Control of fluid flow using precisely positioned disc

• US 4,369,812 A
• Filed: 02/18/1981
• Issued: 01/25/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nypro Incorporated (Jabil Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nypro Incorporated (Jabil Inc.)
• Inventors: Paradis, Joseph R., Kaleskas, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nilson, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US06/235,668
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 137/512.15, 137/843, 137/854, 137/860, 137/533.17, 137/533.19, 137/519, 251/367
• US Class Current: 137/843
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/08 using ultrasonic vibrations non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/30223 said melt initiators being rib-like
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5412 said substantially flat extra element being flexible, e.g. a membrane B29C66/5416 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7506 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/141 the closure elements not being fixed to the valve body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7879 Resilient material valve

Abstract

Method and apparatus for the control of fluid flow using a flexible disc that is positioned in a control channel and restricted to movement along the longitudinal axis of the channel. Closure control is exercised by moving the disc into closer contact with a ring seat that is essentially self-purging of debris. Since the disc is confined to essentially longitudinal movement, distortion due to random lateral movement is avoided.

Claims

1. A flow control device comprising

a housing;

a flow channel in said housing extending to a control channel which is coaxial therewith;

a valve seat in said control channel surrounding a further flow channel extending from said control channel; and

a flexible disc positioned on said valve seat of said control channel,

said control channel having an inside wall surface extending from said valve seat and interrupted by a plurality of peripheral relief channels; and

means for prebiasing said flexible disc comprising a set of prongs for engaging the central portion of said disc within the opening of said valve seat and being separated by passageways which extend to said flow channel;

the diameter of the interrupted inside wall surface being less than the diameter of said disc;

thereby to assure precise positioning of said disc on said valve seat.

2. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said relief channels commence at the edge position of said disk when positioned in said housing.

3. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall surface is terminated at an outer extremity by rounded shoulders.

4. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said relief channels have side walls which are in alignment with radii that extend outwardly from the central axis of said device.

5. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein each relief channel has a rear wall which is coincident with a cylindrical surface that is concentric with the central axis of said device.

6. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein each prong includes a buttress that slopes away from a peak of the prong towards the base thereof.

7. A control device as defined in claim 6 wherein the buttress has an angle of approximately 15°

with respect to the central axis of said device.

8. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said prong includes a portion that slopes away from the peak thereof towards said control channel.

9. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is in two mating parts, one of which includes a ridge at the mating surfaces of said parts of promote the sealing of said device.

10. A control device as defined in claim 9 wherein said device is sealed by ultrasonic bonding and said ridge has a triangular cross-section.

11. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the flow channels contains a base that extends to an outlet with a curved shoulder between said outlet and said base to limit the distortion and distension of said disk during the operation of said valve.

12. A control device as defined in claim 1 wherein said prongs are circumferentially disposed about an opening that is coaxial with said flow channel and has a greater diameter than said flow channel.