Rate-of-flow control valve

A rate-of-flow control valve assembly actuable as a function of velocity of fluid in a conduit comprising:

• a) a sensing plate projecting into the conduit, substantially perpendicular to a direction of flow in said conduit;
• b) a sleeve valve located downstream of said sensing plate, said sleeve valve including a substantially cylindrical, flexible rubber sleeve surrounded by a control chamber and an outer rigid sleeve, said flexible sleeve configured to vary the flow rate of the fluid through said sleeve valve;
• a first sleeve valve port through said outer rigid sleeve and opening into said control chamber;
• and a second sleeve valve port opening to an inlet end of said sleeve valve;
• and
• c) a spool valve controller operatively connected to said sensing plate and in communication with said control chamber, said spool valve controller having a spool shaft engageable by said sensing plate and operable to control the flow of fluid into and out of said control chamber as a function of movement of said sensing plate in said conduit wherein said spool valve controller is formed with a bore in which said spool shaft is slidably received, said spool shaft having means cooperating with said bore to define at least first and second spool valve chambers;
• said spool valve controller having a first spool valve port in fluid communication with said first sleeve valve port and either of said first and second spool valve chambers depending on axial location of said spool shaft;
• said spool valve controller having a second spool valve port in communication with said second sleeve valve port and said first spool valve chamber and communicable with said first sleeve valve port via said spool valve port depending on axial location of said spool shaft;
• said spool valve controller also having a third spool valve port in fluid communication with said second spool valve chamber and communicable with said first sleeve valve port via said first spool valve port depending on axial location of said spool shaft.