FLUID STREAM PULSE DAMPER

• US 20020069922A1
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Published: 06/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Johnson, Joel S., Knox, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,390,132 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 138/43
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/02718 placed transversely
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/0332 by inserting a body of compressible material in the pipe

Abstract

A fluid stream pulse damper having a fluid conduit defining a fluid path and a fluid flow direction. The conduit has an inlet end and an outlet end. A damper body in the conduit intersects the fluid path. An energy absorber attached to the damper body operates in resistance to fluid flowing in the conduit.

Claims

1. A fluid stream pulse damper, comprising;

a fluid conduit defining a fluid path and a fluid flow direction in said fluid path, said conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end for all fluid flowing along said fluid path;

a damper body disposed in said conduit, said damper body intersecting said fluid path; and

an energy absorber attached to said damper body, and operating in resistance to fluid flowing in said fluid flow direction.

2. The damper of claim 1, said damper body being a perforated plate extending across said conduit.

3. The damper of claim 2, said perforated plate disposed substantially transverse to said fluid flow direction.

4. The damper of claim 1, said conduit including an expansion chamber and an inlet and an outlet for said expansion chamber, said damper body disposed in said expansion chamber opposite said expansion chamber inlet.

5. The damper of claim 4, said expansion chamber outlet being opposite said damper body in said expansion chamber.

6. The damper of claim 4, said damper body being a solid plate.

7. The damper of claim 6, said expansion chamber outlet being opposite said damper body in said expansion chamber.

8. The damper of claim 7, including a partition in said chamber between said expansion chamber inlet and said expansion chamber outlet.

9. The damper of claim 1, said damper body extending only partially across said fluid flow path.

10. A method for damping pulse energy of a fluid stream, comprising;

providing a fluid flow path and a body in said path;

providing an energy absorber for said body;

conducting a fluid along said fluid flow path;

intercepting with said body at least a portion of the fluid flowing along said path;

translating pulse energy in said fluid to mechanical energy in said body; and

conducting away from said body all of the fluid conducted toward said body.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of intercepting comprises intercepting only a portion of the fluid flowing along said path.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of intercepting comprises intercepting substantially all of the fluid flowing along said path.

13. The method of claim 12, including providing a plurality of openings in said plate, and directing substantially all of the fluid flowing along said path to flow through said plurality of openings.

14. The method of claim 10, including providing a plurality of openings in said plate, and directing substantially all of the fluid flowing along said path to flow through said plurality of openings.

15. The method of claim 10, including providing an expansion chamber in said fluid flow path and an inlet and an outlet for said expansion chamber, mounting said body in said expansion chamber, and directing substantially all of the fluid in said fluid flow path against said body.

17. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said source being an internal combustion engine.

18. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said destination being an internal combustion engine.

19. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said damper body being a perforated plate extending across said conduit.

20. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 19, said perforated plate disposed substantially transverse to said fluid flow direction.

21. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said conduit including an expansion chamber and an inlet and an outlet for said expansion chamber, said damper body disposed in said expansion chamber opposite said expansion chamber inlet.

22. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 21, said expansion chamber outlet being opposite said damper body in said expansion chamber.

23. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 21, said damper body being a solid plate.

24. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 23, said expansion chamber outlet being opposite said damper body in said expansion chamber.

25. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 24, including a partition in said chamber between said expansion chamber inlet and said expansion chamber outlet.

26. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said damper body extending only partially across said fluid flow path.

16. A gaseous fluid circuit, comprising;

a source of gaseous fluid;

a gaseous fluid destination;

a fluid conduit defining a fluid path from said source to said destination, and having a fluid flow direction in said fluid path, said conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end for all fluid flowing along said fluid path;

a damper body disposed in said conduit, said damper body intersecting said fluid path; and

an energy absorber attached to said damper body, and operating in resistance to fluid flowing in said fluid flow direction.