conduit therebetween, a base plate attached to a housing maintaining in its upper part an electromagnet. The valve assembly further includes a pinch unit assembly including in its lower external surface a knife, the pinch unit assembly being axially moveable around the body of the electromagnet between a rest position in which the knife pinches the flexible conduit when the electromagnet is not energized and an open position in which the knife releases the flexible conduit when the electromagnet is energized. It further includes an elastic unit urging the pinch unit assembly against the base plate. The electromagnet is energized in phases, first with a high level of energy during a short time and second with an energy ten times less than that provided in the first phase to maintain the valve open.
