Abstract:
Device for equalizing a liquid flow in a flow taking place through a device formed of at least two liquid-moving elements located on shafts ( 10, 11 ), in which case the flow channel is formed of a hollow shaft ( 10 ), a flow opening ( 16 ) in its wall and a flow groove ( 14 ) for leading the liquid to the liquid-moving elements. The liquid-moving element (e.g.,  13 ) is located on the shaft ( 10 ), in a rotating manner that regulates the size of the flow opening ( 16 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS, IF ANY 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a device for dividing a flow equally between two or more objects. More specifically it relates to dividing a liquid flow equally between a desired number of objects. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Numerous objects are known from the field of technology, in which the equivalence of liquid flows is of great importance. Because the factors affecting a flow are numerous, pressure being one of the greatest, a simple apparatus for keeping flows equal does not really exist. Of course, there are precision apparatuses for the regulation of specific, usually rather small flows, but precision devices tend to be very expensive, both to purchase and also to service and repair. 
     On the other hand, in the case of larger flows, as is the case in many hydraulic objects, precision engineered devices are in no way practicable. 
     There are devices on the market, which are based in principle on a hydraulic-pump structures, in which pairs of spur gears located on different shafts perform the dosing of liquid by transporting the liquid in chambers formed by the gaps between the gears and the tightly fitting housings. The gears are fitted to the shafts in a fixed manner, using, for example, keys or toothing. The drawback with this solution is that there is no certainty as to the equivalence of the flows, the flows from different pairs of gears can vary, even though only to a limited extent. 
     Solutions of the type described above are disclosed in, for example, European patent application 0593125, US patent publication 6857441, and FR patent application 2504211. 
     The present invention is intended to create an apparatus, which has a very simple construction, which can be made from conventional raw materials using conventional tools, and in which, in addition, a limited number of existing ready-made components can be used in a new way. The intention is specifically to create an apparatus, in which the flow from the various spur-gear pairs can be made as precisely equal as possible. 
     The aforementioned and other benefits and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the manner described as characteristic in the accompanying Claims. 
     Briefly, it can be stated as a general feature of the apparatus according to the invention that, in addition, to the aforementioned benefits and advantages, the apparatus according to the invention is also self-regulating, so that the desired equal flow is achieved automatically, without making any kind of manual correction operations, or without having to arrange separate measurement of the flows. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the following, the invention is described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying patent drawings, which show one well-regarded embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows the apparatus according to the invention assembled and as seen without the hoses or similar intended to bring and forward the liquid flow; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of a spur gear equipped with the regulating system according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As stated, the apparatus according to the invention can, according to one embodiment, appear more or less like the box-like piece  1 . The liquid flow, which it is intended to regulate, is brought to the device  1  through a connector  2 . It is obvious that the hose or pipe, which is not drawn in the figure, is connected to the connector  2 . 
     The device is in three parts, for which reasons there are also three outflow openings  3 . The liquid flowing out is naturally guided forward to the desired object through suitable hoses/pipes, which are attached to the openings  3  in a liquid-tight manner. 
     As will be described later, the device includes two shafts, one of which is located behind the plug marked with the reference number  4 , the other being connected to the connector  2 . 
     In addition to the above, the device includes parts, or portions  5  and  6 , which are located to alternate each other in a position between the end parts  8  and  9 . The package is assembled with the aid of suitable attachments, such as screws  7  running through the device. The threaded parts of the screws can, for example, be secured to the portion  8  shown as the last one in  FIG. 1 , after they have passed through all the other parts/portions. Of course, there are also other ways to assemble the device, as will be well known by persons acquainted with technology. 
       FIG. 2  shows the parts of the device according to the invention separately in an exploded view. 
     The shafts are marked with the reference numbers  10  and  11 . The shaft  11  is a conventional rod-like shaft, the purpose of which is to support the desired number of spur gears  12 , which rotate freely on the shaft. The length of the shaft  11  is such that it extends from one edge to the other of the assembled device  1 , being suitably supported on the ends  8  and  9 . 
     The shaft  10 , on the other hand, is hollow and the liquid is brought to the hollow interior of the shaft through the connector  2 . 
     A number of gears  13  corresponding to the number of gears  12  is supported on the shaft  10 . The dimensions and positions of the gears are such that they tightly interlock with each other and thus rotate in different directions for the same distance dependently on each other, when seen in the direction of the shaft. The gears  12  and  13  are also located in the gear chambers formed by the intermediate pieces  6 , in a tightly fitted manner. The dimension of the gears in the lateral direction corresponds to the thickness of the intermediate pieces, so that, when the device is assembled, a chamber that is essentially closed and tight, delimited at the sides by the intermediate pieces  6 , in which the gears  12  and  13  form pairs, is formed. 
     As stated, the liquid is brought to the device through the hollow shaft  11  and is intended to travel in the gaps between the teeth of the gears  12  and  13 , which are limited, on the other hand, by the walls of the chamber. In fact, in the situation shown in  FIG. 2  travels from upwards from below and travels upwards in the tooth gaps formed by both rotating gears and the adjacent chamber wall, and through them from the outlet opening  3  of the upper part to the object. 
     The movement of the liquid from the shaft  10  to the tooth gaps of the gears is achieved in such a way that a groove  14 , from which the liquid discharges to the tooth gaps of the gears and through them onwards, is made in the end piece  9  and the intermediate piece  5  adjacent to each pair of additional teeth. 
     The gear  13  and the shaft  10  are intended to rotate together, but their mutual position is, however, variable to a limited extent.  FIG. 3  shows a cross-section of a gear  13 . Material has been removed from the cylindrical surface facing the shaft, in such a way that at this point between the shaft  10  and the gear a channel  17  is formed, through which the liquid flow in the shaft  10  coming through the flow hole  16  can move onward through the groove  14  and the gears  12  and  13 . 
     Reference number  15  is used to mark a pin-like element, which is located in the shaft  10  next to the channel  17 . The gear  13  can thus rotate relative to the shaft  10  for the distance that is limited by the side walls of the channel  17 , when the pin  15  strikes a wall. A spring  18  seeks to hold the gear  13  and the shaft  10  in a position, in which the flow hole is open. 
     What happens in practice, if more liquid starts to come through one gear unit than through the others? In such a case, the gear  13  will tend to rotate faster than the gears of the neighbouring units, as a result of which the flow opening  16  will diminish as the mutual position of the gear  13  and the shaft  10  changes, and this will naturally be followed by a reduction in the flow and the situation stabilizing at the desired level. The regulation is thus fully automatic and self-regulating. The amount of liquid exiting from each of the flow openings  3  of the entire device will equalize. The liquid flow always equalizes gradually according to the gear pair feeding the liquid. 
     As described, the invention is quite simple and economical to implement. The methods that have been used up until now have not been able to regulate with sufficient accuracy and speed, and have also been complicated and expensive. 
     At the same time, the present invention resolves some drawbacks that have plagued previous constructions, for example, leaks. Compared to previous known solutions, in which the gears are installed in a fixed manner on the shafts, in this embodiment the main pressure does not act on the area coming over the gears, but instead on the regulating channel  16 . 
     The invention can be varied in many ways, while still remaining with the scope of the protection of the basic idea of the invention and the accompanying claims. Thus, for example, the limiter pin  15  and spring  18  belonging to the regulating mechanism can be located as their own unit, separate from the channels  16  and  17 . In the same way, the location of the channel  17  can, if necessary, be in the shaft and not in the gear, in which case the limiter pin  15  will be located on the gear side. 
     Yet another advantage, which is significant in terms of manufacturing technique and price, is that the gears  12  and  13  can be made from materials other than metal. Examples of other materials that can be referred to are plastic, or even rubber. The device will become lighter and the machining and generally the manufacture of its components will be simplified. 
     Reference is made above solely to gear apparatuses, but the invention can also be applied to, for example, to vane pumps, which are used in the same way as gear pumps, but inversely. In a vane pump, there is generally one shaft and an element, a wheel equipped with vanes, for moving the liquid, installed eccentrically on it, which rotates in a housing, which is round, thus moving the liquid mass onward. 
     It should further be stated that, if the flow in the devices described takes place in the opposite direction, the regulation will operate in the structure as such, requiring small alterations.