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Timestamp: 2020-02-24 11:24:41
Document Index: 163937145

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 102', 'art 102', 'arts 109', 'art 109', 'art 109', 'arts 109']

Unidirectional flow limiter - Societe Anonyme: La Telemecanique Electrique
United States Patent 4171007
Unidirectional flow limiter housed in a union between a pipe and a user apparatus, comprising a first channel, a second channel, a flow reduction member between the two channels, a third channel, and a non-return valve in the third channel constituted by a deformable annular member placed concentrically about one of the first or second channels.
Bouteille, Daniel (Marnes-la-Coquette, FR)
05/774311
Societe Anonyme: La Telemecanique Electrique (FR)
137/513.7, 137/601.21, 137/853
F16K47/10; F15B11/04; F15B11/042; F15B15/14; F16K15/14; F16L27/093; F16L41/16; (IPC1-7): F16K11/10; F16K15/14
137/513.3, 137/513.5, 137/513.7, 137/852, 137/853, 137/854, 137/860, 137/599
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3493270 IMPULSE CHECK VALVE 1970-02-03 Doerfler 137/513.3
3459217 GARTER CHECK VALVE 1969-08-05 Callahan 137/515.3
3451422 CHECK VALVE 1969-06-24 Chorkey 137/860
3448766 CHECK VALVE 1969-06-10 Schule 137/853
3441249 FLOW CONTROL VALVE 1969-04-29 Aslan 137/599
3395725 Combination ball check and needle valve 1968-08-06 Roach 137/513.3
3289694 Ball check valve with particular cage means 1966-12-06 Frye 137/599
3285274 Valve unit for liquefied gas containers 1966-11-15 Bouvier 137/599
2922432 Reversible cartridge speed control valve 1960-01-26 Huntington et al. 137/269.5
1. A right angle connection element for connection between a fluid pipe and a user apparatus, comprising:
a first elongated element having an axis and an elongated internal first cavity disposed substantially along the axis of said first element, having means for connecting said first cavity to said fluid pipe to define a flow path between said first cavity and said fluid pipe, and having a bore passing through said first element and through said first cavity, said bore having an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said first element;
a second elongated element housed within said bore and exposed to said first cavity, said second element having an axis and an elongated internal second cavity disposed substantially along the axis of said second element, having a first plurality of apertures disposed radially around said second element to define a plurality of first passage ways extending between said first and second cavities, having a second plurality of apertures disposed radially around said second element to define a plurality of second passage ways extending between said first and second cavities, and having means for connecting said second cavity to said user apparatus to define a flow path between said second cavity and said user apparatus;
means adjustably mounted within said second cavity of said second element for at least partially closing said plurality of first passage ways; and
unidirectional means for unidirectionally closing said plurality of second passage ways, said unidirectional means including a deformable annular member attached to said second element and covering each of said second plurality of apertures.
2. The connection element of claim 1, wherein said first cavity in said first element is terminated in an annular chamber through which said bore passes.
3. The connection element of claim 2, wherein said deformable annular member is mounted in said annular chamber and around said second element.
4. The connection element of claim 2, wherein said deformable annular member is mounted within said second cavity of said second element.
The present invention relates to a unidirectional flow limiter.
The problem for which the invention intends to provide a practical solution is that of regulating the speed of a pneumatic receiver such as a double-acting ram, the theoretical solution of which is given by the diagram of accompanying FIG. 1. This figure shows a source of pressurised fluid 1 adapted to be placed in selective communication, via a four-way and two-position distributor 2, with a pipe 3 and a pipe 4 for supplying chambers 5 and 6 respectively of a double-acting ram 7. In order to regulate the velocity of the piston 8 of this ram in either of directions A or B of displacement of said ram, it is known to act on the exhaust of the suitable chamber. Thus, in direction A, the velocity will be regulated by acting on an adjustable flow limiter 9 disposed in parallel in pipe 4 at the inlet and outlet of a non-return valve 10. Similarly, to regulate the velocity of piston 8 in direction B, a flow limiter 11 disposed in parallel in the pipe 3 at the inlet and outlet of a non-return valve 12 will be actuated. These devices 9, 10, 11, and 12 allow a free passage of the pressurised fluid issuing from the source 1, in the direction of one of chambers 5 or 6, whilst simultaneously limiting the exhaust flow of the other chamber.
Devices assuring these two functions are known. They are inserted in pipes 3 and 4 between the distributor 2 and the ram. One of the drawbacks of these known devices resides on the one hand in the fact that they are bulky and on the other hand in the fact that, for a simple installation as shown diagramatically in FIG. 1, they require the use of four supplementary connecting members. Now, the present tendency in the domain of pneumatic equipment is to produce more and more compact assemblies. These devices have therefore become prohibitive.
To this end, the invention relates to a unidirectional flow limiter disposed between a fluid pipe and a user apparatus, comprising a first channel disposed between said pipe and an adjustable flow reducing member, a second channel disposed between the flow reducer and the user apparatus and a third channel connecting the said two channels and comprising a non-return valve, said limiter being constituted, in a connecting piece, by a first cylindrical element comprising means for its connection to said pipe and a bore, a first part of the first channel extending between these means and this bore and by a second cylindrical element housed in said bore, provided with means for its fixation to the user apparatus and with the said flow reducing member, said second channel extending between said reducing member and said fixing means.
According to a first variant of this second embodiment, the said annular member is placed, opposite said orifices, in elastic abutment inside said first channel.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating delivery of fluid to a pneumatic receiver.
FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the variant according to to FIG. 5.
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 2 to 5 show a flow limiter according to the invention, disposed between a fluid pipe 100 and a user apparatus 101. This limiter comprises a first channel 102 disposed between the conduit 100 and a flow reducing member 103, a second channel 104 disposed between the reducing chamber 103 and the user apparatus 101, and a third channel 105 connecting the two channels 102 and 104 in shunt with respect to the flow reducing member 103. This channel 105 comprises a non-return valve which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the said third channel is constituted by part of the recess 108a comprised in the bore 108 which determines an annular chamber surrounding the second element 109 in which the first channel 102 opens and by a series of radial orifices 105a made radially in the second element 109 placing said chamber in communication with the second channel 104. FIG. 2 shows that the non-return valve is constituted by an annular member 111 placed in elastic abutment on the inner cylindrical surface 104b of the second element 109 determining the second channel 104, opposite the series of radial orifices 105a belonging to the third channel. In this way, a circulation of fluid from pipe 100 towards the apparatus 101 is made freely from the first to the second channel via the recess 108a and the orifices 105a, by lifting the annular member 111, whilst a reverse circulation from the apparatus 101 towards pipe 100 is made imperatively from the second channel 104 to the first channel 102 through the orifices 102b more or less obturated by the member 103, thus of limited flow. In fact, in this latter direction of circulation, the elastic member 111 is pressed against the orifices 105a and obturates the third channel 105.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the said third channel 105 is constituted by an annular chamber 116 made in the first element 106 around the first channel 102 or, more precisely, around its first part 102a, through a series of orifices 105b made radially in the wall 115b separating the chamber 116 from said first channel and through the series of orifices 105a connecting said chamber to the second channel 104. It will be noted that, in these Figures, said series 105a may be replaced by any radial opening made in the second element 109. Said chamber 116 is in fact made between a housing 117 provided in the first element 106 and a stopper 115, mounted in tight manner in said housing, provided with the part 102a of the first channel 102 whose end part constitutes said wall 115b. The thightness between the channels 102, 104 and 105 is ensured by O-rings referenced at 118 and 119.
FIG. 6 illustrates a variant embodiment of a device according to the invention of the type such as shown in FIG. 5. This Figure shows certain elements which have already been described with reference to the preceding Figures, and which bear the same references. However, it will be noted that the second element is constituted, in this case, of two parts 109' and 109" housed in the bore 108 of the first element 106, the part 109" bearing the means 110 for its fixation to the user apparatus 101 and part 109" bearing the flow reducing member 103. The channel 105 opens out into channel 104 in the space of the bore 108 left free between the two parts 109' and 109", via a side opening 105a. The non-return valve is here constituted by an O-ring 120 made of elastic material applied to two surfaces of revolution 121 (here conical) made on the stopper 115 and between which the radial orifices 105b open out. The ring 120 is lifted by the fluid coming from channel 102 and leaving orifices 105b and flows at normal rate through channel 105 into channel 104. This ring is pressed on the surfaces 121 when the fluid circulates in the other direction and flows with a limited flow through orifices 102b.
The advantages of the device according to the invention as described hereinabove with reference to the Figures, lie in the simplicity of the flow limiter and non-return valve functions which it carries out. To be noted in particular is the simple assembly of the elastic obturator which is held in place by its own elasticity, without resorting to auxiliary fixing means.
More generally, the design of the device according to the invention enables it to be manufactured simply in metal, either by die-stamping or casting, or in plastics material by moulding, leading to unidirectional flow reducers whose bulk is no greater than those of the union used heretofore. It will be noted that, in addition to the assembly which operates in the same manner as the assembly of a conventional union, this device according to the invention offers possibilities of adjustment which are also similar to the possibilities of adjustment offered by known devices such as damping screws or conventional flow limiters. These arrangements are advantageous since they fit into the consumers' habits. Finally, the invention may be used on installations where the exhaust is collected, which presently tend to take precedence over installations with free exhaust.
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