Method and apparatus for resin delivery with adjustable air flow limiter

• US 9,550,636 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Original Assignee: Stephen B. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALISTER, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US14/602,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232290A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 251/42, 251/60, 251/129.22, 251/285, 137/509, 137/497, 137/498, 137/504, 137/554
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/58 Devices for accelerating or decelerating flow of the materials; Use of pressure generators controlling pressure of propelling gas B65G53/66
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 53/66 Use of indicator or control devices, e.g. for controlling gas pressure, for controlling proportions of material and gas, for indicating or preventing jamming of material controlling the flow of coal firing systems C21B5/003
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/34 in which the flow-energy of the flowing medium actuates the closing mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0153 using slidable elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8242 Electrical

Abstract

Method and apparatus for air flow limiting comprise a vertically oriented tube, a sail assembly positioned in the tube and moveable therewithin responsively to air flow through the tube to limit rate of air flow through the tube and halt air flow through the tube upon air flow rate through the tube exceeding a preselected value, and a moveable stop for adjustably changing the length of travel of the sail assembly thereby changing the maximum amount of air flow.

Claims

1. An air flow limiter, comprising:

a. a vertically oriented tube;

b. a pair of open-ended telescoping tubular segments within the tube, an outer tubular segment being fixed and the other open-ended telescoping tubular segment being slideably movable along the fixed segment in the axial direction;

c. a plate extending partially across the interior of the vertically oriented tube, positioned for contacting the movable one of the telescoping tubular segments to limit travel of the moveable telescoping tubular segment, the plate covering an open upper end of the movable telescoping tubular segment upon contact therewith;

d. an actuator connected to the plate for selectably limiting travel of said moveable tubular segment;

e. a sail positioned in the vertically oriented tube below the telescoping segments;

f. a strut connecting the sail and the moveable telescoping tubular segment;

the movable telescoping tubular segment moving vertically within the tube unitarily with the sail responsive to upward air flow through the tube against the sail.

2. The adjustable air flow limiter of claim 1 wherein the moveable tubular segment is moveable between a first position at which the moveable segment rests on the fixed segment and a second position which the moveable segment contacts the actuator.

3. The adjustable air flow limiter of claim 1 wherein the surface of the plate contacted by the movable tubular segment is planar.

4. The adjustable air flow limiter of claim 2 wherein the portion of the moveable tubular segment contacting the plate surface is annular.

5. The adjustable air flow limiter of claim 1 wherein a surface of the plate contacted by the movable tubular segment is flat, the tubular segments are cylindrical, and a circular edge of the tubular segment contacting the plate surface is annular and normal to the axis of the tubular segment.

6. The adjustable air flow limiter of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a solenoid.

7. The adjustable air flow limiter of claim 1 wherein the moveable segment contacts a piston portion of the solenoid at one extreme of moveable segment travel.

8. An adjustable method for limiting air flow, comprising:

a. providing a tube;

b. providing within the tube a stationary baffle having a cylindrical outlet;

c. positioning a movable sail assembly including a sail within the tube;

d. providing a telescoping cylindrical member as a part of the assembly;

e. permitting the cylindrical member of the sail assembly to move telescopingly within the baffle cylindrical outlet;

f. positioning a moveable stop within the tube;

g. moving the stop to a selected position corresponding to a desired maximum air flow through the tube; and

h. permitting the sail assembly to move responsively to air flow through the tube between a position at which air flows around the sail assembly and through the tube and a position at which the sail assembly contacts the stop.