Low-pressure and low-energy self-regulating valve

Abstract

A passive, self-regulating valve includes a static pressure chamber and an elastically collapsible tube supported within the static pressure chamber. The elastically collapsible tube is defined by a geometry that determines an activation pressure of the valve. The passive, self-regulating valve also includes a flow restrictor in fluid communication with the elastically collapsible tube inside the static pressure chamber, as well as piping connecting a source of pressurized liquid both to the flow restrictor and to an opening into the static pressure chamber. The piping enables the flow restrictor to control flow rate of the pressurized liquid through the valve independent of the activation pressure of the valve. In a preferred embodiment, the flow restrictor is a needle valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.