Pinch Valve
This is a simple way to control the flow of water via a microcontroller or similar. Most commercial irrigation valves require a certain amount of water pressure. This valve is designed for low water pressure. It is used in the eRiceCooker project, a fully automated system that cooks rice according to the frequency of news reports about genetically modified rice.
The Parts
You will need:
- A servo motor
- Enough flexible latex tubing, outside diameter 3/8" (medical supply store)
- Metal pipe outside diameter 1/2" (home depot)
- Four zip ties (they can be a bit wider than the ones pictured)
- two tiny screws & bolts
- Flat material which can be cut, sanded and drilled (plexiglass, wood, aluminum, etc.)
- A servo motor
- Enough flexible latex tubing, outside diameter 3/8" (medical supply store)
- Metal pipe outside diameter 1/2" (home depot)
- Four zip ties (they can be a bit wider than the ones pictured)
- two tiny screws & bolts
- Flat material which can be cut, sanded and drilled (plexiglass, wood, aluminum, etc.)
Assembling the Parts
This is how the fully assembled valve looks from the front.
Assembling the Parts
This is how the assembled valve looks from the back.
Assembling the valve is really very simple:
- Cut the metal pipe in two even-sized pieces.
- Cut the plexi (or other material), so it forms an oval.
- Drill some holes in it, and attach it to one of the servo motor's arms using the screws.
- Push the latex tubing through the pipe-parts
- Attach the pipe-parts to the plexi.
Assembling the valve is really very simple:
- Cut the metal pipe in two even-sized pieces.
- Cut the plexi (or other material), so it forms an oval.
- Drill some holes in it, and attach it to one of the servo motor's arms using the screws.
- Push the latex tubing through the pipe-parts
- Attach the pipe-parts to the plexi.
Open Valve
This is how it looks when the valve is open and the water flows.
The Valve in the Context of a Larger Project
Once you've assembled and tested the valve, you can add some water.