Fluid flow regulation

• US 20050034770A1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: Stares, James Albert, Bogumil, Jamie Todd
• Granted Patent: US 7,104,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/625.300
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/246 Combination of a sliding valve and a lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/04 for decreasing pressure or noise level, the throttle being incorporated in the closure member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86734 With metering feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86759 Reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86791 Piston

Abstract

Fluid flow regulation may be achieved by a system including a housing, a first flow throttling area, and a second flow throttling area. The housing includes a flow inlet port, a flow outlet port, and a passage between the ports. The first flow throttling area is in the passage, and the second flow throttling area is movably positionable proximate the first flow throttling area to facilitate fluid flow regulation, the second flow throttling area restricting flow more than the first flow throttling area. The second flow throttling area primarily regulates flow when flow is low, and the first flow throttling area primarily regulates flow when flow is high.

Claims

1. A system for fluid flow regulation, the system comprising:

a first flow throttling device comprising a first flow throttling area; and

a second flow throttling device operable to move within the first flow throttling device to facilitate flow regulation, the second flow throttling device comprising a second flow throttling area that restricts flow more than the first flow throttling area, the second flow throttling area primarily regulating flow when the second flow throttling device is beginning to allow flow, and the first flow throttling area primarily regulating flow when the second flow throttling device is close to allowing full flow.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second flow throttling area comprises tortuous passages.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing having a flow inlet port and a flow outlet port.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the center-line of the flow outlet port is proximate the first flow throttling area.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the center-line of the flow inlet port is proximate the first flow throttling area.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the center-line of the flow inlet port and the center-line of the flow outlet port are proximate the first flow throttling area.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first flow throttling device comprises a cylindrical cage, the second flow throttling device comprises a cylindrical plug, and the second flow throttling area is proximate the first flow throttling area.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plug comprises a body, a peripheral wall extending from the body, and a plurality passages in the wall, the passages forming the second flow throttling area.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the second flow throttling area is not proximate the first flow throttling area when the second flow throttling device is close to allowing full flow.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least part of the second flow throttling area is proximate the first flow throttling area when the second flow throttling device is beginning to allow flow.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first flow throttling area comprises a series of windows.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the windows taper toward the full flow position of the second flow throttling device.

13. A system for fluid flow regulation, the system comprising:

a housing comprising a flow inlet port, a flow outlet port, and a passage between the ports;

a first flow throttling area in the passage; and

a second flow throttling area movably positionable proximate the first flow throttling area to facilitate flow regulation, the second flow throttling area restricting flow more than the first flow throttling area, the second flow throttling area primarily regulating flow when flow is low, and the first flow throttling area primarily regulating flow when flow is high.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein at least part of the second flow throttling area is not proximate the first flow throttling area when flow is high.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein at least part of the second flow throttling area is proximate the first flow throttling area when flow is low.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the center-line of the flow outlet port is proximate the first flow throttling area.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the center-line of the flow inlet port is proximate the first flow throttling area.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the center-line of the flow inlet port and the center-line of the flow outlet port are proximate the first flow throttling area.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first flow throttling area comprises a series of windows.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the windows taper.

21. A method for fluid flow regulation, the method comprising:

regulating flow primarily with a flow throttling area of a first flow throttling device when flow is low; and

regulating flow primarily with a flow throttling area of a second flow throttling device when flow is high, the flow throttling area of the second flow throttling device restricting flow less than the flow throttling area of the first flow throttling device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising regulating flow with the flow throttling area of the first flow throttling device and the flow throttling area of the second flow throttling device when flow is moderate.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein at least part of the flow throttling area of the first flow throttling device is not proximate the flow throttling area of the second flow throttling device when flow is high.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least part of the flow throttling area of the first flow throttling device is proximate the flow throttling area of the second flow throttling device when flow is low.

25. A system for fluid flow regulation, the system comprising:

a housing having an inlet port, an outlet port, and a passage between the inlet port and the outlet port, the inlet port and the outlet port having respective center-lines;

a cylindrical cage in the passage, the cage comprising a first flow throttling area having a plurality of windows that taper toward the top of the housing, wherein the center-line of the inlet port and the center-line of the outlet port are proximate through the first flow throttling area; and

a cylindrical plug operable to move within the cage to facilitate fluid flow regulation, the plug comprising a body and a wall extending from the body, the wall comprising passages that comprise a second flow throttling area that restricts flow more than the first flow throttling area, at least part of the second flow throttling area proximate the first flow throttling area and primarily regulating flow when the plug is beginning to allow flow, at least part of the second flow throttling area not proximate the first flow throttling area and the first flow throttling area primarily regulating flow when the plug is close to allowing full flow.