Pipes and tubular conduits – With flow regulators and/or baffles – Restrictors
Patent
1996-08-21
1999-03-23
Scherbel, David
Pipes and tubular conduits
With flow regulators and/or baffles
Restrictors
138 45, 138 46, F15D 100
Patent
active
058846670
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to devices for variably restricting the flow of fluids in which flow resistance is varied by varying the length of a flow path defined by the device.
It is known to provide flow restricting devices in which the flow resistance is varied by varying the length of a flow path defined therethrough rather than by reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path, as is the case with a tapering needle and orifice for example. An advantage of not reducing the flow path cross-sectional area is that the likelihood of the device becoming blocked by debris or lime scale is reduced. Additionally, it is possible by placing upstream of the device a filter having a pore size smaller than the flow path section area to ensure that particles entrained in the fluid which reach the device will generally not be of sufficient size to cause a blockage.
In a known flow restricting device having a variable length flow path, an axially extending helical groove is provided which can be selectively covered by relative axial movement between the part defining the groove and a suitable cover to provide a flow path, or passage, having a length which is variable. A disadvantage with such devices is that they are not economical with space due to the requirement for axial movement and may not be suitable for applications where space is limited.
One object of the invention is to provide an improved variable flow restricting device which can be made compact.
Accordingly, the invention provides a variable flow restricting device comprising a part having groove means provided in a face thereof and through-passage means communicating with said groove means, covering means for engaging said face for covering said groove means to define flow path means which extend from said through-passage means in communication therewith, and means for providing relative displacement between said part and said covering means for causing resilient deformation of said covering means and/or said part to provide adjustably variable covering of said groove means such that said flow path means extends from said through-passage means to an extent which is adjustably variable according to said relative displacement.
The invention also includes a variable flow restricting device including parts cooperable together to form a flow path extending progressively radially outwardly from an inlet defined in at least one of the parts and means for progressively controlling the degree of cooperation between said parts for progressively varying the length of said flow path from said inlet.
The invention additionally includes a valve apparatus comprising a variable flow restricting apparatus as defined in either one of the last two preceding paragraphs.
The covering means may be disposed between said displacement providing means and said face so as to be displaceable by said displacement providing means.
Preferably, the covering means comprises a resiliently deformable member and a resilient membrane disposed between said deformable member and said face.
Preferably, the deformable member comprises a dome-shaped portion having a generally convex face directed toward said resilient membrane and the membrane includes a generally convex face directed toward said face of said part. In which case, the radius of curvature of said convex face of the deformable member is preferably smaller than the radius of curvature of said convex face of said resilient membrane.
The deformable member may comprise means for mutually slideably engaging with said resilient membrane.
The deformable member may be mounted on a relatively rigid moveable member.
The displacement means may engage said moveable member.
Preferably, the deformable member comprises a polymeric material.
Advantageously, the polymeric material is a rubber.
Preferably, the face of the part is flat and the groove means comprises a spiral groove extending radially outwardly from said through-passage means.
The part may be relatively rigid so as to be substantially non-deformable when the face thereof is engaged by
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patent: 4344459 (1982-08-01), Nelson
Cistermiser Limited
Hook James F.
Scherbel David
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