Elastomeric element valve

• US 5,964,446 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Scott, Gary L., Walton, Herbert H., Pfantz, Douglas C., Bonzer, William J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/914,555
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 251/61.1, 251/331, 251/359, 251/61.2, 251/61.4, 251/118, 251/123, 251/127, 137/556
• US Class Current: 251/127
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/02 Modifications to reduce the effects of instability, e.g. due to vibrations, friction, abnormal temperature, overloading or imbalance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0633 characterised by the properties of the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0641 the obturator is a membrane
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/163 using membranes within the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7929 Spring coaxial with valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8275 Indicator element rigidly carried by the movable element whose position is indicated

Abstract

A fluid control valve having a valve body, a cage, and a flexible elastomeric diaphragm with a formed convolution to fully open the cage opening. An elastomeric diaphragm regulator with a flow diverter in the fluid flow path to reduce fluid flow separation and thereby reduce the required flow recovery area before pressure throttling. A raised knife edge seat located on the cage top in a position of stagnant fluid flow to reduce the build-up of contaminants on the seat. An elastomeric diaphragm regulator with a valve actuator coupled to a guided valve stem attached to the regulator diaphragm.

Claims

1. A fluid control valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passageway therebetween;

a cage member having a cage interior for receiving fluid at one cage end and a cap at the other cage end having cap openings in fluid communication with said cage interior;

said cage member mounted within said valve body fluid passageway for passing fluid from said valve body fluid inlet through said cage interior, continuing through said cap openings to said valve body fluid outlet, said fluid exiting out said other cage end and reversing in fluid flow direction to enter said cap openings with said fluid flow tending to separate during the reversal of the fluid flow direction;

a flexible diaphragm mounted in said valve body and flexibly movable from adjacent said cap openings to away from said cap openings in controlling the flow of fluid between said valve body fluid inlet and fluid outlet; and

flow diverter means within said cage interior to reduce the separation of said fluid flow in the reversing flow direction while passing between the other cage end and said cap openings so as to reduce the required flow recovery area as the fluid flow exits the other cage end and enters said cap openings.

2. A fluid control valve according to claim 1, wherein said flow diverter means includes a decreasing cage interior volume portion from said one cage end towards the other cage end followed by a substantially constant cage interior volume portion continuing to the other cage end.

3. A fluid control valve according to claim 1, wherein said flow diverter means includes a decreasing cage interior volume portion from said one cage end towards the other cage end followed by a ledge portion having a ledge projecting into the cage interior continuing to the other cage end.

4. A fluid control valve according to claim 3, wherein said ledge portion includes a substantially constant cage interior volume portion.

5. A fluid control valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid passageway therebetween;

a cage member having a cage interior for receiving fluid at one cage end and a cap at the other cage end having cap openings in fluid communication with said cage interior;

said cage member mounted within said valve body fluid passageway for passing fluid from said valve body fluid inlet through said cage interior, continuing through said cap openings to said valve body fluid outlet;

a flexible diaphragm mounted in said valve body and flexibly movable from adjacent said cap openings to away from said cap openings in controlling the flow of fluid between said valve body fluid inlet and fluid outlet;

flow diverter means within said cage interior to reduce the separation of said fluid passing between the other cage end and said cap openings so as to reduce the required flow recovery area as the fluid flow exits the other cage end and enters said cap openings; and

a raised seat on said cap between said other cage end and said cap openings for fluid sealingly engaging said diaphragm to reliably prevent fluid flow from said valve body fluid inlet to said fluid outlet.

6. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, including a diaphragm center mounting assembly, and wherein said diaphragm includes a central portion mounted within said diaphragm center mounting assembly, said diaphragm center mounting assembly including a diaphragm plate and spring means on one side of said diaphragm for urging said diaphragm plate to seat said diaphragm on said raised seat.

7. A fluid control valve according to claim 6, wherein said diaphragm center mounting assembly includes a diaphragm head on the other side of said diaphragm having a protruding nose for deflecting said fluid passing through said cage interior.

8. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, including a retaining ring engaging said cap for mounting said cage in said valve body, said retaining ring including flow blocking fingers mating with said cap openings to desirably reduce the flow capacity of said fluid control valve.

9. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, including a perforated member surrounding said cage and intermediate the fluid flow from said cap openings to said valve body fluid outlet for attenuating noise in said fluid flow.

10. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, including a valve stem engageably coupled to the center of said diaphragm for moving said diaphragm towards and away from said cap openings, and stem guide means in said valve body for guiding said valve stem during movement thereof.

11. A fluid control valve according to claim 10, including a travel indicator mounted to said valve body and cooperating with said valve stem to indicate the opening position of said valve.

12. A fluid control valve according to claim 10, including a valve actuator coupled to said valve stem for operatively moving said valve stem.

13. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, including aspirator passageways for communicating opposite sides of said flexible diaphragm to each other.

14. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, including a diaphragm mounting assembly for mounting said diaphragm in said valve body to define a loading chamber on one side of said diaphragm, and aspirator passageways extending through said diaphragm mounting means for communicating said loading chamber to the opposite side of said diaphragm.

15. A fluid control valve according to claim 7, including a resilient sealing member mounted in said diaphragm head for engaging said cage at said other cage end to provide a primary seat in reliably preventing fluid flow from said valve body fluid inlet to said fluid outlet.

16. A fluid control valve according to claim 5, wherein said raised seat is located at a stagnant flow area on said cap.

17. A fluid control valve according to claim 16, wherein said raised seat is formed with a sharp seating edge for engaging said diaphragm.

18. In a fluid pressure regulator having a regulator body with a fluid flow path through the regulator body controlled by a flexible diaphragm, and a cage member mounted within the regulator body adjacent the diaphragm for reversing the fluid flow path thereby tending to separate the fluid flow and presenting a pressure throttling area in the fluid flow path for pressure regulating the flow, the improvement comprising a flow diverter in the fluid flow path before the pressure throttling area to reduce fluid flow separation in the reversing fluid flow path in the vicinity of the pressure throttling area.

19. The fluid pressure regulator according to claim 18, including a raised seat located intermediate the flow diverter and the pressure throttling area and in a position of stagnant fluid flow to reduce the build-up of contaminants on said raised seat.

20. The fluid pressure regulator according to claim 19, wherein said raised seat is formed with a sharp seating edge.

21. The fluid pressure regulator according to claim 18, including a valve stem coupled for movement with said diaphragm, and a travel indicator mounted to said regulator body and cooperating with said valve stem to indicate the opening position of said regulator.