Flow control device and process

A flow control device (20) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system (22) that has an opening (24) between an exterior and interior of the supply system (22), said flow control device (20) comprising:

• A. a housing (30/40) that
• 1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening (24);
• 2) defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior;
• and
• 3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57);
• and
• B. a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve bead (160) that has
• 1) at least one self-sealing slit (184) through said valve head (160);
• and
• 2) confronting, openable portions (186) along said at least one self-sealing slit (184) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions (186) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head (1601;
• and
• wherein said valve (140) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening (57) at a location spaced from said housing orifice (84) so that said valve (140) and said housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between said orifice (84) and said valve (140) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system (22), wherein
• said orifice (84) has a B diameter which is about 3.3 times a length of said orifice (84).

A flow control device (20) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system (22) that has an opening (24) between an exterior and interior of the supply system (22), said flow control device (20) comprising:

• A. a housing (30/40) that
• 1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening (24);
• 2) defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior;
• and
• 3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57);
• and
• B. a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve head (160) that has
• 1) at least one self-sealing slit (184) through said valve head (160);
• and
• 2) confronting, openable portions (186) along said at least one self-sealing slit (184) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions (186) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head (160);
• and
• wherein said valve (140) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening (57) at a location spaced from said housing orifice (84) so that said valve (140) and said housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between said orifice (84) and said valve (140) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system (22), wherein
• said orifice (84) has a diameter which is about 40% of a diameter of said valve head (160) when said valve (140) is closed.

A flow control device (20) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid substance from a supply system (22) that has an opening (24) between an exterior and interior of the supply system (22), said flow control device (20) comprising:

• A. a housing (30/40) that
• 1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening (24);
• 2) defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior;
• and
• 3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57);
• and
• B. a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve head (160) that has
• 1) at least one self-sealing slit (184) through said valve head (160);
• and
• 2) confronting, openable portions (186) along said at least one self-sealing slit (184) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions (186) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head (160);
• and
• wherein said valve (140) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening (57) at a location spaced from said housing orifice (84) so that said valve (140) and said housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between said orifice (84) and said valve (140) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system (22), wherein
• a ratio of a diameter of said orifice (84) to a shortest distance between said orifice (84) and said valve head (160) is between about 4.8 and about 6.2 when said valve (140) is closed.

A flow control device (20) for controlling a flow of a pressurized fluid B substance from a supply system (22) that has an opening (24) between an exterior and interior of the supply system (22), said flow control device (20) comprising:

• A. a housing (30/40) that
• 1) has an inlet end that can be located at the supply system opening (24);
• 2) defines an orifice (84) for communicating between the supply system exterior and interior;
• and
• 3) has an outlet end defining a discharge opening (57);
• and
• B. a valve (140) having a flexible, resilient valve head (160) that has
• 1) at least one self-sealing slit (184) through said valve head (160);
• and
• 2) confronting, openable portions (186) along said at least one self-sealing slit (184) in an initially closed configuration, said openable portions (186) being movable from said closed configuration to an open configuration when said valve head (160) is subjected to a pressure differential acting across said valve head (160);
• wherein said valve (140) is located across said housing outlet end discharge opening (57) at a location spaced from said housing orifice (84) so that said valve (140) and said housing (30/40) together define an expansion chamber (198) between said orifice (84) and said valve (140) for receiving the fluid substance at a pressure reduced from the pressure within the supply system (22);
• wherein said two-piece housing (30/40) comprises
• 1) an annular frame (40) for
• a) being attached to the supply system (22) at the supply system opening (24);
• and
• b) receiving said valve (140) supported thereon;
• and
• 2) an annular retainer ring (30) that
• a) is received in said annular frame (40);
• b) defines said orifice (84);
• and
• c) retains said valve (140) in said annular frame (140) so that said expansion chamber (198) is defined between said annular retainer ring (30) and said valve (140);
• and
• wherein said annular frame (40) includes
• 1) a first annular wall (51) for engaging said retainer ring (30) to hold said retainer ring (30) against said valve (140);
• 2) a seating surface (53) extending radially inwardly from said first annular wall (51) for engaging a portion of said valve (140);
• 3) a second annular wall (62) around said first annular wall (51);
• and
• 4) a plurality of circumferentially spaced tabs (66) extending from said second annular wall (62), each said tab (166) including a radially outwardly facing recess (68) for receiving a portion of the supply system (22) in snap-fit engagement to mount said flow control device (20) to the supply system (22).