Liquid flow metering device

• US 4,667,927 A
• Filed: 12/09/1985
• Issued: 05/26/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RAO Medical Devices Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RAO Medical Devices Incorporated
• Inventors: Oscarsson, Rolf A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenthal, Arnold
• Application Number:
  US06/806,543
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 251/209, 251/904, 251/297, 251/181, 251/309, 285/359, 285/423
• US Class Current: 251/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16877 Adjusting flow; Devices for setting a flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 251/904 Snap fit plug valves

Abstract

A device for metering the flow of a liquid medium passing therethrough comprises a plastic stem member having a cylindrical metering drum element projecting into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical wall of a bore chamber in a body member to rotatively mount the stem member therein. A diametrically slotted headed stud projecting endwise from the drum element is contracted and inserted through a bore opening in the end wall of the chamber in the body member to cause the head end of the stud to snap-lock behind the chamber end wall and thus secure the stem and body members together in assembled rotative relation. Diametrically opposite arcuate metering slots of decreasing cross-sectional size in the cylindrical surface of the drum element and leading from opposite ends of a diametrical cross passageway in the drum, meter the flow rate of the liquid medium into and out of the chamber through diametrically opposite port openings in the chamber side wall, depending on the relative rotative position of the stem and body members. Generally radially outward extending actuating arm means on the stem and body members enable relative rotative movement thereof to a selected metering position.

Claims

1. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a one-piece molded plastic body member of cup-shaped form and comprised of cylindrical side wall and an end closure wall integral therewith and extending transversely across and closing one end of said cylindrical side wall to define therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, said cylindrical side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said bore chamber, said drum element having a stud end portion projecting endwise therefrom through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against and engaging around its inner rim end with the said end closure wall, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element.

2. A metering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the said arcuate metering grooves have corresponding arcuate extends of less than 90°

such that the said grooves are completely out of registry with said port openings when the said members are rotated to their closed relative position with the said diametrical passageway extending transversely to the common axis of said diametrically opposite port openings.

3. A metering device as defined in claim 1, wherein an appreciable portion of the arcuate length of the said metering grooves extending from their mergence with the cylindrical surface of said drum element extends asymtotic to the said drum surface.

4. A metering device as defined in claim 3, wherein the said asymtotic portions of said arcuate metering grooves have an arcuate extent of around 30°

each.

5. A metering device as defined in claim 3, wherein the said arcuate metering grooves have corresponding total arcuate extents of around 60°

each.

10. A metering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the said body member is provided with diametrically opposite outwardly projecting in-line tubular connector portions with internal passages therethrough communicating with respective ones of the said port openings in said body member, said tubular connector portions being provided at their outward ends with fittings for coupling said connector portions to respective tubing sections of a tubing system.

12. A metering device as defined in claim 1, wherein the said body and stem members are provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members.

13. A metering device as defined in claim 3, wherein the said body and stem members are provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members.

14. A metering device as defined in claim 4, wherein the said body and stem members are provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members.

6. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end closure wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, the said end closure wall extending inwardly from said side wall across the said bore chamber at one end thereof and said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against the said end closure wall, the said projecting stud end portion of said drum element being diametrically slotted to permit the spring contraction thereof to a smaller diametrical dimension across one of its diameters for insertion through the said bore opening in said end wall, and said projecting stud end portion being provided around its outermost end with laterally outward extending locking lip means of cam-shaped section for engaging with the wall of said bore opening to contract the said slotted stud end portion for insertion into and passage through said bore opening to snap-lock behind said end wall, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of dimetrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element.

7. A metering device as defined in claim 6, wherein an appreciable portion of the arcuate length of the said metering grooves extending from their mergence with the cylindrical surface of said drum element extends asymtotic to the said drum surface.

8. A metering device as defined in claim 7, wherein the said asymtotic portions of the said arcuate metering grooves have an arcuate extent of around 30°

each.

9. A metering device as defined in claim 7, wherein the said arcuate metering grooves have corresponding total arcuate extents of around 60°

each.

15. A metering device as defined in claim 6, wherein the said body and stem members are provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members.

11. A metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end closure wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, the said end closure wall extending inwardly from said side wall across the said bore chamber at one end thereof and said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against the said end closure wall, the outer surface of the said side wall of said body member being of cylindrical form coaxial with the said bore chamber threrof, and the said drum element being provided at its outer end with a laterally outward projecting annular flange abutting against the outer rim end of the body member and formed with a retroverted peripheral lip with a cylindrical inner wall concentric with and rotativebly engaged with the said cylindrical outer surface of the said side wall of said body member to further rotatively support the said stem member on said body member, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element.

16. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end closure wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, the said end closure wall extending inwardly from said side wall across the said bore chamber at one end thereof and said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against the said end closure wall, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversly therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element, and the said body and stem members being provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members, the said acutating arm means having respective portions thereof in spring pressed sliding interengagement, during relative rotation of said members, to provide retaining means for maintaining said members in a selected rotative metering position relative to one another.

17. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end closure wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, the said end closure wall extending inwardly from said side wall across the said bore chamber at one end thereof and said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against the said end closure wall, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away form said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element, an appreciable portion of the arcuate length of the said metering grooves extending from their mergence with the cylindrical surface of said drum element extending asymptotic to the said drum surface, and the said body and stem members being provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members, the said actuating arm means having respective portions thereof in spring pressed sliding interengagement, during relative rotation of said members, to provide retaining means for maintaining said members in a selected rotative metering position relative to one another.

18. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end closure wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, the said end closure wall extending inwardly form said side wall across the said bore chamber at one end thereof and said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against the said end closure wall, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element, an appreciable portion of the arcuate length of the said metering grooves extending from their mergence with the cylindircal surface of said drum element extending asymptotic to the said drum surface, the said asmptotic portions of said arcuate metering grooves having an arcuate extent of around 30°

each, and the said body and stem members being provided with respective acutating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members, the said actuating arm means having respective portions thereof in spring pressed sliding interengagement, during relative rotation of said members, to provide retaining means for maintaining said members in a selected rotative metering position relative to one another.

19. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end closure wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end closure wall, the said end closure wall extending inwardly from said side wall across the said bore chamber at one end thereof and said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end closure wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation with the said drum element abutting endwise against the said end closure wall, the said projecting stud end portion of said drum element being diametrically slotted to permit the spring contraction thereof to a smaller diametrical dimension across one of its diameters for insertion through the said bore opening in said end wall, and said projecting stud end portion being provided around its outermost end with laterally outward extending locking lip means of cam-shaped section for engaging with the wall of said bore opening to contract the said slotted stud end portion for insertion into and passage through said bore opening to snap-lock behind said end wall, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, and said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical outer surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same circumferential direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral-like form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element, and the said body and stem members being provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members, the said actuating arm means having respective portions thereof in spring pressed sliding interengagement, during relative rotation of said members, to provide retaining means for maintaining said members in a selected rotative metering position relative to one another.

20. An in-line metering device for regulating the flow of a liquid medium therethrough, said device comprising a cup-shaped body member having an end wall and a surrounding side wall defining therewith a bore chamber open at the end opposite said end wall, said side wall being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite port openings therein opening into said chamber, a stem member comprising a cylindrical drum element extending into and rotatively engaged in liquid tight relation with the cylindrical bore wall of said chamber, a stud end portion projecting endwise from said drum element through a bore opening in said end wall and snap-locked in place thereon to secure the said members together in rotative assembled relation, said drum element having a diametrical passageway extending transversely therethrough for registering with and interconnecting said port openings in the fully open rotative metering position of said members relative to one another, said drum element being provided with a pair of diametrically opposite arcuate metering grooves in the cylindrical surface thereof, said grooves communicating at one end with respective ends of said passageway and extending therefrom in the same direction around the drum element, said grooves being of corresponding spiral form characterized by a progressively decreasing cross-sectional area leading away from said passageway and merging flush with the cylindrical surface of said drum element, said body and stem members being provided with respective actuating arm means extending generally radially outward from the said members, the said actuating arm means on one of said members comprising a pair of support arms angularly spaced apart around the turning axis of said members and interconnected at their outward ends by an arcuate bar portion concentric with the said turning axis and forming with said support arms a sector-shaped frame on said one member, and the said actuating arm means on the other one of said members comprising a single lever arm extending between said support arms through the space defined by said frame and radially across and in spring pressed sliding engagement with the said arcuate bar portion to provide retaining means for maintaining the said members in a selected rotative metering position relative to one another.

21. A metering device as defined in claim 20, wherein the said pair of support arms extend outward from, and the said frame is supported on said body member, and the said single lever arm extends outward from the said stem member.

22. A metering device as defined in claim 20, wherein at least one of either said single lever arm or said pair of support arms is axially offset intermediate the ends thereof from one to the other axial side of the other one of said single lever arm or said pair of support arms.

23. A metering device as defined in claim 20, wherein the said single lever arm is engageable with the said support arms to limit the extent of rotative movement of said members relative to one another.

24. A metering device as defined in claim 22, wherein each said single lever arm and said pair of support arms is axially offset intermediate their respective ends from one to the other axial side of the other of said single lever arm and said pair of support arms.

25. A metering device as defined in claim 20, wherein the said arcuate bar portion comprises a ratchet bar and the said single lever arm is provided with detent means in ratcheting engagement with said ratchet bar to form the said retaining means.

26. A metering device as defined in claim 25, wherein the said pair of support arms extend outward from, and the said frame is supported on said body member, and the said single lever arm extends outwardly from the said stem member.

27. A metering device as defined in claim 25, wherein at least one of either said single lever arm or said pair of support arms is axially offset intermediate the ends thereof from one to the other axial side of the other one of said single lever arm or said pair of support arms.

28. A metering device as defined in claim 25, wherein each said single lever arm and said pair of support arms is axially offset intermediate their respective ends from one to the other axial side of the other of said single lever arm and said pair of support arms.

29. A metering device as defined in claim 20, wherein the said body and stem members are formed of pliable molded plastic material.