What is a Pinch Valve and How Does it Work?

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: Body / Housing Internal rubber sleeve End connections The rubber sleeve inside the body of the valve is the part that closes it. When in the open position, the Pinch Valve has a full and true bore. To close the valve, air pressure is supplied into an air nipple on the outer body, which then travels through into the internal part of the valve, pushing down onto the rubber sleeve which fully collapses and closes tightly. With AKO Pinch Valves, the sleeve folds closed in the same way every time, to ensure a longer working life. As well as air operated Pinch Valves, mechanical versions are also available. There are two options for controlling the mechanical pinch valves: either with a hand wheel or pneumatically. The manual version simply works by turning a hand wheel to open/close the valve, whereas a pneumatically operated mechanical pinch valve works by compressor bars pulling the sleeve open or pushing together to keep the sleeve closed. This type of valve works on a spring return mechanism and the valve is kept in the normally closed position unless air is supplied to pull the bars apart to open it.