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US 5,634,592 AGranted
Flow control apparatus and method for making same
AssigneeFlow-Rite Controls, Ltd.
InventorDaniel N. Campau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flow restrictors are provided with known flow rates at given pressures. A flow restrictor is surrounded by a tubular sleeve having open ends. A fluid such as air is supplied through the restrictor, and the sleeve is simultaneously compressed, until a predetermined pressure across the restrictor is reached, at which time compression is stopped.
Claims9
A method for making a device to control the flow of a fluid, the device providing specifically known flow rates over given pressures, comprising the steps of:
- placing a compressible flow restrictor within a tubular sleeve having an axial direction and open ends, the sleeve in its axial direction entirely surrounding the outside periphery of the flow restrictor;
- radially compressing the sleeve transverse to the axial direction of the sleeve;
- directing air at a predetermined pressure through the open ends of the sleeve and through the flow restrictor in the axial direction of the sleeve, simultaneous with the sleeve compression;
- and
- measuring the air pressure across the flow restrictor during sleeve compression, and ceasing sleeve compression when a predetermined air pressure is reached, to thereby provide a flow restrictor with known pressure and flow characteristics.
2 more elements
An automatic liquid dispensing apparatus for the microflow dispensing of a controlled volume of liquid, comprising:
- a container adapted to hold a dispensable liquid, thereby defining a liquid level within the container;
- a flow regulator in fluid communication with the container, the flow regulator being configured to permit a controlled rate of flow of the liquid out of the container, the controlled rate being independent of the liquid level within the container;
- a compressible flow restrictor having an outside periphery and being associated with the flow regulator, the outside periphery of the flow restrictor being entirely surrounded by a tubular sleeve having an axial direction and open ends;
- whereby, upon directing a flow of air at a predetermined pressure through the flow restrictor in the axial direction of the sleeve, and simultaneous radial compression of the sleeve until a predetermined air pressure across the flow restrictor is reached, a flow restrictor is provided having known flow rates over given pressures.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.