Patent ID: 6390122
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
A fluid flow control valve, comprising:a housing defining a fluid flow passage extending therethrough, the housing having openings for flow into and out of the fluid flow passage; an orifice disposed in the fluid flow passage of the housing, the orifice having a seat at one end thereof; and a deformable and bendable elastomeric diaphragm disposed in the fluid flow passage of the housing, the diaphragm having one end face that is urged against the seat of the orifice by fluid flow through the valve, the seat having a main support surface defining a plurality of channels therein including at least one relatively wide channel promoting, localized bending of the diaphragm thereinto at a relatively low pressure differential range, and at least one relatively narrow channel promoting localized bending of the diaphragm thereinto at a relatively higher pressure differential range, each channel extending in a transverse direction of the orifice and the channels being circumferentially spaced from each other such that the diaphragm locally bends into each narrow channel separately from the diaphragm's local bending into each wide channel.