US 4,458,714 AGranted

Flow regulating device

OwnerJohn L. Delwicheinventor

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Abstract

A device for the automatic regulation of fluid flows through an aperture for use with immiscible liquids having differring densities, wherein the volume, weight and shape of a floatable plug are selected to provide a negative buoyancy with respect to the less dense liquid and a positive buoyancy with respect to the denser liquid, and with the buoyancy of the plug in the various liquids determining whether the fluids will be permitted to flow through the aperture.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A device for regulating the flow of a first fluid and a second fluid through a flow aperture, the fluids being immiscible with each other and having different densities, the flow regulating device comprising

a moveable plug having a density which is less than the density of the denser fluid but greater than the density of the less-dense fluid so that the plug floats in the denser fluid and sinks in the less-dense fluid, the plug being moveable between a first and a second position;
the plug assuming the first position when the surface level with respect to the flow aperture of the denser fluid is greater than a predetermined amount, and, the plug assuming the second position when the surface level with respect to the flow aperture of the denser fluid is less than the predetermined amount;
the plug permitting the flow of fluid through the flow aperture when the plug is located at the first position and blocking the flow of fluid through the flow aperture when the plug is located at the second position, wherein the plug includes
an outer body having a chamber, an air passageway, and a plurality of fluid passageways, all passageways extending from the chamber to the exterior of the outer body, the air passageway being positioned above the fluid passageways;
an inner plug, which is positioned within the chamber, the inner plug having a density which is less than the density of the denser fluid and greater than the density of the less dense fluid so that the inner plug floats in the denser fluid and sinks in the less dense fluid, the inner plug assuming a first position when the surface level of the denser fluid present in the chamber exceeds the predetermined amount, the inner plug assuming a second position when the surface level of the less dense fluid in the chamber is less than the predetermined amount;
valve means for selectively sealing the air passageway;
and
means for coupling the inner plug to the valve means so that the valve means seal the air passageway when the inner plug is in the first position, and open the passageway when the inner plug is in the second position, to provide a variable density plug which has a predetermined maximum buoyancy in the presence of the denser fluid, and a negative buoyancy with repsect to the less dense fluid.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a moveable plug having a density which is less than the density of the denser fluid but greater than the density of the less-dense fluid so that the plug floats in the denser fluid and sinks in the less-dense fluid, the plug being moveable between a first and a second position;
the plug assuming the first position when the surface level with respect to the flow aperture of the denser fluid is greater than a predetermined amount, and, the plug assuming the second position when the surface level with respect to the flow aperture of the denser fluid is less than the predetermined amount;
the plug permitting the flow of fluid through the flow aperture when the plug is located at the first position and blocking the flow of fluid through the flow aperture when the plug is located at the second position, wherein the plug includes
an outer body having a chamber, an air passageway, and a plurality of fluid passageways, all passageways extending from the chamber to the exterior of the outer body, the air passageway being positioned above the fluid passageways;
an inner plug, which is positioned within the chamber, the inner plug having a density which is less than the density of the denser fluid and greater than the density of the less dense fluid so that the inner plug floats in the denser fluid and sinks in the less dense fluid, the inner plug assuming a first position when the surface level of the denser fluid present in the chamber exceeds the predetermined amount, the inner plug assuming a second position when the surface level of the less dense fluid in the chamber is less than the predetermined amount;
valve means for selectively sealing the air passageway;
and
means for coupling the inner plug to the valve means so that the valve means seal the air passageway when the inner plug is in the first position, and open the passageway when the inner plug is in the second position, to provide a variable density plug which has a predetermined maximum buoyancy in the presence of the denser fluid, and a negative buoyancy with repsect to the less dense fluid.

5 more elements