Method for adjustably restricting air flow and apparatus therefor

Abstract

Apparatus for air flow limiting comprise a vertically oriented tube, a sail assembly positioned in the tube and moveable therewithin responsively to air flow through the tube to limit rate of air flow through the tube and halt air flow through the tube upon air flow rate through the tube exceeding a preselected value, and a moveable stop for adjustably changing the length of travel of the sail assembly thereby changing the maximum amount of air flow.

Claims

1. Adjustable air flow limiting apparatus, comprising: a. a first tube; b. a second tube movable along and within the first tube; c. a guide within the first tube for restraining the second tube to coaxial movement within and relative to the first tube; d. a sail within the first tube, connected to the second tube and being movable responsively to air flow within the first tube; e. a moveable stop within and connected to the first tube for adjustably limiting axial travel of the second tube, wherein: the stop is configured to move between: a first position of the stop at which the stop limits the axial travel of the second tube to a first axial position of the second tube; and a second position of the stop at which the second tube is free to move to a second axial positon of the second tube; and the air flow within the first tube when the second tube is in the second position is greater than the air flow through the first tube when the second tube is in the first position.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second tube has an edge adapted for substantially air tightly contacting a sealing plate surface portion of the stop to preclude air flow through the second tube upon the second tube contacting the sealing surface.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein the stop includes a piston portion of a solenoid with the direction of piston travel being parallel with the first tube.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second tubes are coaxial and the first tube is movable coaxially within the second tube.

5. Adjustable air flow limiting apparatus, comprising: a. a tube; b. a second tube movable along and within the first tube; c. a guide within the first tube for restraining the second tube to coaxial movement within and relative to the first tube; d. a sail within the first tube, connected to the second tube and being movable responsively to air flow within the first tube; e. a moveable stop within and connected to the first tube for adjustably limiting axial travel of the second tube, wherein: the stop includes a piston portion of a solenoid with the direction of piston travel being parallel with the first tube; and wherein the second tube has an edge adapted for substantially air tightly contacting a sealing plate surface portion of the stop to preclude air flow through the second tube upon the second tube contacting the sealing surface.

6. Apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first and second tubes are coaxial and the first tube is movable coaxially within the second tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a resin delivery system with a single air flow regulator in accordance with aspects of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a resin delivery system with a plurality of air flow regulators in accordance with aspects of this invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the exterior of an air flow regulator portion of apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular plastic resin as disclosed in co-pending applications Ser. No. 14/185,016, published 20 Aug. 2015 as US 2015-0231801 A1 , and issued as U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,604,793 on 21 Jun. 2016, and 14/574,561, 14/574,561 referenced above.

(4) FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is an isometric sectional view of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the section taken at arrows 3-3 in FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is a sectional view in elevation of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, with the section taken at lines and arrows 3-3 in FIG. 4, with air flow through the air flow regulator being depicted in FIG. 6 by curved dark arrows.

(7) FIG. 7 is a sectional view in elevation, similar to FIG. 6, of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 6, but with the air flow regulator internal parts in position whereby there is no air entering the air flow regulator and hence there is no air flow upwardly through the air flow regulator, in contrast to the condition with such air flow shown in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a sectional view in elevation, similar to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 7, but with the air flow regulator internal parts in position where there is an excessive amount of air attempting to enter the air flow limited but there is no air flow upwardly through the air flow regulator due to the air flow regulator valve having moved to block air flow upwardly through the air flow regulator, in contrast to air flow upwardly through the air flow regulator as shown in FIG. 4.

(9) FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 8.

(10) FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the movable portion of the air flow regulator illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 9.

(11) FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an air flow regulator similar to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, illustrating an alternate construction of the baffle portion of the air flow regulator.

(12) FIG. 12 is sectional view of the air flow regulator similar to FIGS. 6, 7, and 11, illustrating a second alternate construction of the baffle portion of the air flow regulator.

(13) FIG. 13 is a sectional view of an air flow regulator of the type disclosed in co- pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/593,010, published on 20 Aug. 2015 as US 2015/0232289 A1 and issued 24 Jan. 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,635 with the sectional view being taken in elevation, similarly to FIG. 7, with an electromagnetic beam detecting position of the movable valve portion of the air flow regulator.

(14) FIG. 14 is a sectional view in elevation, similar to FIG. 13, of the air flow regulator disclosed in FIG. 13 and in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/593,010, with the detector beam being blocked by the moveable valve portion of the air flow regulator, thereby indicating no air flow through the air flow regulator.

(15) FIG. 15 is a sectional view in elevation, similar to FIG. 7, of an adjustable air flow regulator in accordance with the invention, with the air flow regulator internal parts in position whereby a moderate amount of air is entering the air flow regulator, the sail assembly has been lifted by air flow, and the air flow regulator internal valve has not contacted a stop defining an intermediate valve position and hence an intermediate maximum air flow rate through the air flow regulator.

(16) FIG. 16 is a sectional view in elevation of the adjustable air flow regulator illustrated in FIG. 15, with the stop illustrated in FIG. 15 withdrawn and the air flow regulator internal parts in position whereby no air can flow through the air flow regulator due to those internal parts now having blocked air flow due to instantaneous air flow exceeding the maximum design value.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Best Mode Known for Practice of the Invention

(17) In this application, unless otherwise apparent from the context it is to be understood that the use of the term vacuum means air at slightly below atmospheric pressure. The vacuum (meaning air at slightly below atmospheric pressure) provides a suction effect that is used to draw granular plastic resin material out of a supply and to convey that granular plastic resin material through various conduits to receivers where the granular resin material can be temporarily stored before being molded or extruded. Hence, when reading this application it is useful for the reader mentally to equate the term vacuum with the term suction.

(18) This invention provides an improvement on the air flow regulators disclosed and claimed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 14/185,016, published 20 Aug. 2015 as US 2015-0232287 A1, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,371,198 on 21 Jun. 2016 and 14/593,010, published on 20 Aug. 2015 as US 2015/0232289 A1 and issued 24 Jan. 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,635 referenced above.

(19) With the improved air flow regulator of this invention, there are effectively two design limits where design limit denotes the maximum air flow allowable through the air flow regulator. In the air flow regulator of the invention, a first design limit occurs an air flow through the air flow regulator is sufficient to move moveable sail 34 and hence moveable internal segment 42 upwardly to a position at which moveable internal tubular segment and the assembly of first and second struts 48, 50 contact piston 124 of solenoid 120, when piston 124 is extended from solenoid 120 and is at the position illustrated in FIG. 15. When the assembly of first and second struts 48, 50 moves slightly upwardly from the position illustrated in FIG. 15 and contacts the lower extremity of piston 124, when piston 124 is extended from solenoid 120 as illustrated in FIG. 14, this defines a first design limit. Air flow through air flow regulator 30 when the assembly of struts 48, 50 contacts the lower extremity of piston 124 when extended is one of the two design limits. The second design limit occurs when the assembly of struts 48, 50 is just below and about to touch flow limiting plate 46. With air flow through flow regulator 56 with the struts 48, 50 at that position, air flow though regulator 30 is at a maximum. Once air flow increases even slightly, the air flow impinging sail 34 pushes assembly of struts 48, 50 and hence moveable tubular segment 42 upwardly against flow limiting plate 46, and flow through flow regulator stops. Consequently, the air flow through regulator 30 when the upper extremity of moveable tubular segment 42 is just short of flow limiting plate defines the second design limit of air flow through regulator 30.

(20) Regarding nomenclature, 30 denotes the regulator illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 12; 30 denotes the regulator illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14; and 30 denotes the regulator illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. With the large number of common parts and operating characteristics common to these three regulators, sometimes the designators 30 and 30 etc. are used to refer to all of these regulators; the context makes clear as to when a specific characteristic of one of the regulator is the subject of the text.

(21) When air flow is below the first design limit, regulator 30 remains fully open. The moment air flow equals the first design limit, the assembly of struts 48, 50 carrying moveable tubular segment 42 contacts the circular surface, unnumbered in the drawings, of piston 124 when piston 124 is in its extended position relative to solenoid 120. So long as piston 124 remains extended from solenoid 120, air flow through regulators 30 etc. cannot exceed the first design limit. However, once solenoid 120 is de-actuated and piston 124 retracts into solenoid 120 to the position illustrated in FIG. 16, air flow through regulators 30 etc. can increase up to the second design limit which, as noted above, occurs as moveable internal tubular segment 42 is approaching and in close proximity to flow limiting horizontal plate 46.

(22) Apparatus for conveying granular plastic resin material from the supply to receivers that retain and dispense the resin material when needed by a process machine is illustrated in FIG. 1. The apparatus, which is designated generally 88 in FIG. 1, preferably includes a vacuum pump designated generally 92 and shown schematically in FIG. 1. The vacuum pump preferably includes a vacuum pump suction head 93 also shown schematically in FIG. 1. Connected to the vacuum pump suction head 93 is an airflow regulator 30 shown only in schematic form in FIG. 1, but shown in detail in various forms in FIGS. 3 through 16. Airflow regulator 30 receives vacuum drawn by vacuum pump 92 through vacuum drawing conduit 100.

(23) Vacuum drawing conduit 100 is connected to a plurality of receivers 16, each of which receives, retains and dispenses, as needed, granular plastic resin material to a process machine, such as a granulator blender, or an extruder, or a molding press preferably located below a receiver 16. The process machines are not illustrated in FIG. 1 to enhance the clarity of the drawing.

(24) Further illustrated in FIG. 1 is a hopper 18 for storage of granular plastic resin material therein and a resin conveying conduit 98, which serves to draw resin from hopper 18 and to deliver the resin through resin conveying conduit 98 to the respective receivers as vacuum is drawn by the vacuum pump, with vacuum propagating through air flow regulator 30, vacuum drawing conduit 100, the various receivers 16, and resin conveying conduit 98, back to hopper 18.

(25) FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of a resin conveying system designated 88A. FIG. 2, like FIG. 1, depicts a vacuum pump 92 shown in schematic form having a vacuum pump suction head 93 also depicted in schematic form. In the alternate embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, vacuum drawing conduit 100 leads directly into and communicates with vacuum pump suction head 93. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, an air flow regulator 30 is provided for each receiver 16, with the air flow regulator 30 for a respective receiver 16 being located in a portion of a connection conduit 102 that connects a respective receiver to vacuum drawing conduit 100. In FIG. 2, each air flow regulator 30 is depicted in a vertical orientation, just as is airflow regulator 30 depicted in a vertical orientation in FIG. 1. Each receiver is connected by connection conduit 102 to vacuum drawing conduit 100 with air flow regulator 30 forming a portion of connection conduit 102.

(26) In FIG. 2, as in FIG. 1, a first conduit 98 serves to convey granular plastic resin from hopper 18 to the respective receivers in response to vacuum drawn by vacuum pump 92 as that vacuum propagates from vacuum pump 92 through second conduit 100, connection conduits 102, receivers 16, and resin conveying conduit 98 to hopper 18.

(27) During operation of the resin conveying systems shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2, upon actuation of vacuum pump 92, a vacuum is drawn at vacuum pump suction head 93. This vacuum, as it propagates back to hopper 18, serves to draw resin out of hopper 18 and into the respective receivers 16. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, individual air flow regulators 30 limit the suction or vacuum drawn by vacuum pump 92 through a given associated receiver 16. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a single air flow regulator 30 limits the vacuum drawn through all of receivers 16 of the granular resin conveying system illustrated in FIG. 1.

(28) Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the air flow regulator 30 portion of the resin delivery systems is preferably in the general form of a vertically oriented tube, preferably having inlet and outlet ends 54, 56 respectively. The tubular character of air flow regulator 30 is apparent from FIGS. 3 through 16, where air flow regulator 30 preferably includes a vertically oriented exterior tube 32, with open-end caps 58, 60 defining and providing open inlet and outlet ends 54, 56 respectively. End caps 58, 60 are open, of generally cylindrical configuration, and are configured to fit closely about vertically oriented tube 32 so as to provide a substantially air tight fit between end caps 54, 56 and tube 32.

(29) As illustrated in FIG. 5, air flow regulator 30 preferably includes, within vertically oriented exterior tube 32, a horizontally positioned plate 46, which is oriented perpendicularly to the axis of tube 32. Plate 46 is preferably configured as a circular disk of lesser diameter than the inner diameter of vertically oriented tube 32, with plate 46 further preferably including three legs extending outwardly from the circular interior disk portion of plate 46. Legs of plate 46 are designated 62 in FIG. 9, while the circular interior portion of plate 46 is designated 64 in FIG. 9. Plate 46 is secured to the interior of vertically oriented outer tube 32 by attachment of legs 62 to the interior surface of tube 32. Any suitable means of attachment, such as by welding, adhesive, mechanical screws, or end portion of legs 62 defining tabs fitting into slots within tube 32 as shown in FIG. 5, may be used.

(30) As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, a baffle 52 is positioned within vertically oriented outer tube 32, below plate 46. Baffle 52 has a lower conical portion 66 and an upper cylindrical portion 44, with cylindrical portion 44 defining a fixed internal tubular segment of air flow regulator 30. Baffle 52 is preferably retained in position by a pair of screws designated 68, 70 respectively. Baffle 52 preferably rests on screw 68. Screw 70 preferably fits against the fixed internal tubular segment 44 portion of baffle 52 to secure baffle 52 in position within vertically oriented external tube 32. Lateral force applied by screw 70 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of vertically oriented external tube 32, with screw 70 in contact with fixed internal tubular segment 44, serves to effectively retain baffle 52 against movement within vertically oriented external tube 32.

(31) The upper portion of baffle 52, defining fixed internal tubular segment 44, is adapted for sliding telescopic engagement with and movement therealong by movable tubular segment 42. Fixed to movable tubular segment 42 is a first strut 48 preferably extending transversally across the upper portion of movable tubular segment 42 and preferably secured on either end to movable tubular segment 42, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Preferably extending downwardly from first strut 48 is a second strut 50, preferably secured to first strut 48 and preferably also to a sail 34, as illustrated in FIG. 10 and in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

(32) Movable sail 34 is preferably planar and positioned fixedly on second strut 50 to remain perpendicular with respect to the axis of vertically oriented outer tube 32. Movable sail 34 is preferably of generally triangular configuration, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, with the sides of the triangle curving slightly inwardly. The curved edges 72 of movable sail 34 converge and terminate to form small rectangular shaped extremities of sail 34, which are designated 76 in FIG. 9.

(33) Movable sail 34 is positioned within generally vertically oriented outer tube 32 so that rectangular extremities 76 are closely adjacent to but do not contact the inner surface of vertically oriented outer tube 32, so long as sail 34 moves vertically up and down within vertically oriented external tube 32. The rectangular shape of extremities 76 with their outwardly facing planar surface assures minimal friction and consequent minimal resistance to movement of movable sail 34 in the event one of rectangular extremities 76 contacts the interior surface of vertically oriented tube 32, should sail 34 for some reason move laterally or otherwise and become skew to the vertical axis of tube 32.

(34) Movable internal tubular segment 42 is telescopically movable, unitarily with sail 34, relative to and along fixed internal tubular segment 44. A lower limit of movement of movable tubular segment 42 is illustrated in FIG. 7, where the first strut portion 48 of movable tubular segment 42 (shown in FIG. 10) rests on the upper circular edge of fixed internal tubular segment 44. This is the condition when no air is flowing or drawn through the air flow regulator and gravity causes sail 34 together with movable internal tubular segment 42 to drop, with first strut 48 coming to rest on the upper circular edge of fixed tubular segment 44.

(35) When air is flowing through air flow regulator 30, as illustrated generally in FIG. 6, the moving air pushes against movable sail 34, moving it upwardly. Movable internal tubular segment 42 moves upwardly unitarily with sail 34 due to the fixed connection of movable tubular segment 42 and movable sail 34 made via first and second struts 48, 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10.

(36) Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, if air flow upwardly through air flow regulator 30 reaches a first, preselected design limit, air flow contacting sail 34 pushes sail 34 upwardly so that the top of first strut 48 contacts circularly downwardly facing surface of piston 124 extending from solenoid 120. In this condition, with piston 124 being extended from solenoid 120 and held in position by action of solenoid 120, the first selected design limit air flow can pass through regulator 30 by passing upwardly past sail 34 through moveable tubular segment 42, around edge 82 of flow regulator plate 46 and then out of flow regulator 30. So long as piston 124 remains extended from solenoid 120, air can flow through regulator 30 with the air flow rate being up to the preselected first design limit.

(37) If piston 124 is retracted into solenoid 120 such that the circular downwardly facing surface of piston 124 is at least flush with the lower surface of flow limiting horizontal plate 46, additional air, over and above the air flow defining the first design limit, can flow through regulator 30. Air can flow through regulator 30 against sail 34 and through moveable tubular segment 42 and around flow limiting plate 46 in an amount up to the second design limit. When flow reaches the second design limit, air flow is sufficient to push moveable sail 34 upwardly so that the top of first strut 48 contacts retracted piston 124 residing within solenoid 120 and the upwardly extending edges of moveable tubular segment 42 contact the lower facing surface of plate 46, thereby stopping air flow through regulator 30. In this condition, which is illustrated in FIG. 8, no air can pass between the upper annular edge 78 of movable tubular segment 42 and flow limiting horizontal plate 46, and air flow stops.

(38) Once air flow stops through vertically oriented outer tube 32, gravity pulling downwardly on sail 34, connected movable internal tubular segment 42, and first and second struts 48, 50, causes these parts, which may be connected together and fabricated as a single integral assembly as shown in FIG. 8, to move downwardly, thereby again permitting air flow upwardly through air flow regulator 30 etc. as depicted generally in FIG. 6. Consequently, air flow regulator 30 etc. is self-regulating in that when air flow exceeds the second design limit, the force of air moving or impinging on sail 34 pushes movable internal tubular segment 42 upwardly until upper annular edge 78 of movable tubular segment 42 contacts plate 46 and no air can then escape upwardly between the upper annular edge 78 of movable tubular segment 42 and plate 46. This stops air flow through flow regulator 30 etc. until downward movement of sail 34 unitarily with movable internal tubular segment 42 moves upper annular edge 78 of movable tubular segment 42 away from plate 46, again permitting air to flow through the upper extremity of movable tubular segment 42, with air passing between upper annular edge 78 of movable internal tubular segment 42 and flow limiting horizontal plate 46, and then escaping through upper outlet end 56 of air flow regulator 30.

(39) Air flow regulator 30 is also self-regulating when solenoid 120 has been actuated by energizing coil 122 and piston 124 has emerged from solenoid 120 as a result. In this condition, air flow regulator 30 is again self-regulating in that air flow cannot exceed the first design limit so long as piston 124 is extended from solenoid 120. The force of air moving or impinging on sail 34 pushes moveable internal tubular segment 42 upwardly until the top of first strut 48, which has been illustrated as the head of a machine screw, contacts extended piston 124. Hence, the assembly of sail 34, first and second struts 48, 50 and moveable tubular segment 42 may move between the position of no air flow, illustrated in FIG. 7, and the position at which first strut 48 contacts extending piston 124, thereby permitting air flow up to the first design limit through flow regulator 30, due to the space between the upper edges of the cylindrical surface of moveable tubular segment 42 and flow limiting plate 46.

(40) With the self-regulating characteristic of air flow regulator 30, the assembly consisting of movable internal tubular segment 42, first and second struts 48, 50 and sail 34 may oscillate somewhat about the position at which air flow drawn by suction is at the desired level, as the vacuum pump drawing air through flow regulator 30 varies in cubic feet per minute of air drawn.

(41) Desirably, ends of first strut 48, which is depicted as being horizontally disposed in the drawings, are mounted in movable tubular segment 42 in movable fashion such that first strut 48 can move slightly, rotationally, relative to movable internal segment 42. This is to provide a small amount of play in the event movable sail 34 and second strut 50, which is vertically oriented and connected to movable sail 34, become skew with respect to the vertical axis of vertically oriented exterior tube 32. Should this occur, the movable characteristic of first strut 48, being slightly rotatable relative to movable internal tubular segment 42, effectively precludes movable internal tubular segment 42 from binding with respect to fixed internal tubular segment 44 and thereby being restricted from what would otherwise be freely telescoping movement of movable internal tubular segment 42 relative to fixed internal tubular segment 44.

(42) Desirably first strut 48 is rotatable relative to movable internal tubular segment 42, to provide maximum freedom of vertical motion of movable internal tubular segment 42 in the event movable sail 34 becomes skew to the axis of vertically oriented exterior tube 32, with consequent frictional force restricting vertical movement of movable sail 34.

(43) Baffle 52 preferably includes two portions, the upper portion preferably being defined by fixed internal tubular segment 44 and a lower portion preferably being defined by conical portion 66 of baffle 52. A lower edge of baffle 52 is circular and is designated 84 in the drawings. Circular edge 84 fits closely against the annular interior wall of vertically oriented exterior tube 32 so that all air passing upwardly through air flow regulator 30, namely through vertically oriented exterior tube 32, is constrained to flow through the interior of baffle 52. The tight fitting of the circular lower edge of baffle 52 against the interior wall of vertically oriented exterior tube 32 forces all air entering flow regulator 30 from the bottom to flow through the interior of baffle 52, flowing upwardly through lower conical portion 66 of baffle 52.

(44) The air then flows further upwardly through the interior of fixed internal tubular segment 44. Thereafter, if movable internal tubular segment 42 is spaced away from flow limiting horizontal plate 46, air flows along the surface of movable internal tubular segment 42, passing the upper annular edge 78 of movable internal tubular segment 42; air then flows around the space between edge 82 of flow limiting horizontal plate 46 and the interior annular wall of vertically oriented exterior tube 32. The air then flows out of air flow regulator 30 via open outlet end 56 formed in end cap 60.

(45) In an alternate embodiment of air flow regulator 30 etc., baffle 52 may be constructed from two pieces that fit closely together, with the two pieces being in facing contact in the area where they define fixed internal tubular segment 44, but diverging one from another in the area where they define conical portion 66 of baffle 52. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the two portions of baffle 52 are designated 66A and 66B where they diverge, with baffle portion 66A serving to channel air flow upwardly through vertically oriented exterior tube 32 into fixed internal tubular segment portion 44 of baffle 52. The space between the lower parts of baffle portions 66A and 66B is filled with a filler material 86 to provide additional assurance that all air entering vertically oriented exterior tube 32 from the bottom flows through fixed internal tubular segment 44 and on through movable internal tubular segment 42, and does not pass around the edge of baffle 52, namely between baffle 52 and the interior surface of vertically oriented exterior tube 32. Filler material 86 provides additional structural rigidity for flow regulator 30.

(46) In another alternative environment of air flow regulator 30 etc., baffle 52 is one piece, preferably molded plastic, as illustrated in FIG. 11, where baffle 52 is designated 52B to distinguish it from the baffle construction illustrated in FIG. 12 and the baffle construction illustrated in the other drawing figures. In the baffle construction illustrated in FIG. 11, the one piece construction means that there is no need or space for any filler material.

(47) The assembly illustrated in FIG. 10 comprising the moveable internal tubular segment 42, first strut 48, second strut 50 and moveable sail 34 may preferably be constructed as a single piece or several pieces as required. The assembly of moveable internal segment 42, first and second struts, 48, 50 and moveable sail 34 is referred to as a sail assembly. It is not required that first and second struts 48, 50 be separate pieces; they may be fabricated as a single piece. Additionally, second strut 50, which has been illustrated as a machine screw in FIGS. 9 and 10, need not be a machine screw. Any suitable structure can be used for second strut 50 and it is particularly desirable to fabricate first and second struts 48 and 50 from a single piece of plastic or metal, by molding, by machining, by welding, or by otherwise fastening two pieces together. Similarly with the hex nut, which is unnumbered in FIG. 10 and illustrated there, any other suitable means for attachment of the second strut or a vertical portion of a strut assembly to moveable sail 34 may be used.

(48) Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, an air flow regulator in accordance with application Ser. No. 14/593,010, published on 20 Aug. 2015 as US 2015/0232289 A1 and issued 24 Jan. 2017 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,550,635, has been designated generally 30 and includes a vertically oriented exterior tube 32 and a moveable sail 34. These components are preferably the same as those described with respect to air flow regulator 30 above. Air flow regulator 30 further includes a pair of concentric telescoping tubular segments 40, a moveable internal tubular segment 42, a fixed internal tubular segment 44, a flow limiting horizontal plate 46, first and second struts 48, 50, a baffle 52, and an inlet end 54 and an outlet end 56, all preferably the same as the air flow regulator illustrated in the other drawing figures and as described above. Other parts that are shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, and that appear to be identical to corresponding parts shown in FIGS. 3 through 12, are identical and are not further delineated herein for the sake of some brevity.

(49) Air flow regulator 30 illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14 includes an emitter 114 and a detector 116, with emitter 114 emitting an electromagnetic beam 118 with the beam being detected by detector 116 when the beam impinges thereon. A housing 110 is provided for emitter 114. A housing 112 is provided for detector 116. Housings 110, 112, emitter 114, and detector 116 may be secured to the tubular potion of air flow regulator 30 by any suitable means. The detector detects when the electromagnetic beam has been intersected by the moveable potion of the air flow regulator, thereby providing an indication as to whether the air flow regulator has reached the second design value. It is within the scope of the invention to position emitter 114 and detector 116 differently so as to detect the position of moveable tubular segment 42 at various positions.

(50) Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, an air flow regulator in accordance with this invention has been designated generally 30 and includes a vertically oriented exterior tube 32 and a moveable sail 34, with these component being preferably the same as those described with respect to air flow regulators 30 and 30 above. Similarly to air flow regulator 30, air flow regulator 30 includes a pair of concentric telescopic tubular segments 40. Other parts that are shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, and that appear to be identical to corresponding parts shown in FIGS. 3 through 14, are identical and are not further delineated herein for the sake of some brevity.

(51) Air flow regulator 30 etc. preferably contains no springs. Air flow regulator 30 etc. preferably contains no sensors to provide operating feedback to a control device for regulation of air flow regulator 30 etc.; no feedback control sensors are needed since because air flow regulator 30 etc. is self-regulating, and once in place, an air flow regulator is not subject to outside intervention or control, other than actuation of solenoid 120 to extend piston 124 therefrom to adjust the operation of air flow regulator 30. Air flow regulator 30 etc. preferably includes a tubular valve, closing against a flat surface, where the tubular valve is defined by movable internal tubular segment 42 closing against flow limiting horizontal plate 46. Movable internal tubular segment 42 is in the form of an open-ended cylinder and is connected to a plate in the form of movable sail 34 to move movable tubular segment 42 against flow limiting horizontal plate 46. Air flow regulator 30 etc. uses gravity alone to open the valve defined by the assembly of movable internal tubular segment 42, movable sail 34, and the connecting structure therebetween.

(52) In the air flow regulator 30 etc. illustrated in FIGS. 3 through 16, the movable internal tubular segment 42 is preferably made with a very thin wall, preferably from metal tubing, where the wall is preferably less than 1/32 inch in thickness.

(53) The air flow regulator of the invention functions equally well with a vacuum pump drawing air through air flow regulator 30 etc. from bottom to top by application of vacuum to outlet end 56 as depicted generally in FIGS. 1 and 2, or by air being supplied under positive pressure at inlet end 54 for passage upwardly through air flow regulator 30 etc.

(54) Although schematic implementations of present invention and at least some of its advantages are described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made to the apparatus and methods disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as being illustrative and not restrictive with the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein. Moreover, the scope of this patent application is not intended to be limited to the particular implementations of apparatus and methods described in the specification, nor to any methods that may be described or inferentially understood by those skilled in the art to be present as described in this specification.

(55) As disclosed above and from the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that the principles and particularly the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used for applications other than those specifically mentioned. Further, as one of skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the invention as set forth hereinabove, apparatus, methods, and steps presently existing or later developed, which perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described and disclosed hereinabove, may be utilized according to the description of the invention and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such apparatus, methods, and processes that provide the same result or which are, as a matter of law, embraced by the doctrine of the equivalents respecting the claims of this application.

(56) As respecting the claims appended hereto, the term comprising means including but not limited to, whereas the term consisting of means having only and no more, and the term consisting essentially of means having only and no more except for minor additions which would be known to one of skill in the art as possibly needed for operation of the invention. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all changes which come within the range of equivalency of the claims are to be considered to be embraced within the scope of the claims. Additional objects, other advantages, and further novel features of the invention will become apparent from study of the appended claims as well as from study of the foregoing detailed discussion and description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as that study proceeds.