Gravity actuated flow control apparatus and method
OwnerStrom W. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of a flow control apparatus of the present invention generally include a vessel equipped with a substantially vertical, bottom-feeding liquid inlet line, a vapor space pressure equalization line, and a liquid outlet, wherein the vessel contains a pair of connected, horizontally oriented, O-ring and/or piston ring equipped sealing plates that are designed to rise and fall as a pair in response to gravity provided liquid pressure in the sump of the vessel, whereby an elevation of the sealing plates provides the liquid in fluid communication with the liquid outlet via internal orifices fluidly connected to one or more fluid conduits. Embodiments of a method of using embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention to control liquid flow are also provided.
Claims17
A flow control apparatus comprising:
- a vessel;
- a sealing component comprising:
- an upper plate assembly;
- a lower plate assembly;
- and
- a plate connector rod connecting said upper plate assembly to said lower plate assembly;
- one or more fluid conduits;
- a vapor equalization line;
- a liquid inlet line comprising a substantially vertical segment;
- and
- a liquid outlet;
- wherein:
- said sealing component is vertically displaceable within said vessel;
- said liquid inlet line substantially vertical segment is fluidly connected to a sump of said vessel;
- said vessel comprises one or more orifices through an interior wall thereof which are each fluidly connected to at least one said fluid conduit;
- at least one said fluid conduit is fluidly connected to said liquid outlet;
- an upper internal section of said vessel above said upper plate assembly is in fluid communication with said liquid inlet line via said vapor equalization line;
- and
- when liquid in said substantially vertical segment of said liquid inlet line provides sufficient force to a bottom surface of said lower plate assembly and causes said sealing component to be displaced sufficiently upward, liquid in said sump flows out through said liquid outlet via at least one of said orifices and one of said fluid conduits.
A flow control apparatus comprising:
- a vessel;
- a sealing component comprising:
- an upper plate assembly;
- a lower plate assembly;
- and
- a plate connector rod connecting said upper plate assembly to said lower plate assembly;
- one or more fluid conduits;
- a vapor equalization system;
- a liquid inlet line comprising a substantially vertical segment;
- and
- a liquid outlet;
- wherein:
- said sealing component is vertically displaceable within said vessel;
- said liquid inlet line substantially vertical segment is fluidly connected to a sump of said vessel;
- said vessel comprises one or more orifices through an interior wall thereof which are each fluidly connected to at least one said fluid conduit;
- at least one said fluid conduit is fluidly connected to said liquid outlet;
- an upper internal section of said vessel above said upper plate assembly is in fluid communication with said liquid inlet line via said vapor equalization system;
- said vapor equalization system comprises a flotation member;
- and
- when liquid in said substantially vertical segment of said liquid inlet line provides sufficient force to a bottom surface of said lower plate assembly and causes said sealing component to be displaced sufficiently upward, liquid in said sump flows out through said liquid outlet via at least one of said orifices and one of said fluid conduits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.