AU679963B2 - Flow restrictor - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

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*5 *t a Applicant(s): NEIL ALLEN Actual Inventor(s): Neil Allen 9S***S

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Address for Service: PATENT ATTORNEY SERVICES 26 Ellingworth Parade Box Hill Victoria 3128 Australia Title: FLOW RESTRICTOR Associated Provisional Applications: No(s).: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:-

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P350.AU Neil Allen FLOW RESTRICTOR r 0 0 TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to flow restrictors which may be used to restrict flow of water.

BACKGROUND

In many areas of the world water is becoming an increasingly valuable commodity. As a result, measures are being sought to reduce unnecessary water consumption, particularly in public buildings.

It has been proposed to place a flow restriction in tl.2 supply to taps in order to restrict the rate at which water leaves the tap. However, the presencc of any restriction in a supply pipe can lead to blockages which are time consuming and costly to rectify.

A flow restrictor has already been suggested which includes a housing and a rotatable restrictor body containing a plastics insert. The insert contains a reduced diameter bore which forms the restriction. By rotating the body out of alignment with the flow path the bore can be aligned with opposed P350.AU apertures in the housing through which debris can be poked out of the bore without removing the restrictor from the supply line.

An aim of the present invention may be viewed as being to provide means for restricting flow of water which is arranged such that any blockages which 5 might occur can easily and quickly be rectified, and which is more reliable in operation than earlier proposals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a flow restrictor comprising a housing defining a flow path for fluid, and a restrictor element which is sealably but o rotatably received in the housing, disposed in the flow path, the said restrictor element being integrally formed with a parallel-walled through bore which at opposite ends, opens directly into enlarged debris-collecting cylindrical recesses formed in the restrictor element, and in which the element is rotatable from outside the housing through substantially 1800 between two alternative operating positions in each of which the bore is substantially aligned with the flow path, whereby debris lodged in the upstream recess is carried round to the downstream side of the restriction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a flow restrictor of the I I 3 P350.AU invention, and Figure 2 is a transverse mid-section through the flow restrictor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The flow restrictor comprises a generally cylindrical housing 1 which defines a straight axial flow path 2. The flow path 2 is stepped outwardly at each end 3, 4 to receive an end portion of a water pipe, and the housing is externally screw-threaded at each end 5, 6 to receive a compression nut (not shown) for compressing a sealing olive onto the respective pipe.

The mid region of the housing 1 contains a spherical body 8 having a radial operating shaft 9 which projects through the wall of the housing to allow rotation of the body 8 about the axis of the shaft 9. Seals 10, 11 are inserted between the body 8 and the housing 1 at each side of the body 8 to surround the flow path 2, thus preventing water from bypassing the body 8.

The body 8 is integrally formed with a straight smooth walled parallel bore 14 which passes diametrically through the body 8 perpendicular to the axis of the shaft 9. Opposite ends of the bore 14 open directly into enlarged debris-receiving cylindrical recesses 15 and 16 respectively, also formed in the one-piece body 8.

The wall of the housing 1 also contains a pair of diametrically aligned openings 17, 18 (Fig. 2) which lie on an axis which is mutually perpendicular to the axes of the housing 1 and the shaft 9. These openings are normally

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4 P350.AU closed by screw-threaded plugs 19, 20 to prevent entry of dirt.

In use, the device is connected in the water supply pipe to a tap or other water-consuming appliance. The bore 14 is normally aligned with the axis :of the flow path 2 as shown in Fig. 1, and acts as a restriction to flow of 5 5 water. Any debris in the water supply will tend to lodge in the upstream S.:i recess 15 and may result in reduction in water flow or a complete cessation of flow. In the event of such a blockage, the body 8 can be rotated through 1800 by the shaft 9, carrying the debris in the recess 15, until the bore 14 is again aligned with the flow path 2. However, since the water pressure will 10 now be acting in the opposite direction through the insert 15 this will tend to clear the debris from the recess in a downstream direction. The other recess 16 is now positioned upstream to colect any further debris, whereupon the rotation process can be repeated if necessary.

15 The straight and smooth nature of the bore 14 ensures that any small debris "i which might enter the bore will in most cases pass straight through. In the unlikely event that the bore gets a blockage which cannot be cleared by rotating the body through 1800 the body can be rotated to align the bore 14 with the openings 17 and 18, and after removal of the plugs 19 and 20, a piece of wire or the like can be pushed through the bo! 14 to clear any obstruction.

It will be appreciated that the insert could be integrally formed in the body 8, and that thle body 8 could be cylindrical instead of spherical, with its axis aligned with the shaft 9.

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Claims (3)

1. 2. A flow restrictor according to Claim 1, in which the restrictor member is rotatable to a position in which the respective recesses are simultaneously in register with a pair of access holes in the housing.
2. 3. A flow restrictor according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the housing is provided with compression fittings for attachment of pipes at opposite ends of the flow path.
3. 4. A flow restrictor which is substantially as described with reference to the drawings. I P350.AU ABSTRACT S. Water flow restrictor S, A housing 1 for connection in a water flow path contains a spherical restrictor 9* element 8 that is rotatable from the exterior of the housing via a shaft 9. The element 8 contains a parallel-walled restriction 14 in the flow path for reducing water consumption, which opens into cylindrical debris-collecting recesses 15 and 16, at each end. In the event of a blockage in the restriction 16 the element 8 can be rotated through 1800 to reverse the flow through the restriction. Alternatively, the element 8 can be rdtated through 90 to bring the restriction into alignment with two holes 17, 18 in the housing so that the restriction can be cleared from the exterior of the housing. ii