Flow control valves
First Claim
1. A flow control valve for providing a substantially constant flow of fluid through the valve, comprising:
- a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity intersecting the flow passageway;
a hollow piston movably disposed in the cavity adjacent to the flow passageway;
a seal positioned in the cavity proximate to the piston and sealably separating the cavity into first and second chambers, the seal having at least a section exposed to the fluid in the first chamber, the section of the seal defining a first effective inner area within the hollow piston;
a biasing member configured to urge the hollow piston;
a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the second chamber; and
a member positioned at least proximate to the piston and the flow passageway, the member having an orifice with a second inner effective area at least approximately equal to the first effective inner area defined by the section of the seal, the piston being movable relative to the member to vary a portion of the flow passageway.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a flow control valve includes a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity with first and second chambers. The valve further includes a hollow piston disposed in the first chamber and a seal separating the first and second chambers. The seal has a section within the piston that is exposed to the fluid in the first chamber. The section of the seal defines a first effective area. The valve also includes a biasing member configured to urge the piston, and a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the second chamber. The valve can further include a piston seat that has a second inner effective area at least approximately equal to the first inner effective area.
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Citations
56 Claims
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1. A flow control valve for providing a substantially constant flow of fluid through the valve, comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity intersecting the flow passageway;
a hollow piston movably disposed in the cavity adjacent to the flow passageway;
a seal positioned in the cavity proximate to the piston and sealably separating the cavity into first and second chambers, the seal having at least a section exposed to the fluid in the first chamber, the section of the seal defining a first effective inner area within the hollow piston;
a biasing member configured to urge the hollow piston;
a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the second chamber; and
a member positioned at least proximate to the piston and the flow passageway, the member having an orifice with a second inner effective area at least approximately equal to the first effective inner area defined by the section of the seal, the piston being movable relative to the member to vary a portion of the flow passageway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A flow control valve for providing a substantially constant flow of fluid through the valve, comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity intersecting the flow passageway;
a hollow piston movably disposed within the cavity;
a seal separating the cavity into first and second chambers, the second chamber having a generally annular configuration with an effective inner diameter;
a biasing member configured to urge the hollow piston toward the second chamber;
a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the second chamber; and
a piston seat positioned at least proximate to the piston and the flow passageway, the piston seat having an effective inner diameter at least approximately equal to the effective inner diameter of the second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A flow control valve, comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity intersecting the flow passageway, the cavity having a first chamber and a second chamber;
a hollow piston disposed within the first chamber;
a diaphragm seal configured to engage the piston, the diaphragm seal having a first convolution radially outside the piston and a second convolution radially inside the piston, the second convolution having a midpoint circumscribing a first effective inner area, the diaphragm seal separating the first and second chambers;
a biasing member configured to urge the hollow piston toward the second chamber;
a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the second chamber; and
a piston seat positioned at least proximate to the piston, the piston seat surrounding a second effective inner area at least approximately equal to the first effective inner area. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A flow control valve for providing a substantially constant flow of fluid through the valve, comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity intersecting the flow passageway;
a hollow piston;
a diaphragm seal having a perimeter portion, a central portion, and an annular portion between the perimeter and central portions, the annular portion having an effective inner diameter, the diaphragm seal separating the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber, the hollow piston being disposed in the first chamber at least proximate to the annular portion;
a biasing member configured to urge the hollow piston toward the second chamber;
a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and the second chamber; and
a piston seat configured to selectively engage the hollow piston, the piston seat having an effective inner diameter at least approximately equal to the effective inner diameter of the annular portion of the diaphragm seal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A valve, comprising:
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a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, a flow passageway coupling the inlet to the outlet, and a cavity intersecting the flow passageway, the cavity having a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber having a generally hollow configuration;
a piston assembly including a hollow piston body, a support member coupled to the hollow piston body, and a poppet coupled to the support member, the hollow piston body being disposed in the second chamber, the support member and the poppet being disposed in the first chamber;
a seal having a hollow section separating the first and second chambers, the hollow section having a first effective inner area;
a biasing member configured to urge the hollow piston body toward the first chamber;
a reference pressure passageway in fluid communication with the outlet and the second chamber; and
a piston seat positioned to selectively engage the poppet, the piston seat enclosing a second effective inner area at least approximately equal to the first effective inner area. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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Specification