Patent Publication Number: US-2006005888-A1

Title: Flow control apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
      1. Field of Invention  
      The present invention relates to a flow control apparatus.  
      2. Related Prior Art  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , a conventional flow control apparatus  100  includes a housing  110 . The housing  110  defines an aperture  114 . A valve  130  is rotationally installed in the housing  110 . A shaft  140  extends to the exterior from the interior of the housing  110  through the aperture  114 . The shaft  140  is connected with the valve  103  at an end and connected with a lever  150  at an opposite end. A joint  120  is connected with the housing  110  so that the valve  130  is kept in the housing  110 . Pivotal of the lever  150  causes rotation of the valve  130 . The lever  150  is however to long to fit in limited spaces.  
      The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      According to the present invention, a flow control apparatus includes a housing. A valve is rotationally installed in the housing. A bolt includes a first end connected with the valve in the housing and an opposite second end inserted to the exterior of the housing. A joint is connected with the housing in order to keep the valve in the housing.  
      The primary advantage of the flow control apparatus according to the present invention is a small profile and therefore easy maneuvering in limited space.  
      Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a flow control apparatus according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the flow control apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the flow control apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the flow control apparatus in another position than that is shown in  FIG. 3 .  
       FIG. 5  is a reduced perspective view of the flow control apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  in use.  
       FIG. 6  is an exploded view of a conventional flow control apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flow control apparatus includes a housing  10 , a valve  20  rotationally installed in the housing  10 , a bolt  33  connected with the valve  20  in the housing  10 , a grip  30  rotationally installed on the housing and connected with the bolt  33  outside the housing  10  and a joint  40  connected with the housing  10  so that the valve  20  is kept in the housing  10 .  
      An axial passage  13  extends through the housing  10 . The housing  10  includes a thread  11  extending thereon near an end, a thread  12  extending thereon near an opposite end, an annular flange  14  formed thereon, a peripheral slot  15  defined therein near the annular flange  14 , and two recesses  16  defined in the wall of the axial passage  13 .  
      The valve  20  includes a shaft  21  rotationally installed in the housing  10 , a rotational element  22  connected with the shaft  21  in the housing  10 , and a non-rotational element  23  installed in the housing  10 .  
      An axial passage  24  extends through the shaft  21 . The shaft  21  includes a peripheral hole  25  defined therein and a ridge  26  formed at an end thereof across the axial passage  24 .  
      The rotational element  22  includes a groove  27  defined in an upper side and two sector-shaped blocks  28  formed on a lower side.  
      The non-rotational element  23  includes two sector-shaped apertures  29  defined therein and two protrusions  35  formed on the periphery thereof.  
      The grip  30  includes a space  31  defined therein, a recess  32  defined in an internal side thereof and a ridge  34  formed on an external side thereof.  
      The joint  40  is hollow, i.e., it includes an internal side and an external side. On the internal side of the joint  40  are formed a first thread  41  near an end and a second thread  42  near an opposite end.  
      In assembly, the shaft  21  is put in the housing  10 . A bolt  33  is driven into the peripheral hole  25  of the shaft  21  through the peripheral slot  15  of the housing  10 . Thus, the shaft  21  can be rotated by means of operating the bolt  33 . The rotational element  22  is put in the housing  10 . The ridge  26  of the shaft  21  is put in the groove  27  of the rotational element  22 . Thus, the rotation of the shaft  21  causes rotation of the rotational element  22 . The non-rotational element  23  is put in the housing  10 . The protrusions  35  of the non-rotational element  23  are put in the recesses  16  of the housing  10 . Thus, rotation of the non-rotational element  23  relative to the housing  10  is prevented. The grip  30  is put around the housing  10 . The bolt  33  is put in the recess  32  of the grip  30 .  
      Thus, the bolt  33  can be pivoted by means of rotating the grip  30 . The ridge  34  makes it easy for a user to rotate the grip  30 . The first thread  41  of the joint  40  is engaged with the second thread  12  of the housing  10 . Thus, the valve  20  is retained in the housing  10 , and the grip  30  around the housing  10 .  
      As the rotational element  22  can be rotated relative to the non-rotational element  23 , the sector-shaped blocks  28  of the rotational element  22  can block or open the sector-shaped apertures  29  of the non-rotational element  23  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , respectively.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the housing  10  can be connected with a hose  50 , and the joint  40  can be connected with another hose  51 . Thus, the flow of liquid to the hose  51  from the hose  50  is controlled by means of the flow control apparatus according to the present invention.  
      The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.