Calibrated flow rate sensing and flow control device
AssigneeVictaulic Company
InventorsAndrew Michael Ciasulli, Stephen Joseph Meyer, Kristopher Lawrence Desrochers, Neal A. Clevenger, Lawrence R. Carmen, Jr.
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Abstract
A fluid flow rate sensor, which may also be the basis of a valve for a fire suppression system, uses a sensing arm to convey motion of an obturation body or a valve closing member to a sensor system which evaluates the motion and generates a calibrated measure of the flow rate and/or an alarm signal in response if warranted. The obturation body and the valve closing member are capable of both rotation and translational motion, both of which are sensed using the sensing arm. The sensor system is isolated from the fluid within the valve.
Claims33
A valve, said valve comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet;
- a seat surrounding said inlet;
- a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing;
- a valve closing member positioned within said housing and sealingly engageable with said seat, said valve closing member mounted on said shaft and movable relatively to and independently of said shaft between an open position allowing flow from said inlet to said outlet, and a closed position preventing reversal of said flow;
- a sensing arm having a first end fixedly mounted on said shaft and a second end portion engaging said valve closing member;
- and
- a spring acting to bias said sensing arm into contact with said valve closing member;
- a sensor system adapted to sense rotation of said shaft relatively to said housing.
A fire suppression sprinkler system connectable to a water supply, said sprinkler system comprising:
- a standpipe connectable to said water supply;
- a plurality of fire suppression sprinklers;
- a piping network providing fluid communication between said standpipe and said sprinklers;
- a check valve controlling fluid flow between said standpipe and said piping network, said check valve comprising:
- a housing having an inlet connected to said standpipe and an outlet connected to said piping network;
- a seat surrounding said inlet;
- a shaft rotatably mounted within said housing;
- a valve closing member positioned within said housing and sealingly engageable with said seat, said valve closing member mounted on said shaft and movable relatively to and independently of said shaft between an open position allowing flow from said inlet to said outlet, and a closed position preventing reversal of said flow;
- a sensing arm having a first end fixedly mounted on said shaft and a second end portion engaging said valve closing member;
- a spring acting to bias said sensing arm into contact with said valve closing member;
- a sensor system adapted to sense rotation of said shaft relatively to said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.