Fluid flow regulator
View Patent ↗A fluid flow regulator ( 10 ) comprising: a valve chamber ( 12 ) having a fluid inlet ( 14 a ) and a fluid outlet ( 14 b ); and a valve member ( 16 ) inside the valve chamber ( 12 ), the valve member ( 16 ) moveable inside the valve chamber ( 12 ); wherein the valve member ( 16 ) is concave in the direction of the fluid inlet and convex in the direction of the fluid outlet.
1 . A fluid flow regulator comprising:
a valve chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and
a valve member inside the valve chamber, wherein the valve member is moveable inside the valve chamber relative to a valve seat defining a flow opening there between,
wherein at least in a resting position, a distance between a first edge of the valve member and the valve seat is different from a distance between a second edge opposite the first edge of the valve member and the valve seat, said opposite edges being defined as being on opposite sides of a line of substantial mirror symmetry of the respective valve seat.
2 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the valve member is concave.
3 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the valve seat comprises at least one protrusion arranged to limit the movement of the valve member towards the valve seat.
4 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein a lowermost surface of the valve member has an asymmetrical height distribution relative to the valve seat.
5 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the valve member comprises a tab for locating the valve member inside the chamber, the tab being locatable with a portion of the valve chamber.
6 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 5 , wherein seen in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a line between an outermost surface of the tab and an opposing outmost edge of the valve member, at least in the resting position, a lowermost surface of the valve member has an asymmetrical shape relative to the valve seat.
7 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein seen in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a line between an outermost surface of the tab and an opposing outmost edge of the valve member, at least in the resting position, a distance between the first edge portion of the valve member and the valve seat is different from a distance between the second edge portion opposite the first edge portion of the valve member and the valve seat.
8 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein a height difference between the lowermost surface of the valve member at the first edge and the second edge opposite the first edge is 0.005 to 0.1 mm.
9 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein the valve member is deformable, such that in use the shape of the valve member is changeable.
10 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 1 , wherein a first edge of the valve member is located out of a plane of a second edge opposite the first edge of the valve member, wherein the plane is disposed at a distance from the valve seat.
11 . A fluid flow regulator comprising:
a valve chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and
a valve member inside the valve chamber,
wherein the valve member is moveable inside the valve chamber relative to a valve seat defining a flow opening there between,
wherein the valve member is concave towards the fluid inlet,
wherein the valve seat comprises at least one protrusion arranged to limit the movement of the valve member towards the valve seat and prevent full closure of the flow opening, and
wherein the valve member is comprised of steel.
12 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve member is substantially circular.
13 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 12 , wherein a radius of the valve member is from 3.5 to 10 mm.
14 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve seat has a width of from 1.75 to 2.25 mm.
15 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve member is deformable, such that in use the shape of the valve member is changeable.
16 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve member is concave such that the perpendicular distance from a line parallel with a lowermost surface of the convex side of the valve member and an uppermost edge of the concave side of the valve member is from 0.005 to 0.1 mm, more than an average thickness of the valve member.
17 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 16 , wherein the valve member comprises a tab for locating the valve member inside the chamber, the tab being locatable with a portion of the valve chamber and the lowermost surface of the valve member is at a mid-point between an outermost surface of the tab and an opposing outmost edge of the valve member.
18 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve member is convex in a direction of the fluid outlet.
19 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve member is shaped concave prior to arranging said valve member in said valve chamber, such that said valve member is not flat.
20 . The fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein the valve member is movable under the influence of pressure of the fluid inside the valve chamber to and from the valve seat, defining the flow opening there between, and arranged to adjust the size of the flow opening in dependence of the pressure of the fluid and/or flow rate.
21 . A fluid flow regulator according to claim 11 , wherein, upon increasing fluid pressure, the valve member will move towards the valve seat to decrease the flow opening.
22 . A fluid flow regulator comprising:
a valve chamber having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; and
a valve member inside the valve chamber,
wherein the valve member is moveable inside the valve chamber relative to a valve seat defining a flow opening there between,
wherein the valve member is concave towards the fluid inlet,
wherein the valve seat comprises at least one protrusion arranged to limit the movement of the valve member towards the valve seat and prevent full closure of the flow opening;
wherein the valve member comprises a tab for locating the valve member inside the chamber, the tab being locatable with a portion of the valve chamber, and
wherein the lowermost surface of the valve member is at a mid-point between an outermost surface of the tab and an opposing outmost edge of the valve member.