Fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate

• US 6,561,481 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Filonczuk
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Filonczuk
• Inventors: Filonczuk, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gartenberg, Ehud
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bastianelli, John
• Application Number:
  US09/929,678
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 251/129.04, 251/129.11, 251/129.12, 251/129.13, 251/315.01, 239/69, 239/578, 239/530
• US Class Current: 251/129.12
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/043 characterised by mechanical means between the motor and the valve, e.g. lost motion means reducing backlash, clutches, brakes or return means

Abstract

A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate to a hose. The fluid control apparatus comprises a fluid-tight housing for housing a control assembly, a rotating ball valve for allowing fluid to flow therethrough and increasing or decreasing the amount of fluid flow, a fluid hose for supplying fluid therethrough, and a switch attached to the outflow end of the fluid hose for activating the control mechanism.

Claims

1. A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate, the apparatus comprising:

a. a fluid-tight housing;

b. a valve tube body housed within said fluid-tight housing and extending the length of said fluid-tight housing and out at both ends of said fluid-tight housing;

c. a female hose connector integrally formed at one end of said valve tube body for connecting to a fluid supply source;

d. an elongated flexible hose having an outflow end and the other end coupled to the other end of said valve tube body and in-fluid communication with said female hose connector;

e. a rotatable ball valve installed within said valve tube body and having a rotating shaft extending out from a sidewall of said valve tube body and operationally connected to an electric reversible motor through a coupling member so as to be thereby rotated to continuously and incrementally varying the fluid flow rate through said flexible hose;

f. an activating switch located at said outflow end of said flexible hose and electrically coupled to said reversible motor, the switch having a forward direction button and a reverse direction button for controlling the direction of said motor; and

g. means for supplying power to said reversible motor;

h. whereby said ball valve is rotatable for continuously varying the fluid flow rate through said flexible hose.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said coupling member is a reduction gear assembly.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means for supplying power includes batteries.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a limit switch for limiting the rotation of said ball valve.

5. A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate through a hose, the apparatus comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a valve tube body housed within said housing and extending the length of said housing and out at both ends of said housing;

c. a female connector attached at one end of said valve tube body for connecting to a fluid supply source;

d. a male connector attached at the other end of said valve tube body for connecting to said hose and in-fluid communication with said female connector;

e. a rotatable ball valve installed within said valve tube body and having a shaft extending out from said valve tube body and operationally connected to a motor through a coupling member so as to be thereby rotated for continuously and incrementally varying the fluid flow rate through said hose;

f. a switch located on the hose and coupled to said motor and having a forward direction button and a reverse direction button for controlling the direction of said motor; and

g. means for supplying power to said motor;

h. whereby said ball valve is rotatable for continuously varying the fluid flow rate through said hose.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said coupling member is a reduction gear assembly.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said means for supplying power includes batteries.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein said motor includes an electric reversible motor.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a limit switch for limiting the rotation of said ball valve.

10. A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate through a hose, the apparatus comprising:

a. a valve tube body;

b. a first connector connected at one end of said valve tube body for connecting to a fluid supply source;

c. a second connector connected at the other end of said valve tube body for connecting to said hose and in-fluid communication with said first connector;

d. a ball valve installed within said valve tube body and having a shaft extending out from said valve tube body and operationally connected to a motor through a coupling member so as to be thereby rotated for continuously and incrementally varying the fluid flow rate through said hose;

e. means for controlling the direction of said motor and attached to said hose and located remote from said valve tube body wherein said means for controlling the direction of said motor includes an activating switch located at an outflow end of said flexible hose, the switch having a forward direction button and a reverse direction button for controlling the direction of said motor; and

f. means for supplying power to said motor;

g. whereby said ball valve is rotatable for continuously varying the fluid flow rate through said hose.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said first connector includes a female hose connector.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said second connector includes a male connector.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said coupling member is a reduction gear assembly.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said means for supplying power includes batteries.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said motor includes an electric reversible motor.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a limit switch for limiting the rotation of said ball valve.

17. A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate, the apparatus comprising:

a. a fluid-tight housing;

b. a valve tube body housed within said fluid-tight housing and extending the length of said fluid-tight housing and out at both ends of said fluid-tight housing;

c. a female hose connector integrally formed at one end of said valve tube body for connecting to a fluid supply source;

d. an elongated flexible hose having an outflow end and the other end coupled to the other end of said valve tube body and in-fluid communication with said female hose connector;

e. a rotatable ball valve installed within said valve tube body and having a rotating shaft extending out from a sidewall of said valve tube body and operationally connected to an electric reversible motor through a coupling member so as to be thereby rotated to continuously and incrementally varying the fluid flow rate through said flexible hose;

f. an activating switch located at said outflow end of said flexible hose and having a forward direction button and a reverse direction button for controlling the direction of said reversible motor;

g. a transmitter operatively coupled to said switch and activating one of said buttons of said switch commands the transmitter to transmit a signal to a receiver;

h. said receiver housed within said fluid-tight structure and operatively coupled to said reversible motor, said receiver receiving said signal from said transmitter which in turn activates said motor, which in turn rotates said coupling member to rotate said ball valve; and

i. means for supplying power to said reversible motor;

j. whereby said ball valve is rotatable for continuously varying the fluid flow rate through said flexible hose.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said coupling member is a reduction gear assembly.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein said means for supplying power includes batteries.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a limit switch for limiting the rotation of said ball valve.

21. A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate through a hose, the apparatus comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a valve tube body housed within said housing and extending the length of said housing and out at both ends of said housing;

c. a female connector attached at one end of said valve tube body for connecting to a fluid supply source;

d. a male connector attached at the other end of said valve tube body for connecting to said hose and in-fluid communication with said female connector;

e. a rotatable ball valve installed within said valve tube body and having a shaft extending out from said valve tube body and operationally connected to a motor through a coupling member so as to be thereby rotated for continuously and incrementally varying the fluid flow rate through said hose;

f. a switch located on the hose and coupled to said motor and having a forward direction button and a reverse direction button for controlling the direction of said motor;

g. a transmitter operatively coupled to said switch and activating one of said buttons of said switch commands the transmitter to transmit a signal to a receiver;

h. said receiver housed within said fluid-tight structure and operatively coupled to said motor, said receiver receiving said signal from said transmitter which in turn activates said motor, which in turn rotates said coupling member to rotate said ball valve; and

i. means for supplying power to said motor;

j. whereby said ball valve is rotatable for continuously varying the fluid flow rate through said hose.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein said coupling member is a reduction gear assembly.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein said means for supplying power includes batteries.

24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, wherein said motor includes an electric reversible motor.

25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a limit switch for limiting the rotation of said ball valve.

26. A fluid flow control apparatus for controlling and delivering fluid at a continuously variable flow rate through a hose, the apparatus comprising:

a. a valve tube body;

b. a first connector connected at one end of said valve tube body for connecting to a fluid supply source;

c. a second connector connected at the other end of said valve tube body for connecting to said hose and in-fluid communication with said first connector;

d. a ball valve installed within said valve tube body and having a shaft extending out from said valve tube body and operationally connected to a motor through a coupling member so as to be thereby rotated for continuously and incrementally varying the fluid flow rate through said hose;

e. means for controlling the direction of said motor and attached to said hose and located remote from said valve tube body wherein said means for controlling the direction of said motor includes an activation switch located at an outflow end of said flexible hose, the switch having a forward direction button and a reverse direction button for controlling the direction of said motor;

f. a transmitter operatively coupled to said controlling means and activating said controlling means commands the transmitter to transmit a signal to a receiver;

g. said receiver operatively coupled to said motor for receiving said signal from said transmitter which in turn activates said motor, which in turn rotates said coupling member to rotate said ball valve; and

h. means for supplying power to said motor;

i. whereby said ball valve is rotatable for continuously varying the fluid flow rate through said hose.

27. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said first connector includes a female hose connector.

28. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said second connector includes a male connector.

29. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said coupling member is a reduction gear assembly.

30. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said means for supplying power includes batteries.

31. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein said motor includes an electric reversible motor.

32. The apparatus in accordance with claim 26, further comprising a limit switch for limiting the rotation of said ball valve.