DIAPHRAGMATIC DAMPER

Abstract

A diaphragmatic elbow damper joining two angularly oriented channels and configured to seal the channels in the absence of fluid flow overcoming gravity and atmospheric pressure.

Claims

1. A flow control device comprising: a first channel; a second channel; and a diaphragm positioned between the first channel and the second channel, wherein the diaphragm includes a first side and a second side that faces an opposite direction as the first side, wherein the diaphragm is configured and arranged to alternatively operate in both: a closed condition in which flow from the first channel to the second channel is impeded, and an open condition in which flow from the first channel to the second channel occurs, wherein the diaphragm is configured and arranged to change from the closed condition to the open condition when a force of a positive fluid flow through the first channel towards the first side of the diaphragm exceeds a combination of a gravitational force and a force of atmospheric pressure upon the second side of the diaphragm, and further wherein: said diaphragm includes a concave contour, when considered from the second side, when said diaphragm is in the closed condition; and said diaphragm includes a convex contour, when considered from the second side, when said diaphragm is in the open condition.

2. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein: said first channel extends in a first axial direction; and said second channel also extends in said first axial direction.

3. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein: said first channel extends in a first axial direction; and said second channel extends in a second axial direction that is perpendicular to said first axial direction.

4. The flow control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sloped edge associated with and extending from said first channel towards said diaphragm, wherein said sloped edge is sloped with respect to an axial direction of said first channel, and further wherein said sloped edge is configured and arranged to contact the first side of said diaphragm to thereby seal between said first channel and said second channel when the diaphragm is in the closed condition, and still further wherein said sloped edge is configured and arranged to be out of contact with said first side of said diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the open condition.

5. The flow control device according to claim 1, further comprising: a sloped edge associated with and extending from said second channel towards said diaphragm, wherein said sloped edge is sloped with respect to an axial direction of said second channel, and further wherein said sloped edge is configured and arranged to contact the first side of said diaphragm to thereby seal said first channel and said second channel when the diaphragm is in the closed condition, and still further wherein said sloped edge is configured and arranged to be out of contact with said first side of said diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the open condition.

6. The flow control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an edge associated with and extending from said first channel towards said diaphragm, wherein said edge is configured and arranged to contact the first side of said diaphragm to thereby seal between said first channel and said second channel when the diaphragm is in the closed condition, and further wherein said edge is configured and arranged to be out of contact with said first side of said diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the open condition.

7. The flow control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an edge associated with and extending from said second channel towards said diaphragm, wherein said edge is configured and arranged to contact the first side of said diaphragm to thereby seal between said first channel and said second channel when the diaphragm is in the closed condition, and further wherein said edge is configured and arranged to be out of contact with said first side of said diaphragm when the diaphragm is in the open condition.

8. A flow control device comprising: a first channel; a second channel; and a diaphragm positioned between the first channel and the second channel, wherein the diaphragm includes a first side and a second side that faces an opposite direction as the first side, wherein the diaphragm is configured and arranged to alternatively operate in both: a closed condition in which flow from the first channel to the second channel is impeded, and an open condition in which flow from the first channel to the second channel occurs, wherein the diaphragm is configured and arranged to change from the closed condition to the open condition when a force of a positive fluid flow through the first channel towards the first side of the diaphragm exceeds a combination of a gravitational force and a force of atmospheric pressure upon the second side of the diaphragm, and wherein: said first channel extends in a first axial direction; said second channel also extends in said first axial direction; and an outermost peripheral edge of the diaphragm defines a single plane, when the outermost peripheral edge is considered in its entirety, and the single plane of the outermost peripheral edge of the diaphragm is parallel with respect to the first axial direction.

9. A flow control device comprising: a first channel; a second channel; and a diaphragm positioned between the first channel and the second channel, wherein the diaphragm includes a first side and a second side that faces an opposite direction as the first side, wherein the diaphragm is configured and arranged to alternatively operate in both: a closed condition in which flow from the first channel to the second channel is impeded, and an open condition in which flow from the first channel to the second channel occurs, wherein the diaphragm is configured and arranged to change from the closed condition to the open condition when a force of a positive fluid flow through the first channel towards the first side of the diaphragm exceeds a combination of a gravitational force and a force of atmospheric pressure upon the second side of the diaphragm, and wherein: said first channel extends in a first axial direction; said second channel extends in a second axial direction; and an outermost peripheral edge of the diaphragm defines a single plane, when the outermost peripheral edge is considered in its entirety, and the single plane of the outermost peripheral edge of the diaphragm is sloped with respect to at least one of the first axial direction and the second axial direction.

10. The flow control device according to claim 9, wherein said first axial direction is parallel to said second axial direction.

11. The flow control device according to claim 9, wherein said first axial direction is perpendicular to said second axial direction.

12. The flow control device according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is substantially pyramidal in shape, as defined by four substantially flat surfaces.

13. The flow control device according to claim 8, wherein the diaphragm is substantially pyramidal in shape, as defined by four substantially flat surfaces.

14. The flow control device according to claim 9, wherein the diaphragm is substantially pyramidal in shape, as defined by four substantially flat surfaces.

15. The flow control device according to claim 12, wherein said four substantially flat surfaces are each generally triangular shaped.

16. The flow control device according to claim 13, wherein said four substantially flat surfaces are each generally triangular shaped.

17. The flow control device according to claim 14, wherein said four substantially flat surfaces are each generally triangular shaped.

18. The flow control device according to claim 9, wherein the single plane of the outermost peripheral edge of the diaphragm is sloped at an angle between 25 and 65 degrees with respect to the first axial direction.

19. The flow control device according to claim 9, wherein the single plane of the outermost peripheral edge of the diaphragm is sloped at an angle between 25 and 45 degrees with respect to the first axial direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary device set-up, including two channels and a damper.

[0022] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary device in a positive fluid flow system.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary device in a neutral fluid flow system.

[0024] FIGS. 4-5 show an exemplary elbow flow control device in a closed condition.

[0025] FIGS. 6-7 show an exemplary flow control device in an open condition.

[0026] FIGS. 8-10 show an exemplary flow control device in a closed condition.

[0027] FIGS. 11-13 show an exemplary flow control device in an open condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the device 100 features a first channel 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106 and a second channel 108 having a first end 110 and a second end 112. The first end of the first channel may comprise one or more walls 114, including a near wall 116 and a far wall 118. A diaphragm 130 may feature a central portion 132, a perimeter 134, a first end 136, and a second end 138. The first channel features a first opening 140 and a second opening 142 and the second channel features a first opening 144 and a second opening 146.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the central portion of the diaphragm is in a convex orientation when positive fluid flow 200 overcomes the force of gravity 202 and atmospheric pressure 204.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 3, in the absence of a positive air flow, or when the positive fluid flow 200 does not overcome atmospheric pressure 304 and the force of gravity 302, the diaphragm will be in a generally concave orientation. In the presence of negative fluid flow 300, the diaphragm will seal the channel(s).

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 4-5, the flow control device may comprise a first channel 400, a second channel 402, and a diaphragm section 404. The diaphragm section may encase a diaphragm 405, a first end 406, a second end 408, and an opposing wall 409. The first end may connect to the first channel and the second end may connect to the second channel.

[0032] The opposing wall may be continuous with the first channel and the second channel. As shown in FIGS. 4 ,5, and 6, the opposing wall may be comprised of multiple wall sections 424, 426, and 428, or an intersection of wall sections 430, which may be a wall section edge.

[0033] The opposing wall, the first end, and the second end may form a throughspace 410, which may provide for fluid communication between the first channel, the diaphragm section, and the second channel.

[0034] The diaphragm may be disposed between the first end and the second end. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10, the diaphragm may enter the throughspace when in a closed position. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 11, 12, and 13, the diaphragm may vacate the throughspace when in an open position.

[0035] The diaphragm may comprise a central portion 412 and a perimetral portion 413. The central portion may form a fill-bulge 414 or a vacate-bulge 415, and a bulge may be substantially concave, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, or pyramidal, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. The central portion may have a first side 416 and a second side 417, with the first side exposed to the opposing wall and the second side opposite the first side.

[0036] The first and second channel may comprise one or more side walls, 418 and 420. The channels may feature primary axes, 422 and 425, respectively, and cross sections unto which the axes are orthogonal. The axes may be substantially perpendicular, as in FIGS. 4, 5, 6, and 7, or substantially coaxial, as in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13.

[0037] A frame 426 may be disposed in the first channel or first end. The diaphragm, when in the closed position, may seal the frame by pressing against the frame, thereby impeding between the first and second channel