Method and apparatus for flow restriction

An adjustable flow restrictor, comprising:

• a nut including a first end adapted to receive a liquid therein and a second end, the nut defining a passage therethrough including truncated internal threads;
• an adjustment screw comprising a head and a shaft extending from the head, whereby the shaft includes external threads, the adjustment screw at the shaft thereof being adapted to install into the nut from the second end thereof such that the truncated internal threads of the nut and the external threads of the shaft for the adjustment screw are spaced apart to define a pathway therebetween, whereby adjustment of the adjustment screw relative to the nut varies the pathway with respect to a length thereof;
• a sleeve including a first end and a second end, the sleeve being adapted at the first end thereof to fit over the adjustment screw and mate with the nut at the second end thereof, whereby the nut and the sleeve define a chamber with an outlet;
• the nut including a first raised wall and a second raised wall extending from the second end thereof, the first raised wall and the second raised wall being spaced apart about the second end to define the outlet of the chamber and a gap across from the outlet;
• the sleeve including a raised wall extending from the first end, whereby, during mating of the sleeve at the first end thereof with the nut at the second end thereof, the raised wall of the sleeve inserts into the gap between the first and second raised walls of the nut such that the raised wall of the sleeve, the first raised wall of the nut, and the second raised wall of the nut define a chamber wall of the chamber that directs liquid received into the chamber from the pathway toward the outlet for delivery therefrom;
• and
• the pathway being adapted to receive therein a liquid conveyed to the nut at the first end thereof and communicate the liquid to the chamber for exit therefrom via the outlet, whereby adjusting the length of the pathway regulates the liquid traversing the pathway with respect to volumetric flow rate such that the liquid exiting the outlet flows therefrom at a desired volumetric flow rate.

A flow control device, comprising:

• an adjustable flow restrictor, comprising:
• a nut including a first end adapted to receive a liquid therein and a second end,
• an adjustment screw being adapted to install into the nut from the second end thereof, the adjustment screw and the nut being configured to define a pathway therebetween, whereby adjustment of the adjustment screw relative to the nut varies the pathway with respect to a length thereof,
• a sleeve including a first end and a second end, the sleeve being adapted at the first end thereof to fit over the adjustment screw and mate with the nut at the second end thereof, whereby the nut and the sleeve define a chamber with an outlet, and
• the pathway being adapted to receive therein a liquid conveyed to the nut at the first end thereof and communicate the liquid to the chamber for exit therefrom via the outlet, whereby adjusting the length of the pathway regulates the liquid traversing the pathway with respect to volumetric flow rate such that the liquid exiting the outlet flows therefrom at a desired volumetric flow rate;
• a housing defining a restrictor chamber configured to incorporate therein the adjustable flow restrictor, the restrictor chamber including a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet passage, and an opening configured to receive the adjustable flow restrictor therethrough;
• the nut of the adjustable flow restrictor being insertable into the restrictor chamber of the housing until the nut at the first end resides adjacent the liquid inlet of the restrictor chamber;
• the sleeve of the adjustable flow restrictor being insertable into the restrictor chamber of the housing until the sleeve fits over the adjustment screw and mates with the nut to define the chamber of the adjustable flow restrictor, whereby, upon incorporation of the adjustable flow restrictor into the restrictor chamber, the outlet from the chamber of the adjustable flow restrictor aligns with the liquid outlet passage from the restrictor chamber of the housing.