Vortex Flow Control Device
AssigneeHydro International plc
InventorsMichael Guy Faram, Robert Yaw Gyamfi Andoh, Jeremy Paul Lecornu, Keith Garry Hutchings, Daniel Stuart Jarman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vortex flow control device is manufactured by forming a template unit having end walls of which the wall has an outlet opening, and a partial outer wall. The partial outer wall has an opening. A plate is subsequently secured to the template unit to partially close the opening, to leave an inlet. The size of the plate is selected so as to result in an inlet 30 sized to achieve required flow characteristics for the finished device. The plate is inclined to a planar portion on the opposite side of the inlet at an angle in the range 85° to 95°, so as to induce turbulence in the region of the inlet.
Claims16
1-14. (canceled)
A vortex flow control device comprising a housing defining a vortex chamber, the housing comprising:
- oppositely disposed end walls;
- an outer wall extending about an axis and disposed between the end walls, the outer wall comprising a curved portion which extends around the axis, one end of the curved portion adjoining a planar portion which extends in a tangential direction with respect to the axis to a first free edge, and the other end of the curved portion adjoining a terminal portion which extends in a direction towards the planar portion and terminates at a second free edge;
- an outlet from the housing disposed in one of the end walls;
- and
- an inlet to the housing defined in the outer wall between the second free edge and the planar portion, the inlet being configured so that fluid entering the vortex chamber through the inlet induces a circulating flow within the vortex chamber about the axis,
- wherein the terminal portion is directed away from the circulating flow in the direction towards the first free edge, whereby turbulence is induced in the region of the inlet by fluid entering the vortex chamber through the inlet, the terminal portion being inclined to the planar portion at an angle not less than 85° and not more than 95°.
A method of manufacturing a vortex flow control device comprising a housing defining a vortex chamber, the housing comprising:
- oppositely disposed end walls;
- an outer wall extending about an axis and disposed between the end walls, the outer wall having an upstream edge and a downstream edge with respect to the direction of the circulating flow in the region of the inlet, and further having a terminal portion, the downstream edge being an edge of the terminal portion;
- an outlet from the housing disposed in one of the end walls;
- and
- an inlet to the housing disposed in the outer wall and configured so that fluid entering the vortex chamber through the inlet induces a circulating flow within the vortex chamber about the axis, the inlet being defined between the upstream edge and the downstream edge of the outer wall, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- (a) manufacturing a template unit comprising the end walls and a partial outer wall excluding the terminal portion;
- and
- (b) subsequently securing the terminal portion of the outer wall to the template unit.
A method of manufacturing a vortex flow control device comprising a housing defining a vortex chamber, the housing comprising:
- oppositely disposed end walls;
- an outer wall extending about an axis and disposed between the end walls, the outer wall having an upstream edge and a downstream edge with respect to the direction of the circulating flow in the region of the inlet, and further having a terminal portion, the downstream edge being an edge of the terminal portion;
- an outlet from the housing disposed in one of the end walls;
- and
- an inlet to the housing disposed in the outer wall and configured so that fluid entering the vortex chamber through the inlet induces a circulating flow within the vortex chamber about the axis, the inlet being defined between the upstream edge and the downstream edge of the outer wall,
- wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- (a) manufacturing a plurality of identical template units, each comprising the end walls and a partial outer wall excluding the terminal portion;
- (b) determining desired characteristics of a vortex flow control device to be supplied;
- (c) determining the required dimensions of a terminal portion to be secured to one of the template units to provide the desired characteristics;
- and
- (d) securing a terminal portion of the required dimensions to the said one template unit.
A method of manufacturing a vortex flow control device comprising a housing which is a one-piece molding defining a vortex chamber, the housing comprising:
- oppositely disposed end walls;
- an outer wall extending about an axis and disposed between the end walls, the outer wall having an upstream edge and a downstream edge with respect to the direction of the circulating flow in the region of the inlet, and further having a terminal portion, the downstream edge being an edge of the terminal portion;
- an outlet from the housing disposed in one of the end walls;
- and
- an inlet to the housing disposed in the outer wall and configured so that fluid entering the vortex chamber through the inlet induces a circulating flow within the vortex chamber about the axis, the inlet being defined between the upstream edge and the downstream edge of the outer wall,
- wherein the method comprises the steps of:
- (a) manufacturing a template unit comprising the end walls and the outer wall;
- (b) removing a region of the outer wall to form the free edges of the terminal portion and the planar portion, thereby forming the inlet with a desired dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.