Patent ID: 7308908

Claim:
A device for controlling the flow of fluid in a conduit, comprising: a. a first housing having at least one interior wall and an exterior wall, said at least one interior wall defining a substantially cylindrical chamber, said chamber having a first end, a second end, a chamber axis and at least one diameter, at least one of said first end and second end having an end wall having a bearing opening; b. a valve shaft positioned within said chamber, said valve shaft having a valve shaft axis of rotation aligned with said chamber axis, said valve shaft capable of rotation about said valve shaft axis of rotation; c. valve shaft bearings held in said bearing opening and receiving said shaft for rotation; d. rotor coupled to said shaft for rotation therewith positioned at one of said first end and second end opposite said end wall, said rotor having a rotor bearing surface having one or more channels; e. stator having at least one stator exterior surface and at least one stator interior surface, said stator interior surface having a stator bearing surface said stator bearing surface for receiving a rotor bearing surface and allowing said rotor bearing surface to rotate in relation to said stator bearing surface, said stator removably received about said end of said chamber opposite said bearing opening, said stator having at least two stator fluid openings, each of said stator fluid openings extending from said stator exterior to said rotor bearing surface in alignment with said one or more channels to define an open position upon the rotor assuming a first position and in alignment with a rotor bearing surface without one or more channels upon the rotor assuming a second position to define a closed position, said first position defining an open position in which fluids are received in one of said stator fluid openings and flow through said channel and out a second stator fluid opening and a closed position in which fluids are prevented from flowing from one stator fluid opening to the other stator fluid opening by means of the rotor bearing surface; f. pressure means for exerting a pressure on said rotor and said stator to press said rotor bearing surface against said stator bearing surface such that rotation of the valve shaft and rotor allows fluid flow in one valve shaft position and does not allow fluid flow in a second valve shaft position said pressure means engaging said end wall and said valve shaft; and, g. adjustment means for adjusting said pressure exerted by said pressure means wherein said adjustment means comprises adjustment load spider and wherein said end wall of said housing has a spider opening which cooperates with said adjustment load spider to allow adjustment of the spring compression.