Fluid regulator

• US 7,448,594 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ameriflo2, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ameriflo, Inc.
• Inventors: Voege, James A., Ferrer, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fristoe, Jr.; John K
• Application Number:
  US11/255,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20070083176A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 251/118, 251/205, 251/206, 251/207, 137/505.25, 137/507, 137/557
• US Class Current: 251/207
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 39/22 Valves or arrangement of valves A61M39/02, A61M39/0247, A61M39/16 take precedence; regulating valves in infusion systems A61M5/16881; in devices worn by the patient for the reception of urine, faeces, catamenial or other discharge, or in colostomy devices A61F5/4405
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7833 With means for mounting or connecting to system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm

Abstract

Fluid regulators are disclosed. An exemplary fluid regulator having a cylindrical body and a reduced diameter portion adjacent an open end of the fluid regulator along with a flow selector positioned adjacent the open end of the fluid regulator and having a diameter larger than the reduced diameter of the cylindrical body is disclosed. Another exemplary fluid regulator having a pressure reduction section positioned within a housing is disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a cylindrical body including a first portion configured to be coupled to a source of high pressure fluid and a second portion configured to be coupled to a cannula, the first portion including a fluid inlet and the second portion including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the cylindrical body having an open end and a reduced diameter portion adjacent the open end;

a flow restrictor having at least a first fluid passage configured to provide a first restricted flow rate of fluid and a second fluid passage configured to provide a second restricted flow rate of fluid, the flow restrictor being received in the open end of the cylindrical body portion and moveable relative to the body portion so that one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is selectively interposed between the fluid inlet of the body and the fluid outlet of the body to restrict the flow rate of fluid from the fluid inlet of the body to the fluid outlet of the body; and

a flow selector coupled to the flow restrictor and positioned adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body portion, the flow selector including a first portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body, wherein the cylindrical body includes a first diameter larger than the reduced diameter portion and the diameter of the first portion of the flow selector is substantially equal to the first diameter of the cylindrical body.

2. The fluid regulator of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extent of the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body is about 7 percent of an overall length of the cylindrical body.

3. The fluid regulator of claim 1,wherein a longitudinal extent of the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body is about 0.25 inches.

4. The fluid regulator of claim 1, wherein the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body includes a window positioned so that a portion of a second portion of the flow selector is visible therethrough, the second portion of the flow selector being positioned within the open end of the cylindrical body, the visible portion of the second portion of the flow selector including an indicia indicating a flow rate of the one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is selectively interposed between the fluid inlet of the body and the fluid outlet of the body.

5. The fluid regulator of claim 4, wherein the window is generally rectangular and is connected to a surface defining the open end of the cylindrical body.

6. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a cylindrical body including a first portion configured to be coupled to a source of high pressure fluid and a second portion configured to be coupled to a cannula, the first portion including a fluid inlet and the second portion including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the cylindrical body having an open end and a reduced diameter portion adjacent the open end;

a flow restrictor having at least a first fluid passage configured to provide a first restricted flow rate of fluid and a second fluid passage configured to provide a second restricted flow rate of fluid, the flow restrictor being received in the open end of the cylindrical body portion and moveable relative to the body portion so that one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is selectively interposed between the fluid inlet of the body and the fluid outlet of the body to restrict the flow rate of fluid from the fluid inlet of the body to the fluid outlet of the body;

a flow selector coupled to the flow restrictor and positioned adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body portion, the flow selector including a first portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body; and

a housing received within the open end of the cylindrical body, the housing including a recess in a first end and an aperture extending from a second end of the housing to the recess and a fluid conduit connecting a first axial surface of the recess and a radial surface of the housing, the flow restrictor being rotatably coupled to the housing and wherein the fluid conduit of the housing is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the second portion of the body and a respective fluid passage of the flow restrictor based on the position of the flow restrictor relative to the housing, wherein the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body includes a window positioned so that a portion of a second portion of the flow selector is visible therethrough, the second portion of the flow selector being positioned within the open end of the cylindrical body, the visible portion of the second portion of the flow selector including an indicia indicating a flow rate of the one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is selectively interposed between the fluid inlet of the body and the fluid outlet of the body.

7. The fluid regulator of claim 6, wherein the housing further includes a stop coupled thereto and extending from the second end of the housing, the stop of the housing cooperating with a stop of the flow selector to limit the rotation of the flow selector relative to the housing.

8. The fluid regulator of claim 6, further comprising a pressure reduction section received within the recess of the housing and interposed between the flow restrictor and the fluid inlet of the first portion of the cylindrical body, the pressure reduction section being configured to reduce the pressure of the fluid provided to fluid inlet from the source of pressurized fluid prior to its presentation to the flow restrictor.

9. The fluid regulator of claim 8, wherein the pressure reduction section comprises:

a base member including a base portion and a guide portion extending from the base portion, the base member having a central passageway extending there through, the central passageway being positioned such that it is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the first portion of the cylindrical body;

a piston including a piston base portion and a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to be received by the central passageway in the guide portion of the base member, the piston having a fluid passageway there through with a fluid inlet in the stem portion and a fluid outlet in the piston base portion, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the flow restrictor; and

a biasing member sized to receive the guide portion of the base member, a first end of the biasing member being positioned adjacent the base portion of the base member and a second end of the biasing member being positioned adjacent a seat surface of the piston base portion, the seat surface being located in a recess of the piston base portion, the recess being sized to receive a first end of the guide portion of the base member.

10. The fluid regulator of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the cylindrical body includes a yoke portion having an opening there through, the source of pressurized fluid being coupled to the yoke portion of the cylindrical body and the fluid inlet being located in the yoke portion.

11. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a cylindrical body including a first portion configured to be coupled to a source of high pressure fluid and a second portion configured to be coupled to a cannula, the first portion including a fluid inlet and the second portion including a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, the cylindrical body having an open end and a reduced diameter portion adjacent the open end;

a flow restrictor having at least a first fluid passage configured to provide a first restricted flow rate of fluid and a second fluid passage configured to provide a second restricted flow rate of fluid, the flow restrictor being received in the open end of the cylindrical body portion and moveable relative to the body portion so that one of the first fluid passage and the second fluid passage is selectively interposed between the fluid inlet of the body and the fluid outlet of the body to restrict the flow rate of fluid from the fluid inlet of the body to the fluid outlet of the body;

a flow selector coupled to the flow restrictor and positioned adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body portion, the flow selector including a first portion having a diameter larger than a diameter of the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body;

a pressure reduction section being received in the open end of the body and positioned between the fluid inlet of the body and the flow restrictor, the pressure reduction section being configured to receive fluid at a first pressure from the fluid inlet and to provide fluid at a lower pressure to the flow restrictor; and

a housing positioned within the open end of the body, the housing including a recess into which the flow selector and the pressure reduction section are positioned and a fluid conduit which is aligned with the fluid outlet of the body and selectively aligned with a respective fluid passage of the flow restrictor.

12. The fluid regulator of claim 11, further comprising a hose barb which is coupled to the fluid outlet of the body and extends into the fluid conduit of the housing.

13. The fluid regulator of claim 12, wherein the hose barb restrain the rotational movement of the housing relative to the body.

14. The fluid regulator of claim 11, wherein the longitudinal movement of the housing within the open end of the body is limited by a coupler which is received within a recess of the open end of the body, the coupler contacting a top portion of the housing.

15. The fluid regulator of claim 11, wherein the housing is coupled to the body with a coupler which extends into the housing from an exterior of the body.

16. The fluid regulator of claim 15, wherein the coupler is a hose barb in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the housing.

17. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a body having an interior cavity accessible through an open end, a fluid inlet which is configured to receive a high pressure fluid from a source of pressurized fluid, and a fluid outlet;

a housing positioned in the interior cavity of the body, the housing including an interior cavity accessible from an open end of the housing, a fluid inlet accessible though the open end of the housing which is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the body and a fluid outlet in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the housing and the fluid outlet of the body;

a pressure reduction section positioned within the interior cavity of the housing through the open end of the housing, the pressure reduction section being configured to receive the high pressure fluid from the fluid inlet of the body and to provide a lower pressure fluid to the fluid inlet of the housing, the pressure reduction section including;

a base member including a base portion and a guide portion extending from the base portion, the base member having a central passageway extending there through, the central passageway being positioned such that it is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the body;

a piston including a piston base portion and a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to be received by the central passageway in the guide portion of the base member, the piston having a fluid passageway there through with a fluid inlet in the stem portion and a fluid outlet in the piston base portion, the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the housing; and

a biasing member sized to receive the guide portion of the base member, a first end of the biasing member being positioned adjacent the base portion of the base member and a second end of the biasing member being positioned adjacent a seat surface of the piston base portion, the seat surface being located in a recess formed in the piston base portion, the recess being sized to receive a first end of the guide portion of the base member; and

a rotatable flow restrictor including a flow control portion disposed within the interior cavity of the housing and a stem portion coupled to the disk portion and extending through an aperture connecting the cavity of the housing and a second end of the housing, the flow control portion including a plurality of fluid conduits each selectively being brought into fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the housing through the rotation of the flow restrictor relative to the housing.

18. The fluid regulator of claim 17, wherein the flow control portion of the flow restrictor includes a first axial surface containing the respective fluid outlets for each of the plurality of fluid conduits of the flow restrictor, a second axial surface including the respective fluid inlets for each of the plurality of fluid conduits of the flow restrictor, and a radial surface disposed between the first axial surface and the second axial surface, the radial surface including openings sized to receive respective occluders which are advanced into the respective fluid conduit to reduce a cross-sectional area of the respective fluid conduit of the flow restrictor.

19. The fluid regulator of claim 17, wherein the flow control portion of the flow restrictor includes a first axial surface including the respective fluid outlets for each of the plurality of fluid conduits of the flow restrictor, a second axial surface including the respective fluid inlets for each of the plurality of fluid conduits of the flow restrictor, and a radial surface disposed between the first axial surface and the second axial surface, the radial surface including openings sized to receive respective occluders which are advanced into the respective fluid conduit to reduce a cross-sectional area of the respective fluid conduit of the flow restrictor.

20. The fluid regulator of claim 17, wherein the flow control portion of the flow restrictor includes a first axial surface including the respective fluid inlets for each of the plurality of fluid conduits of the flow restrictor, a second axial surface including openings sized to receive respective occluders which are advanced into the respective fluid conduit to reduce a cross-sectional area of the respective fluid conduit of the flow restrictor, and a radial surface disposed between the first axial surface and the second axial surface including the respective fluid outlets for each of the plurality of fluid conduits of the flow restrictor.

21. The fluid regulator of claim 17, wherein the body is generally cylindrical having a first diameter and a reduced diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion being adjacent the open end.

22. The fluid regulator of claim 21, further comprising a flow selector coupled to the flow restrictor, the flow restrictor being positioned adjacent the open end of the cylindrical body such that a first portion of the flow selector is received in the open end of the cylindrical body and a second portion of the flow selector extends beyond the open end of the cylindrical body, the second portion of the flow selector having a diameter larger than the diameter of the reduced diameter portion.

23. The fluid regulator of claim 22, wherein the reduced diameter portion of the cylindrical body includes a window positioned so that a portion of the first portion of the flow selector is visible therethrough, the visible portion of the first portion of the flow selector including an indicia indicating a flow rate of the respective fluid conduit of the flow restrictor which is in fluid communication with the fluid conduit of the housing.

24. The fluid regulator of claim 17, further comprising a hose barb which is coupled to the fluid outlet of the body and extends into the housing.

25. The fluid regulator of claim 24, wherein the hose barb restrain the rotational movement of the housing relative to the body.

26. The fluid regulator of claim 17, wherein the longitudinal movement of the housing within the open end of the body is limited by a coupler which is received within a recess of the interior cavity of the body, the coupler contacting a top portion of the housing.

27. The fluid regulator of claim 17, wherein the housing is coupled to the body with a coupler which extends into the housing from an exterior of the body.

28. The fluid regulator of claim 27, wherein the coupler is a hose barb in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the housing.