US3875995A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process fluid flow primary and secondary regulation systems
Assignee: BRDG-TNDR Corp
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Filing: 1973-04-23
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1993-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A primary flow regulation control and system for regulating the flow of chilled water, hot water, or other incompressible process fluid to a series of utilization stations having common feeder and return lines and each having its own inlet pump. The system includes primary sensing means for sensing static pressures of the fluid in the inlet and outlet connections of each utilization station, a primary regulating valve interposed in the station outlet, and a primary control, actuated by the sensing means, for adjusting the primary regulating valve to maintain the static pressure differential between the inlet and outlet within a limited range. A secondary control regulates the feedback or bypass between the inlet and outlet of the utilization station. This secondary control includes a bridge conduit connecting the inlet and outlet conduits, a secondary flow regulating valve interposed in the bridge conduit, a secondary sensing means for sensing at least one parameter at the utilization station, and a secondary control means for continuously adjusting the secondary regulating valve to maintain the sensed parameter of the utilization station at a given level.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerald F Mannion
- 👤 James R Mannion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:27
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F11/00; F24F11/70; F24F11/80; F24F11/83; F24F11/84; G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06; G05D7/0617; G05D7/0629; G05D7/0635; G05D7/0641; G05D7/0688; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7758; Y10T137/7759
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A primary and secondary flow regulation unit for a process fluid distribution system of the kind which comprises means for pumping an incompressible process fluid from a process fluid source into a feeder line for distribution through individual flow regulation units to a series of utilization stations, each of which may include its own input pump, and further comprising a return line for returning fluid for each utilization station, through the regulation unit for that station, back to the source, the flow regulation unit comprising: an inlet conduit connecting the feeder line to the inlet of a utilization station; an outlet conduit connecting the outlet of the utilization station to the return line; a primary flow regulating valve interposed in the outlet conduit; primary sensing means for sensing fluid pressure conditions representative of a pressure differential between the fluid in the inlet conduit and the fluid in the outlet conduit; primary control means, connected to the primary sensing means and to the primary regulating valve, for continuously adjusting the primary regulating valve to maintain the pressure differential within a given limited range independently of changes in the rate of flow of fluid into and out of the utilization station; a bridge conduit connecting the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit; a secondary flow regulating valve interposed in the bridge conduit; a secondary sensing means for sensing at least one operating parameter of the utilization station; and secondary control means, connected to the secondary sensing means and to the secondary regulating valve, for continuously adjusting the secondary regulating valve to maintain the sensed parameter of the utilization station at a given level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A primary and secondary flow regulation unit for a process fluid distribution system of the kind which comprises means for pumping an incompressible process fluid from a process fluid source into a feeder line for distribution through individual flow regulation units to a series of utilization stations, each of which may include its own input pump, and further comprising a return line for returning fluid for each utilization station, through the regulation unit for that station, back to the source, the flow regulation unit comprising: an inlet conduit connecting the feeder line to the inlet of a utilization station; an outlet conduit connecting the outlet of the utilization station to the return line; a primary flow regulating valve interposed in the outlet conduit; primary sensing means for sensing fluid pressure conditions representative of a pressure differential between the fluid in the inlet conduit and the fluid in the outlet conduit; primary control means, connected to the primary sensing means and to the primary regulating valve, for continuously adjusting the primary regulating valve to maintain the pressure differential within a given limited range independently of changes in the rate of flow of fluid into and out of the utilization station; a bridge conduit connecting the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit; a secondary flow regulating valve interposed in the bridge conduit; a secondary sensing means for sensing at least one operating parameter of the utilization station; and secondary control means, connected to the secondary sensing means and to the secondary regulating valve, for continuously adjusting the secondary regulating valve to maintain the sensed parameter of the utilization station at a given level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flow regulation unit according to claim 1, in which the primary sensing means comprises a first static pressure sensor connected to the inlet conduit and a second static pressure sensor connected to the outlet conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A flow regulation unit according to claim 1, in which the secondary sensing means is a thermal sensor for sensing an operating temperature in the utilization station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
228 words
A regulated flow distribution system for an incompressible process fluid comprising: a feeder line; a process fluid source including pumping means for pumping an incompressible process fluid into the feeder line; a series of utilization stations distributed along the feeder line, each utilization station including its own input pump, an inlet connected to the feeder line, and an outlet; a return line connecting the outlets of the utilization stations back to the process fluid source; and a corresponding series of flow regulation units, one for each utilization stations, each flow regulation unit comprising: an inlet conduit connecting the feeder line to the inlet of the utilization station with which the utilization station to the return line; a bridge interconnection conduit interconnecting the inlet and outlet conduits; a primary control means, including pressure sensing means connected to the inlet and outlet conduits and to the primary regulating valve to maintain the pressure differential within a given limited range over a substantial range of absolute inlet flow rates; a secondary regulating valve interposed in the bridge interconnection conduit; a secondary sensing means for sensing at least one operating parameter of the utilizing station; and a secondary control means connected to the secondary sensing means and to the secondary regulating valve for continuously adjusting the secondary regulating valve to maintain the sensed parameter of the utilization station at a given level.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
228 words
A regulated flow distribution system for an incompressible process fluid comprising: a feeder line; a process fluid source including pumping means for pumping an incompressible process fluid into the feeder line; a series of utilization stations distributed along the feeder line, each utilization station including its own input pump, an inlet connected to the feeder line, and an outlet; a return line connecting the outlets of the utilization stations back to the process fluid source; and a corresponding series of flow regulation units, one for each utilization stations, each flow regulation unit comprising: an inlet conduit connecting the feeder line to the inlet of the utilization station with which the utilization station to the return line; a bridge interconnection conduit interconnecting the inlet and outlet conduits; a primary control means, including pressure sensing means connected to the inlet and outlet conduits and to the primary regulating valve to maintain the pressure differential within a given limited range over a substantial range of absolute inlet flow rates; a secondary regulating valve interposed in the bridge interconnection conduit; a secondary sensing means for sensing at least one operating parameter of the utilizing station; and a secondary control means connected to the secondary sensing means and to the secondary regulating valve for continuously adjusting the secondary regulating valve to maintain the sensed parameter of the utilization station at a given level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A regulated flow distribution system according to claim 4 in which the pressure sensing means of the primary control means in at least one of the flow regulation units comprises a first static pressure sensor connected to the inlet conduit and a second static pressure sensor connected to the outlet conduit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A regulated flow distribution system according to claim 4, in which the secondary sensing means in at least one of the flow regulation units is a thermal sensor for sensing an operating temperature in utilization station with which that flow regulation unit is associated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |