US 8,365,753 B2Granted

Fluid flow controller

OwnerYossi Danainventor

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a magnetic flow controller which transforms a slow reduction in pressure of fluid flow over time to a measurable fluid flow. Once a threshold pressure differential is reached, a flow passage through the flow controller opens rapidly to a relatively large opening, thereby generating a volume of fluid at high flux flowing through the passage, particularly to permit the measurement of the volume of fluid in a conventional flow meter. The device of the present invention integrates this low flux and transforms it to a measurable fluid flux, so that the fluid can be measured by the fluid meter within its optimum error range. This is accomplished while maintaining a pressure drop in the flow meter which is within the permitted standards. Thus, the invention provides relatively sharp shifts between substantially high flux flow and no flow, in a pulse-like manner.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A magnetic flow controller comprising:

a body defining a fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;
a stop member mounted across said inlet;
and
a displaceable member disposed in said body adjacent said stop member;
wherein at least one of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a magnet, and the other of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a ferromagnetic portion, so as to create a magnetic force, acting on said displaceable member, sufficient to cause the displaceable member to engage said stop member so as to close and seal the flow passage;
said body also including walls defining a first, elongate portion of substantially constant diameter for sealingly engaging said displaceable member and a second portion, having a diameter larger than said constant diameter, said body having a plurality of guide members extending radially from the walls of the second portion, wherein said displaceable member, when in said second portion, non-sealingly engages said guide members and is disengaged from said walls of said body;
said first, elongate portion being of sufficient length to permit said displaceable member to generate a measurable volume of fluid before said displaceable member disengages from said walls to unseal said flow passage, thereby generating measurable volume flowing through the passage when said displaceable member disengages from said walls;
further comprising a return element adapted and configured to urge the displaceable member to return towards said stop member;
wherein said return element includes a magnet.

6 more elements

A magnetic flow controller comprising:

a body having a single wall defining a fluid flow passage having an inlet and an outlet;
a stop member mounted across said inlet;
and
a displaceable member disposed in said body adjacent said stop member;
wherein at least one of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a magnet, and the other of said stop member and said displaceable member includes a ferromagnetic portion, so as to create a magnetic force, acting on said displaceable member, sufficient to cause the displaceable member to engage said stop member so as to close and seal the flow passage;
said single wall of said body defining an engaging portion of substantially constant diameter configured for sealingly engaging said displaceable member and a wider portion, having a diameter larger than said constant diameter configured for disengaging from said displacement member, said body having a plurality of guide members extending radially from the wall of the wider portion, wherein said displaceable member, when in said wider portion, engages said guide members without sealing the flow passage and is disengaged from said wall of said body;
said engaging portion being of sufficient length to permit said displaceable member to generate a measurable volume of fluid before said displaceable member disengages from said wall to unseal said flow passage, thereby generating a pulse of fluid of measurable volume flowing through the passage when said displaceable member disengages from said wall.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/916,659Filed 14 Jun 2006
Priority: IL 16913214 Jun 2005
Published: US 2009/0193908 A16 Aug 2009
Granted: 5 Feb 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G01F 15/028
Compensating or correcting for variations in pressure, density or temperature: for low flow rates
F16K 31/084
Using a permanent magnet: the magnet being used only as a holding element to maintain the valve in a specific position, e.g. check valves
G01F 1/06
By using mechanical effects: using rotating vanes with tangential admission
G01F 15/005
Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular…