Fluid flow regulator

• US 8,225,815 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Valtr, Kelly Dale, Scott, Douglas Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAQUETTE, IAN G
• Application Number:
  US12/468,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20100294381A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 137/504
• US Class Current: 137/504
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1407 Doors; surrounding frames
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0133 within the flow-path
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7784 Responsive to change in rate of fluid flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7792 Movable deflector or choke

Abstract

A fluid flow regulator includes a valve assembly defining a fluid passage. The fluid passage includes a first port, a second port, a sensing orifice disposed between the first and second ports, a first orifice disposed between the first port and the sensing orifice and a second orifice disposed between the sensing orifice and the second port. A first flow area of the first flow orifice varies in response to differential pressure across the sensing orifice as fluid flows through the fluid passage in a first direction from the first port to the second port. The first flow area is fixed as fluid flows through the fluid passage in an opposite second direction. A second flow area of the second orifice is fixed as fluid flows through the fluid passage in the first direction and varies as fluid flows through the fluid passage in the second direction.

Claims

1. A fluid flow regulator comprising:

a valve assembly defining a fluid passage, the fluid passage including;

a first port

a second port;

a sleeve defining a bore and a spool disposed in the bore;

a sensing orifice disposed in the fluid passage between the first and second ports;

a first variable orifice defined by a first annular groove in the sleeve and a first orifice in the spool, the first variable orifice being disposed in the fluid passage between the first port and the sensing orifice, wherein a first flow area of the first variable orifice varies in response to differential pressure across the sensing orifice as fluid flows through the fluid passage in a first direction from the first port to the second port and is fixed as fluid flows through the fluid passage in a second direction from the second port to the first port;

a second variable orifice defined by a second annular groove in the sleeve and a second orifice in the spool, the second variable orifice being disposed in the fluid passage between the sensing orifice and the second port, wherein a second flow area of the second variable orifice is fixed as fluid flows through the fluid passage in the first direction and varies in response to differential pressure across the sensing orifice as fluid flows through the fluid passage in the second direction.

2. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly includes a first bypass orifice disposed in parallel with the first orifice.

3. The fluid flow regulator of claim 2, wherein the valve assembly includes a second bypass orifice disposed in parallel with the second orifice.

4. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the spool is adapted to slide in the bore of the sleeve.

5. The fluid flow regulator of claim 1, wherein the bore of the sleeve includes a land disposed between the first and second annular grooves.

6. A fluid flow regulator comprising:

a valve assembly including;

a sleeve defining a bore, the sleeve further defining a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet disposed downstream of the fluid inlet, the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet being in fluid communication with the bore, the sleeve defining a first annular groove disposed in the bore;

a spool disposed in the bore of the sleeve, the spool defining a first orifice and a sensing orifice disposed downstream of the fluid inlet;

the first orifice of the spool and the first annular groove of the sleeve cooperatively defining a variable orifice disposed upstream of the sensing orifice and downstream of the fluid inlet, wherein a flow area of the variable orifice decreases as differential fluid pressure across the sensing orifice increases beyond a limit;

wherein the valve assembly is adapted to allow fluid to flow in a first direction and an opposite second direction.

7. The fluid flow regulator of claim 6, wherein the spool defines a fixed orifice disposed downstream of the sensing orifice and upstream of the fluid outlet.

8. The fluid flow regulator of claim 6, wherein the spool defines a first bypass orifice disposed in parallel with the variable orifice.

9. The fluid flow regulator of claim 6, wherein the spool and the sleeve cooperatively define a fixed orifice disposed downstream of the sensing orifice and upstream of the fluid outlet.

10. A snubber assembly comprising:

an actuator assembly having;

a housing defining a bore;

a piston assembly disposed in the bore, the piston assembly and the bore cooperatively defining a first chamber of the bore and a second chamber of the bore;

a fluid flow regulator in fluid communication with the actuator assembly, the fluid flow regulator defining a fluid passage including;

a fluid inlet;

a fluid outlet downstream of the fluid inlet;

a sensing orifice disposed in the fluid passage between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; and

a variable orifice disposed upstream of the sensing orifice in the fluid passage, the variable orifice being defined by an annular groove in a sleeve and by an orifice in a spool disposed within a bore of the sleeve, wherein a differential fluid pressure across the sensing orifice affects a flow area of the variable orifice;

wherein the fluid flow regulator is adapted to provide bidirectional fluid flow through the fluid passage.

11. The snubber assembly of claim 10, wherein the fluid flow regulator includes a fixed orifice disposed downstream of the sensing orifice and upstream from the fluid outlet.

12. The snubber assembly of claim 11, wherein the fluid flow regulator includes a first bypass orifice disposed in parallel with the variable orifice.

13. The snubber assembly of claim 12, wherein the fluid flow regulator includes a second bypass orifice disposed in parallel with the fixed orifice.

14. The snubber assembly of claim 10, wherein the fluid flow regulator includes a sleeve defining a bore and a spool disposed in the bore.

15. The snubber assembly of claim 14, wherein the spool is adapted to slide in the bore of the sleeve.