Patent attributes
This invention provides a heavy duty pinch valve for use in industrial applications, such as railroad tank cars that is constructed with a sealed housing that is sufficiently sturdy to operate in tough environments and large material flows. The valve includes a welded one-piece framework for sturdy support of pinch elements and the spool. The framework includes a tank car-connecting flange with two pairs of upright supports welded thereto. One pair of supports includes apertures for rotatably supporting two intermeshed geared ends of the pinch elements that counter-rotate toward each other during closure. Between the geared ends extends a pinch element bearing shaft that is surrounded by a rotatable cylindrical sleeve adapted to bear against the spool. The geared ends are covered by side cover plates. A bottom cover plate having an outlet is provided. It is adapted to shear off the framework in the event of an accident.
