Quieting means for a fluid flow control device

• US 3,978,891 A
• Filed: 05/15/1974
• Issued: 09/07/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Bendix Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Bendix Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Vick, Ralph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohan, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US05/470,251
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.3, 138/40, 138/42, 138/43, 251/127
• US Class Current: 138/42
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/34 Arrangements for modifying the way in which the rate of flow varies during the actuation of the valve
• 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 137/7788 Pressures across fixed choke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86734 With metering feature

Abstract

Quieting means for a fluid flow control device is shown in connection with a typical spool type throttling valve. The quieting means consists of a stack of washer-like members or disks which cooperate to define a large number of finely-divided flow paths across the 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 three perforated disks confined between two imperforate disks. Two perforated disks having patterns of slots are positoned on opposite sides of a similar disk having a pattern of small orifices. By proper juxtaposition of the three disks, a circuitous flow pattern is established from a first chamber defined by a first slot and its side walls, axially through one or more orifices to a second such chamber, substantially radially through said second chamber and axially in the opposite direction 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.

Claims

1. A fluid flow controlling device comprising:

a rigid structure comprising a series of stacked laminar members having abutting faces, alternate ones of said members having respective patterns of passageways therethrough, said passageways being in offset but partially overlapping relation to one another and others of said members including means defining a plurality of orifices of substantially smaller effective area than the area of said passageways but aligned with the overlapping parts of pairs of said passageways such that a plurality of generally radial flow patterns are created across said structure with individual passages being defined by a plurality of adjacent said stacked laminar members providing two overlapping passageways and an orifice therebetween, said orifice members being positioned between others of said laminar members and some of said laminar members providing walls confining individual flow patterns such that each such pattern always changes direction to flow across the same orifice member, wherein the pressure drop across said structure is substantially that caused by the orificial losses across said orifices in series.

2. A fluid flow device as set forth in claim 1 wherein any flow passageways which are not required for throttling control are made large to minimize fluid velocities.

3. A flow control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a plurality of orifices in parallel direct fluid into individual said passageways.

4. In a flow control device for installation in a fluid transfer system including a flow of fluid under high pressure such that a potentially destructive or noise-generating fluid pressure differential exists;

a rigid structure comprising a series of stacked laminar members having abutting faces, nonadjacent ones of which have a pattern of elongated passages therethrough defining areas of individual chambers and others of said members being interposed between pairs of said nonadjacent members and having a pattern of orifices providing communication between said passageways, said passageways and orifices alternating in patterns across said members to produce a plurality of individual streams of fluid flowing across said structure, said orifices being of stubstantially smaller cross-sectional area than said passageways such that the pressure drop across said structure is substantially that caused by the orificial losses across the orifices in series, and some of said laminar members providing walls confining groups of said individual streams such that each such stream always changes direction to flow across the same orifice member.

5. A flow control device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the fluid velocity on the downstream side of said structure is substantially the same as that on the upstream side.

6. A flow control device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the number of series orifices and their effective areas are chosen such that the Reynold'"'"'s number for any one of said orifices does not exceed a value equivalent to the desired noise level.

7. A fluid flow controlling device comprising:

means providing a plurality of passageways through which flow of fluid is subdivided, said means comprising

a series of stacked members having abutting faces and arranged in groups, two of said members of each group being disks and a third member being interposed between said disks and comprising a disk having a plurality of concentric annular ridges on one side and a plurality of similar ridges on the opposite side spaced radially from those on said one side and a plurality of orifices extending through the web of said member between said ridges,

said orifices thereby directing flow into different planes and providing orificial pressure reductions, each of which is followed by chambers of larger cross-sectional area.