LIQUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICES

• US 20070034817A1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Guest International Limited (Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) Limited)
• Original Assignee: John Guest International Limited (Reliance Worldwide Corporation (UK) Limited)
• Inventors: Guest, Timothy, Guest, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,690,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/001 actuated by volume variations caused by an element soluble in a fluid or swelling in contact with a fluid life-boats B63C9/24
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1624 Destructible or deformable element controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7722 Line condition change responsive valves

Abstract

A liquid flow control device has a port or passageway through which liquid flow is to be controlled. A body of a liquid swellable material is located in the port or passageway having an upstream side and a downstream side in relation to the direction of liquid flow through the port or passageway. A layer of sealing material is provided on the upstream side of the body to prevent contact of that side of the body with the liquid when the body is swollen to close the port or passageway whilst allowing contact of the downstream side of the body when the body is in the non-swollen condition allowing liquid flow through the port or passageway.

Claims

1. A liquid flow control device comprising:

a port or passageway through which liquid flow is to be controlled;

a body of a liquid swellable material located in the port or passageway having an upstream side and a downstream side in relation to the direction of liquid flow through the port or passageway; and

a layer of sealing material on the upstream side of the body to prevent contact of that side of the body with the liquid when the body is swollen to close the port or passageway whilst allowing contact of the downstream side of the body when the body is in the non-swollen condition allowing liquid flow through the port or passageway.

2. The flow control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body of liquid swellable material is partially encapsulated in a layer of sealing material to prevent the body being wetted by said liquid on the upstream side thereof leaving the side of the body on the downstream side exposed for contact with the liquid.

3. The flow control device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the layer of sealing material extends over said upstream side of the body and around the periphery of the body, between the body and an encircling face of the port or passageway with which the body/sealing layer forms a seal when the body is in said swollen condition.

4. The flow control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided in the port or passageway for locating the body in the port or passageway.

5. The flow control device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the port or passageway has spaced abutments encircling the port or passageway between which the body of swellable material is located and constrained movement along the port or passageway with the liquid flow.

6. The flow control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passageway is formed in a tube or cylindrical body to receive a liquid flow.

7. The flow control device as claimed in claim 1 comprising an annular housing comprising a peripheral wall and side walls which provide an enclosure for the body of water swellable material, the roof or wall of the housing having one or more orifices providing inlet ports for liquid flow into the housing and one side wall of the housing having an outlet opening for liquid flow out of the housing, the body of water swellable material within the housing having an encircling sealing layer around its periphery which engages the inner periphery of the housing with swelling of the body of material to close off flow of liquid into the housing through said port or ports and to allow liquid flow through the housing when the body of swellable material is in its contracted condition.

8. The flow control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the housing is mounted in a tube or cylindrical body through which cylindrical flows to regulate flow from the tube or coupling body.