Multi-path valve structure

• US 3,899,001 A
• Filed: 06/06/1974
• Issued: 08/12/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Myrl E. Orme
• Original Assignee: Myrl E. Orme
• Inventors: Orme, Myrl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US05/476,969
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.3 138/40,42,43 251/127
• US Class Current: 137/625.3
• 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 137/8671 With annular passage [e.g., spool]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86734 With metering feature

Abstract

Multiple path means for a fluid flow control device is shown in connection with a typical spool type servo valve. The multiple path means consists of a stack of washer-like elements or disks which cooperate to define a large number of finely divided flow paths across a stack of disks. To provide a configuration which is very economical of space, the disks are arranged such that the flow path turns back and forth through different planes. Groups of flow paths are defined by a number of groups of perforated disks confined between imperforate disks. Two perforated disks having patterns of openings are positioned on opposite sides of a similar disk having a pattern of small orifices. By proper juxtaposition of the three or more disks, a circuitous flow pattern is established from a first chamber defined by a first slot and its side walls, axially through a series of small orifices to a second such chamber, substantially radially through said second chamber and axially in the opposite direction through more orifices to another such chamber and continuing in this manner across the stack of disks. The dimensions of the slots and orifices are chosen such that the velocity of flow through any orifice does not exceed a desired limit. To assure a reasonably smooth flow, the disks are arranged such that flow can enter and/or leave the stack from three out of each set of four disks. Other numbers of disks may be used per set for each radial flow pattern.

Claims

1. A valve comprising a flow path including an opening to said flow path;

means for closing said opening in variable degree; and

means for dividing the flow through said opening into a plurality of streams comprising a stack of members across said opening having abutting faces including a first group of said members having passageways therethrough arranged in a series of patterns across the width of said members, said patterns including slots admitting flow into said stack only at certain intervals around the edges of said members, a second group of said members wherein a single member of said second group is interposed between two members of said first group, members of said second group having a series of orifices therethrough substantially smaller than said passageways and registering with said passageways, and including a pattern of slots admitting flow to said stack, said slots being radially displaced from the slots in said first group of members, each of said two members having its passageways in registry with the orifices in said single member but offset with respect to each other, and a third group of said members which are imperforate and which abut against opposite faces of at least some of said first group of members to confine flow to a plurality of generally serpentine paths across said stack, said passageways defining chambers of cross-sectional area substantially exceeding the area of said orifices.

2. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stack includes at least one set of said members comprising at least three members of said first group having at least some of said slots radially displaced from each other, at least two members of said second group having said slots radially displaced from the slots of adjacent members of said first group, and a member of said third group.

3. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slots of said second group communicate with passageways in members of said first group of members.

4. A valve as claimed in claim 1 wherein the members in said stack are brazed together to form a rigid structure.

5. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve includes a plurality of stacks.

6. In a flow control valve wherein a spool valve member is movable within a sleeve to open and close fluid passageways in said valve, a rigid structure forming part of said sleeve for dividing the flow entering and leaving said passageways into a plurality of streams comprising a stack of laminar disks having abutting faces and internal edge surfaces adjacent said spool member, said disks including a first group having a pattern of openings therethrough including a pattern of slots affording entry into said stack, a first subgroup of said group being radially oriented in a desired position and a second subgroup of said group beIng radially displaced from said first subgroup such that the openings therein overlap but do not directly register with openings in said first subgroup, a second group of disks having a pattern of orifices therethrough interposed between members of said first and second subgroups, said orifices individually being of substantially smaller area than said openings and providing communication between members of said first and second subgroups and including a pattern of slots affording entry into said stack radially displaced from the slots of either of said first and second subgroups but communicating with openings therein, and a third group of imperforate disks positioned between selected pairs of disks of said first group for confining flow to generally radial flow patterns across said stack.

7. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first group includes at least second and third subgroups of disks each having a different radial orientation from that of said first subgroup, and disks of said second group are interposed between each pair of said first group.

8. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second group of disks includes a first subgroup and at least a second subgroup having a pattern of said slots radially displaced from slots of said first subgroup.

9. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 8 wherein said disks are arranged in sets including disks of said first, second and third subgroups of said first group;

disks of said first and second subgroups of said second group positioned between disks of said first and second, and second and third subgroups of said first group, respectively; and

a disk of said third group.

10. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 9 wherein a plurality of said sets are included in each stack.

11. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said disks are arranged in sets including in order at least a disk of said first subgroup, a disk of said second group, a disk of said second subgroup, and a disk of said third group.

12. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 11 wherein a plurality of said sets are included in each stack.

13. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said disks in said stack are brazed together to form a rigid structure.

14. A flow control valve as set forth in claim 6 wherein said valve includes a plurality of stacks.