초록 ▼

A flow regulator system includes a flow regulator placed within a fluid flow path to maintain fluid flow therethrough at a desired flow rate. The flow regulator includes a flow washer having an orifice therethrough and a regulator body that receives the flow washer. At fluid pressures between a firs

A flow regulator system includes a flow regulator placed within a fluid flow path to maintain fluid flow therethrough at a desired flow rate. The flow regulator includes a flow washer having an orifice therethrough and a regulator body that receives the flow washer. At fluid pressures between a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure, the flow washer rotationally deforms to decrease or increase the size of the orifice, thereby maintaining the desired flow rate. When fluid pressure is greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, the flow washer contacts a portion of the regulator body to prevent further rotational deformation of the flow washer. In addition, the flow washer radially compresses or expands to increase or decrease the size of the orifice, thereby maintaining the desired flow rate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A flow regulator system, comprising: a flow regulator adapted for placement within a fluid flow path, the flow regulator being adapted to maintain fluid flowing through the fluid flow path at a desired flow rate, the flow regulator, comprising: a flow washer including an orifice therethrough, and

1. A flow regulator system, comprising: a flow regulator adapted for placement within a fluid flow path, the flow regulator being adapted to maintain fluid flowing through the fluid flow path at a desired flow rate, the flow regulator, comprising: a flow washer including an orifice therethrough, anda regulator body adapted to receive the flow washer, the regulator body including at least one flow washer stop entirely spaced apart from the flow washer, wherein, at fluid pressures between a first fluid pressure and a second fluid pressure, the flow washer remains spaced apart from the at least one flow washer stop such that the flow washer rotationally deforms to decrease or increase the size of the orifice thereby maintaining the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path, further wherein, at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, the flow washer rotationally deforms and contacts the at least one flow washer stop to prevent further rotational deformation thereof such that the flow washer radially compresses or expands to decrease or increase the size of the orifice thereby maintaining the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path. 2. The flow regulator system according to claim 1, wherein the regulator body, includes: a flow washer seat that receives the flow washer therein;a diffuser assembly disposed in the flow washer seat, wherein the flow washer and the diffuser assembly form a delivery path, further wherein the orifice of the flow washer communicates with the delivery path to transport fluid thereto;a fluid conduit including a fluid conduit inlet and a fluid conduit outlet, wherein the delivery path communicates with the fluid conduit inlet to transport fluid thereto. 3. The flow regulator system according to claim 2, wherein, the flow washer comprises a plate disposed on a support wall, wherein the plate includes the orifice therethrough, further wherein, between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure, the support wall rotates to increase or decrease the size of the orifice. 4. The flow regulator system according to claim 3, wherein, at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, the flow washer contacts the at least one flow washer stop thereby preventing a rotation of the support wall that decreases the size of the orifice. 5. The flow regulator system according to claim 4, wherein, when fluid pressure decreases below the second fluid pressure, the support wall of the flow washer rotates such that the flow washer ceases contact with the at least one flow washer stop. 6. The flow regulator system according to claim 3, wherein the flow washer seat comprises: a wall; anda flow washer receiving surface adjoining the wall, wherein the support wall of the flow washer resides on the flow washer receiving surface adjacent the wall. 7. The flow regulator system according to claim 6, wherein, at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, accumulation of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat radially compresses the support wall of the flow washer resulting in a decrease in the diameter of the orifice that maintains the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path, and reduction of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat radially expands the support wall of the flow washer resulting in an increase in the diameter of the orifice that maintains the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path. 8. The flow regulator system according to claim 6, wherein the plate of the flow washer includes an inlet surface and an outlet surface, further wherein the outlet surface of the plate and the support wall define a cavity therebetween. 9. The flow regulator system according to claim 8, wherein fluid flowing through the flow path contacts the inlet surface of the plate creating pressure thereon such that fluid is forced through the orifice of the flow washer. 10. The flow regulator system according to claim 9, wherein filling of the delivery path with fluid equalizes fluid pressure within the cavity of the flow washer thereby stabilizing the flow of fluid through the flow washer and preventing vibration of the flow washer within the flow washer seat. 11. The flow regulator system according to claim 10, wherein fluid collected in the delivery path enters the fluid conduit inlet for conveyance to the fluid conduit outlet via the fluid conduit. 12. The flow regulator system according to claim 11, wherein, when fluid flowing through the flow path and contacting the inlet surface of the plate creates fluid pressures between the first fluid pressure and the second fluid pressure, the support wall of the flow washer in response to increasing fluid pressures rotates inwardly around an inner rim to decrease the diameter of the orifice thereby maintaining the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path, the support wall of the flow washer in response to decreasing fluid pressures rotates outwardly around an inner rim to increase the diameter of the orifice thereby maintaining the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path. 13. The flow regulator system according to claim 12 wherein when fluid flowing through the flow path and contacting the inlet surface of the plate creates fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, the flow washer contacts a portion of the regulator body to prevent further rotational deformation of the flow washer, in response to increasing fluid pressures, fluid accumulates between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat such that the flow washer radially compresses to decrease the size of the orifice thereby maintaining the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path, in response to decreasing fluid pressures results in reduction of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat such that the flow washer radially expands to increase the size of the orifice thereby maintaining the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path. 14. The flow regulator system according to claim 6, wherein the diffuser assembly comprises: a diffuser disposed centrally in the flow washer seat;the at least one flow washer stop disposed adjacent the diffuser, wherein the flow washer stop engages the flow washer at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure to prevent a rotation of the support wall that decreases the size of the orifice; andat least one diffuser channel, the delivery path comprising the diffuser channel and a circumferential channel defined by the flow washer and the diffuser assembly, wherein the diffuser transports fluid from the orifice of the flow washer into the diffuser channel, further wherein the diffuser channel transports fluid into the circumferential channel. 15. The flow regulator system according to claim 14, wherein, at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure fluid, the engagement of the flow washer by the flow washer stop seals a portion of the delivery channel such that fluid passing through the orifice contacts the diffuser and enters the diffuser channel, further wherein the diffuser channel transports the fluid to the circumferential channel such that the fluid collects in the circumferential channel and enters the conduit inlet for conveyance to the outlet via the fluid conduit. 16. The flow regulator system according to claim 14, wherein, at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, accumulation of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat radially compresses the support wall of the flow washer resulting in a decrease in the diameter of the orifice that maintains the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path, and reduction of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat radially expands the support wall of the flow washer resulting in an increase in the diameter of the orifice that maintains the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path. 17. The flow regulator system according to claim 6, wherein the diffuser assembly comprises: a diffuser disposed centrally in the flow washer seat;the at least one flow washer stop disposed adjacent the diffuser, wherein the flow washer stop engages the flow washer at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure to prevent a rotation of the support wall that decreases the size of the orifice; andat least one diffuser channel communicating with a circumferential channel defined by the flow washer and the at least one flow washer stop, wherein the diffuser transports fluid from the orifice of the flow washer into the diffuser channel, further wherein the diffuser channel transports fluid into the circumferential channel such that the filling of the circumferential channel with fluid equalizes fluid pressure within a cavity of the flow washer thereby stabilizing the flow of fluid through the flow washer and preventing vibration of the flow washer within the flow washer seat. 18. The flow regulator system according to claim 17, wherein, at fluid pressures greater than or equal to the second fluid pressure, accumulation of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat radially compresses the support wall of the flow washer resulting in a decrease in the diameter of the orifice that maintains the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path, and reduction of fluid between the support wall of the flow washer and the wall of the flow washer seat radially expands the support wall of the flow washer resulting in an increase in the diameter of the orifice that maintains the desired flow rate of fluid within the fluid flow path. 19. The flow regulator system according to claim 17, wherein extension of the diffuser into the orifice of the flow washer decreases the fluid flow rate within the fluid flow path and retraction of the diffuser from the orifice of the flow washer increases the fluid flow rate within the fluid flow path. 20. The flow regulator system according to claim 17, wherein the regulator body further includes a fluid chamber communicating with the fluid conduit outlet of the fluid conduit. 21. The flow regulator system according to claim 20, wherein the diffuser assembly, further comprises: a base installed within the fluid chamber, wherein the base is linearly adjustable within the fluid chamber; andthe diffuser comprises a shaft disposed within the base and a tip, further wherein linear adjustment of the base that extends the tip into the orifice of the flow washer decreases the fluid flow rate within the fluid flow path and linear adjustment of the base that retracts the tip from the orifice of the flow washer increases the fluid flow rate within the fluid flow path.