Fluid control system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021284523-A1
Application number	US-202117155675-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 22, 2021
Priority date	Aug 7, 2017
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Some embodiments include a fluid control system with an outlet valve assembly, an inlet valve assembly including a venturi inlet valve, and an actuator coupled to the inlet valve assembly. In some embodiments, the actuator can enable a user to control a flush volume of fluid control system. Some embodiments include a moveable float positioned in a chamber of the outlet valve assembly, where the chamber includes a variably-sized upper portion with a volume that is based at least in part on a variable position of the moveable float in the chamber. Some embodiments include a adjustable control valves coupled to an outer surface of the outlet valve assembly and the inlet valve assembly. Some embodiments also include a bellows positioned in and coupled to the variably-sized upper portion. In some embodiments, the bellows are fluidly coupled to the venturi inlet valve and at least one of the control valves.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A fluid controller comprising:
an actuator bellows, a fill vent, a poppet valve, and a first stage configuration; wherein the actuator bellows is expanded in the first stage configuration; wherein the fill vent is open to atmospheric pressure in the first stage configuration; and wherein a vacuum is formed on either side of the poppet valve in the first stage configuration.

22 . The fluid controller of claim 21 ,
further comprising a venturi valve fluidly connected to the poppet valve.

23 . The fluid controller of claim 22 ,
wherein the poppet valve is configured to generate the negative pressure on either side of the poppet valve by air being drawn toward the venturi valve in the first stage configuration.

24 . The fluid controller of claim 22 ,
wherein the poppet valve is pushed down in the first stage configuration.

25 . The fluid controller of claim 23 ,
wherein a fluid flow through the venturi is configured to be maintained in the first stage configuration.

26 . The fluid controller of claim 22 ,
further comprising a second stage configuration; wherein the actuator bellows is retracted in the second stage configuration.

27 . The fluid controller of claim 26 ,
wherein the vacuum pressure is released when fluid level drops below the fill vent in the second stage configuration.

28 . The fluid controller of claim 27 ,
wherein the poppet valve is configured to raise when the vacuum pressure is released in the second stage configuration.

29 . The fluid controller of claim 24 ,
further comprising a third stage configuration; wherein the poppet valve is raised in the third stage configuration.

30 . The fluid controller of claim 29 ,
wherein the actuator bellows is retracted in the third stage configuration.

31 . The fluid controller of claim 29 ,
wherein the fill vent tube is closed in the third stage configuration.

32 . The fluid controller of claim 29 ,
wherein the fill vent tube is configured to be closed by a fluid level in the third stage configuration.

33 . A fluid controller comprising:
an inlet assembly, and a venturi valve; wherein the venturi valve is configured to generate a vacuum to power one or more portions of the inlet assembly.

34 . The fluid controller of claim 33 ,
wherein the venturi is configured to generate the vacuum by drawing air into fluid flowing through the venturi.

35 . The fluid controller of claim 33 ,
wherein the venturi valve is configured to generate a vacuum to control an incoming fluid.

36 . The fluid controller of claim 35 ,
wherein the venturi valve is configured to generate a vacuum to power the lifting of a float.

37 . The fluid controller of claim 35 ,
wherein the venturi valve is configured to generate a vacuum to form negative pressure on either side of a poppet valve.

38 . The fluid controller of claim 33 ,
further comprising a fill vent tube; wherein the vacuum is configured to be released when a fluid level drops below the fill vent tube.

39 . The fluid controller of claim 33 ,
wherein the vacuum is generated as the result of an actuation of one or more bellows.

40 . The fluid controller of claim 33 ,
wherein the vacuum is generated as the result of an actuation of two bellows.

Assignees

• Fluidmaster

Inventors

• Le Tuan
• Sampson Adam

Classifications

• F16K31/18

  actuated by a float (floats F16K33/00; float-actuated valves in steam-traps F16T1/20, in boilers F22D5/08) · CPC title

• E03D1/36 Primary

  Associated working of inlet and outlet valves · CPC title

• E03D5/024

  Operated hydraulically or pneumatically · CPC title

• E03D1/35

  Flushing valves having buoyancy · CPC title

• B67D7/02 Primary

  for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants · CPC title