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 pre-filter assembly, 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.
Claims20
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;
- 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;
- an upper internal section of said vessel above said upper plate assembly is in fluid communication with said liquid inlet line, directly or indirectly, via said vapor equalization line;
- 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;
- and
- said flow control apparatus comprises a feature selected from the group consisting of:
- a pre-filter assembly;
- at least a portion of an interior wall of said vessel comprising a surface material having a low coefficient of friction;
- and
- both a pre-filter assembly and at least a portion of an interior wall of said vessel comprising a surface material having a low coefficient of friction.
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;
- 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;
- an upper internal section of said vessel above said upper plate assembly is in fluid communication with said liquid inlet line, directly or indirectly, via said vapor equalization line;
- 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;
- and
- said vessel comprises an interior wall, wherein at least a portion of a surface thereof comprises a ceramic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.