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 section; the diaphragm section at least partially encasing a diaphragm and comprising a first end, a second end, and an opposing wall; the first end configured to connect to the first channel, the second end configured to connect to the second channel; the opposing wall being continuous with the first channel and the second channel; the opposing wall, the first end, and the second end forming a throughspace, the throughspace providing for fluid communication between the first channel, the diaphragm section, and the second channel; and the diaphragm being disposed between the first end and the second end, configured to fill the throughspace when in a closed position and vacate the throughspace when in an open position, and comprising a central portion and a perimetral portion, the perimetral portion being fixed to the diaphragm section.

2. The flow control device of claim 1, the diaphragm section being an on/off damper.

3. The flow control device of claim 1, the central portion being substantially concave.

4. The flow control device of claim 1, the central portion being substantially pyramidal.

5. The flow control device of claim 1, the second end comprising a frame, the diaphragm configured to seal the frame in the closed condition by pressing against the frame and permit fluid flow through the frame in the open condition.

6. The flow control device of claim 1, the first channel comprising a first set of one or more side walls and the second channel comprising a second set of one or more side walls.

7. The flow control device of claim 1, the first channel having a first central axis, the second channel having a second central axis.

8. The flow control device of claim 7, the first axis and the second axis being substantially perpendicular.

9. (canceled)

10. A flow control device, comprising a first channel, a second channel, and a diaphragm section; the diaphragm section at least partially encasing a diaphragm and comprising a first end, a second end, and an opposing wall; the diaphragm having a first side and a second side, the first side facing or exposed to the opposing wall; the first end featuring a first adapter configured to connect to the first channel, the second featuring a second adapter configured to connect to the second channel; the opposing wall being continuous with the first channel and the second channel; the opposing wall, the first end, and the second end forming a throughspace, the throughspace providing for fluid communication between the first channel, the diaphragm section, and the second channel; the first channel having a first central axis and a first cross section, the second channel having a second central axis and a second cross section, the first axis being orthogonal to the first cross section, the second axis being orthogonal to the second cross section, and the first axis being substantially perpendicular to the second axis; and the diaphragm being disposed between the first end and the second end, configured to fill the throughspace when in a closed position and vacate the throughspace when in an open position, and comprising a central portion and a perimetral portion, the perimetral portion being fixed to the diaphragm section.

11. The flow control device of claim 10, the diaphragm section being an on/off damper.

12. The flow control device of claim 10, the central portion being disposed and oriented between thirty and sixty degrees toward the first cross section and between thirty and sixty degrees toward the second cross section.

13. The flow control device of claim 10, the central portion configured to elastically form a bulge during the closed position, the bulge configured to impede fluid communication between the first channel and the second channel by extending toward and pressing the opposing wall.

14. The fluid control device of claim 10, the second side of the diaphragm being exposed to atmospheric pressure, the first side of the diaphragm being exposed to a primary fluid flow force and a secondary fluid flow force; the primary fluid flow force directed from the first channel toward the diaphragm and tending the diaphragm to be moved away from the first channel; the secondary fluid flow force being a negative force directed from the diaphragm to the second channel and tending the diaphragm to be suctioned toward the second channel; and the diaphragm being in an open condition when mp.sup.n>(V.sup.a)(xA.sup.b+yG.sup.c+zN.sup.d).sup.e, where P is the primary fluid flow force, G is the force of gravity exerted on a portion of the diaphragm, A is the atmospheric pressure, N is the secondary fluid flow force, and a, b, c, d, e, m, n, v, x, y, and z are theoretical or empirically derived constants or variables.

15-20. (canceled)

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 pyrimdal, 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.