×

Variable restrictor and method

  • US 5,694,973 A
  • Filed: 01/09/1995
  • Issued: 12/09/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A variable restrictor comprising:

  • a housing having a high pressure inlet, a channel connected to the high pressure inlet, and a low pressure outlet connected to the channel with the channel disposed between the high pressure inlet and low pressure outlet;

    a mechanism for reducing supercritical fluid at a pressure between 100-12,000 psi from the high pressure inlet to a pressure between than 0-800 psi from the low pressure outlet, said reducing mechanism disposed in the housing and in contact with the low pressure outlet;

    a mechanism for providing heat to the channel, said providing mechanism in thermal communication with the channel so the fluid does not solidify as its pressure is reduced;

    a pressure transducer disposed in the housing and in contact with the channel to sense the pressure in the channel; and

    a controller for controlling the reducing mechanism based on the pressure in the channel sensed by the pressure transducer, said controller connected to the pressure transducer and the reducing mechanism.

View all claims
  • 5 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×