Tortuous path control valve trim
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of manufacturing a unitary trim cage, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming at least one layer of material to define a body base with an inner opening surface and an outer surface;
adding successive layers of material to the body base along a lay down direction and in such a manner to maintain the inner opening surface and define at least one tortuous flow channel extending between the inner opening surface and the outer surface, the tortuous flow channel including a plurality of sections, each section of the flow channel offset relative to adjacent sections along the lay down direction and the surfaces defining the flow channel are accomplished without internal support, and at least a portion of each section extends at an acute angle relative to the direction of additive lay down; and
adding at least one layer of material to define a body cap in such a manner to maintain the inner opening surface and the outer surface,wherein the flow path has a chevron cross-sectional shape and a first part that extends radially from the inner opening, a second part that extends transverse to the first part and terminates at a location lower than the first part, and a third part that extends radially from the location of the second part to the outer opening.
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Abstract
A valve component and method for controlling fluid flow comprises a body having a first surface and a second surface. At least one tortuous flow channel extends between the first surface and the second surface. The flow channel is at least partially defined by a floor portion and a ceiling portion. The body is formed as one-piece by additive manufacturing to concurrently define the flow channel as a void space. At least one of the floor portion and ceiling portion is disposed at an acute angle relative to a plane containing a layer of material forming the body.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a unitary trim cage, the method comprising the steps of:
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forming at least one layer of material to define a body base with an inner opening surface and an outer surface; adding successive layers of material to the body base along a lay down direction and in such a manner to maintain the inner opening surface and define at least one tortuous flow channel extending between the inner opening surface and the outer surface, the tortuous flow channel including a plurality of sections, each section of the flow channel offset relative to adjacent sections along the lay down direction and the surfaces defining the flow channel are accomplished without internal support, and at least a portion of each section extends at an acute angle relative to the direction of additive lay down; and adding at least one layer of material to define a body cap in such a manner to maintain the inner opening surface and the outer surface, wherein the flow path has a chevron cross-sectional shape and a first part that extends radially from the inner opening, a second part that extends transverse to the first part and terminates at a location lower than the first part, and a third part that extends radially from the location of the second part to the outer opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method, comprising:
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forming a cylindrical tube of unitary structure with a center axis and a wall circumscribing the center axis, the wall forming an inner surface and an outer surface; and populating the cylindrical tube with apertures forming a flow path in the wall, the apertures extending radially outwardly from an inner opening to an outer opening found on the inner surface and the outer surface, respectively, wherein the flow path has a chevron cross-sectional shape and a first part that extends radially from the inner opening, a second part that extends transverse to the first part and terminates at a location lower than the first part, and a third part that extends radially from the location of the second part to the outer opening. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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using additive manufacturing to form a valve component, the valve component having a thin, annular wall circumscribing a center axis, the thin, annular wall comprising an interior labyrinth structure with apertures extending radially from the center axis, the apertures forming a flow path having a cross-section comprising planar surfaces numbering at least 4 but not more than 6, at least two of the planar surfaces mating to form an acute angle, wherein the flow path has a chevron cross-sectional shape and a first part that extends radially from the inner opening, a second part that extends transverse to the first part and terminates at a location lower than the first part, and a third part that extends radially from the location of the second part to the outer opening. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification