APPARATUS FOR FLOW CONTROL AND SHUTOFF

• US 20120187320A1
• Filed: 01/26/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qi-Jun Lu
• Original Assignee: Qi-Jun Lu
• Inventors: LU, Qi-jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,490,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/304
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/00 Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/18 Roses; Shower heads with means for adding soap or the like E03C1/046; jet regulators E03C1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 5/00 Plug valves; Taps or cocks comprising only cut-off apparatus having at least one of the sealing faces shaped as a more or less complete surface of a solid of revolution, the opening and closing movement being predominantly rotary taps of the lift-valve type F16K1/00

Abstract

An apparatus for flow control and shutoff comprises a body having a chamber, an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet in fluidic communication with the chamber; the said apparatus for flow control and shutoff further comprises a flow regulator comprising a channel and the flow regulator rotatably fit in the chamber, such that the flow regulator is rotatable between a first rotational position and a second rotational position and that the channel is in fluidic communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet; the said apparatus for flow control and shutoff further comprises a lever operably connected to the flow regulator such that the lever urges the flow regulator to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position in the chamber when a user of the apparatus pushes the lever. At the first rotational position, the channel is not in fluidic communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet, such that fluidic communication between the inlet and the outlet is blocked. The flow regulator is operable to regulate a flow rate between the inlet and the outlet when the flow regulator is rotated between the first and the second rotational positions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for flow control and shutoff, comprising:

a body comprising a chamber, an inlet and an outlet, the inlet and the outlet in fluidic communication with the chamber;

a flow regulator comprising a channel and the flow regulator rotatably fit in the chamber, such that the flow regulator is rotatable between a first rotational position and a second rotational position and that the channel is in fluidic communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet; and

a lever operably connected to the flow regulator such that the lever urges the flow regulator to rotate between a first rotational position and a second rotational position in the chamber when a user of the apparatus pushes the lever;

wherein at the first rotational position, the channel is not in fluidic communication with at least one of the inlet and the outlet, such that fluidic communication between the inlet and the outlet is blocked;

wherein the flow regulator is operable to regulate a flow rate between the inlet and the outlet when the flow regulator is rotated between the first and the second rotational positions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator has at least one groove configured to accommodate at least one o-ring operable to form a seal between the flow regulator and the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator further comprises at least one positioning ridge or at least one positioning tip, or the combination of the positioning ridge and the positioning tip, for operably connecting to the lever.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator has two end sections with different diameters, configured to allow unidirectional assembly of the flow regulator into the chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow regulator comprises a recess and a resilient piece housed therein, wherein the resilient piece is configured to completely seal at least one of the inlet and the outlet when the flow regulator is at the first rotational position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one groove surrounding the outlet configured to accommodate at least one o-ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one groove surrounding the inlet configured to accommodate at least one o-ring.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a protrusion configured to support the lever.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet comprises at least one claw for assembly with adjoining parts of a spray nozzle.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body comprises at least one mechanism configured to restrict rotational motion of the flow regulator to be between the first rotational position and the second rotational position.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the said mechanism comprises at least one step in a sidewall of the chamber.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises at least one extension portion operably connectable to the flow regulator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises at least one top portion configured to be pushed by a user.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lever comprises anti-slip grooves.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one extension portion comprises at least one through hole configured to connect to a positioning tip of the flow regulator.