Pressure compensator flow control

• US 6,314,980 B1
• Filed: 09/20/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Paul R. Beswick 2008 Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: Gary Treadwell, Paul R. Beswick
• Inventors: Beswick, Paul R., Treadwell, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US09/666,665
• Time in Patent Office: 419 Days
• Field of Search: 137/8, 137/501, 137/505.25
• US Class Current: 137/8
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0133 within the flow-path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0357 For producing uniform flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7788 Pressures across fixed choke

Abstract

A pressure compensating flow control device is disclosed which has a needle valve/spring assembly as a reference restriction which is in axial alignment with a reducing valve situated in a housing of the device. A piston and piston rod is provided in axial alignment with the needle valve and reducing valve to provide compensation for alterations to pressure differential about the piston. The piston rod has an internal channel to allow for fluid communication between inlet and outlet chambers and to allow for passive control of pressure differential.

The device provides pressure control for low fluid flows and low pressures.

Claims

1. A pressure compensating flow control device comprising:

a housing having a upper body and a lower body wherein the upper body is sized to matingly engage the lower body;

a piston chamber formed in the housing for receiving a piston in sliding engagement, the piston chamber has a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one side wall;

a fluid inlet defined by portions of the lower body;

a fluid outlet defined by portions of the upper body;

a reducing valve situated inside the lower body wherein the reducing valve has portions defining a valve seat formed on a bottom surface of the reducing valve;

a valve stem situated in the reducing valve that modulates relative to fluid pressure whereby the reducing valve prevents fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when in a closed position and allows fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when in an open position;

a piston situated in the piston chamber wherein the piston slides within the housing and contacts the reducing valve and causes modulation of the reducing valve;

a piston rod aperture formed in the piston for receiving a piston rod in sliding engagement;

a piston rod situated in the piston chamber which has a channel provided therein to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet;

a reference spring which registers on the top surface of the piston chamber and a top surface of the piston wherein the reference spring has an axial load compression that creates a pressure differential; and

,

a needle valve for controlling fluid-flow rate and providing a set pressure differential.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a reducing valve spring which forces the reducing valve into a closed position, the reducing valve spring having an axial load compression that is less than an axial load compression of the reference spring.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the upper body has portions which define a packing nut bore for receiving a packing nut, the packing nut bore is in fluid communication with the outlet.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising a packing nut situated in the packing nut bore for receiving the needle valve.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein the packing nut has portions defining a needle valve bore and portions defining a needle valve o-ring channel for receiving an o-ring.

6. The device of claim 4 further comprising an o-ring situated within the needle valve o-ring channel wherein the o-ring prevents fluid communication between the needle valve bore and the outlet.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a thread adapter having an aperture to receive the needle valve in threading engagement.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the thread adapter has a knurled outer surface to aid grasping.

9. The device of claim 8 further comprising a lock nut having threading on an exterior surface and adapted to be received in the thread adapter aperture wherein the lock nut engages the needle valve and prevents rotational movement of the needle valve when in contact with the needle valve.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the piston rod has portions which define a piston rod o-ring channel for receiving an o-ring.

11. The device of claim 10 further comprising a piston rod o-ring situated in the piston rod o-ring channel wherein the piston rod o-ring prevents fluid communication between the outlet and the piston chamber at the point where the piston rod contacts the upper body.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the piston has a lower cylindrical portion which has portions defining a exterior piston o-ring channel on the circumference of the lower cylindrical portion and portions which define an internal o-ring channel that is concentric with the piston rod aperture wherein the channels are adapted to receive o-rings.

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a first piston o-ring situated in the exterior piston o-ring channel and a second piston o-ring situated in the internal o-ring channel, the first piston o-ring being adapted to provide a seal between the piston and the piston chamber and the second piston o-ring being adapted to provide a seal between the piston rod and the piston.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the piston has further portions defining a piston seal cap bore for receiving a piston seal cap.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising a piston seal cap situated in the piston seal cap bore, wherein the piston seal cap has portions defining a piston seal cap bore for receiving the piston rod and wherein the piston seal cap has a bottom surface that is chamfered.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the piston seal cap has a seal cap channel formed on the bottom surface of the seal cap wherein the seal cap channel provides constant fluid communication between a lower portion of the piston chamber and the piston rod aperture.

17. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve stem further comprises a first valve o-ring channel situated proximal a top surface of the valve stem and a second valve o-ring channel situated proximal a bottom surface of the valve stem, the channels being adapted to receive o-rings.

18. The device of claim 17 further comprising a first valve o-ring situated in the first valve o-ring channel and a second valve o-ring situated in the second valve o-ring channel, wherein the first valve o-ring is adapted to provide a cushion between the piston seal cap and the valve stem and the second o-ring is adapted to provide a seal between a bottom end of the valve stem and the valve seat of the valve body.

19. The device of claim 1 further comprising an E-clip affixed to the valve stem wherein the E-clip prevents the second valve o-ring from being forced off the valve stem when the valve stem is in a closed position.

20. A method of compensating pressure fluctuations when controlling fluid flow comprising the steps of:

providing a device comprising;

a housing having a upper body and a lower body wherein the upper body is sized to matingly engage the lower body;

a piston chamber formed in the housing for receiving a piston in sliding engagement, the piston chamber has a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one side wall;

a fluid inlet defined by portions of the lower body;

a fluid outlet defined by portions of the upper body;

a reducing valve situated inside the lower body wherein the reducing valve has portions defining a valve seat formed on a bottom surface of the reducing valve;

a valve stem situated in the reducing valve that modulates relative to fluid pressure whereby the reducing valve prevents fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when in a closed position and allows fluid communication between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet when in an open position;

a piston situated in the piston chamber wherein the piston slides within the housing and contacts the reducing valve and causes modulation of the reducing valve;

a piston rod aperture formed in the piston for receiving a piston rod in sliding engagement;

a piston rod situated in the piston chamber which has a channel provided therein to provide fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet;

a reference spring which registers on the top surface of the piston chamber and a top surface of the piston wherein the reference spring has an axial load compression that creates a pressure differential; and

,

a needle valve for controlling fluid-flow rate and providing a set pressure differential;

introducing fluid into the device;

adjusting the needle valve to regulate fluid flow; and

,

regulating the fluid pressure by having the reference spring sense the pressure that causes modulation of the piston, which, in turn, causes modulation of the reducing valve.