Dual-adjustment flow limiting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10077545-B2
Application number	US-201715486267-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2017
Priority date	Apr 12, 2017
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A dual-adjustment flow limiting device includes an outer shell, an inner shell, a flow limiting member, and an adjustment mechanism. The outer shell defines a plurality of external ports. The inner shell defines a flow chamber and a plurality of internal ports communicating with the flow chamber and is fitted into the outer shell such that a communicating area is formed between the internal and external ports. The flow limiting member is disposed in the flow chamber of the inner shell and can be deformed in response to the pressure of a water flow entering the flow chamber to partially block the internal ports, so that the water flow entering the flow chamber can be restricted. The adjustment mechanism is provided at the outer and inner shells to adjust the communicating area, so that the water flow can be further restricted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A dual-adjustment flow limiting device, comprising:
an outer shell ( 1 ) defining a plurality of external ports ( 10 );
an inner shell ( 2 ) defining a flow chamber ( 3 ) and a plurality of internal ports ( 20 ) communicating with the flow chamber ( 3 ), and fitted into the outer shell ( 1 );
a flow limiting member ( 4 ) disposed in the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ), capable of being deformed in response to the pressure of a flow entering the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ) to partially block the internal ports ( 20 ), so that the flow entering the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ) can be restricted; and
an adjustment mechanism ( 5 ) provided at the outer and inner shells ( 1 ), ( 2 ) for adjusting the communicating area between the internal and external ports ( 20 ), ( 10 ), so that the flow entering the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ) can be further restricted.

2. The dual-adjustment flow limiting device of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism ( 5 ) includes an engagement protrusion ( 51 ) provided at the inner shell ( 2 ), and at least two engagement grooves ( 52 A), ( 52 B) provided at the outer shell ( 1 ) and spaced at a predetermined angle therebetween, the engagement protrusion ( 51 ) capable of being positioned to either of the two engagement grooves ( 52 A), ( 52 B), whereby the communicating area between the internal and external ports ( 20 ), ( 10 ) can be adjusted, and thus the flow entering the flow chamber ( 3 ) can be adjusted.

3. The dual-adjustment flow limiting device of claim 2 , wherein the flow chamber ( 3 ) is provided at its inner circumferential surface with a plurality of limitation ridges ( 30 ) protruding towards a central line of the flow chamber ( 3 ), and the flow limiting member ( 4 ) is a ring-shaped member disposed to abut on the limitation ridges ( 30 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ).

4. The dual-adjustment flow limiting device of claim 3 , wherein each of the limitation ridges ( 30 ) is polygonal, semicircular, or oval in cross section.

5. The dual-adjustment flow limiting device of claim 3 , wherein the internal ports ( 20 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ) completely coincide with the external ports ( 10 ) of the outer shell ( 1 ) to result in a larger communicating area when the engagement protrusion ( 51 ) of the inner shell ( 1 ) is positioned to one of the engagement grooves ( 52 A), ( 52 B) of the outer shell ( 1 ); on the other hand, the internal ports ( 20 ) of the inner shell ( 2 ) partially coincide with the external ports ( 10 ) of the outer shell ( 1 ) to result in a smaller communicating area when the engagement protrusion ( 50 ) of the inner shell ( 1 ) is positioned to the other of the engagement grooves ( 52 A), ( 52 B) of the outer shell ( 1 ).

6. The dual-adjustment flow limiting device of claim 5 , wherein the inner shell ( 2 ) is provided in the flow chamber ( 3 ) with a plurality of spaced anti-off ribs ( 6 ) extending upwardly from a bottom of the inner shell ( 2 ) and curving outwardly at their free ends ( 60 ).

7. The dual-adjustment flow limiting device of claim 1 , wherein the outer or inner shell ( 1 ), ( 2 ) is provided at its outer circumferential surface with a connection portion to be connected to an external component.

8. A dual-adjustment flow limiting device, comprising:
an outer shell ( 1 B) defining a plurality of external ports ( 10 ) which are classified into two groups each containing at least one external port ( 100 ), ( 101 );
an inner shell ( 2 B) defining a flow chamber ( 3 ) and a plurality of internal ports ( 20 ) communicating with the flow chamber ( 3 ), and fitted into the outer shell ( 1 B) such that the internal ports ( 20 ) are spaced from the external ports ( 10 ) by the flow chamber ( 3 ), the flow chamber ( 3 ) being provided at its inner circumferential surface with a plurality of limitation ridges ( 30 ) protruding towards a central line of the flow chamber ( 3 ) and extending beyond a top of the inner shell ( 2 B);
an adjustment mechanism ( 5 ) provided at the outer and inner shells ( 1 B), ( 2 B) for selectively aligning the limitation ridges ( 30 ) with one group of external ports ( 101 ), so that a water flow to enter the flow chamber ( 3 ) can be restricted; and
a flow limiting member ( 4 ) disposed in the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 B), capable of being deformed in response to the pressure of the flow entering the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 B) to partially block the internal ports ( 20 ), so that the flow entering the flow chamber ( 3 ) of the inner shell ( 2 B) can be further restricted.

Assignees

• Lin Xiaofa
• Lin Xiaoshan
• Liu Qiqiao
• Deng Xiaoqing
• Yu Qun
• Fujian Xihe Sanitary Ware Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lin Xiaofa
• Lin Xiaoshan
• Liu Qiqiao
• Deng Xiaoqing
• Yu Qun

Classifications

• E03C2001/026

  with flow restricting devices · CPC title

• E03C1/08 Primary

  Jet regulators {or jet guides}, e.g. anti-splash devices · CPC title

• H05K999/99

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G05D7/012

  the sensing element being deformable and acting as a valve · CPC title