FLOW CONTROL VALVE
First Claim
1. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
- a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, and a piston chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passageway the fluid passageway containing fluid at first, second and third fluid pressures, wherein the third fluid pressure is less than the second fluid pressure, and the second fluid pressure is less than the first fluid pressure;
a piston and biased valve assembly coupled to the fluid passageway and being configured to automatically adjust piston biasing tension and a biased valve position in response to the first, second or third fluid pressures to provide a substantially constant fluid flow from the fluid outlet substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and
a restrictor assembly with the fluid passageway extending therethrough, the restrictor assembly having a first sealing pad, a second sealing pad, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the first sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from a first portion of the fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the second sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to a second portion of the fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the fluid pathway relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby automatically adjusting the piston and biased valve assembly to provide a substantially continuous flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the pressure differentials.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a constant-flow valve assembly is provided that comprises a first fluid passageway carrying fluid at a first fluid pressure, a piston chamber, and a second fluid passageway connected to the chamber and carrying fluid at the second fluid pressure. A third fluid passageway is configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure. An adjustable valve member is provided between the chamber and the third passageway to provide constant fluid flow to the third passageway. An adjustable restrictor assembly is positioned between the first and second fluid passageways. An inlet portion of the restrictor assembly receives fluid at the first fluid pressure and directs the fluid to a restrictor. An outlet portion receives fluid from the restrictor and directs the fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure. The restrictor is movable to adjust the position of entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby adjusting the flow rate through the valve assembly.
105 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, and a piston chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passageway the fluid passageway containing fluid at first, second and third fluid pressures, wherein the third fluid pressure is less than the second fluid pressure, and the second fluid pressure is less than the first fluid pressure;
a piston and biased valve assembly coupled to the fluid passageway and being configured to automatically adjust piston biasing tension and a biased valve position in response to the first, second or third fluid pressures to provide a substantially constant fluid flow from the fluid outlet substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and
a restrictor assembly with the fluid passageway extending therethrough, the restrictor assembly having a first sealing pad, a second sealing pad, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the first sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from a first portion of the fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the second sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to a second portion of the fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the fluid pathway relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby automatically adjusting the piston and biased valve assembly to provide a substantially continuous flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the pressure differentials. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, the fluid passageway having a first portion containing fluid at a first fluid pressure, a second portion containing fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure, and a third portion containing fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the second fluid pressure;
an adjustable flow restriction between the second and third fluid passageways and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third passageway substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and
an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the inlet portion being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the outlet portion being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway and to automatically adjust the biased valve member for a constant flow rate through the valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a first fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a first fluid pressure;
a chamber having at least a portion configured to receive fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure;
a second fluid passageway connected to the portion of the piston chamber and configured to carry fluid at the second fluid pressure;
a third fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures;
a piston slideably disposed in the chamber;
a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, and a biasing member coupled to the piston, the valve body being urged by the biasing member toward the valve seat and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third passageway past the valve seat substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and
an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the inlet portion being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the outlet portion being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway and to automatically adjust the biased valve member for a constant flow rate of fluid through the valve assembly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, the fluid passageway having a first portion containing fluid at a first fluid pressure, a second portion containing fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure, and a third portion containing fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the second fluid pressure;
an adjustable valve member in the fluid passageway and configured to provide a constant fluid flow rate from the fluid outlet independent of pressure differentials between the first, second and third fluid pressures; and
an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the inlet portion being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the outlet portion being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway and to automatically adjust the adjustable valve member for a constant flow rate of fluid exiting the fluid outlet. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a first fluid passageway with fluid at a first fluid pressure;
a chamber containing fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure;
a second fluid passageway connected to the portion of the chamber and containing fluid at the second fluid pressure;
a third fluid passageway with fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures;
a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, and a biasing member coupled to the piston, the valve body being urged by the biasing member toward the valve seat and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third passageway past the valve seat substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and
a restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having a first sealing pad, a second sealing pad, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the first sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the second sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the fluid pathway relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby automatically adjusting the biased valve member to provide a substantially continuous flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the pressure differentials. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a body portion having a first fluid inlet, a piston chamber, and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet configured to receive fluid at a first fluid pressure, the piston chamber having a first portion exposed to the fluid at the first fluid pressure and having a second portion exposed to fluid having a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure, and the first fluid outlet configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures;
a piston slideably disposed in the piston chamber;
a seal in the piston chamber between the piston and the body and separating one portion of the fluid at the first fluid pressure and another portion of the fluid at the second fluid pressure;
a valve member coupled to the piston in the second portion of the piston chamber and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow from the second portion of the piston chamber toward the outlet substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the first, second, and third fluid pressures;
a first fluid passageway connected to the first portion of the piston chamber and configured to contain fluid at the first fluid pressure;
a second fluid passageway connected to the second portion of the piston chamber and configured to contain fluid at the second fluid pressure; and
an adjustable restrictor assembly coupled to the body between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having a second inlet portion, a second outlet portion, and restrictor body with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the second inlet portion positioned to receive fluid from the first fluid passageway, and the second outlet portion positioned to direct fluid to the second fluid passageway, the restrictor body having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor body being movable relative to the second inlet portion to adjust how much of the entry portion is uncovered by the second inlet portion to receive fluid directly therefrom and how much of the entry portion is covered by the second inlet portion to restrict a flow rate through the entry portion to the exit portion, thereby adjusting the flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the differences in the first, second, and third fluid pressures. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification