Patent US4245669A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4245669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Self-actuated flow regulator system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-08-17
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Granted: 1981-01-20
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Expires: 1998-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved self-actuated constant flow rate regulator system is described which can keep the rate of flow of fluid through a filter or other variable load constant within close limits. One application for this invention is for sampling the air for toxic dusts in factories where it is desirable to draw air through a collecting filter at a preset rate regardless of the amount of deposit on the filter and where a number of such filters may be connected to a central vacuum pump. The system comprises a differential pressure regulator and an adjustable metering orifice working in conjunction with each other. The regulator senses the pressure drop across the orifice and governs the flow rate accordingly. Details of the regulator valve and of the metering orifice are set forth which contribute to improved operating performance and manufacturing efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred C. Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/01; G05D7/0106; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7784; Y10T137/7787; Y10T137/7788; Y10T137/7793; Y10T137/7822; Y10T137/783; Y10T137/794; Y10T137/8122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
329 words
A self-actuated flow regulator system comprising: a load through which a pre-determined constant rate of fluid flow is to be maintained, a differential pressure regulator, a first conduit between said load and said regulator, first means for indicating the fluid pressure in said first conduit and its relationship to the maximum pressure drop across said load for constant flow operation, second means for generating a pressure differential in response to the rate of fluid flow, a second conduit between said regulator and said second means, a source of constant downstream pressure less than the pressure external to said load, a third conduit between said second means and said source, said regulator maintaining a constant difference in pressure across said second means and thereby maintaining a constant flow rate through said load, said regulator having a hollow body formed with a partition and a valve seat in said partition, said first conduit communicating with a first side and said second conduit with a second side of said partition, a diaphragm casing attached to said body, a diaphragm sealed in said casing dividing said casing into lower and higher pressure sides, a fourth conduit between the higher pressure side of said diaphragm casing and the second side of said partition, third means for biasing said diaphragm toward said higher pressure side, a valve member reciprocable toward and away from said valve seat, forth means for moving said valve member responsive to the deflection of said diaphragm, a fifth conduit between said lower pressure side of said diaphragm casing and said third conduit, said system being characterized by flow passages in which the expansion ratio relative to length is small enough to prevent flow separation and inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring, said system further being characterized by sharp corners of approximately 90° where high velocity fluid flow detaches from said valve seat, said valve member, said partition, and said second means in order to prevent inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
329 words
A self-actuated flow regulator system comprising: a load through which a pre-determined constant rate of fluid flow is to be maintained, a differential pressure regulator, a first conduit between said load and said regulator, first means for indicating the fluid pressure in said first conduit and its relationship to the maximum pressure drop across said load for constant flow operation, second means for generating a pressure differential in response to the rate of fluid flow, a second conduit between said regulator and said second means, a source of constant downstream pressure less than the pressure external to said load, a third conduit between said second means and said source, said regulator maintaining a constant difference in pressure across said second means and thereby maintaining a constant flow rate through said load, said regulator having a hollow body formed with a partition and a valve seat in said partition, said first conduit communicating with a first side and said second conduit with a second side of said partition, a diaphragm casing attached to said body, a diaphragm sealed in said casing dividing said casing into lower and higher pressure sides, a fourth conduit between the higher pressure side of said diaphragm casing and the second side of said partition, third means for biasing said diaphragm toward said higher pressure side, a valve member reciprocable toward and away from said valve seat, forth means for moving said valve member responsive to the deflection of said diaphragm, a fifth conduit between said lower pressure side of said diaphragm casing and said third conduit, said system being characterized by flow passages in which the expansion ratio relative to length is small enough to prevent flow separation and inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring, said system further being characterized by sharp corners of approximately 90° where high velocity fluid flow detaches from said valve seat, said valve member, said partition, and said second means in order to prevent inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1 which further comprises a quick-connective coupling between said load and said conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said load is a filter, and said source is a source of substantially constant vacuum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system according to claim 3 in which said indicating means is a mechanical vacuum gauge with a supplementary marking means for indicating the maximum filter load for constant flow operation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said second means has a constricting throat and means for adjusting the effective flow area of said throat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1 in which a removeable seat ring is installed in said valve seat, said seat ring having sharp corners where the fluid flow detaches from said seat ring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said biasing means is a spring bearing against said diaphragm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A system according to claim 7 in which said fourth conduit isolates the higher pressure side of said diaphragm from said second side of said partition except for a restricted opening at the end of said fourth conduit nearest said partition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 8 in which said fourth conduit is constructed so that the positive velocity pressure of the fluid flow leaving said valve seat is directed through said restricted opening against the higher pressure side of said diaphragm to provide a decreasing boost effect to compensate for the decreasing force of said spring as said valve member opens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said valve member is located on the second side of said partition, and said means for moving said valve member includes a linkage to open said valve member as said diaphragm moves toward its higher pressure side.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system according to claim 10 in which said valve seat is formed convex conical and said valve member is flat, and the included angle between said seat and said valve member is small enough to prevent flow separation and inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring, while at the same time producing a directed flow stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A system according to claim 10 in which said hollow body has curved interior walls formed so as to direct the high velocity fluid flow from said valve seat toward a restricted opening between the higher pressure side of said diaphragm and said second side of partition. For the purpose of obtaining a boost effect
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 12 which further comprises a flow control plate against said second side of said partition having a size greater than said valve seat and having sharp corners.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 12 which further comprises a body liner interconnecting said body and said casing whose end proximal to the valve seat is formed with a bevel having a sharp outer edge, and which serves as a transition between the walls of said hollow body and said restricted opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
179 words
A self-actuated differential pressure regulator comprising, a hollow body formed with a partition and a valve seat in said partition, an inlet port on a first side and an outlet port on a second side of said partition, a diaphragm casing attached to said body, a diaphragm sealed in said casing dividing said casing into lower and higher pressure sides, a conduit between the higher pressure side of said diaphragm casing and the second side of said partition, first means for biasing said diaphragm toward said higher pressure side, a valve member reciprocable toward and away from said valve seat, second means for moving said valve member responsive to the deflection of said diaphragm, said regulator being characterized by flow passages in which the expansion ratio relative to length is small enough to prevent flow separation and inconsistent flow patterns from occurring, said regulator further being characterized by sharp corners of approximately 90° where high velocity fluid flow detaches from said valve seat, said valve member and said partition, in order to prevent inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
179 words
A self-actuated differential pressure regulator comprising, a hollow body formed with a partition and a valve seat in said partition, an inlet port on a first side and an outlet port on a second side of said partition, a diaphragm casing attached to said body, a diaphragm sealed in said casing dividing said casing into lower and higher pressure sides, a conduit between the higher pressure side of said diaphragm casing and the second side of said partition, first means for biasing said diaphragm toward said higher pressure side, a valve member reciprocable toward and away from said valve seat, second means for moving said valve member responsive to the deflection of said diaphragm, said regulator being characterized by flow passages in which the expansion ratio relative to length is small enough to prevent flow separation and inconsistent flow patterns from occurring, said regulator further being characterized by sharp corners of approximately 90° where high velocity fluid flow detaches from said valve seat, said valve member and said partition, in order to prevent inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A regulator according to claim 15 in which a removeable seat ring is installed in said valve seat, said seat ring having sharp corners of approximately 90° where the fluid flow detaches from said seat ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A regulator according to claim 15 in which said biasing means is a spring bearing against said diaphragm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
A regulator according to claim 17 in which said conduit isolates the higher pressure side of said diaphragm from said second side of said partition except for a restricted opening at the end of said conduit nearest said partition.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
60 words
A regulator according to claim 18 in which said conduit is constructed so that the positive velocity pressure of the fluid flow leaving said valve seat is directed through said restricted opening against the higher pressure side of said diaphragm to provide a decreasing boost effect to compensate for the decreasing force of said spring as said valve member opens.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A regulator according to claim 15 in which said valve member is located on the second side of said partition, and said means for moving said valve member includes a linkage to open said valve member as said diaphragm moves toward its higher pressure side.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
56 words
A regulator according to claim 20 in which said valve seat is formed convex conical and said valve member is flat, and the included angle between said seat and said valve member is small enough to prevent flow separation and inconsistent fluid flow patterns from occurring, while at the same time producing a directed flow stream.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
A regulator according to claim 20 in which said hollow body has curved interior walls formed so as to direct the high velocity fluid flow from said valve seat toward a restricted opening between the higher pressure side of said diaphragm and said second side of said partition for the purpose of obtaining a boost effect.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A regulator according to claim 22 which further comprises a flow control plate against said second side of said partition, having a size greater than said valve seat and having sharp corners.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
52 words
A regulator according to claim 22 which further comprises a body liner interconnecting said body and said casing whose end proximal to the valve seat is formed with a bevel having a sharp outer edge, and which serves as a transistion between the walls of said hollow body and said restricted opening.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3501899A
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US3599658A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-20 | 1984-07-21 | 1985-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-20 | 1988-07-21 | 1989-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-20 | 1992-07-21 | 1993-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |