Abstract:
Semi-spherical supports are used in the piercing of small, consistently sized holes in a soft metal. In particular, a flow control device, such as an orifice plate, can be fabricated with small, consistently sized flow apertures to regulate flow in a gas flow regulating device. By using semi-spherical supports, the need for hand-punching and real-time flow calibration can be avoided and automated machinery with a tapered piercing tool can be used to fabricate the flow control device.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/941,356, filed on Sep. 30, 1997 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,056), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/029,624 filed on Oct. 25, 1996, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In a medical setting, oxygen can be delivered to a patient from a cryogenic vessel, high pressure gas storage vessel or other controlled pressure delivery sources, such as a hospital delivery system. Such an oxygen delivery system includes an adjustable flow regulator to select a flow rate of oxygen to the patient. Adjustable flow regulators typically include a circular orifice plate having a plurality of apertures of varying sizes through which the oxygen can flow. 
     In order to create an aperture that allows a certain flow rate, users of prior art techniques typically create an undersized aperture using a hand tool, measure the flow rate, and subsequently increase the aperture size and measure the flow rate until gas flows at the desired rate. Other prior art methods utilize needle valves, stamping or compression of a large aperture, fabrication and assembly of discrete components, blockage of a flow conduit by a ball or tapered pin, photoetching of a thin metal disk that is subsequently attached to a thicker plate, or other largely manual methods. 
     To obtain an accurate flow rate, a real-time flow measurement is therefore made of each aperture during fabrication. Because this is largely a manual process, accurate registration is difficult to achieve, sometimes yielding a secondary aperture proximate to the main aperture to produce the proper flow rate. If the flow rate of a particular aperture is greater than a desired flow rate, then the entire part is rejected. 
     SUMMARY 
     Prior art techniques suffer from at least two disadvantages. First, they are time-consuming and labor intensive processes. Second, they do not take full advantage of the fact that flow rates are proportionally related to hole sizes. 
     Orifice plates can be manufactured having flow apertures that are formed to have accurate dimensions. As such, real-time measurement and repair is unnecessary. Consequently, every orifice plate can be identically fabricated, within allowed tolerances, using automated machinery. In addition, a complete flow control device can be manufactured from a single piece of material—the orifice plate. 
     An orifice plate can include a rigid circular plate of material, such as brass or other soft metal, having a first (bottom) surface and a second (top) surface. A counter bore can yield a domed support structure in the material at each flow aperture location. Specifically, the domed support structure can have a partial ellipsoidal, or conical shape. In accordance with one aspect, the domed support structure has a semi-spherical shape. The counter bore thus defines a support structure having an open base at the first (bottom) surface and an apex proximate to the second (top) surface. Prior art attempts at piercing thin-walled orifice plates have failed due to the lack of such a support. 
     A flow aperture can then be formed through the material from the second (top) surface and registered to the apex of the support structure. In particular, there may be a plurality of apertures, each aperture having a respective size and registered to an apex of a respective support structure. 
     The support structures and the apertures can be created by a computer-controlled machine. In particular, the computer can control a piercing tool which is automatically registered to the apex of the support structure and inserted through the thinned material to form the flow aperture. By using a computer-controlled process, orifice plates can be repeatedly reproduced to be substantially identical, within permitted tolerance. 
     In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, the orifice plate can be used in a flow regulator. In a flow regulator, an inflow conduit provides oxygen or another gas at a substantially constant pressure and an outflow conduit provides the gas at a specific flow rate. The orifice plate is coupled between the inflow conduit and the outflow. In particular, the flow regulator can adjustably control the flow of medical oxygen from a supply vessel to a patient. In such an application, the flow apertures vary in size from about 0.0007 square millimeters or less to about 0.8 square millimeters and the thickness of plate material at the apex of the dome structure is about 0.1 millimeter. Flow rates of 1/32 liters per minute (lpm) can be reliably achieved from a 50 pounds per square inch (psi) oxygen supply. Other dimensions can be used for other applications. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features of the flow control device, including various novel details of construction and combination of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims. It will be understood that the particular flow control devices embodying the invention are shown by illustration only and not as a limitation of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. The principles and features of the invention may be embodied in varied and numerous embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     FIGS. 1A-1B are a simplified perspective view of a typical cryogenic and high pressure supply vessel, respectively. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom-side perspective view of a particular orifice plate. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a particular orifice plate embodied in an illustrative flow regulator. 
     FIGS. 4A-4B are cross-sectional diagrams of a support structure having a first and second flow aperture of FIG. 2, respectively. 
     FIGS. 5A-5D are process flow diagrams of a particular method of forming the flow apertures of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a support structure. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of yet another embodiment of a support structure. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of still another embodiment of a support structure. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment of the invention employing a pyramidal piercing tool. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of a formed flow aperture showing a particulate matter trap. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1A-1B are a perspective view of a typical cryogenic and high pressure supply vessel, respectively. The vessel  2 ,  2 ′ can be an oxygen supply vessel. An adjustable flow regulator  6 ,  6 ′ is coupled to a supply conduit  4  from the vessel  2 ,  2 ′. Within the flow regulator  6 ,  6 ′ is a circular orifice plate (described below), which can have a plurality of discrete flow settings. Each flow setting is registered to a respective flow aperture. Each aperture supports a specific flow rate through an outflow conduit  8 ,  8 ′, as indicated by the setting of an adjusting dial  5 . 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom-side perspective view of a particular orifice plate  10 . As illustrated, the orifice plate includes eleven flow apertures  12   a - 12   k  corresponding to eleven discrete flow settings. Each flow aperture  12   a - 12   k  has a respective flow area corresponding to a preselected flow rate. An optional mounting hub  18  can be utilized to register the orifice plate  10  to the adjusting dial  5  (FIG.  1 ). Although eleven flow apertures are illustrated, corresponding to eleven selectable flow rates, a greater number or a smaller number of flow apertures  12  can be provided, depending on the intended application. 
     In some applications, only one flow aperture  12  may be required. In such applications either a fixed flow rate is specified or the flow rate may be adjusted by varying the supply pressure of the gas. In any event, the flow control device may be fabricated integrally with the regulator body—without a separate, rotatable orifice plate. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a particular orifice plate  10  embodied in an illustrative flow regulator  6 . The orifice plate  10  separates a supply conduit  4  supplying gas at an essentially constant operating pressure from an outflow conduit  8 . It will be understood that the orientation of the orifice plate can be reversed from that shown. The illustrated orientation, however, offers particular advantages. First, the piercing tool deflects the orifice plate material into the counter bore  14 . That deflected material tends to create a particulate matter trap, as will be discussed below. 
     It will also be understood that the orifice plate  10  can be adapted for use in any flow regulator which uses a prior art orifice plate. Particular embodiment of flow regulators having an orifice plate as described herein are commercially available from Inovo, Inc. of Naples, Fla. Specific examples of Inovo regulators are described in U.S. application Ser. No. 09/342,953 (filed Jun. 29, 1999), U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/091,127 (filed Jun. 29, 1998), U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/119,745 (filed Feb. 9, 1999), U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/124,704 (filed Mar. 15, 1999), and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/127,961 (filed Apr. 6, 1999), the teachings of which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     Returning to FIG. 2, each flow apertures  12   a - 12   k  is centered relative to a respective counter bore  14   a - 14   k.  As viewed from the bottom side, the counter bores  14   a - 14   k  create a domed support structure from the plate material. As the term is used herein, a domed structure is a three-dimensional structure having an open base and a wall tapering to an apex. Examples of dome wall shapes include partial ellipsoidal shapes, such as semi-spheres and elliptic paraboloids, and conical shapes. A cross-section taken through the apex reveals an arched-shape support wall, which can include semicircular, semi-oval, or triangular shapes. Other suitable shapes may be found by routine experimentation. 
     FIGS. 4A-4B are cross-sectional diagrams of a first and a second flow aperture  12   a,    12   b  of FIG. 2, respectively. As illustrated, both flow apertures  12   a,    12   b  have a circular flow area and the first flow aperture  12   a  has a smaller diameter than the second flow aperture  12   b.  As illustrated, the principle axis of each flow aperture  12   a,    12   b  is registered to a respective apex of a domed structure  14   a,    14   b  having a semi-spherical wall  15   a,    15   b.  Precise registration between the flow apertures  12   a,    12   b  and the apex of the domed structures  14   a,    14   b,  however, is not critical. 
     A primary purpose of the domed support is to allow rapid, automatic piercing of apertures to provide a specified flow rate, such between at least about 0.03 millimeter (0.001 inch) and 1 millimeter (0.039 inch) in diameter. The predictability of the disclosed method is particularly important for forming the smaller apertures for the lowest flow rates. The smaller diameter apertures are especially useful in pediatric medical oxygen regulators, where low flow rates may be desired. Using the disclosed fabrication method, small aperture sizes, and thus low flow rates, can be obtained that cannot be realized using other known methods. For example, oxygen flow rates of less than 1/4 lpm, at least down to 1/32 lpm, can be reliably obtained from an operating pressure of 50 psi, using the disclosed method. Precision flow apertures with tight tolerances ensures that the most vulnerable patients, including premature infants, can receive an appropriate and accurate dosage of oxygen. 
     When a tapered tool is employed, the computer controls the size of the aperture by controlling the depth of the pierce. This eliminates the need for hand-piercing and real-time flow calibration, which are necessary without the use of domed supports. Instead, the flow apertures  12  can be fabricated using automated piercing machinery. 
     Although prior art techniques have included counter bores, they used relatively large cylindrical-shaped counter bores. Those counter bores were used to thin a region of the plate material and a flow aperture was then formed through this thinned material. Because of the relatively large target area of the thinned material (i.e., an area of a substantially constant thickness), precise alignment between a piercing tool and the bore was not required. Due to flex and rebound of the relatively thin material being pierced, however, the size of each aperture, and therefore its flow rate, could not be accurately achieved. The machining of the relatively large cylindrical-shaped counter bores also tends to warp and weaken the extended thinned area of material, which also affects the size of the flow apertures. 
     It should be noted that the domed support structure  14 , however, can have a flat ceiling. That is, there can be a thinned region of relatively constant thickness between the top of the counter bore and the top surface of the plate. That flat ceiling, however, is limited in size so as to inhibit warping during machining and significant flexing and redounding during the piercing operation. In fact, as the area of the flat ceiling approaches the area of the flow aperture, tapering of the walls may be unnecessary. Those dimensions can vary depending on the thickness of the thinned material and the size of the desired flow aperture. This implies that the counter bores may not be identical. Each counter bore dimension would ideally accommodate one (or a few) flow aperture dimension. 
     FIGS. 5A-5D are process flow diagrams for creating a particular flow aperture in accordance with the invention. The area of material  16  being pierced should be sufficiently thin to allow a tool to make a hole without breaking the material or a piercing tool  20 . To facilitate that task, the orifice plate is made of brass or another soft metal. The thinned material may be less than about 0.3 millimeter (0.01 inch) thick. To achieve this thickness, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, a counter bore  14  having a diameter D of about 3.2 millimeters (0.125 inch) is applied to the orifice plate  10  of greater thickness. The distance z between the apex of the wall  15  and the opposite surface  16  of the orifice plate  10  is then thinned to about 0.1 millimeter (e.g., 0.0035 inch). It will be understood that the exact dimensions are a design choice of the user and can depend on the materials used for the orifice plate  10  and the piercing tool  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5B, the piercing tool  20  is placed in position under the control of an automated machine  30 . Specifically, the central axis of the piercing tool  20  is registered with the apex of the semi-spherical void  14 . The piercing tool  20  can have a conical, pyramidal or other shape suitable for piercing the orifice plate  10 . As illustrated, the piercing tool  20  is tapered at an angle, which can be chosen by the user. For example, the angle can be suitably chosen to be about 7-10 degrees. 
     Referring to FIG. 5C, the piercing tool  20  is forced into the orifice plate  10 . As the piercing tool  20  goes deeper, a larger hole is created. By using a semi-spherical support, there is little or no flex or resulting rebound from applying the piercing tool  20  to the structure. Downward forces are dispersed down the wall into progressively thicker material. 
     Referring to FIG. 5D, a circular flow aperture  12  having a diameter d has been created using a conical piercing tool  20 . For example, the flow aperture  12  can have a diameter d of 1 millimeter±0.006 millimeter (e.g., 0.003 inch±0.0002 inch). By using a semi-spherical support, the required tool depth to achieve a given aperture diameter is predictable, which permits the automated fabrication of flow apertures. Although the aperture  12  is illustrated as having a circular flow area, the actual shape of the aperture  12  depends on the shape of the piercing tool  20 . Accordingly, the flow aperture  12  can have a circular, oval, polygonal or any other suitable shape. 
     In accordance with a particular embodiment, both the counter bores  14  and the flow apertures  12  are formed using a single Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine. Sample orifice plates are selected for quality control inspection, which includes off-line flow rate measurements. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional diagram of another embodiment of a support structure. As illustrated, a counter bore  14 ′ yields an ellipsoidal-walled support structure  15 ′ in the plate material  10 . Note that as the diameter of the counter bore  14 ′ approaches the diameter of the flow aperture  12 , the tapered section of the wall will be destroyed by the piercing tool. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional diagram of yet another embodiment of a support structure. As illustrated, a counter bore  14 ″ yields a conical-walled support structure  15 ″ in the plate material  10 . Such an embodiment may be particularly useful for supporting extremely small flow apertures. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional diagram of yet another embodiment of a support structure. As illustrated, two opposing counter bores  14   1 ,  14   2  are formed in the plate material  10 . The flow aperture  12  is formed by piercing the thinned plate material between the apexes of the counter bores  14   1 ,  14   2 . Although the counter bores  14   1 ,  14   2  are illustrated as having semi-circular walls  15   1 ,  15   2 , any of the aforementioned shapes or combinations can be substituted. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a particular embodiment employing a pyramidal piercing tool  20 ′. As illustrated, the piercing tool  20 ′ yields a triangular aperture  12 ′ in the plate material  10 . The aperture  12 ′ is centered on the apex of a respective counter bore  14  (shown in phantom). Although the pyramidal piercing tool  20 ′ is shown as having three sides, it will be understood that the piercing tool  20 ′ can have a greater number of sides. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional diagram of a formed flow aperture showing a particulate matter trap. The piercing operation does not necessarily remove material. Instead, the piercing tool  20  ruptures the thinned material  10  to form the flow aperture  12 . This operation forces shards of material  40  downward into the void  14 . Those shards of material  40  project outward from the wall  15  to create pockets  45 . When the gas flow is from the bottom to the top, as shown, the pockets  45  operate to trap particulate matter that may be in the gas flow, thereby inhibiting the transfer of such particulate matter through the flow aperture  12 . 
     An added advantage of forming the flow aperture  12 —instead of machining it is that the top surface  16  of the orifice plate is smooth. A machined (e.g. drilled) aperture would have burrs. Without such a sharp boundary, the orifice plate described herein does not require additional finishing and can directly interface with o-rings in an assembled regulator—without damaging the o-ring. That advantage further reduces part counts and manufacturing steps. 
     Equivalents 
     While the flow control device has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood that those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, a flow control device made in accordance with the invention can be used in other gas or liquid flow devices. 
     These and all other equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.