Valve for setting the flow of a flow medium

• US 5,931,163 A
• Filed: 06/19/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Dragerwerk AG
• Inventors: Stegmann, Holger, Riggert, Eckhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEISS JR, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/874,372
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 128/201.28, 128/204.23, 128/205.24, 128/207.12, 128/207.16, 128/204.18, 128/204.21, 128/204.24, 128/204.26, 128/204.27, 137/102
• US Class Current: 128/204.26
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/107 in the inspiratory path
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 11/076 with sealing faces shaped as surfaces of solids of revolution
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2544 Supply and exhaust type

Abstract

A device with a valve for setting the flow of a flow medium, which has a passage channel with an inlet opening and with an outlet opening for the flow medium, and with a tongue-like valve element, which is arranged in the passage channel. The valve element is adjustable in a rotatably movable manner with an actuating device between two end positions. The device is adapted to users who need the flow medium at different pressure levels by providing a discharge opening branching off from the passage channel. The discharge opening is provided with a diaphragm opening having a predetermined gap geometry. The discharge opening with diaphragm opening is arranged in the range of pivoting of the valve element such that the discharge opening is closed in one of the end positions and the passage channel is switched essentially in the direction of flow at the same time.

Claims

1. A device for setting the flow of a flow medium, comprising:

a passage channel with an inlet opening and with an outlet opening for the flow medium;

a valve element arranged in said passage channel;

an actuating device, said valve element being adjustable rotatably movable by means of said actuating device between two end positions for influencing flow as a function of an angle of rotation of said valve element;

a discharge opening branching off from said passage channel; and

a diaphragm opening having a predetermined gap geometry provided in said discharge opening, said discharge opening being arranged in the range of pivoting of said valve element such that said discharge opening is essentially closed in one of said end positions and a direction of flow of said flow medium within said passage channel is essentially switched to flow through the passage channel unhindered;

control means for moving said valve element to control a pressure of the flow medium.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said diaphragm opening has a butterfly-shaped design.

3. The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

one of a pressure and flow-measuring device for sending a measured signal proportional to one of a pressure and the flow at said passage channel downstream of said outlet opening, and a subtraction element for forming a correcting variable for said actuating device, said correcting variable being formed from said measured signal and a set point for the pressure (p_s) or flow (V_s).

4. The device in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

one of a pressure and flow-measuring device for sending a measured signal proportional to the pressure and flow at said passage channel downstream of said outlet opening, and a subtraction element for forming a correcting variable for said actuating device, said correcting variable being formed from said measured signal and a set point for the pressure (p_s) or flow (V_s).

5. The device in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

patient connection means including a breathing gas line connected to said passage channel outlet opening, said subtraction element and said set point being part of a control unit for setting the breathing gas flow or breathing gas pressure in said breathing gas line leading to a patient.

6. The device in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

patient connection means including a breathing gas line connected to said passage channel outlet opening, said subtraction element and said set point being part of a control unit for setting the breathing gas flow or breathing gas pressure in said breathing gas line leading to a patient.

7. The device in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

patient connection means including a breathing gas line connected to said passage channel outlet opening, said subtraction element and said set point being part of a control unit for setting the breathing gas flow or breathing gas pressure in said breathing gas line leading to a patient.

8. A process for setting the flow of a flow medium including setting a breathing gas flow or breathing gas pressure in a breathing gas line leading to a patient, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a passage channel with an inlet opening and with an outlet opening for the flow medium;

providing a valve element arranged in said passage channel;

adjusting rotatably said valve element between two end positions for influencing flow as a function of an angle of rotation of said valve element;

providing a discharge opening branching off from said passage channel;

providing a diaphragm opening having a predetermined gap geometry in said discharge opening, said discharge opening being arranged in the range of pivoting of the said valve element such that said discharge opening is essentially closed in one of said end positions; and

controlling a pressure and direction of flow of said flow medium within said passage channel by said step of adjusting rotatably said valve element.

9. The process in accordance with claim 8, wherein said diaphragm opening is provided with a butterfly-shaped design.

10. The process in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

sending a measured signal proportional to one of the pressure and the flow at said passage channel downstream of said outlet opening using one of a pressure and flow-measuring device; and

forming a correcting variable for said actuating device using a subtraction element, said correcting variable being formed from said measured signal and a set point for the pressure (P_s) or flow (V_s).

11. The process in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:

connecting a patient to said passage channel outlet opening via a breathing gas line, said subtraction element and said set point being part of a control unit setting the breathing gas flow or breathing gas pressure in said breathing gas line leading to the patient.

12. A process for controlling a flow medium in a breathing gas line of a patient, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a passage channel with an inlet opening and with an outlet opening for the flow medium, said outlet opening being in communication with an end of the breathing gas line;

providing a discharge opening branching off from said passage channel;

providing an inhalation supply means for supplying the flow medium to said inlet opening;

providing a valve element movably arranged in said passage channel between a first position and a second position, said valve element in said first position closing said inlet opening, said valve element in said second position closing said discharge opening, said valve element partially closing said inlet opening and said discharge openings when said valve element is positioned between said first and second positions;

measuring pressure and flow of the flow medium in the breathing gas line;

providing predetermined pressure limits for inhalation and exhalation of the patient;

comparing said predetermined pressure limits with measured pressure in the breathing line;

moving said valve element between said first and second positions to control a pressure and flow of the flow medium in the breathing gas line during inhalation and exhalation based on said measured pressure and flow, and on said predetermined pressure limits.