Patent ID: 8327864

Claim:
A flow control system, comprising: a manifold comprising a manifold fluid inlet and a manifold fluid outlet; a valve comprising a valve fluid inlet, a valve fluid outlet, and a mechanism for controlling when fluid flows therethrough; a flow controller detachably coupled to the valve, the flow controller comprising a body having a first side and a second side; an elongate groove on the first side of the body, the groove having a first end and a second end, a cross-sectional area of the groove increasing from the second end toward the first end; an annular groove on the second side of the body; and a hole through the body at the first end of the elongate groove, the hole extending to the annular groove; wherein the flow controller is interposed between the valve and manifold; wherein the annular groove is configured to align with the valve fluid inlet; wherein a fluid flow path conveys a fluid from the manifold through the fluid inlet, the flow controller,the valve fluid inlet and into the valve; wherein the flow controller is rotatable relative to the manifold and the valve from a first position in which a first portion of the annular groove is aligned with the fluid inlet to a second position in which a second portion of the annular groove is aligned with the fluid inlet; wherein the cross-sectional area of the groove at the first portion determines a first flow rate when the flow controller is in the first position and the cross-sectional area of the groove at the second portion determines a second flow rate when the flow controller is in the second position; and wherein the first flow rate is different than the second flow rate; and wherein the valve fluid inlet remains in fluid communication with the annular groove as the flow controller rotates from the first position to the second position.