초록 ▼

A pressure reducer is configured for use in a liquid delivery system that requires its liquid contents to be pressurized to a first, relatively high pressure but also requires that the liquid be delivered to a downstream location such as a faucet at a second, relatively low pressure. The pressure re

A pressure reducer is configured for use in a liquid delivery system that requires its liquid contents to be pressurized to a first, relatively high pressure but also requires that the liquid be delivered to a downstream location such as a faucet at a second, relatively low pressure. The pressure reducer reduces the pressure of the flowing liquid by repeatedly imparting directional changes to the liquid. Preferably, the pressure reducer comprises a stationary restrictor having multiple aligned segments, each of which is configured to divide the liquid into two or more diverging streams and to recombine the streams at the end of the segment. Each segment preferably comprises a curved blade having opposed generally toroidal surfaces that border one of two divided liquid streams. The device may be located either remote from or adjacent to the faucet or other terminal point of the system and can include either a single passage or multiple parallel passages. A desired pressure drop can be obtained with high precision simply by properly selecting the configuration and/or number of segments in the device.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pressurized liquid dispensing system for dispensing a single liquid, the system comprising:a pressurized liquid source that is configured to deliver a single pressurized liquid at a first, relatively high line pressure; a liquid dispenser that is located remote from said liquid source and that

1. A pressurized liquid dispensing system for dispensing a single liquid, the system comprising:a pressurized liquid source that is configured to deliver a single pressurized liquid at a first, relatively high line pressure; a liquid dispenser that is located remote from said liquid source and that is configured to dispense the single liquid at a second, relatively low pressure; a liquid line connecting said liquid source to said liquid dispenser; and a pressure reducer device within said liquid line, said pressure reducer comprising a housing and a restrictor disposed within said housing, said housing having a single inlet, an outlet, and at least one passage formed between said inlet and said outlet, said restrictor being located in said passage and being configured to impart a series of directional changes to the single liquid, as the single liquid flows through said passage, without mixing the single liquid with any other substance, thereby reducing the pressure of the single liquid to at least approximately said second pressure. 2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein said restrictor comprises a plurality of flow divider segments located in series within said passage.3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein each of said flow divider segments is configured to sequentially divide and change angular direction of a liquid flowing therepast into multiple liquid streams and to recombine said multiple liquid streams.4. A system as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said flow divider segments comprises a generally helically curved blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposed curved surfaces, each of which is configured to border one of said liquid streams.5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein said curved blades are arranged end-to-end such that, with the exception of a last curved blade of said pressure reducer, the trailing edge of each curved blade extends at least generally perpendicularly to the leading edge of an adjacent downstream blade.6. A liquid flow pressure reducer comprising:(A) a housing having a single inlet opening, an outlet opening, and at least one passage formed between said inlet opening and said outlet opening; and (B) a restrictor formed from a plurality of flow divider segments located within said passage, each of said flow divider segments being configured to sequentially divide a single liquid flowing therepast into multiple liquid streams and to recombine said multiple liquid streams while causing the flowing liquid to change directions without mixing the single liquid with any other substance. 7. A pressure reducer as recited in claim 6, wherein said flow divider segments are arranged in a pattern such that said segments alternate between segments having a first directional curvature and segments having a second directional curvature.8. A pressure reducer as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said segments comprises a generally helically curved blade having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and opposed curved surfaces, each of which is configured to border one of said liquid streams.9. A pressure reducer as recited in claim 8, wherein said curved blades are arranged end-to-end such that, with the exception of a last curved blade of said pressure reducer, the trailing edge of each curved blade extends at least generally perpendicularly to the leading edge of an adjacent downstream blade.10. A pressure reducer as recited in claim 6, further comprising a flow divider bar mounted on the leading edge of an upstream-most segment of said restrictor and a flow straightener mounted on the trailing edge of a downstream-most segment of said restrictor.11. A pressure reducer as recited in claim 6, wherein said housing has a single passage.12. A pressure reducer comprising:(A) a housing having an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and a plurality of passages between said inlet opening and said outlet opening; and (B) a restrictor in each passage, the restrictor formed from a plurality of flow divider segments located within said passage, each of said flow divider segments being configured to sequentially divide liquid flowing there past into multiple liquid streams and to recombine said multiple liquid streams while causing the flowing liquid to change directions. 13. A pressure reducer as recited in claim 12, wherein a chamber is provided within said housing toward said outlet opening to allow liquid from each passage to recombine and help straighten flow before exiting said outlet opening.14. A method of reducing liquid pressure of a single liquid in a pressurized line, the method comprising:directing a single liquid through said pressurized line; and as the single liquid flows through said pressurized line, deflecting the single liquid through a plurality of repeated directional changes within a generally straight portion of said line without mixing the single liquid with any other substance. 15. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein the deflecting step comprises alternatively deflecting said liquid in a clockwise and counterclockwise rotation as said liquid flows through said generally straight portion of said pressurized line.16. A method as recited in claim 15, further comprising, as said liquid is flowing through said generally straight portion of said pressurized line,dividing an undivided liquid stream into a first set of multiple streams and deflecting said first set of liquid streams in a first direction; allowing said first set of multiple liquid streams to converge to form a combined liquid stream having a lower pressure than said undivided stream; then dividing said combined liquid stream into a second set of multiple streams and deflecting said second set of liquid streams in a second direction; and allowing said second set of liquid streams to reconverge to form a recombined liquid stream having a lower pressure than said combined liquid stream. 17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein:each of the dividing steps comprises directing a liquid stream over an edge of curved blade positioned within said liquid line, each of the deflecting steps comprises directing a liquid stream over a toroidal major surface of said curved blade, and each of the reconverging steps comprises directing divided liquid streams past a trailing edge of a curved blade and into contact with one another. 18. A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the dividing and converging steps comprise directing liquid past a first blade curved in a first direction and the redividing and reconverging steps comprise directing the liquid past a second curved blade curved in a second direction, said first and second blades being connected to one another in an end-to-end fashion, and a trailing edge of said second segment being positioned at an angle that is offset from an angle of a trailing edge of said first segment by 90°.19. A method as recited in claim 14, wherein liquid flows through a single passage during the pressure reduction operation.20. A method of reducing liquid pressure in a pressurized line, the method comprising:directing liquid through said pressurized line; and, as said liquid flows through said pressurized line, deflecting said liquid through a plurality of repeated directional changes within a generally straight portion of said line, wherein said liquid flows through multiple passages during the pressure reduction operation, said multiple passages having a common inlet and a common outlet, and a separate pressure reduction device being provided in each passage. 21. A liquid dispensing system comprising:a pressurized liquid source that is configured to deliver a pressurized liquid at a first, relatively high line pressure, the liquid having a gas entrained therein; a liquid dispenser that is located remote from said liquid source and that is configured to dispense the liquid at a second, relatively low pressure designed to obtain a designated velocity at a designated volumetric flow rate; a pressure reducer, the pressure reducer comprising a housing and a restrictor disposed within said housing, said housing having a single inlet coupled to said pressurized liquid source, an outlet coupled to said liquid dispenser, and at least one passage formed between said inlet and said outlet, said restrictor being located in said passage and being configured to impart a series of directional changes to the liquid flowing through said passage, thereby reducing the pressure of the liquid flowing through the passage to at least approximately the second pressure in order to dispense the liquid at least approximately the designated velocity. 22. The liquid dispensing system as recited in claim 21, wherein the system is configured to dispense a carbonated beverage, the pressurize liquid source is a source of the carbonated beverage, and the dispenser is a faucet.23. A method of dispensing a carbonated beverage, comprising:(A) delivering the carbonated beverage from a pressurized dispenser at a designated initial line pressure; (B) directing the carbonated beverage through a restrictor so as to reduce the pressure of the carbonated beverage to a value that achieves a designated velocity, said restrictor deflecting the carbonated beverage through a plurality of repeated directional changes within a generally straight portion of said restrictor; then (C) dispensing the carbonated beverage at the designated velocity.