Autonomous device for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe, and fuel circuit for an aircraft comprising such a device

An autonomous device for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid through a pipe, the flow rate of said fluid depending on the cross section for passage of said fluid in said pipe and on the difference between upstream and downstream pressures relative to said passage cross section, in the direction in which said fluid flows, said device comprising:

• regulating means for regulating said passage cross section, said regulating means comprising, in a first chamber of a housing which is subdivided into two chamber parts connected by a first orifice, a shutter having a frustoconical surface which has a configuration adapted to suit the surface of an edge of said orifice which is facing said frustoconical surface;
• deformable means, rigidly connected to said regulating means and subjected, on one side, to said upstream pressure and, on the other side, to said downstream pressure, said deformable means consisting of a flexible diaphragm anchored to the internal surface of said housing and connected to said frustoconical shutter by a rigid stem;
• and
• means capable of defining, for a predetermined difference between upstream and downstream pressures, a position of equilibrium for said regulating means and said deformable means,
• a variation in the difference between said upstream and downstream pressures leading to a deformation of said deformable means and to an accompanying movement of said regulating means to return the difference between said upstream and downstream pressures to the difference that corresponds to said position of equilibrium.