Flow regulators with flexible diaphragms

摘要

A flow regulator (10) for regulating a rate of flow of a liquid from an inlet flow path to an outlet flow path. The flow regulator includes a housing (14) with one wall or more which defines, at least in part, a regulation chamber (16) with all annular surface (18) and an outlet aperture (20) in fluid communication with the outlet flow path. The flow regulator also includes a flexible diaphragm (22) deployed at least partially within the regulation chamber (16), the diaphragm (22) having a first surface (24) part of which faces towards the annular surface (18) and a second surface (26) part of which face towards the outlet aperture (20), the diaphragm (22) assuming an initial unflexed position in which part of the first surface (24) lies adjacent to the annular surface (18), the diaphragm (22) is displaceable under pressure applied from the inlet flow path to a flexed position in which the first surface (24) is at least partially removed from the annular surface (18) and a contact portion of the second surface (26) obstructs the outlet aperture (20).