Conduit having integral, monolithic flow regulation features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016223117-A1
Application number	US-201514608474-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 29, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Conduits having improved flow modification features are provided. A conduit includes a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior. The conduit further includes a flow regulation assembly disposed within the interior. The flow regulation assembly includes an integral component that is monolithic with the body. The flow regulation assembly is configured to permit fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a first direction and restrict fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A conduit, comprising:
a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior; and a flow regulation assembly disposed within the interior, the flow regulation assembly comprising an integral component that is monolithic with the body, the flow regulation assembly configured to permit fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a first direction and restrict fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

2 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the entire flow regulation assembly is integral and monolithic with the body.

3 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulation assembly further comprises a non-integral component that is translatable within the interior.

4 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the integral component is a plurality of integral components, each of the plurality of integral components monolithic with the body.

5 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulation assembly comprises a tube integral and monolithic with the body, the tube extending between a first end and a second end, the tube tapering towards the second end, the second end adjustable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly is permitted and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly is restricted.

6 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulation assembly comprises a plate that is integral and monolithic with the body, the plate pivotable between an open position wherein fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly is permitted and a closed position wherein fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly is restricted.

7 . The conduit of claim 6 , wherein the flow regulation assembly further comprises a tab that is integral and monolithic with the body.

8 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the flow regulation assembly comprises a first tab and a second tab each integral and monolithic with the body, the first tab and second tab spaced apart within the interior, the first tab and second tab each extending perimetrically about the inner surface and defining a first bore and a second bore respectively therethrough, the first bore having a maximum width less than a maximum width of the second bore.

9 . The conduit of claim 8 , wherein the flow regulation assembly further comprises a disk disposed between the first tab and the second tab, the disk comprising an inner plate, an outer ring, and a plurality of arms extending between the inner plate and the outer ring, the disk translatable between an open position seated against the second tab wherein fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly is permitted and a closed position seated against the first tab wherein fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly is restricted.

10 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the body and integral component are additively manufactured.

11 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the body is generally cylindrical.

12 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein the body and the flow regulation assembly are formed from polymers.

13 . The conduit of claim 1 , wherein a hardness of the integral component is less than a hardness of the body.

14 . An appliance, comprising:
a housing; and a duct assembly for flowing a fluid therethrough, the duct assembly comprising a plurality of conduits connected together to define a flowpath for fluid therethrough, at least one of the plurality of conduits comprising:
a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining an interior; and
a flow regulation assembly disposed within the interior, the flow regulation assembly comprising an integral component that is monolithic with the body, the flow regulation assembly configured to permit fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a first direction and restrict fluid flow through the interior past the flow regulation assembly in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

15 . The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the entire flow regulation assembly is integral and monolithic with the body.

16 . The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the flow regulation assembly further comprises a non-integral component that is translatable within the interior.

17 . The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the integral component is a plurality of integral components, each of the plurality of integral components monolithic with the body.

18 . The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the body and integral component are additively manufactured.

19 . The appliance of claim 14 , wherein the body and the flow regulation assembly are formed from polymers.

20 . The appliance of claim 14 , wherein a hardness of the integral component is less than a hardness of the body.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Hitzelberger Joel Erik

Classifications

• F16L55/027 Primary

  Throttle passages · CPC title

• B33Y80/00

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• F16K15/023 Primary

  the valve member consisting only of a predominantly disc-shaped flat element · CPC title

• F16K15/147

  the closure elements having specially formed slits or being of an elongated easily collapsible form · CPC title

• F16K15/16

  with tongue-shaped laminae · CPC title