US 11,807,512 B2
Proportional valve
Francesco Butera, Arese (IT); Luca Montella, Milan (IT); and Diego Andreis, Milan (IT)
Assigned to DOLPHIN FLUIDICS S.R.L., Corsico (IT)
Filed by DOLPHIN FLUIDICS S.R.L., Corsico (IT)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/163,859.
Claims priority of application No. 102020000002908 (IT), filed on Feb. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0253414 A1, Aug. 19, 2021
Int. Cl. F16K 1/20 (2006.01); B67D 1/12 (2006.01); F16K 31/02 (2006.01)
CPC B67D 1/1204 (2013.01) [B67D 1/1277 (2013.01); F16K 1/2007 (2013.01); F16K 1/2021 (2013.01); F16K 31/025 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A proportional valve for a fluid dispensing device, comprising a main body in which an inlet conduit for an inlet fluid entering said proportional valve and an outlet conduit for a fluid leaving said proportional valve are defined, said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit being in fluid communication with each other,
said proportional valve comprising at least one two or more shutter element elements arranged between said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit adapted to intercept said fluid, said outlet conduit comprising two or more outlet holes,
said two or more shutter element elements each comprising a movable fluid sealing element adapted to intercept said fluid at one of said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit in correspondence with said two or more outlet holes respectively, and said two or more shutter elements each comprising a lever element associated at a first end with said movable fluid sealing element and at a second end with an actuator device, said lever element being hinged about said main body at a fulcrum point arranged between said first end and said second end of said lever element,
said actuator device being configured for moving said lever element of said shutter element around said fulcrum point so as to move said movable fluid sealing element between an opening position in which the fluid communication between said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit is allowed and a closing position in which the fluid communication between said inlet conduit and said outlet conduit is prevented, each of said two or more shutter elements being movable selectively to vary the degree of opening of each movable fluid sealing element with respect to the respective outlet hole,
wherein said actuator device comprises an actuator element made of a shape memory material which can be operated progressively to move said lever element of said shutter element around said fulcrum point so as to proportionally vary the degree of opening of said movable fluid sealing element between said opening position and said closing position, and vice versa, the variation of said degree of opening of said movable fluid sealing element allowing the regulation of the flow rate of said fluid exiting from said outlet conduit.