US4084612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow compensating pressure regulator
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1977-03-21
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Granted: 1978-04-18
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Expires: 1997-03-21
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for regulating pressure of treatment fluid being supplied to a human or animal eye during ophthalmic procedures such as cataract surgery is disclosed. Flow sensing and pressure regulating diaphragms are provided in a body to modulate a flow control valve. The pressure regulating diaphragm is connected to the flow control valve to urge the valve to an open position due to pressure being applied to the diaphragm by bias means such as a spring. The flow sensing diaphragm is mechanically connected to the flow control valve and urges it to an opened position because of the differential pressure on the diaphragm generated by a flow of incoming treatment fluid through an orifice in the diaphragm. A bypass connection with a variable restriction is connected in parallel relationship to the orifice to provide for adjusting the sensitivity of the flow sensing diaphragm. A multiple lever linkage system is utilized between the center of the second diaphragm and the flow control valve to multiply the force applied to the valve by the other diaphragm and reverse the direction of the force. A vertically extending tube communicates with the upper side of the pressure regulating diaphragm which also communicates with an auxiliary outlet port.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Baehr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:30
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/00736; G; G05; G05D; G05D16/00; G05D16/04; G05D16/0404; G05D16/06; G05D16/063; G05D16/0644; G05D16/0655; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7754; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7784; Y10T137/7787; Y10T137/7788; Y10T137/7793; Y10T137/7797; Y10T137/7799
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A pressure regulator comprising: a body having an inlet port, an oulet port, an ambient port, and including a first chamber and a second chamber; a flow sensing diaphragm disposed in said first chamber and forming an inlet subchamber and a flow control subchamber, said diaphragm having therein a signal generating orifice, said inlet subchamber being in communication with said inlet port; a pressure regulating diaphragm disposed in said second chamber and forming a regulated outlet subchamber and an ambient pressure subchamber, said regulated outlet subchamber being in communication with said outlet port; flow control valve means disposed between said flow control subchamber and said regulated outlet subchamber; means operatively connecting said pressure regulation diaphragm to said valve means; bias means urging said pressure regulating diaphragm into said regulated outlet subchamber and thereby urging said valve means to an open position; and means operatively connecting said flow sensing diaphragm to said valve means, said flow sensing diaphragm urging said valve means to an open position due to pressure drop across said orifice when fluid flows therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A pressure regulator comprising: a body having an inlet port, an oulet port, an ambient port, and including a first chamber and a second chamber; a flow sensing diaphragm disposed in said first chamber and forming an inlet subchamber and a flow control subchamber, said diaphragm having therein a signal generating orifice, said inlet subchamber being in communication with said inlet port; a pressure regulating diaphragm disposed in said second chamber and forming a regulated outlet subchamber and an ambient pressure subchamber, said regulated outlet subchamber being in communication with said outlet port; flow control valve means disposed between said flow control subchamber and said regulated outlet subchamber; means operatively connecting said pressure regulation diaphragm to said valve means; bias means urging said pressure regulating diaphragm into said regulated outlet subchamber and thereby urging said valve means to an open position; and means operatively connecting said flow sensing diaphragm to said valve means, said flow sensing diaphragm urging said valve means to an open position due to pressure drop across said orifice when fluid flows therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 and including bypass means for directing fluid from said inlet subchamber to said flow control chamber to modify the pressure drop across said orifice.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pressure regulator of claim 2 wherein said bypass means includes a variable flow restrictor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 wherein said flow sensing diaphragm is substantially larger in area than said pressure regulating diaphragm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure regulator of claim 4 wherein said flow sensing diaphragm is at least two times greater in area than said pressure regulating diaphragm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 wherein said bias means is a coil spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 wherein said means operatively connecting said flow sensing diaphragm to said valve means is a multiple lever linkage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The pressure regulator of claim 7 wherein said multiple lever linkage multiplies the force applied to the valve means by at least a factor of two times the force at the center of said flow sensing diaphragm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
The pressure regulator of claim 7 wherein said multiple lever linkage comprises first and second lever arms, said first lever arm being shorter than said second lever arm and pivoting on a fixed pivot intermediate its ends, one end being pivotally connected to the center of said flow sensing diaphragm and the other end being pivotally connected to one end of said second lever arm, the other end of said second lever arm being pivotally connected to a fixed pivot, a point intermediate the ends of said second lever arm being pivotally connected to said flow control valve means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pressure regulator of claim 9 wherein said pivot points are positioned such that the force exerted on said valve means is at least twice as great as that applied to said one end of said first lever arm by said flow sensing diaphragm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pressure regulator of claim 9 wherein said pivot points are positioned such that the force exerted on said valve means is about five times as great as that applied to said one end of said first lever arm by said flow sensing diaphragm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 wherein the centers of said flow sensing and pressure regulating diaphragms lie on a common axis perpendicular to said diaphragms.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 and further including an auxiliary outlet port in communication with said ambient chamber and a tube extending generally vertically from said ambient port.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1 wherein said orifice is at the center of said flow sensing diaphragm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a pressure regulator of the type comprising a body including a chamber and a biased diaphragm with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet communicating with one side of the diaphragm, and a flow valve controlled by the diaphragm, the improvement comprising a vertically extending fluid tube communicating with the other side of the diaphragm and with an auxiliary port in the body, and bleed means communicating with the auxiliary port whereby the weight of a fluid disposed in said fluid tube adds to the normal bias on the diaphragm and whereby the bias may be reduced to normal as the height of fluid in said tube is reduced by the bleed means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
In a pressure regulator of the type comprising a body including a chamber and a biased diaphragm with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet communicating with one side of the diaphragm, and a flow valve controlled by the diaphragm, the improvement comprising a vertically extending fluid tube communicating with the other side of the diaphragm and with an auxiliary port in the body, and bleed means communicating with the auxiliary port whereby the weight of a fluid disposed in said fluid tube adds to the normal bias on the diaphragm and whereby the bias may be reduced to normal as the height of fluid in said tube is reduced by the bleed means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The regulator of claim 1 wherein said bleed means is a length of tubing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The regulator of claim 16 wherein said tubing has an inside diameter of0.031 inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2182873A
Cited
US3433254A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-04-17 | 1981-10-17 | 1982-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-17 | 1985-10-17 | 1986-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-10-17 | 1990-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |