FLUID FLOW CONTROL DEVICES AND SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF FLOWING FLUIDS THERETHROUGH

• US 20100300542A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flowserve Pte Ltd. (Flowserve Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Flowserve Management Company (Flowserve Corporation)
• Inventors: Decker, Gifford, Haehl, Mark, Haines, Bradford
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/24 with cylindrical valve members
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86759 Reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87249 Multiple inlet with multiple outlet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/494 Fluidic or fluid actuated device making

Abstract

Fluid flow control devices comprise a body including a central aperture extending along a longitudinal axis therethrough and a plurality of channels extending from an outer sidewall of the body to an inner sidewall of the body. At least one first channel may intersect at least one other channel. Fluid flow control systems, methods of forming fluid flow control devices, and methods of flowing a fluid through a fluid flow control device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fluid flow control device, comprising:

a body comprising a central aperture therethrough extending along a longitudinal axis thereof;

at least one first channel extending from an outer sidewall of the body to an inner sidewall of the body; and

at least one second channel extending from the outer sidewall of the body to the inner sidewall of the body and intersecting the at least one first channel.

2. The fluid flow control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extend at least substantially linearly from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall of the body.

3. The fluid flow control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extend substantially nonlinearly from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall of the body.

4. The fluid flow control device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of disks stacked adjacent to one another.

5. The fluid flow control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel vary in at least one of width and depth between the outer sidewall and the inner sidewall of the body.

6. The fluid flow control device of claim 1, wherein the at least one first channel intersects a plurality of other channels.

7. The fluid flow control device of claim 6, wherein at least some of the angle of intersections between the at least one first channel and the plurality of other channels are different.

8. A fluid flow control device, comprising:

a body comprising a plurality of disks coupled axially together along a longitudinal axis, wherein

at least one disk of the plurality of disks comprises a plurality of grooves in a surface thereof extending from an outer diameter to an inner diameter of the at least one disk,

wherein at least two of the plurality of grooves intersect.

9. The fluid flow control device of claim 8, wherein at least some of the plurality of grooves vary in at least one of width and depth between the outer diameter and the inner diameter.

10. The fluid flow control device of claim 8, wherein each groove of the plurality of grooves intersects at least one other groove of the plurality of grooves.

11. The fluid flow control device of claim 10, wherein each groove of the plurality of grooves intersects two or more other grooves of the plurality of grooves.

12. The fluid flow control device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of disks comprises a material selected from the group of materials consisting of metal, metal alloy, or ceramic.

13. A fluid flow control system, comprising:

a fluid inlet; and

a fluid flow control device positioned in relation to the fluid inlet so that a fluid passing from the fluid inlet flows therethrough, the fluid flow control device comprising;

at least one first channel extending from an outer sidewall of a body to an inner sidewall of a central aperture extending through the body; and

at least one second channel extending from the outer sidewall of the body to the inner sidewall of the body and intersecting the at least one first channel.

14. The fluid flow control system of claim 13, further comprising:

a valve body comprising a plug chamber positioned between the fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a plug head disposed in the plug chamber; and

wherein the fluid flow control device is configured as a seat retainer positioned in the plug chamber.

15. The fluid flow control system of claim 13, wherein the fluid flow control device is coupled to the fluid inlet at one longitudinal end and is closed at an opposing longitudinal end.

16. The fluid flow control system of claim 13, wherein the body comprises a plurality of substantially planar disks stacked adjacent to one another.

17. The fluid flow control system of claim 13, wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extend substantially linearly from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall of the body.

18. The fluid flow control system of claim 13, wherein the at least one first channel and the at least one second channel extend substantially nonlinearly from the outer sidewall to the inner sidewall of the body.

19. A method of forming a fluid flow control device, comprising:

forming at least one first groove in a surface of at least one disk extending from an outer diameter of the at least one disk to an inner diameter thereof;

forming at least one second groove in the surface of the at least one disk extending from the outer diameter of the at least one disk to the inner diameter thereof and intersecting the at least one first groove; and

coupling the at least one disk to at least another disk.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the at least one first groove and the at least one second groove in the surface of the at least one disk comprises plunging a cutter partway into the surface of the at least one disk without cutting completely through the at least one disk.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the at least one first groove and the at least one second groove in the surface of the at least one disk comprises forming at least one first nonlinear groove and at least one second nonlinear groove in the surface of the at least one disk.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein forming the at least one first nonlinear groove and the at least one second nonlinear groove in the surface of the at least one disk comprises plunging a hole saw into the surface of the at least one disk.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the at least one first groove and the at least one second groove in the surface of the at least one disk comprises forming at least one first linear groove and at least one second linear groove in the surface of the at least one disk.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising forming the at least one first groove and the at least one second groove in the surface of the at least one disk to vary at least one of a width and a depth between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the at least one disk.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein coupling the at least one disk to at least another disk comprises at least one of bolting, adhering, brazing, and welding the at least one disk to the at least another disk.

26. A method of flowing a fluid through a fluid flow control device, comprising:

flowing a fluid through a channel that extends between an outer surface of a body and an inner surface of an aperture extending through the body;

flowing a fluid through at least one second channel that extends between the outer surface and the inner surface of the body and that intersects at least a portion of the channel; and

impinging the fluid flowing through the channel into the fluid flowing through the at least one second channel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein flowing the fluid through the channel and through the at least one second channel comprises flowing the fluid through a linear channel and through a linear at least one second channel.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein flowing the fluid through the channel and through the at least one second channel comprises flowing the fluid through a nonlinear channel and through a nonlinear at least one second channel.