Method for adjustably restricting air flow and apparatus therefor
First Claim
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1. A self-regulating adjustable air flow limiter for continuously limiting air flow therethrough between a no flow condition and a selected one of two maximum air flow levels irrespective of pressure drop across the limiter, comprising:
- a) a tube;
b) a baffle, connected to the tube interior, for channeling air entering the limiter through a tubular cylindrical member portion of the limiter;
c) a sail positioned in the tube and movable responsively to air flowing through the tube;
d) the tubular cylindrical member having a uniform interior diameter, being open ended, connected to the sail and being telescopingly movable axially within the tube unitarily with the sail;
e) a planar plate connected to the tube and resident therewithin, positioned for abutting contact with an outlet end of the tubular cylindrical member, the plate covering the outlet end of the cylindrical member thereby blocking air flow through the tubular cylindrical member upon the tubular cylindrical member contacting the plate; and
f) a solenoid powered stop connected to the plate and being moveable between two positions defining alternate selectable positions of maximum travel by the cylindrical member contacting the stop, said two positions defining resulting alternate maximum air flow levels through the tube.
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for air flow limiting comprise a vertically oriented tube, a sail assembly positioned in the tube and moveable therewithin responsively to air flow through the tube to limit rate of air flow through the tube and halt air flow through the tube upon air flow rate through the tube exceeding a preselected value, and a moveable stop for adjustably changing the length of travel of the sail assembly thereby changing the maximum amount of air flow.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A self-regulating adjustable air flow limiter for continuously limiting air flow therethrough between a no flow condition and a selected one of two maximum air flow levels irrespective of pressure drop across the limiter, comprising:
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a) a tube; b) a baffle, connected to the tube interior, for channeling air entering the limiter through a tubular cylindrical member portion of the limiter; c) a sail positioned in the tube and movable responsively to air flowing through the tube; d) the tubular cylindrical member having a uniform interior diameter, being open ended, connected to the sail and being telescopingly movable axially within the tube unitarily with the sail; e) a planar plate connected to the tube and resident therewithin, positioned for abutting contact with an outlet end of the tubular cylindrical member, the plate covering the outlet end of the cylindrical member thereby blocking air flow through the tubular cylindrical member upon the tubular cylindrical member contacting the plate; and f) a solenoid powered stop connected to the plate and being moveable between two positions defining alternate selectable positions of maximum travel by the cylindrical member contacting the stop, said two positions defining resulting alternate maximum air flow levels through the tube. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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2. An adjustable method for limiting air flow, comprising:
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a) providing a tube; b) positioning a movable sail within the tube; c) positioning a moveable stop within the tube; d) moving the stop to a selected position corresponding to a desired maximum air flow through the tube; and e) permitting the sail to move responsively to air flow through the tube between a position at which air flows around the sail and through the tube and a position at which the sail contacts the stop. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)
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11. A self-regulating adjustable air flow limiter for continuously limiting air flow therethrough to either of two selectable maximum air flow levels irrespective of pressure drop across the limiter, comprising:
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a) a tube; b) a baffle, connected to the tube interior, for channeling air entering the limiter through a tubular cylindrical member portion of the limiter; c) a sail positioned in the tube and movable responsively to air flowing through the tube and impinging the sail; d) the tubular cylindrical member having a uniform interior diameter, being open ended, connected to the sail and movable unitarily therewith, being telescopingly movable axially within the tube with respect to and along the baffle; e) a plate connected to the tube and resident therewithin, positioned for contact with an outlet end of the tubular cylindrical member at an axial extremity of sail movement within the tube; and f) a stop connected to the plate and being moveable between two positions defining alternate selectable positions of maximum travel of the cylindrical member as the cylindrical member approaches the stop upon upward movement of the sail, said two positions defining alternate maximum air flow levels through the limiter as air flows between the plate and the cylinder member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A self-regulating adjustable air flow limiter for continuously limiting air flow therethrough between a no flow condition and a selected one of two maximum air flow levels irrespective of pressure drop across the limiter, comprising:
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a) a tube; b) a baffle, connected to the tube interior, for channeling air entering the limiter through a tubular cylindrical member portion of the limiter; c) a sail positioned in the tube and movable responsively to air flowing through the tube and impinging the sail; d) the tubular cylindrical member having a uniform interior diameter, being open ended, connected to the sail and movable therewith unitarily, being telescopingly movable axially within the tube with respect to and along the baffle; e) a plate connected to the tube and resident therewithin, positioned for abutting contact with an outlet end of the tubular cylindrical member, the plate covering the outlet end of the cylindrical member thereby blocking air flow through the tubular cylindrical member upon the tubular cylindrical member contacting the plate; and f) a stop connected to the plate and being moveable between two positions defining alternate selectable positions of maximum travel by the cylindrical member, at a first position the stop contacting the cylindrical member to define a first maximum air flow level through the tube and at a second position at which the stop is at least flush with a downward facing surface of the plate contacted by the cylindrical member, whereby when air flow through the limiter exceeds a second alternate maximum level the telescoping cylindrical member contacts the plate thereby blocking air flow through the limiter, resulting in a no flow condition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification