Flow control valve

• US 8,469,053 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2012
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkoFlo Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SkoFlo Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Kirchner, Mark W., Tomlinson, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCALISTER, WILLIAM M
• Application Number:
  US13/441,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20120279585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 137/501, 137/625.3, 137/625.38, 137/625.39, 137/613, 251/327, 251/121, 251/127
• US Class Current: 137/501
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 47/04 for decreasing pressure or noise level, the throttle being incorporated in the closure member
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/014 using sliding elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2597 Variable choke resistance
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7788 Pressures across fixed choke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7791 Pressures across flow line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7792 Movable deflector or choke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86734 With metering feature
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86799 With internal flow passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86807 Sequential opening or closing of serial ports in single flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87917 Flow path with serial valves and/or closures

Abstract

A constant-flow valve assembly having a first passageway carrying fluid at a first pressure, a piston chamber, and a second passageway connected to the chamber and carrying fluid at the second pressure. A third passageway carries fluid at a third pressure. An adjustable valve is between the chamber and the third passageway, and an adjustable restrictor is positioned between the first and second passageways. An inlet portion of the restrictor assembly receives fluid at the first pressure and directs the fluid to a restrictor, and outlet portion directs the fluid to the second passageway at the second 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 to the second passageway to adjust the flow rate through the valve assembly.

Claims

1. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:

a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, and a piston chamber in fluid communication with the fluid passageway the fluid passageway containing fluid at first, second and third fluid pressures, wherein the third fluid pressure is less than the second fluid pressure, and the second fluid pressure is less than the first fluid pressure;

a piston slidably disposed in the piston chamber and a valve assembly coupled to the fluid passageway and being configured to automatically adjust valve position in response to the first, second or third fluid pressures to provide a substantially constant fluid flow from the fluid outlet substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures; and

a restrictor assembly with the fluid passageway extending therethrough, 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 a first portion of the 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 a second portion of the fluid passageway at the second fluid pressure, the restrictor being axially movable to adjust the position of the fluid pathway to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through the fluid pathway to the second portion of the fluid passageway, wherein the restrictor has an outer surface, the fluid pathway includes a restrictor entry portion defined by a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with a through hole, the restrictor being movable to allow the first sealing pad to interfere with at least a portion of the restrictor entry portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into the blind notches, blind channel, or through hole and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1 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.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an external adjustment device coupled to the restrictor assembly, the adjustment device being manipulatable to move the restrictor assembly to change the position of the restrictor relative to the first sealing pad.

4. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:

a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, the fluid passageway having a first portion containing fluid at a first fluid pressure, a second portion containing fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure; and

an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second portions of the fluid passageway, 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 portion of the 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 portion of the 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 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 portion of the fluid passageway, wherein the restrictor has an outer surface, the fluid pathway includes the entry portion defined by a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with a through hole, the restrictor being movable to allow the inlet portion to interfere with at least a portion of the entry portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into the blind notches, blind channel, or through hole and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor assembly.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising an external adjustment device coupled to the restrictor assembly, the adjustment device being manipulatable to move the restrictor assembly to change the position of the restrictor relative to the inlet portion.

15. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the fluid passageway includes a third portion containing fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the second fluid pressure, and the assembly further contains an adjustable flow restriction between the second and third portions of the fluid passageway and configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the third portion of the fluid passageway substantially independent of the pressure differentials between the second and third fluid pressures, the adjustable flow restriction comprising a piston moveable relative to the body, a piston biasing member engaging the piston and having a piston biasing tension, and a biased valve member coupled to the piston and the fluid passageway.

6. 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; 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, wherein the restrictor has an outer surface, the fluid pathway includes the entry portion defined by a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with a through hole, the restrictor being movable to allow the inlet portion to interfere with at least a portion of the entry portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into the blind notches, blind channel, or through hole and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor assembly.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the restrictor is movable so at least a portion of the through hole remains uncovered and at least one blind notch adjacent to the through hole is fully covered, whereby the through hole receives a fluid simultaneously in parallel from the covered blind notch and directly from the inlet portion.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the restrictor includes an exterior surface with the entry portion thereon, and the inlet portion includes a body segment with an aperture in fluid communication with the first fluid passageway and with the entry portion, the body segment engaging the exterior surface of the restrictor body so at least a portion of the aperture is in direct fluid communication with the entry portion.

9. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising an external adjustment device coupled to the restrictor assembly, the adjustment device being manipulatable to move the restrictor assembly to change the position of the restrictor relative to the inlet portion.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the restrictor has an outer surface, the fluid pathway includes the exit portion defined by at least one a blind notch in the outer surface and in fluid communication with a through hole, the restrictor being movable to allow the outlet portion to interfere with at least a portion of the exit portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into through the restrictor and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor assembly.

16. The assembly of claim 6, further comprising 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, and a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, a first biasing member connected to the piston and having a piston biasing tension, and a second biasing member engaging the valve body, the first biasing member urging the piston away from the valve seat, and 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.

11. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:

a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween, the fluid passageway having a first portion containing fluid at a first fluid pressure, a second portion containing fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure; 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, wherein the restrictor has an outer surface, the fluid pathway includes the entry portion defined by a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with a through hole, the restrictor being movable to allow the inlet portion to interfere with at least a portion of the entry portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into the blind notches, blind channel, or through hole and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor assembly.

17. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the fluid passageway has a third portion containing fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the second fluid pressure, and the assembly further comprising an adjustable valve member in the fluid passageway and configured to provide a constant fluid flow rate from the fluid outlet independent of pressure differentials between the first, second and third fluid pressures, the adjustable valve member having a piston slidably disposed in the body, a first biasing member engaging the piston and having a piston biasing tension, a valve seat adjacent to the fluid passageway, a valve body coupled to the piston, and a second biasing member urging the valve body toward the valve seat.

12. A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:

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 chamber and containing fluid at the second fluid pressure;

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 engaging the restrictor and 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 engaging the restrictor and 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 relative to the first and second sealing pads to adjust the position of the fluid pathway relative to the inlet and outlet portions, wherein the restrictor has an outer surface, the fluid pathway includes the entry portion defined by a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with a through hole, the restrictor being movable to allow the first sealing pad to interfere with at least a portion of the entry portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into the blind notches, blind channel, or through hole and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor assembly.

13. The assembly of claim 12 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.

14. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising an external adjustment device coupled to the restrictor assembly, the adjustment device being manipulatable to move the restrictor assembly to change the position of the restrictor relative to at least one of the first and second sealing pads.

18. The assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a third fluid passageway with fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures;

a piston slideably disposed in the chamber; and

a biased valve member having a valve seat adjacent to the third passageway, a valve body, a first biasing member coupled to the piston and having a piston biasing tension, and a second biasing member engaging the valve body, the first biasing member urging the piston away from the valve seat, 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.