TWO-PIECE TRIM FOR USE WITH FLUID REGULATORS

• US 20080258097A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Weyer, Thomas Leroy, McKinney, Harold Joe, Griffin, James Lyman, Roper, Daniel Gunder
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/359
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/08 for decreasing pressure or noise level and having a throttling member separate from the closure member , e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths

Abstract

Two-piece trim apparatus for use with fluid regulators are described. In one described example, a fluid regulator has a regulator body and a first seat ring to provide a first flow characteristic disposed within the body and defining a fluid orifice. The first seat ring is interchangeable with a second seat ring that is to provide a second flow characteristic different from the first flow characteristic. The fluid regulator also includes a first cage to provide a third fluid characteristic and removably coupled to the first seat ring. The first cage is interchangeable with a second cage that is to provide a fourth fluid flow characteristic different from the third flow characteristic. The first cage can be selectively coupled to the first seat ring or the second seat ring and the first seat ring can be selectively coupled to the first cage or the second cage.

Claims

1. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a regulator body;

a first seat ring to provide a first flow characteristic disposed within the body and defining a fluid orifice, wherein the first seat ring is interchangeable with a second seat ring that is to provide a second flow characteristic different from the first flow characteristic; and

a first cage to provide a third fluid characteristic and removably coupled to the first seat ring, wherein the first cage is interchangeable with a second cage that is to provide a fourth fluid flow characteristic different from the third flow characteristic, and wherein the first cage can be selectively coupled to the first seat ring or the second seat ring and the first seat ring can be selectively coupled to the first cage or the second cage.

2. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the first seat ring is coupled to the first cage via at least one of an interference fit, threads, adhesive, a set screw, a roll pin, or grease.

3. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the first seat ring comprises a first shoulder to receive the first cage and align the first cage with the regulator body.

4. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 3, wherein the first seat ring comprises a second shoulder between the first shoulder and a sealing surface of the first seat ring adjacent to the fluid orifice.

5. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 4, wherein the first and second shoulders are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the first seat ring.

6. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one o-ring to seal the first seat ring to the regulator body.

7. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the first fluid characteristic of the first seat ring provides a greater fluid pressure drop through the orifice of the regulator than the second characteristic provided by the second seat ring.

8. A fluid regulator as defined in claim 1, wherein the third flow characteristic of the first cage is to reduce the velocity of the fluid flowing through the regulator and the fourth fluid flow characteristic of the second cage is to reduce the pressure of the fluid flowing through the regulator.

9. An apparatus for use with a fluid regulator, comprising:

a cage for controlling a flow of fluid through the fluid regulator; and

a seat ring to be mounted within the fluid regulator and defining a fluid orifice, wherein the seat ring includes a first shoulder to removably couple the seat ring to the cage and second shoulder between the first shoulder and a sealing surface of the seat ring adjacent to the fluid orifice.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the first and second shoulders are spaced along a longitudinal axis of the seat ring.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the seat ring and the cage are to be removably coupled via at least one an interference fit, threads, adhesive, a set screw, a roll pin, or grease.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising at least another cage different than the first cage, wherein the other cage is to be removably coupled to the seat ring.

13. An apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the cages comprise at least a sound trim or a characterized trim.

14. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising at least another seat ring different than the first seat ring, wherein the other seat ring is to be removably coupled to the cage.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the seat rings comprise at least a strainer seat ring or a restricted seat ring.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a plurality of different cages for use with a fluid regulator; and

a plurality of different seat rings for use with the fluid regulator, wherein each of the cages is to be removably coupled to each of the seat rings.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein each of the seat rings comprises a first shoulder to receive each of the cages and to align the cages with the regulator body.

18. An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein each of the seat rings comprises a second shoulder between the first shoulder and a sealing surface of the seat ring adjacent to a fluid orifice of the seat ring.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the first and second shoulders are spaced along a longitudinal axis of each of the seat rings.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein each of the seat rings is to be removably coupled to each of the cages via at least one of an interference fit, threads, adhesive, a set screw, a roll pin, or grease.

21. A fluid regulator, comprising:

a regulator body;

a seat ring selected from a plurality of seat rings and disposed within the body defining a fluid orifice, wherein a first seat ring selected from the plurality of seat rings is to provide a first predetermined flow characteristic that is different from a second predetermined flow characteristic provided by a second seat ring of the plurality of seat rings; and

a cage selected from a plurality of cages and removably coupled to the seat ring, wherein a first cage selected from the plurality of cages is to provide a first predetermined fluid characteristic that is different from a second predetermined flow characteristic provided by a second cage of the plurality of cages.