Passive flow control valve
AssigneeRed Valve Company, Inc.
InventorSpiros G. Raftis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passive flow control valve including a barrier member positioned in a fluid conduit between an upstream conduit portion and a downstream conduit portion. The barrier member substantially prevents fluid flow around a barrier member perimeter. The passive flow control valve also includes barrier member orifices extending through the barrier member, which allow controlled fluid flow through the barrier member orifices. When the fluid flows through the upstream conduit portion and encounters the barrier member, the fluid is prevented from passing around the barrier member perimeter and is forced to flow through the barrier member orifices.
Claims20
A passive flow control valve, comprising:
- a barrier member the second side having a convex shape and positioned in a fluid conduit between an upstream conduit portion and a downstream conduit portion and configured to substantially prevent fluid flow around a barrier member perimeter;
- and
- at least one barrier member orifice extending through the barrier member and configured to allow substantially controlled fluid flow through the barrier member orifice;
- wherein, at least during elevated flow conditions, when fluid flow through the upstream conduit portion encounters the barrier member, the fluid is prevented from passing around the barrier member perimeter and forced to flow through the at least one barrier member orifice wherein at least a portion of the barrier member is secured to a conduit wall;
- wherein the barrier member is substantially thimble-shaped and a barrier member edge is secured to the conduit wall by an expandable metal band.
A passive flow control valve, comprising:
- a barrier member having at least one reinforcing rib and positioned in a fluid conduit between an upstream conduit portion and a downstream conduit portion and configured to substantially prevent fluid flow around a barrier member perimeter;
- and
- at least one barrier member orifice extending through the barrier member and configured to allow substantially controlled fluid flow through the barrier member orifice;
- wherein, at least during elevated flow conditions, when fluid flow through the upstream conduit portion encounters the barrier member, the fluid is prevented from passing around the barrier member perimeter and forced to flow through the at least one barrier member orifice.
A passive flow control valve, comprising:
- a barrier member positioned in a fluid conduit between an upstream conduit portion and a downstream conduit portion and configured to substantially prevent fluid flow around a barrier member perimeter;
- and
- at least one barrier member orifice extending through the barrier member and configured to allow substantially controlled fluid flow through the barrier member orifice;
- wherein, at least during elevated flow conditions, when fluid flow through the upstream conduit portion encounters the barrier member, the fluid is prevented from passing around the barrier member perimeter and forced to flow through the at least one barrier member orifice, and
- wherein the barrier member is configured to extend across a ditch having two sidewalls and a bottom wall, the barrier member pivotably attached at a barrier member base to the ditch bottom wall.
A method of passively controlling fluid flow through a conduit having two sidewalls and a bottom wall, comprising the steps of:
- pivotably attaching a base of a barrier member having at least one barrier orifice extending therethrough to the bottom wall of the conduit;
- directing fluid from an upstream portion of the conduit through the at least one barrier member orifice and over the barrier member to a downstream portion of the conduit;
- increasing the flow of fluid from the upstream portion of the conduit, thereby causing the barrier member to pivot from a first lowered position, with respect to the conduit bottom wall, to a second elevated position, with respect to the conduit bottom wall;
- and
- directing the increased flow of fluid through the at least one barrier orifice to the downstream portion of the conduit in a controlled manner.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.