Adjustable Flow Restrictor With Helical Pathway for Precise Flow Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current flow restriction devices, such as Brix screws, provide coarse adjustments and are inadequate in delivering precise flow rate settings, particularly in maintaining desired diluent to concentrate or flavor additive ratios under variable inlet pressures in post-mix beverage dispensers.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable flow restrictor comprising a nut and an adjustment screw with truncated internal threads and external threads, which form a helical pathway that can be adjusted to vary the length, allowing for precise regulation of volumetric flow rates by altering the duration of liquid contact and frictional energy losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a Brix screw with a side port is used for flow restriction, then the device structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the adjustment precision is coarse and cannot provide precise flow rate settings
Solution Approach 1:
The flow restrictor is segmented into multiple functional components: a body with inlet/outlet ports, an adjustable plug with external threads, a nut with truncated internal threads, and a side port. This segmentation allows the adjustment mechanism to be independently optimized for precision while keeping the overall device manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the flow pathway by using truncated internal threads in the nut that engage with external threads on the plug. By adjusting the plug's position within the nut, the effective flow pathway cross-sectional area is precisely controlled, enabling fine flow rate adjustments rather than coarse changes.
2Productivity
If the pathway length is decreased to increase volumetric flow rate, then the flow rate increases, but the frictional energy losses decrease which may affect flow stability
Solution Approach 1:
The flow pathway length is made dynamically adjustable through the threaded plug and nut mechanism. The plug can be rotated to change its position within the nut, thereby dynamically adjusting the pathway length and cross-sectional area to optimize the balance between flow rate and frictional losses based on operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention allows continuous change of the flow pathway geometric parameters (length and cross-sectional area) by adjusting the plug position. This enables optimization of the pathway dimensions to achieve desired flow rates while maintaining acceptable frictional energy losses, rather than being fixed at a single suboptimal configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise and repeatable flow rate settings, ensuring accurate delivery of liquids in medical and beverage applications by allowing fine adjustments to maintain desired ratios despite varying inlet pressures.
Implementation Method 1
adjusting the length of the pathway regulates the liquid traversing the pathway with respect to volumetric flow rate... adjusting the adjustment screw relative to the nut to increase the length of the pathway results in a decrease in the volumetric flow rate of the liquid delivered from the outlet
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable flow restrictor includes a nut, an adjustment screw, and a sleeve. The adjustment screw installs into the nut whereby the adjustment screw and the nut define a pathway therebetween. Adjustment of the adjustment screw relative to the nut varies the pathway with respect to a length thereof. The sleeve fits over the adjustment screw and mates with the nut in order to define a chamber with an outlet. The pathway receives therein a liquid conveyed to the nut and communicates the liquid to the chamber for exit therefrom via the outlet. Adjusting the length of the pathway sets the volumetric flow rate of the liquid traversing the pathway such that the liquid exiting the outlet flows therefrom at a desired volumetric flow rate.