Fluid Flow Regulator with Converging Sidewalls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid flow regulators for irrigation systems face challenges in maintaining consistent flow rates due to non-linear diaphragm distortion with increasing pressure, leading to complex relationships between channel depth, width, and diaphragm characteristics, which makes them prone to clogging and sensitive to variations in inlet pressure and diaphragm properties, and requires tedious and costly modifications to adjust flow rates.
Innovation Solution
The regulator features an open-faced flow control channel with a uniform depth and converging sidewalls, resulting in a decreasing cross-section with distance, which compensates for the non-linear distortion and maintains proportional resistance to inlet pressure, allowing for easier modification of injection molds to adjust flow rates without compromising regulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the channel has a uniform cross-section, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the regulator must be made relatively large to achieve linear flow resistance increase with inlet pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The channel cross-section is varied along its length, with the width decreasing from the inlet end to the outlet end. This local variation in geometric quality allows the channel to compensate for the non-linear distortion of the diaphragm, achieving substantially linear flow resistance increase with inlet pressure while maintaining a compact regulator size.
2Volume of moving object
If the channel cross-section decreases with distance from the inlet, then the regulator size is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The channel width is systematically varied along its length according to a defined geometric progression or linear decrease pattern. This parameter change in the channel geometry compensates for the non-linear diaphragm distortion characteristics, enabling compact regulator design while maintaining manufacturability through controlled precision in the width variation.
3Volume of moving object
If the channel is wider and shallower at regions closer to the support shelf, then the regulator can be made smaller, but the channel becomes prone to clogging with dirt and particulate debris
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the channel wider and shallower near the support shelf (which would reduce size but increase clogging risk), the invention inverts this approach by making the channel narrower and deeper near the outlet end. This inversion maintains adequate flow capacity and reduces clogging while achieving compact regulator dimensions through the overall tapered geometry.
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
This configuration ensures a regulated fluid flow that is independent of inlet pressure and allows for straightforward adjustment of flow rates by modifying channel depth or convergence angle, reducing clogging risks and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Implementation Method 1
The diaphragm is responsive to pressure of the entering water, and as pressure of the inlet water increases, the diaphragm undergoes increasing distortion.
Data Source
AI summary
A fluid flow regulator (20) comprising: a fluid inlet port (34) and a fluid outlet port (54); at least one open-faced flow control channel (60) defined by a planar bottom (62) and two sidewalls (64) that communicates with the outlet port (54) at a junction (66) and has a cross-section that decreases with distance from the junction; an elastic diaphragm (40); a support shelf (58) on which the diaphragm (40) seats and which supports the diaphragm (40) along a planar contour parallel to the bottom of each of the at least one channel (60); wherein to regulate fluid flow, with increasing inlet fluid pressure the diaphragm (40) covers portions of the open face that are farther from the junction (66) in a region where the cross-section decreases with distance from the junction (66).