Patent ID: 7694938

Claim:
A flow rate control device for controlling the rate of fluid flow between a fluid supply line which is connected to a source of fluid and a fluid delivery line which delivers the fluid to a remote location, said flow rate control device comprising: (a) a housing having a cover, a base and an internal chamber, said internal chamber having an inlet in communication with said fluid supply line, an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line and a flow path between said inlet and said outlet; and (b) flow rate control means carried by said housing for controlling the rate of fluid flow toward said delivery line, said flow rate control means comprising: (i) a rate control assembly disposed within said internal chamber of said housing, said rate control assembly including a base and a cover connected to said base, one of said cover and said base having a plurality of fluidic micro channels formed therein, each said fluidic micro channel having a length, width and cross-sectional area and an inlet in communication with said supply line and an outlet in communication with said fluid delivery line; and (ii) a rate control selector assembly operably interconnected with said rate control assembly, said rate selector assembly including a rate control shaft assembly comprising a generally cylindrically-shaped rate control shaft carried by said housing for rotation with respect thereto, said shaft having a plurality of radially extending fluid flow passageways formed therein.