What exactly is a pinch valve?
A Pinch Valve is an economical piece of equipment that works like a tap. It has an on/off function, to shut off, allow or control the flow of any media passing through it. The Pinch Valve is made up of three parts:
The rubber sleeve within the valve’s body is what seals it shut. The Pinch Valve has a full and true bore while in the open position. To close the valve, air pressure is applied to an air nipple on the outside body, which then travels into the internal component of the valve, pushing down on the rubber sleeve, which collapses completely and tightly. The sleeve folds closed in the same way every time with AKO Pinch Valves, ensuring a longer operating life.
Mechanical Pinch Valves are offered in addition to air-operated ones. The mechanical pinch valves can be controlled either manually or pneumatically. A manual mechanical pinch valve is opened and closed by turning a hand wheel, whereas a pneumatically powered mechanical pinch valve is opened and closed by compressor bars pulling the sleeve open or pushing together to maintain the sleeve closed. This type of valve uses a spring return mechanism to keep the valve closed unless air is supplied to pull the bars apart to open it.