Fluid flow fuse

Claim 2

A fluid flow fuse for automatically shutting off an excessive rate of flow of fluid in a system, comprising: a body having a fluid inlet passage and a fluid outlet passage, connected by a valve seat opening; a first pressure-measuring passageway formed in the body and connected between the fluid inlet passage and a first pressure-sensing chamber; a restrictor held in the first pressure-measuring passageway; a valve member connected to a diaphragm and movable through a guide means between a normally open position and a closed position against the valve seat opening; the diaphragm connected between the body and the valve member, downstream of the valve seat, above the guide means so as to form a lower annular area and a separate upper area forming the first pressure-sensing chamber; the valve member cooperating with the guide means to form a restricted passageway between the fluid inlet passage and the lower annular area; a second, separate pressure-measuring passageway formed in the body and connected between the fluid outlet passage and the lower annular area, between the guide means and the diaphragm; at least one spring cooperating with the valve member, and the valve member and the at least one spring being sized and dimensioned so that when the flow of fluid through the body reaches a predetermined amount, a pressure differential will be created to slowly move the valve member through various positions to the closed position, against the valve seat, without causing water hammer; and the valve member being held in the valve seat in such a manner to allow fluid to bleed by the valve member to enable the valve member to automatically reset itself to the normally open position, when pressure applied thereto is bled away.

Claim 3

The fluid flow fuse of claim 1 wherein the valve member has a closed top attached to a cylindrical, hollow member having a plurality of slots and lower openings formed therein; the lower openings being formed at an outer end of the cylindrical, hollow member, away from the closed top; the at least one spring cooperating with an element connected to a lower surface of the closed top to bias the valve member away from the valve seat.

Claim 4

The fluid flow fuse of claim 1 wherein the valve member is a poppet valve.

Claim 5

The fluid flow fuse of claim 1 wherein the valve member has a closed top attached to a cylindrical, hollow member having a plurality of slots and lower openings formed therein; the lower openings being formed at an outer end of the cylindrical, hollow member, away from the closed top; further including a plurality of springs, a first of the plurality of springs cooperating with an actuator connected to a top surface of the closed top to bias the valve member toward the valve seat; and a second of the plurality of springs cooperating with an element connected to a lower surface of the closed top to bias the valve member away from the valve seat.

Claim 6

The fluid flow fuse of claim 4 , further including an adjusting element cooperating with the first of the plurality of springs so as to adjustably control the opening characteristics of the valve member.

Claim 7

The fluid flow fuse of claim 5 wherein the adjusting element is mounted on the exterior of the body and cooperating with the first of the pair of springs, and wherein the first of the pair of springs is held in the first pressure sensing chamber above the diaphragm.

Claim 8

A water flow fuse for automatically shutting off an excessive rate of flow of water in a system, comprising: a valve body having a water inlet passage and a water outlet passage in fluid communication with a valve seat opening; a first pressure-measuring passageway formed in the valve body and connected between the water inlet passage and a first pressure-sensing chamber; a restrictor removably held in the first pressure-measuring passageway; a valve member connected to a diaphragm and moveable through a guide element between a normally open position and a closed position against the valve seat opening; the diaphragm sealingly connected between the valve body and the valve member, downstream of the valve seat, above the guide element so as to form a second annular pressure-sensing area subject to downstream pressure in the water outlet passage and a separate upper are forming the first pressure-sensing chamber; a second, separate pressure-measuring passageway formed in the body and connected between the fluid outlet passage and the second annular pressure-sensing area, between the guide element and the diaphragm; at least one spring cooperating with the valve member, and the valve member and the at least one spring being sized and dimensioned so that when the flow of water through the body reaches a predetermined amount, a pressure differential will be created to slowly and smoothly move the diaphragm and the valve member through a number of flow controlling positions to a closed position against the valve seat without causing water hammer; and the valve member including a closed top portion and a bottom portion, with the closed top portion formed at a first of two ends; and the bottom portion being specifically shaped and formed at a second of two ends, and cooperating with the guide element to form a restricted passageway between the water inlet passage and the second annular pressure-sensing area; and the valve member loosely cooperating with the valve seat in the closed position so as to allow some leakage of water thereby, to enable the valve member to automatically reset itself to the normally open position when pressure applied thereto has been relieved.

Claim 9

A water flow fuse for automatically shutting off an excessive rate of flow of water in a system, comprising: a valve body having a water inlet passage and a water outlet passage in fluid communication with a valve seat opening; a first pressure-measuring passageway formed in the valve body and connected between the water inlet passage and a first pressure-sensing chamber; a restrictor removably held in the first pressure-measuring passageway; a valve member connected to a diaphragm and moveable through a guide element between a normally open position and a closed position against the valve seat opening; the diaphragm sealingly connected between the valve body and the valve member, downstream of the valve seat, above the guide element so as to form a second annular pressure-sensing area subject to downstream pressure in the water outlet passage and a separate upper are forming the first pressure-sensing chamber; a second, separate pressure-measuring passageway formed in the body and connected between the fluid outlet passage and the second annular pressure-sensing area, between the guide element and the diaphragm; at least one spring cooperating with the valve member, and the valve member and the at least one spring being sized and dimensioned so that when the flow of water through the body reaches a predetermined amount, a pressure differential will be created to slowly and smoothly move the diaphragm and the valve member through a number of flow controlling positions to a closed position against the valve seat without causing water hammer; and the valve member including a closed top portion and a bottom portion, with the closed top portion formed at a first of two ends; and the bottom portion being specifically shaped and formed at a second of two ends, and cooperating with the guide element to form a restricted passageway between the water inlet passage and the second annular pressure-sensing area; and the valve member loosely cooperating with the valve seat in the closed position so as to allow some leakage of water thereby, to enable the valve member to automatically reset itself to the normally open position when pressure applied thereto has been relieved.

Claim 10

The fluid flow fuse of claim 7 wherein the valve member is a poppet valve, and the bottom portion is curved.

Claim 11

The fluid flow fuse of claim 7 wherein the closed top portion has a lower surface an and upper surface, and a first spring cooperates with the upper surface of the closed top portion to bias the valve member toward the valve seat and a second spring cooperates with an element connected to the lower surface of the closed top portion to bias the valve member away from the valve seat; and further including an adjusting knob cooperating with the first spring so as to adjustably control the opening characteristics of the sleeve valve member.

Claim 12

The fluid flow fuse of claim 8 wherein the adjusting knob is mounted on the exterior of the valve body and cooperates with the first spring, and wherein the first spring is held in the first pressure-sensing chamber above the diaphragm.

Claim 13

The fluid flow fuse of claim 7 wherein the valve member is a combination poppet and sleeve valve member having a cylindrical, hollow element with two ends; a closed top is formed at a first of the two ends, and a plurality of openings are formed at a second of the two ends; and further including a plurality of slots formed in the cylindrical hollow element between the two ends.

Claim 14

A water flow fuse for automatically shutting off an excessive rate of flow of water in a system, comprising: a valve body having a water inlet passage and a water outlet passage in fluid communication with a valve seat opening; a first pressure-measuring passageway formed in the valve body and connected between the water inlet passage and a first pressure-sensing chamber; a dripper removably and sealingly held in the first pressure-measuring passageway to control flow of fluid therethrough; a combination poppet and sleeve valve member connected to a diaphragm moveble between a normally open position and a closed position against the valve seat opening; the combination poppet and sleeve valve member including a cylindrical, hollow element having two ends with a closed top protion formed at a first of the two ends, and a plurality of openings formed at a second of the two ends; the diaphragm sealingly connected between the valve body and the top closed portion of the combination poppet and sleeve valve member, downstream of the valve seat, above a guide element, so that a lower area of the diaphragm forms an annular fluid chamber downstream of the valve seat opening that is subject to varying pressures adjacent the water outlet passage, and a separate upper area of the diaphragm forms a portion of the first pressure-sensing chamber; a second pressure-measuring passageway formed in the body and connected between the fluid outlet passage and the annular fluid chamber between the guide element and the diaphragm; at least one spring cooperating with the combination poppet and sleeve valve member; and the combination poppet and sleeve valve member and the at least one spring being sized and dimensioned so that when a predetermined pressure differential is sensed, the combination poppet and sleeve valve member is moved from a full open position toward a closed position; and whereby, in the full open position, the plurality of openings formed at the second of the two ends communicates between a volume of water within said cylindrical, hollow element and an annular volume of water within the fluid chamber; and when in a partially closed position, the plurality of openings formed at the second of the two ends communicate upstream water pressure with downstream water pressure, while the slots are blocked by an enlarged head on the guide element, thereby slowing travel of the combination poppet and sleeve valve member toward the valve seat; and the combination poppet and sleeve valve member is finally moved to the fully closed position against the valve seat, without causing water hammer; after the slots are blocked; and the combination poppet and sleeve valve member loosely cooperating with said valve seat in said fully closed position so as to allow some leakage of water by the combination poppet and sleeve member, to enable the combination poppet and sleeve valve member to automatically reset itself to the normally open position when pressure applied thereto has been relieved.

Claim 15

A water flow fuse for automatically shutting off an excessive rate of flow of water in a system, comprising: a valve body having a water inlet passage and a water outlet passage in fluid communication with a valve seat opening; a first pressure-measuring passageway formed in the valve body and connected between the water inlet passage and a first pressure-sensing chamber; a dripper removably and sealingly held in the first pressure-measuring passageway to control flow of fluid therethrough; a combination poppet and sleeve valve member connected to a diaphragm moveble between a normally open position and a closed position against the valve seat opening; the combination poppet and sleeve valve member including a cylindrical, hollow element having two ends with a closed top protion formed at a first of the two ends, and a plurality of openings formed at a second of the two ends; the diaphragm sealingly connected between the valve body and the top closed portion of the combination poppet and sleeve valve member, downstream of the valve seat, above a guide element, so that a lower area of the diaphragm forms an annular fluid chamber downstream of the valve seat opening that is subject to varying pressures adjacent the water outlet passage, and a separate upper area of the diaphragm forms a portion of the first pressure-sensing chamber; a second pressure-measuring passageway formed in the body and connected between the fluid outlet passage and the annular fluid chamber between the guide element and the diaphragm; at least one spring cooperating with the combination poppet and sleeve valve member; and the combination poppet and sleeve valve member and the at least one spring being sized and dimensioned so that when a predetermined pressure differential is sensed, the combination poppet and sleeve valve member is moved from a full open position toward a closed position; and whereby, in the full open position, the plurality of openings formed at the second of the two ends communicates between a volume of water within said cylindrical, hollow element and an annular volume of water within the fluid chamber; and when in a partially closed position, the plurality of openings formed at the second of the two ends communicate upstream water pressure with downstream water pressure, while the slots are blocked by an enlarged head on the guide element, thereby slowing travel of the combination poppet and sleeve valve member toward the valve seat; and the combination poppet and sleeve valve member is finally moved to the fully closed position against the valve seat, without causing water hammer; after the slots are blocked; and the combination poppet and sleeve valve member loosely cooperating with said valve seat in said fully closed position so as to allow some leakage of water by the combination poppet and sleeve member, to enable the combination poppet and sleeve valve member to automatically reset itself to the normally open position when pressure applied thereto has been relieved.

Claim 16

The water flow fuse of claim 12 , further including an adjusting knob cooperating with the at least one spring so as to adjustably control the opening characteristics of the valve member.

Claim 17

The water flow fuse of claim 13 wherein the adjusting knob is mounted on the exterior of the valve body and cooperating with the at least one spring, and wherein at least one spring is held in the first sensing chamber above said diaphragm.

Claim 18

The water flow fuse of claim 12 , further including a second spring cooperating with a slidable rod, which slidable rod contacts a lower surface of the closed top portion to bias the combination poppet and sleeve valve member away from the valve seat.

Claim 19

The water flow fuse of claim 15 , further including an adjusting knob cooperating with a first spring so as to adjustably control the opening characteristics of the valve member.

Claim 20

The water flow fuse of claim 16 wherein the adjusting knob is mounted on the exterior of the valve body and cooperating with the first spring, and wherein the first spring is held in the first sensing chamber above said diaphragm.

Claim 21

The fluid flow fuse of claim 2 wherein the guide means is a barrier between the poppet valve and the diaphragm.

Claim 22

The fluid flow fuse of claim 8 wherein the guide element is a barrier between the poppet valve and the diaphragm.

Claim 23

The water flow fuse of claim 19 wherein the poppet valve includes a rod which loosely passes through an opening formed in the barrier.