A flow meter, and related system and method are provided. The flow meter includes a coupler, a support member, an image sensor, a valve, and one or more processors. The coupler is adapted to couple to a drip chamber. The support member is operatively coupled to the coupler. The image sensor has a field of view and is operatively coupled to the support member. The image sensor is positioned to view the drip chamber within the field of view. The one or more processors are operatively coupled to the image sensor to receive image data therefrom and to the actuator to actuate the valve. The one or more processors are configured to estimate a flow of fluid through the drip chamber and to actuate the valve to control the flow of fluid through the drip chamber to achieve a target flow rate.

A dual latching microvalve is capable of a metastable state, wherein a one or more complete flow paths are open, before switching to another state that allows only an inlet or outlet valve to be open at any time on any fluid path. One valve mechanism uses a cam to alternately open and close two valves, with an external force applying pressure to move one valve arm onto a resting position on the cam, thereby opening the closed valve and provided an uninterrupted flow path through the dual latching microvalve. The metastable state provides, for example, a means to prime the pump before operation, such as pumping of insulin into a patient. When released from the metastable state, the dual latching microvalve operates in a fashion whereby opening of both valves simultaneously is prevented, thereby protecting the patient from injury.

The present disclosure describes one or more embodiments of a device for localized flow control. The device includes a plunger configured to slide along a longitudinal axis; a gate connecting to a proximal end of the plunger and configured to slide with the plunger; a spacer disposed along the longitudinal axis and on a same side with the gate relative to the plunger; a soft tube disposed in a gap between the spacer and a proximal end of the gate; and a plunger controller configured to slide the plunger between a closed position and an open position. In response to the plunger at the open position, the device is at an open state configured to allow a flow in the soft tube, and in response to the plunger at the closed position, the device is at a closed state configured to cut off the flow in the soft tube.

An instrument incorporating a refractometer for measuring parameters of a fluid such as a metalworking fluid, avoids impairment of measurement accuracy due to contact of entrained air and oil with a refractometer window by temporarily interrupting the flow of the fluid through a refractometer chamber and orienting the window so that air and oil will readily separate from the window during the interruption of flow. Continued flow of metalworking flow while refractive index measurements are taken can be achieved by the use of by-pass valving arrangements.

A pinch valve assembly is provided for compression of a fluid conduit comprising an assembly housing (1); an interchangeable compressor element (2); an interchangeable holder element (3) for holding a fluid conduit, the holder element facing the interchangeable compressor element; the valve assembly being configured such that the compressor element is moveable towards the holder element within the assembly housing for compression of a fluid conduit between the compressor and the holder elements.

The invention relates to a clamp (1), which is such that the clamp (1) can accommodate a fluid-carrying duct (L), that the clamp (1) in a resting state can compress the accommodated fluid-carrying channel (L), and that in a working state the clamp (1) can accommodate the fluid-carrying channel (L) so that the fluid-carrying channel (L) is not compressed, wherein the clamp (1) has a first permanent magnet (M1) and a second permanent magnet (M2), the permanent magnets (M1, M2) being arranged at a distance from one another, such that the permanent magnets (M1, M2) can be rotated at least about an angle relative to one another, the relative rotation of the permanent magnets (M1, M2) to one another resulting in a reduction in the distance (d), the resting state being made available at a first angle and the working state being made available at a second angle.

A pinch valve system includes a closing element arranged in an axial direction and includes a closing piece, a permanent magnetic holding device to hold the closing element by a permanent magnetic force in an open or closed position, without energy being supplied to the permanent magnetic holding device, an electromagnetic actuating device to carrying out a switching process, with which the closing element is configured to be moved from the open position to the closed position or from the closed position to the open position, an energy storage device to store an electrical energy which is sufficient to carry out the switching process, and a controller programmed with a predetermined rest position, which is the open or closed position, and the controller configured to trigger the switching process with which the closing element is brought to the rest position by the energy stored in the energy storage device.

A flow regulating switch valve includes a valve core that includes a switch assembly configured to drive a diaphragm assembly to open or close a water outlet, and also includes a flow regulating assembly that comprises a rotating ring, a sliding block, and a magnet. A control key is configured to control the switch assembly. The rotating ring is connected to the control key and includes an inclined plane that transitions from high to low and is configured to drive the sliding block to slide up and down such that the sliding block drives the magnet to move up and down. The magnet is configured to control the diaphragm assembly to regulate a size of the water outlet.

A switching valve includes a rotor having a pair of rollers rotatably mounted on both ends thereof, a rotor drive unit rotationally driving the rotor, a pair of pressing members, each being provided at a position where each of the pair of pressing members cooperates with each of the pair of rollers outside a revolution orbit of each of the pair of rollers revolving by rotation of the rotor, and a pair of tubes, each being disposed between the revolution orbit of each of the pair of rollers and each of the pair of pressing members. A rotation center axis of the rotor is disposed on a straight line connecting centers of rotation of the pair of rollers, and each pressing member has the pair of pressing areas symmetrical with respect to a straight line passing through the center of rotation of the rotor and extending a vertical direction.

Fluid distribution valve (11), particularly for a vehicle screen wash system, characterized in that it comprises a body (41) defining a duct (43) for the passage of fluid and comprising at least one fluid inlet (45) and at least one fluid outlet (47, 49), a membrane (53) housed in the duct and configured to be deformed under the action of a magnetic field between a first position of at least partial closure of the duct and a second position of at least partial opening of the duct, and means (51) for generating a magnetic field within the duct in order to cause the membrane to deform.