High performance fluid control valve

• US 6,701,958 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2003
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Baumann, Hans D.
• Primary Examiner(s): FOX, JOHN C
• Application Number:
  US10/353,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 137/625.3, 137/625.33, 251/334
• US Class Current: 137/625.33
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 3/246 Combination of a sliding valve and a lift valve
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 39/022 using balancing surfaces
• 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 137/86734 With metering feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86759 Reciprocating

Abstract

A fluid control valve includes a valve body having a fluid passageway, a cage mounted in the fluid passageway and a valve plug assembly including a valve plug. The cage has a cage bore and defines one or more windows, a valve seat located below the windows and a flow control portion of the cage bore located between the valve seat and the windows. The flow control portion has an interior contour that varies in dimension as a function of distance from the valve seat. The flow control portion provides precise control in low flow conditions. The cage may further define a sealing lip located above the windows. The valve plug assembly may include a deformable sealing ring for engaging the sealing lip when the valve plug is in a closed position. The deformable sealing ring permits valve plug travel that is substantially free of sliding seal friction.

Claims

1. A fluid control valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid passageway;

a cage mounted in said fluid passageway, said cage including a cage bore having an axis, said cage defining one or more windows, a valve seat located below said one or more windows and a sealing lip located above said one or more windows; and

a valve plug assembly including a valve plug that is axially slidable in the cage bore, said valve plug having one or more pressure balancing passages between opposite ends thereof and a seating surface for engaging the valve seat, said valve plug assembly further comprising a deformable sealing ring for engaging the sealing lip when the valve plug is in a closed position, wherein the deformable sealing ring contacts the cage at a surface of the sealing lip substantially perpendicular to the cage bore.

2. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said deformable sealing ring comprises an elastic metal.

3. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said deformable sealing ring contacts said cage only near the closed position.

4. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said cage bore has a larger diameter above the sealing lip than below the sealing lip.

5. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve plug includes an extension below said seating surface that is shaped to provide initial throttling of the fluid, deflecting fluid flow away from said seating surface.

6. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said cage is axially deformable.

7. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve plug assembly further comprises an elastomer ring mounted in said valve plug below said deformable sealing ring.

8. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said one or more windows are flared outwardly.

9. A fluid control valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid passageway;

a cage mounted in said fluid passageway, said cage including a cage bore having an axis, said cage defining one or more windows, a valve seat located below said one or more windows and a sealing lip located above said one or more windows; and

a valve plug assembly including a valve plug that is axially slidable in the cage bore, said valve plug having one or more pressure balancing passages between opposite ends thereof and a seating surface for engaging the valve seat, said valve plug assembly further comprising a deformable sealing ring for engaging the sealing lip when the valve plug is in a closed position, said valve plug assembly further including an elastomer ring mounted in said valve plug below said deformable sealing ring.

10. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said deformable sealing ring comprises an elastic metal.

11. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said deformable sealing ring contacts said cage only near the closed position.

12. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said cage bore has a larger diameter above the sealing lip than below the sealing lip.

13. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said valve plug includes an extension below said seating surface that is shaped to provide initial throttling of the fluid, deflecting fluid flow away from said seating surface.

14. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said cage is axially deformable.

15. A fluid control valve as defined in claim 9 wherein said one or more windows are flared outwardly.

16. A fluid control valve comprising:

a valve body having a fluid passageway;

an axially deformable cage mounted in said fluid passageway, said cage including a cage bore having an axis, said cage defining one or more windows, a valve seat located below said one or more windows and a sealing lip located above said one or more windows; and

a valve plug assembly including a valve plug that is axially slidable in the cage bore, said valve plug having one or more pressure balancing passages between opposite ends thereof and a seating surface for engaging the valve seat, said valve plug assembly further comprising a deformable sealing ring for engaging the sealing lip when the valve plug is in a closed position.