Patent ID: 8402997
Filing Date: 2013-03-26
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for controlling the flow rate of a pressurized fluid, comprising: a) a body, said body comprising an internal fluid-distribution circuit, a fluid flow control device, and a manipulating device; b) said internal fluid-distribution circuit comprising a fluid inlet orifice, a fluid outlet orifice and an internal fluid passage fluidically connecting said fluid inlet orifice to said fluid outlet orifice, wherein said fluid inlet orifice is borne by a base of said body comprising a peripheral external screw thread having a screw thread axis and said body extends in a longitudinal direction along said screw thread axis; c) said fluid flow control device configured to be capable of acting on said internal fluid passage to permit or prevent fluid from flowing along said passage between said fluid inlet orifice and said fluid outlet orifice; d) said manipulating device being adapted for manual actuation by an operator and configured to collaborate directly or indirectly with said fluid flow control device to permit or to prevent said flowing of fluid along said passage, said manipulating device comprising e) said rest position defined by an apparatus configuration wherein said lever is held, directly or indirectly, fixed and secured to said body and in which said fluid flow control device completely shuts off said internal fluid passage so as to obtain a zero fluid flow rate in said internal fluid passage; f) said liberating intermediate position defined by an apparatus configuration wherein said first axis of said lever is offset by a positive and non-zero first angle with respect to said pivot axis of said lever in said rest position, in which position said lever is detached from said body and in which position said fluid flow control device completely shuts off said internal fluid passage so as to provide a zero fluid flow rate in said internal fluid passage; and g) said active position defined by an apparatus configuration wherein said first axis of said lever is offset by a positive and non-zero second angle with respect to said first axis of said lever in said liberating intermediate position, in which position said lever is detached from said body and in which position said fluid flow control device no longer shuts off said internal fluid passage so as to allow fluid to circulate at a non-zero flow rate along said internal fluid passage.