Flow control apparatus

• US 4,969,486 A
• Filed: 10/16/1989
• Issued: 11/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eugene T. Puzio
• Original Assignee: Eugene T. Puzio
• Inventors: Puzio, Eugene T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Application Number:
  US07/422,384
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 137/624.11, 137/624.18, 137/624.2, 137/597, 251/6, 251/7, 251/8, 251/9
• US Class Current: 137/624.18
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/027 the fluid flowing through a constrictable tubular diaphragm
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/52491 comprising a diaphragm cut-off apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet

Abstract

A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through a plurality of tubular conduits which includes a housing and a pivotable control wheel capable of pivotal movement about the central axis thereof through a plurality of discrete positions defined peripherally therearound. The control wheel includes a cam profile edge circumferentially therearound adapted to abut a rocker member. The rocker member is movable between an initial flow position allowing flow through one tubular conduit while preventing flow through another and a final flow position preventing flow through the former tubular conduit and allowing flow through the latter tubular conduit. The rocker includes a first arm carrying a cam follower adapted to follow the cam profile edge to hold the rocker in the initial flow position and being responsive to movement into the cam slot means of the cam profile edge to facilitate movement of the rocker to the final flow position. First and second plungers are defined wherein the first plunger is moved toward the tubular conduits in the closed position responsive to the rocker being in the initial flow position and wherein the second plunger is movable toward the tubular conduits whenever the rocker is located in the final flow position.

Claims

1. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits which comprises:

(a) a housing means;

(b) a control wheel defining a central axis extending therethrough, said control wheel being mounted with freedom of pivotal movement with respect to said housing means about said central axis thereof, said control wheel defining a plurality of discrete positions defined peripherally therearound at separate pivotal positions, said control wheel including;

(1) a cam profile edge extending circumferentially around said control wheel, said control wheel further defining a cam slot means adjacent said cam profile edge;

(2) a wheel lug means attached with respect to said control wheel;

(c) a rocker means pivotally movable with respect to said housing means and positioned adjacent said control wheel, said rocker means being movable between an initial flow position and a final flow position, said rocker means including;

(1) a first arm means extending outwardly toward said control wheel;

(2) a cam follower means attached with respect to said first arm means, said cam follower means adapted to abut said cam profile edge and said cam slot means selectively responsive to pivotal movement of said control wheel, said rocker means being responsive to said cam follower means being in abutment with respect to said cam profile edge of said control wheel to urge said rocker means to the initial flow position, said rocker means being responsive to said cam follower means being in abutment with respect to said cam slot means of said control wheel to facilitate movement of said rocker means to the final flow position;

(3) a second arm means extending outwardly toward said control wheel, said second arm means including a lug abutment means adapted to selectively abut said wheel lug means responsive to pivotal movement of said control wheel means to urge said rocker means to the final flow position;

(4) a first driving surface being selectively movable toward one of said tubular conduits responsive to movement of said rocker means to the initial flow position to facilitate tubular conduit restriction responsive to abutment of said cam follower means of said first arm means with respect to said cam profile edge of said control wheel;

(5) a second driving surface being movable toward at least one other of the tubular conduits responsive to movement of said rocker means to the final flow position to facilitate tubular conduit restriction responsive to abutment of said cam follower means of said first arm means with respect to said cam slot means of said control wheel and abutment of said lug abutment means with respect to said wheel lug means;

(d) a first plunger means movably mounted on said housing means for selective movement thereof between a steady state first opened position and a first closed position with respect to a tubular conduit, said first plunger means including;

(1) a first drive head positioned adjacent said rocker means, said first driving surface of said rocker means being adjacent said first drive head to be selectively placed in abutment therewith for urging said first plunger means to the first closed position responsive to movement of said rocker means to the initial flow position;

(2) a first restriction means positioned on said first plunger means adjacent selected tubular conduits to allow free fluid flow therethrough responsive to said first plunger means being in the first opened position and to restrict fluid flow therethrough responsive to said first plunger means being in the first closed position;

(3) a first guide means for maintaining orientation of said first plunger means with respect to said housing means, said rocker means and said compressible tubular conduits;

(e) a second plunger means movably mounted on said housing means for selective movement thereof between a steady state second opened position and a second closed position with respect to another tubular conduit, said second plunger means including;

(1) a second drive head positioned adjacent said rocker means, said second driving surface of said rocker means being adjacent said second drive head to be selectively placed in abutment therewith for urging said second plunger means to the closed position responsive to movement of said rocker means to the final flow position;

(2) a second restriction means positioned on said second plunger means adjacent selected tubular conduits to allow free fluid flow therethrough responsive to said second plunger means being in the second opened position and to restrict fluid flow therethrough responsive to said second plunger means being in the second closed position;

(3) a second guide means for maintaining orientation of said second plunger means with respect to said housing means, said rocker means and said compressible tubular conduits; and

(f) a drive means operatively attached to said control wheel means to urge pivotal movement thereof.

2. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said control wheel is oriented horizontally with the central axis thereof oriented in a vertical direction to facilitate usage of said apparatus with vertically extending fluid conduits.

3. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel lug means comprises a wheel lug roller to facilitate abutment with respect to said lug abutment means of said second arm means of said rocker means.

4. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam follower means comprises a cam follower roller to facilitate contact with said cam profile edge and said cam slot means.

5. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker means includes a first plunger retracting surface adapted to abut said first drive head of said first plunger means responsive to movement of said rocker means to the final flow position to facilitate movement of said first plunger means to the first opened position.

6. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said first drive head of said first plunger means includes a first drive head roller to facilitate abutting contact between said first drive head and said first driving surface of said rocker means.

7. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second drive head of said second plunger means includes a second drive head roller to facilitate abutting contact between said second drive head and said second driving surface of said rocker means.

8. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said first guide means includes a first groove and stud means defined between said first plunger means and said housing means to maintain orientation of said first plunger means with respect to said rocker means and the tubular conduits.

9. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said first plunger means further includes a first resilient return means attached with respect to said housing for maintaining said first plunger means resiliently biased into a steady state first opened position.

10. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 9 wherein said first resilient return means comprises a first return spring means.

11. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second guide means includes a second groove and stud means defined between said second plunger means and said housing means to maintain orientation of said second plunger means with respect to said rocker means and the tubular conduits.

12. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said second plunger means further includes a second resilient return means attached with respect to said housing for maintaining said second plunger means resiliently biased into a steady state second opened position.

13. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 12 wherein said second resilient return means comprises a second return spring means.

14. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel lug means and said cam slot means are positioned adjacent with respect to one another peripherally of said control wheel.

15. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 1 wherein said control wheel is movable to a plurality of discrete positions including at least one first bag position with said rocker means in the initial flow position and a last bag position with said rocker means in the final flow position.

16. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 15 wherein said control wheel is movable to a plurality of first bag positions.

17. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 15 wherein said control wheel includes a knob means thereon to facilitate initial placement thereof to one of the first bag positions.

18. A flow control apparatus for regulating fluid flow through at least two compressible tubular conduits being particularly usable with kidney dialysis equipment as defined in claim 16 wherein said drive means urges movement of said control wheel to each of the first bag positions and finally to the final bag position.