Flow regulating valve for use in an air scrubbing device

In a wet air scrubbing device for removing particulate contaminants from a gaseous medium by entraining the contaminants in a liquid stream, the wet air scrubbing device having a plurality of liquid entry ports, at least one gaseous entry opening, means for intimately contacting the introduced liquid with the gas and means for removing the gas and contaminant-laden liquid after said contact, the improvement comprising:

• at least one adjustable control valve located at each liquid entry port, the control valve having a cylindrical discharge receptor firmly anchored in the air scrubbing device;
• a liquid supply device connected to the cylindrical discharge receptor at a first end, the cylindrical discharge receptor conveying the liquid to the wet scrubbing device;
• a conical valve body adapted to be matingly received within and releasably contact the cylindrical discharge receptor at a second end opposed to the liquid supply device, wherein the conical valve body comprises:
• (a) a conically tapered projection constructed of polyurethane having an angular apex between about 20.degree. and about 45.degree. and a maximum diameter at least equal to that of the cylindrical discharge receptor, the angular apex adapted to extend into the cylindrical discharge receptor;
• and
• (b) a disk-like ledge attached to the largest portion of the conically tapered projection, the disk-like ledge extending axially from the conically tapered projection;
• the disk-like ledge being formed of polyurethane;
• (c) an attachment projection contiguous to the disk-like ledge, the attachment projection located on a face of the disk-like ledge opposite the conically tapered projection;
• and
• means for movably inserting and retracting the conical valve body relative to the cylindrical discharge receptor, the inserting and retracting means being attached to the attachment projection.