초록 ▼

A distal rate control device, which can be conveniently interposed between a fluid supply line and fluid delivery line for precisely controlling the rate of fluid flow toward the delivery line. The device includes a readily adjustable flow rate control device having a novel flow control plate that c

A distal rate control device, which can be conveniently interposed between a fluid supply line and fluid delivery line for precisely controlling the rate of fluid flow toward the delivery line. The device includes a readily adjustable flow rate control device having a novel flow control plate that can be placed in fluid communication with the fluid supply line and with the fluid delivery line. The flow control plate is provided with a plurality of elongated fluidic flow control channels that are in communication with a rate selector member that is rotatably carried by the device housing. Rotation of the rate selector member places a selected one of the flow control channels in communication with the fluid delivery line.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A flow rate control device for controlling the rate of fluid flow between a fluid supply line which is connected to a source of fluid and a fluid delivery line which delivers the fluid to a remote location, said flow rate control device comprising: (a) a housing having a cover, a base

We claim: 1. A flow rate control device for controlling the rate of fluid flow between a fluid supply line which is connected to a source of fluid and a fluid delivery line which delivers the fluid to a remote location, said flow rate control device comprising: (a) a housing having a cover, a base and an internal chamber, said internal chamber having an inlet in communication with said fluid supply line, an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line and a flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and (b) flow rate control means carried by said housing for controlling the rate of fluid flow toward said delivery line, said flow rate control means comprising: (i) a rate control assembly disposed within said internal chamber of said housing, said rate control assembly including a base and a cover connected to said base, one of said cover and said base having a plurality of fluidic micro channels formed therein, each said fluidic micro channel having a length, width and cross-sectional area and an inlet in communication with said supply line and an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line; and (ii) a rate control selector assembly operably interconnected with said rate control assembly, said rate selector assembly including a rate control shaft assembly comprising a generally cylindrically-shaped rate control shaft carried by said housing for rotation with respect thereto, said shaft having a plurality of radially extending fluid flow passageways formed therein. 2. The device as defined in claim 1 further including indicator means associated with said rate control means for indicating the rate of fluid flow toward the remote location. 3. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said rate control shaft has a longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway, said plurality of radially-extending fluid flow passageways being in communication with said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway. 4. The device as defined in claim 1 in which said rate control selector assembly further includes a control knob operably associated with said rate control shaft, for imparting rotation thereto, said rate control knob being movable between a first extended position and a second position. 5. The device as defined in claim 4 further including locking means carried by said housing for releasably locking said control knob against rotation. 6. The device as defined in claim 5 in which said control knob is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart indexing cavities and in which said locking means comprises a locking spring having a distal end lockably receivable within a selected one of said indexing cavities. 7. The device as defined in claim 6 further including release means for releasing said distal end of said locking spring from said selected one of said indexing cavities. 8. The device as defined in claim 7, in which said release means comprises a release member slidably mounted within said cover for movement between first and second positions. 9. The device as defined in claim 8 in which said release means further comprises a spring for yieldably resisting movement of said release member toward said second position. 10. A flow rate control device for controlling the rate of fluid flow between a fluid supply line which is connected to a source of fluid and a fluid delivery line which delivers the fluid to a remote location, said flow rate control device comprising: (a) a housing having a housing cover, a housing base and an internal chamber, said internal chamber having an inlet in communication with said fluid supply line, an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line and a flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and (b) flow rate control means carried by said housing for controlling the rate of fluid flow toward said delivery line, said flow rate control means comprising: (i) a rate control assembly disposed within said internal chamber of said housing, said rate control assembly including a rate control base and a rate control cover connected to said rate control base, a selected one of said rate control base and said rate control cover having a plurality of fluidic micro channels formed therein, each said fluidic micro channel being of a selected length and width and having an inlet in communication with said supply line and an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line; and (ii) a rate control selector assembly operably interconnected with said rate control assembly, said rate selector assembly including a rate control shaft assembly carried by said housing for rotation with respect thereto, said rate control shaft assembly comprising a shaft having a longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway and a plurality of radially-extending fluid flow passageways in communication with said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway, said rate control shaft being rotatable relative to said housing to cause a selected one of said radially extending fluid flow passageways to communicate with a selected one of said fluidic micro-channels. 11. The device as defined in claim 10 in which said flow rate control means further comprises priming means for priming said plurality of fluidic micro channels, said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway and said plurality of radially-extending fluid flow passageways of said rate control shaft assembly with fluid from said fluid supply line. 12. The device as defined in claim 10 in which said rate control assembly further includes vent means for venting to atmosphere air contained within said fluidic micro channels. 13. The device as defined in claim 10 in which said selector assembly further includes a control knob operably associated with said rate control shaft, for imparting rotation thereto, said rate control knob being movable between a first extended position and a second position. 14. The device as defined in claim 13 further including locking means carried by said housing for releasably locking said control knob against rotation. 15. The device as defined in claim 14 in which said control knob is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart indexing cavities and in which said locking means comprises a locking spring having a distal end lockably receivable within a selected one of said indexing cavities. 16. The device as defined in claim 15 further including release means for releasing said distal end of said locking spring from said selected one of said indexing cavities. 17. A flow rate control device for controlling the rate of fluid flow between a fluid supply line which is connected to a source of fluid and a fluid delivery line which delivers the fluid to a remote location, said flow rate control device comprising: (a) a housing having a housing cover, a housing base and an internal chamber, said internal chamber having an inlet in communication with said fluid supply line, an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line and a flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and (b) flow rate control means carried by said housing for controlling the rate of fluid flow toward said delivery line, said flow rate control means comprising: (i) a rate control assembly disposed within said internal chamber of said housing, said rate control assembly including a rate control base and a rate control cover, a selected one of said rate control base and said rate control cover having a plurality of fluidic micro channels formed therein, each said fluidic micro channel having an inlet in communication with said supply line and an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line; and (ii) a rate control selector assembly operably interconnected with said rate control assembly, said rate selector assembly including: a. a rate control shaft assembly carried by said housing for rotation with respect thereto, said rate control shaft assembly comprising a shaft having a longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway and a plurality of radially-extending fluid flow passageways in communication with said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway; b. a control knob operably associated with said rate control shaft, for imparting rotation thereto to cause a selected one of said plurality of radially extending fluid flow passageways to communicate with a selected one of said plurality of fluidic micro-channels, said rate control knob being movable between a first extended position and a second position; and c. locking means carried by said housing for releasably locking said control knob against rotation; and (iii) priming means for priming said plurality of fluidic micro channels, said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway and said plurality of radially-extending fluid flow passageways of said rate control shaft assembly with fluid from said fluid supply line. 18. The device as defined in claim 17, further comprising vent means carried by said housing and in communication with said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway for venting to atmosphere gases contained within plurality of fluidic micro channels, said longitudinally-extending fluid flow passageway and said plurality of radially-extending fluid flow passageways of said rate control shaft assembly. 19. The device as defined in claim 17 in which said fluidic microchannels have surfaces, said surfaces being modified to provide unique surface characteristics. 20. The device as defined in claim 17 in which said rate control assembly further includes sealing means for substantially sealing said shaft relative to said housing. 21. The device as defined in claim 17 in which said rate control cover includes upstanding outlet ports each said outlet port including port sealing means for preventing fluid leakage about said outlet ports. 22. The device as defined in claim 17 further including a filter for filtering the fluid flowing from said supply line toward said fluidic microchannels. 23. The device as defined in claim 18 in which said control knob is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart indexing cavities and in which said locking means comprises a locking spring having a distal end lockably receivable within a selected one of said indexing cavities. 24. The device as defined in claim 18 further including release means for releasing said distal end of said locking spring from said selected one of said indexing cavities. 25. The device as defined in claim 24, in which said release means comprises a release member slidably mounted within said cover for movement between first and second positions. 26. The device as defined in claim 25 in which said release means further comprises a spring for yieldably resisting movement of said release member toward said second position. 27. The device as defined in claim 26 further including indicator means associated with said rate control means for indicating the rate of fluid flow toward the remote location.