IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0253745
(2008-10-17)
|
등록번호 |
US-8250906
(2012-08-28)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
▼
A leak detector for use with a piping system, where the leak detector includes a housing configured to be attached to a conduit and a valve configured and arranged for axial movement with respect to the housing. Additionally, there is a magnet attached to the valve for movement therewith. Embodiment
A leak detector for use with a piping system, where the leak detector includes a housing configured to be attached to a conduit and a valve configured and arranged for axial movement with respect to the housing. Additionally, there is a magnet attached to the valve for movement therewith. Embodiments of the invention also preferably include a magnetically-actuated switch positioned within the leak detector along an axial flow path of a fluid such that axial movement of the magnet triggers the switch, which indicates fluid flow through the leak detector. In certain embodiments, there is also a leak passageway that permits a relatively small amount of fluid to pass to an outlet side of the valve even when a diaphragm is in seating contact with the valve if fluid pressure on the outlet side of the valve is slightly lower than fluid pressure on an inlet side of the valve.
대표청구항
▼
1. A leak detector for use within a piping system, said leak detector comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a conduit;a guide movably seated within said housing, wherein said guide includes a plurality of axially extending ports;a ribbed valve that includes a plurality of radial ribs th
1. A leak detector for use within a piping system, said leak detector comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a conduit;a guide movably seated within said housing, wherein said guide includes a plurality of axially extending ports;a ribbed valve that includes a plurality of radial ribs that are configured and arranged to extend into said axially extending ports of said guide, said ribbed valve also including an axially extending projection;a diaphragm plate including an aperture that slidably receives said axially extending projection of said ribbed valve;a biasing member seated within said leak detector, wherein said biasing member is operatively connected to an outlet side of said diaphragm plate and provides a biasing force thereto; andan annular diaphragm seated upon an inlet side of said diaphragm plate, wherein an outer circumferential portion of said diaphragm is sealingly connected to said housing,wherein an inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm contacts an outlet side of said ribbed valve in a no-flow state and said inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm is separated from the outlet side of said ribbed valve in a full-flow state, andfurther wherein axial movement within said leak detector activates a switch to indicate fluid flow. 2. The leak detector according to claim 1, wherein: said guide is connected to an inlet side of said diaphragm; andan outlet side of said diaphragm is connected to said inlet side of said diaphragm plate,whereby said guide, said diaphragm and said diaphragm plate move together and define a compound assembly, andwherein said ribbed valve is contained within said compound assembly. 3. The leak detector according to claim 2, wherein: said ribbed valve is configured and arranged for limited axial movement within said compound assembly, such that: axial movement of said ribbed valve in a direction toward an inlet side is limited by said housing, andaxial movement of said ribbed valve in a direction toward an outlet side is limited by either said compound assembly or a component rigidly associated with said housing, depending upon a pressure differential between the inlet side and the outlet side of said ribbed valve. 4. The leak detector according to claim 2, further comprising a leak passageway that permits a relatively small amount of fluid to pass between said diaphragm and said ribbed valve when said inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm is in contact with said outlet side of said ribbed valve and when pressure on said outlet side of said ribbed valve is slightly lower than pressure on an inlet side of said ribbed valve. 5. The leak detector according to claim 4, wherein said leak passageway is a groove formed on said ribbed valve at an interface between said ribbed valve and said diaphragm. 6. The leak detector according to claim 2, wherein said diaphragm includes: a first lip structure on said inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm, wherein said first lip structure cooperates with an annular boss on said diaphragm plate to attach said diaphragm and said diaphragm plate together; anda second lip structure on said inlet side of said diaphragm, wherein said second lip structure cooperates with a flange on said guide to attach said diaphragm and said guide together. 7. The leak detector according to claim 1, further comprising: a magnet attached to said axially extending projection of said ribbed valve, andwherein said switch is a magnetically-actuated switch positioned within said leak detector such that axial movement of said magnet triggers said switch. 8. The leak detector according to claim 1, wherein: said housing includes an inlet housing portion and an outlet housing portion; andsaid outer circumferential portion of said diaphragm creates a seal between said inlet housing and said outlet housing. 9. The leak detector according to claim 1, wherein said biasing member is a spring that extends between an annular ledge portion of said housing and said outlet side of said diaphragm plate. 10. The leak detector according to claim 2, further comprising a leak passageway that permits fluid flow from the inlet side of said ribbed valve to said outlet side, wherein: during said no-flow state, there is approximately no fluid pressure differential between said inlet side of said ribbed valve and said outlet side of said ribbed valve, whereby said biasing force of said biasing member pushes said diaphragm plate, said annular diaphragm, said ribbed valve and said guide in a first direction to a first limit point when interference between said housing and said ribs of said ribbed valve limits further axial movement, with said diaphragm and said ribbed valve in seating contact with each other;during a micro-flow state, the fluid pressure on said inlet side of said ribbed valve is slightly higher than the fluid pressure on said outlet side of said ribbed valve, thereby creating a slight pressure differential that is enough to partially overcome said biasing force of said biasing member, whereby although said seating contact between said diaphragm and said ribbed valve is maintained, said ribbed valve pushes said diaphragm, said diaphragm plate and said ribbed valve in a second direction, which is opposite of said first direction, until said ribbed valve reaches a second limit point, with said diaphragm plate, said diaphragm and said ribbed valve being at an intermediate point; andduring said full-flow state, the fluid pressure on said inlet side of said ribbed valve is more than slightly higher than the fluid pressure on said outlet side of said ribbed valve, thereby creating a pressure differential that is great enough to completely overcome said biasing force of said biasing member, whereby seating contact between said diaphragm and said ribbed valve ceases because said diaphragm, said diaphragm plate and said guide are moved in said second direction from said intermediate point to a second limit point, while said ribbed valve is maintained at said second limit point. 11. A leak detector for use within a piping system, said leak detector comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a conduit;a valve configured and arranged for axial movement within said housing,an annular diaphragm including an outer circumferential portion sealingly connected to said housing;a biasing member operatively connected to said diaphragm, wherein said biasing member biases an inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm into seating contact with a seating surface of said valve; anda leak passageway that permits a relatively small amount of fluid to pass to an outlet side of said valve when said inner circumferential portion of said diaphragm is in seating contact with said outlet side of said valve and when fluid pressure on said outlet side of said valve is slightly lower than fluid pressure on an inlet side of said valve,wherein axial movement within said leak detector activates a switch to indicate fluid flow. 12. The leak detector according to claim 11, wherein said leak passageway is a groove formed on said seating surface of said valve. 13. The leak detector according to claim 11, wherein: said switch is activated by axial movement of said valve, and further wherein activation of said switch indicates a flow condition across said leak detector;wherein an outlet pressure region is defined on an outlet side of said valve, and an inlet pressure region is defined on an inlet side of said valve;when pressure within said outlet pressure region is approximately equal to pressure within said inlet pressure region, which signifies a no-flow state, said seating surface of said valve contacts said inner circumferential surface of said diaphragm and said valve is positioned to not activate said switch of said flow detector, whereby said flow detector indicates a no-flow condition;when pressure within said outlet pressure region is significantly less than pressure within said inlet pressure region, which signifies a full-flow state, said seating surface of said valve does not contact said inner circumferential surface of said and said valve is positioned to activate said switch of said flow detector, whereby said flow detector indicates a flow condition; andwhen pressure within said outlet pressure region is slightly less than pressure within said inlet pressure region, thereby permitting fluid to pass through said leak passageway from said inlet pressure region to said outlet pressure region, even though said seating surface remains in contact with said inner circumferential surface of said diaphragm, said valve is positioned to activate said switch of said flow detector, whereby said flow detector indicates a flow condition. 14. The leak detector according to claim 11, further comprising: a magnet attached to said valve, andwherein said switch is a magnetically-actuated switch positioned within said leak detector such that axial movement of said magnet triggers said switch. 15. A leak detector for use with a piping system, said leak detector comprising: a housing configured to be attached to a conduit;a valve positioned within said housing, said valve being configured and arranged for axial movement with respect to said housing;a magnet attached to said valve for movement therewith; anda magnetically-actuated switch positioned within said leak detector along an axial flow path of a fluid such that axial movement of said magnet triggers said magnetically-actuated switch, wherein actuation of said magnetically-actuated switch indicates fluid flow through said leak detector. 16. The leak detector according to claim 15, further comprising a tube secured to said housing, wherein said tube is configured and arranged to isolate said magnetically-actuated switch from the fluid flowing through said leak detector. 17. The leak detector according to claim 16, wherein said tube extends in a generally radial direction within said housing, and the radial position of said magnetically-actuated switch is adjustable with respect to said tube.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.