Spotlight on Tube-O-Matic

Tube-O-Matic series product line from Lexair,Inc. is a uniquely designed valve developed to assist in solving problems associated with wear and maintenance when controlling abrasive and corrosive media.

The Tube-O-Matic includes a pinch valve without inherent weaknesses. The tube sleeve in the Tube-O-Matic does not collapse entirely as the tubing does in a typical pinch valve. Lexair's tube closes on the airfoil center core when cycling. Because of this design, the travel of the tube is substantially reduced, leading to an extended service life of the valve.

The normally open Tube-O-Matic valve design allows media flow in both directions. This feature can prove invaluable in systems requiring both forward and reverse control of media flow. This tube is controlled by an external pneumatic (any compatible gas) or hydraulic (oil, water or other compatible liquids) pilot pressure signal. To close the valve, pilot pressure is applied, closing the tube around the center core and sealing bubble tight. To open the valve, pilot pressure is exhausted, allowing full flow. The small tube deflection permits a high cycle rate with minimal flow noise and the design is inherently "water hammer" free when using fluids. This design also features a straight-through flow path that eliminates the build-up of solids in the valve body, causing it to act as a self-flushing unit.

The airfoil design of the center core and the straight-through flow path result in flow capacities that compare to ball valves of similar size. This product line has made its way into applications in virtually all industries where service temperatures range from -25°F to 400°F at media pressures up to 150 PSI. It has also been used to replace valves of all types including gate, globe, butterfly, poppet and ball valves of several styles.

With a Cv range of 4.0 to 75.0 and pipe sizes available from ¼-in. NPT to 2½-in. NPT, Tube-O-Matic offers a valve to fit any application, including:

• Chemical processing and mixing
• Pharmaceutical and cosmetic mixing, blending and dispensing
• Dairy processing
• Oilfield equipment
• Water/waste water treatment: filtration flow, pollution control, etc.
• Food and beverage filling, packaging and dispensing
• Machine tool coolants
• Coolant flow on buses, ships, construction equipment and other on/ off highway vehicles and machinery
• Utility facilities: coolant flow, coal slurry removal, etc.
• Industrial liquid or air controls
• Sandblasting equipment
• Air conveyed materials: plastic pellets, sand, other aggressive materials
• Asphalt batching plants
• Paper and pulp processing
• Fertilizer production
• Breweries and distilleries: water, pasteurization, glycol solutions for cooling, de-aeration processes, blending, carbonation, etc.
• Any circuit that requires a fast-acting, high flow, bubble tight valve.

Solenoid/pilot operated version of Lexair's Tube-O-Matic.