A vacuum regulator control for maintaining a predetermined partial vacuum in a milking circuit has an L-shaped linkage lever that is fulcrumed adjacent the juncture of the upright leg and the horizontal leg of the lever. A ball valve is suspended from a pivot point near the upper end of the upright leg so that the valve can seat when the lever pivots on the fulcrum, and prevent ambient pressure from entering the circuit. When the vacuum drops below the desired amount, the valve is drawn downwardly to unseat, allowing ambient air to enter the circuit. A weight is slidably mounted on the horizontal leg to adjust the force which must be exceeded before the valve unseats. Sliding the weight along the horizontal leg with respect to the fulcrum point, varies the force needed to unseat the valve and, consequently, the degree of partial vacuum being maintained in the circuit. By using a fulcrumed lever, the amount of force needed to seat and unseat the valve is favorable to closely regulate and maintain the desired degree of vacuum in the circuit.
The container (12) has an inflation opening (46) which is closed by a valve (56) with seals (66) compressed by spring (90) pressure during the packing process. Air is removed from the container (12) for deflation by a vacuum pump (20) and excessive vacuum necessary for deflating the container (12) in a reasonable time but which is too high for the packing process and may damage the valve (56) or seals (66) is limited by a vacuum control unit (20) adjusted to maintain the vacuum below a predetermined vacuum and then admit atmospheric air over that level. The vacuum control unit (20) may have a screw adjustment (34) engageable with a spring (36) for increasing or decreasing pressure on an inlet valve member (32).
A pressure regulator including high and low pressure chambers separated by a divider having an opening, a closing member biassed to a closing position for closing the opening with a biassing force according to a desired pressure differential between the chambers, and a damping device for damping the resulting force on the closing member. There is also disclosed a fluid drainage system having a suction chamber with a suction regulator, and various arrangements of diaphragms for measuring pressure differentials. An anti-spill device for the draining system is disclosed as well.
A combined vacuum relief and pressure containing valve assembly for relieving vacuum developing within an associated vessel and for containing elevated pressures developing within the vessel. The valve assembly has a housing having two communicating passageways demarcated by a valve seat. The first passageway communicates to the open atmosphere and also with the valve from below the valve seat. The valve is a ball constrained to move only vertically above its seat. The second passageway communicates with the valve from above the valve seat. The second passageway extends below the valve so that when the valve assembly is connected to the associated vessel, pressures prevailing within the vessel act on the valve from above. Therefore, vacuum prevailing within the vessel, acting in concert with relatively higher ambient temperatures, will draw the valve into the open position. At zero pressure differential, gravity urges the valve into the closed position and maintains a seal. High pressures within the vessel further urge the valve into the closed position. The valve seat and the valve abut along a circular line of contact when the valve is in the closed position.
A fluid drainage system includes a suction chamber and a collection chamber. The suction chamber includes a suction regulator comprised of first and second chambers separated by a divider. An opening in the divider has a biased closing member associated therewith for opening or closing the opening according to the pressure differential between the chambers. A dash pot is connected to the closing member for damping the force on the closing member. The drainage system further includes devices for measuring the patient airflow, patient negativity and imposed suction. Those devices consist of diaphragms having dials connected thereto such that movement of the diaphragm results in movement of the dial and thereby indicating a change in one of the above noted variables. As an alternative, the drainage system includes a venturi meter for measuring airflow. Finally, the system contains an anti-spill device that prevents the spilling of fluids from the collection chamber to other chambers in the device.
A pressure regulator including high and low pressure chambers separated by a divider having an opening, a closing member biassed to a closing position for closing the opening with a biassing force according to a desired pressure differential between the chambers, and a damping device for damping the resulting force on the closing member. There is also disclosed a fluid drainage system having a suction chamber with a suction regulator, and various arrangements of diaphragms for measuring pressure differentials. An anti-spill device for the draining system is disclosed as well.
