Flow control devices and related systems
First Claim
1. A flow control device, comprising:
- a body having an inner surface, an outer surface opposed to the inner surface, a first elliptical opening, a second elliptical opening spaced from the first elliptical opening along a first linear axis, the inner surface defining a passage that extends from the first elliptical opening to the second elliptical opening along the first linear axis, the passage defining an elliptical shape, the outer surface of the body further defining an inlet port disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening, and an elliptical shaped constriction in the passage disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening; and
a nozzle disposed in the inlet port so as to extend into the passage along a second linear axis that is angularly offset with respect to the first linear axis, the nozzle defining an exit port disposed in the passage the exit port being substantially perpendicular to the first linear axis, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a flow of fluid from the inlet port through the exit port toward the second elliptical opening of the body along the first linear axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow control device includes a body having an inner and an outer surface that oppose each other. The body may have a first opening and a second opening spaced from the first opening along a first axis. The inner surface may define a passage that extends from the first opening to the second opening along the first axis. The body may also include an inlet port between the first opening and the second opening, and a constriction in the passage between the first opening and the second opening. The flow control device may also comprise a nozzle disposed at least partially in the inlet port and extend at least partially across the passage along a second axis that is angularly offset with respect to the first axis. The nozzle may define an exit port in the passage.
75 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A flow control device, comprising:
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a body having an inner surface, an outer surface opposed to the inner surface, a first elliptical opening, a second elliptical opening spaced from the first elliptical opening along a first linear axis, the inner surface defining a passage that extends from the first elliptical opening to the second elliptical opening along the first linear axis, the passage defining an elliptical shape, the outer surface of the body further defining an inlet port disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening, and an elliptical shaped constriction in the passage disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening; and a nozzle disposed in the inlet port so as to extend into the passage along a second linear axis that is angularly offset with respect to the first linear axis, the nozzle defining an exit port disposed in the passage the exit port being substantially perpendicular to the first linear axis, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a flow of fluid from the inlet port through the exit port toward the second elliptical opening of the body along the first linear axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of control flow of a fluid, comprising:
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positioning a flow control device within a fluid, the flow control device having a first elliptical opening, a second elliptical opening spaced from the first elliptical opening along a first linear axis, a passage that extends from the first elliptical opening to the second elliptical opening along the first linear axis, an inlet port disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening, and an elliptical shaped constriction in the passage disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening, wherein the passage defines an elliptical shape; and causing another source of the fluid to pass through a nozzle into the passage and out of an exit port of the nozzle so as to pull an amount of the fluid external to the flow control device through the passage such that the fluid external to the flow control device and the fluid from the another source first intermix and exit the flow control device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A flow control device, comprising:
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a body having an inner surface, an outer surface opposed to the inner surface, a first elliptical opening, a second elliptical opening spaced from the first elliptical opening along a first axis, the inner surface defining a passage that extends from the first elliptical opening to the second elliptical opening along the first axis, the passage defining an elliptical shape, the body further including an inlet port disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening, and an elliptical shaped constriction in the passage disposed between the first elliptical opening and the second elliptical opening, wherein the inner surface includes a convergent portion and a divergent portion, and the divergent portion of the inner surface tapers away from the first axis in a direction that extends from the constriction toward the second opening; and a nozzle disposed in the inlet port so as to extend into the passage along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis, the nozzle defining an exit port disposed in the passage, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a flow of fluid from the inlet port through the exit port toward the second elliptical opening of the body along the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification