Flow control valve
First Claim
1. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
- a first fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a first fluid pressure;
a chamber having at least a portion configured to receive fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure;
a second fluid passageway connected to the portion of the piston chamber and configured to carry fluid at the second fluid pressure;
a third fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures;
a piston slideably disposed in the chamber;
a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, and a first biasing member coupled to the piston, and a second biasing member coupled to the valve body being urged by the second biasing member toward the valve seat and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third passageway past the valve seat substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and
an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the inlet portion being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the outlet portion being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway and to automatically adjust the biased valve member for a constant flow rate of fluid through the valve assembly, and wherein the restrictor comprises a sleeve with an interior area and a central member disposed in the interior area, the fluid pathway extends through the sleeve and around the central member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a constant-flow valve assembly is provided that comprises a first fluid passageway carrying fluid at a first fluid pressure, a piston chamber, and a second fluid passageway connected to the chamber and carrying fluid at the second fluid pressure. A third fluid passageway is configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure. An adjustable valve member is provided between the chamber and the third passageway to provide constant fluid flow to the third passageway. An adjustable restrictor assembly is positioned between the first and second fluid passageways. An inlet portion of the restrictor assembly receives fluid at the first fluid pressure and directs the fluid to a restrictor. An outlet portion receives fluid from the restrictor and directs the fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure. The restrictor is movable to adjust the position of entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby adjusting the flow rate through the valve assembly.
158 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a first fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a first fluid pressure; a chamber having at least a portion configured to receive fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure; a second fluid passageway connected to the portion of the piston chamber and configured to carry fluid at the second fluid pressure; a third fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures; a piston slideably disposed in the chamber; a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, and a first biasing member coupled to the piston, and a second biasing member coupled to the valve body being urged by the second biasing member toward the valve seat and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third passageway past the valve seat substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the inlet portion being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the outlet portion being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway and to automatically adjust the biased valve member for a constant flow rate of fluid through the valve assembly, and wherein the restrictor comprises a sleeve with an interior area and a central member disposed in the interior area, the fluid pathway extends through the sleeve and around the central member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a first fluid passageway with fluid at a first fluid pressure; a chamber containing fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure; a second fluid passageway connected to the portion of the chamber and containing fluid at the second fluid pressure; a third fluid passageway with fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures; a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, and a first biasing member coupled to the piston, and a second biasing member, the valve body being urged by the second biasing member toward the valve seat and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third passageway past the valve seat substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and a restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having a first sealing pad, a second sealing pad, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the first sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid at the first fluid pressure from the first fluid passageway and to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the second sealing pad being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid to the second fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the fluid pathway relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to the second fluid passageway, thereby automatically adjusting the biased valve member to provide a substantially continuous flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the pressure differentials, and wherein the restrictor comprises a sleeve with an interior area and a central member disposed in the interior area, the fluid pathway extends through the sleeve and around the central member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a body portion having a first fluid inlet, a piston chamber, and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet configured to receive fluid at a first fluid pressure, the piston chamber having a first portion exposed to the fluid at the first fluid pressure and having a second portion exposed to fluid having a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure, and the first fluid outlet configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures; a piston slideably disposed in the piston chamber; a seal in the piston chamber between the piston and the body and separating one portion of the fluid at the first fluid pressure and another portion of the fluid at the second fluid pressure; a valve member coupled to the piston in the second portion of the piston chamber and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow from the second portion of the piston chamber toward the outlet substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the first, second, and third fluid pressures; a first fluid passageway connected to the first portion of the piston chamber and configured to contain fluid at the first fluid pressure; a second fluid passageway connected to the second portion of the piston chamber and configured to contain fluid at the second fluid pressure; and an adjustable restrictor assembly coupled to the body between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having a second inlet, a second outlet, and restrictor body with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the second inlet positioned to receive fluid from the first fluid passageway, and the second outlet positioned to direct fluid to the second fluid passageway, the restrictor body having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor body being movable relative to the second inlet to adjust how much of the entry portion is uncovered by the second inlet to receive fluid directly therefrom and how much of the entry portion is covered by the second inlet to restrict a flow rate through the entry portion to the exit portion, thereby adjusting the flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the differences in the first, second, and third fluid pressures, and wherein the restrictor body comprises a sleeve with an interior area and a central member disposed in the interior area, the fluid path extends through the sleeve and around the central member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:
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a body portion having a first fluid inlet, a piston chamber, and a first fluid outlet, the first fluid inlet configured to receive fluid at a first fluid pressure, the piston chamber having a first portion exposed to the fluid at the first fluid pressure and having a second portion exposed to fluid having a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure, and the first fluid outlet configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures; a piston slideably disposed in the piston chamber; a seal in the piston chamber between the piston and the body and separating one portion of the fluid at the first fluid pressure and another portion of the fluid at the second fluid pressure; a valve member coupled to the piston in the second portion of the piston chamber and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow from the second portion of the piston chamber toward the outlet substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the first, second, and third fluid pressures; a first fluid passageway connected to the first portion of the piston chamber and configured to contain fluid at the first fluid pressure; a second fluid passageway connected to the second portion of the piston chamber and configured to contain fluid at the second fluid pressure; and an adjustable restrictor assembly coupled to the body between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor assembly having a second inlet portion, a second outlet portion, and restrictor body with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the second inlet portion positioned to receive fluid from the first fluid passageway, and the second outlet portion positioned to direct fluid to the second fluid passageway, the restrictor body having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the restrictor body being movable relative to the second inlet portion to adjust how much of the entry portion is uncovered by the second inlet portion to receive fluid directly therefrom and how much of the entry portion is covered by the second inlet portion to restrict a flow rate through the entry portion to the exit portion, thereby adjusting the flow rate through the valve assembly independent of the differences in the first, second, and third fluid pressures wherein the restrictor body of the adjustable restrictor assembly is a portion of a central shaft, the central shaft having an end portion having a passageway therein adjacent to the valve member and configured to direct fluid from the valve member to the outlet.
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Specification