Automatic flow control regulator valve
First Claim
1. A flow control valve comprisinga body portion including a first end, a second end and an interior surface defining an axially extending passageway having a minimum diameter portion,a metering valve including an upstream portion, a downstream portion and a side portion between the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the side portion including a maximum diameter portion smaller than the minimum diameter portion of the axial passageway to define a fluid flow space through which fluid can flow between the maximum diameter portion of the metering valve and the minimum diameter portion of the axially extending passageway, the upstream portion having a flattened top spherical shape, the metering valve being axially moveable within the axially extending passageway under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position wherein flow of fluid through the valve is relatively unrestricted, to a flow restricting position wherein the metering valve can relatively restrict, while still permitting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow space of the axially extending passageway, anda biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve in the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flow control valve includes a body portion including a first end, a second end and an axially extending passageway. A metering valve is included that is axially moveable under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position to a flow restricting position. In the flow restricting position, the metering valve can restrict the flow of fluid through the axially extending passageway. The metering valve includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion. The upstream portion has a flattened top spherical shape. A biasing device is provided that normally biases the metering valve in the rest position, and for provides resistance to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an interior surface defining an axially extending passageway having a minimum diameter portion, a metering valve including an upstream portion, a downstream portion and a side portion between the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the side portion including a maximum diameter portion smaller than the minimum diameter portion of the axial passageway to define a fluid flow space through which fluid can flow between the maximum diameter portion of the metering valve and the minimum diameter portion of the axially extending passageway, the upstream portion having a flattened top spherical shape, the metering valve being axially moveable within the axially extending passageway under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position wherein flow of fluid through the valve is relatively unrestricted, to a flow restricting position wherein the metering valve can relatively restrict, while still permitting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow space of the axially extending passageway, and a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve in the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position.
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9. A flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an interior surface defining an axially extending passageway having a minimum diameter portion, a metering valve including an upstream portion, a downstream portion and a side portion between the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the side portion including a maximum diameter portion smaller than the minimum diameter portion of the axial passageway to define a fluid flow space though which fluid can flow between the maximum diameter portion of the metering valve and the minimum diameter portion of the axially extending passageway, the upstream portion having a flattened top spherical shape, the metering valve being axially moveable within the axially extending passageway under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position wherein flow of fluid through the valve is relatively unrestricted, to a flow restricting position wherein the metering valve can relatively restrict, while still permitting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow space of the axially extending passageway, and a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve in the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position, wherein the biasing device seat includes a central ring having a central aperture for receiving the first end of the shaft member, a perimetral ring member for receiving an upstream end of the spring, and at least two legs extending between the central ring and the perimetral ring, the at least two legs defining apertures there between through which fluid can flow.
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10. A flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an interior surface definig an axially extending passageway having a minimum diameter portion, a metering valve including an upstream portion, a downstream portion and a side portion between the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the side portion including a maximum diameter portion smaller than the minimum diameter portion of the axial passageway to define a fluid flow space though which fluid can flow between the maximum diameter portion of the metering valve and the minimum diameter portion of the axially extending passageway, the upstream portion having a flattened top spherical shape, the metering valve being axially moveable within the axially extending passageway under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position wherein flow of fluid through the valve is relatively unrestricted, to a flow restricting position wherein the metering valve can relatively restrict, while still permitting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow space of the axially extending passageway, the metering valve including a shaft holder, the shaft holder including a sleeve defining a central passageway for receiving the axially movable shaft member, and at least two legs that extend axially and radially at an angle from the shaft member and a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve in the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position.
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14. A flow control valve for providing fluid control across a control range of varying fluid pressures, the flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an axially extending flow passageway, a metering valve axially movable under the influence fluid pressure from a rest position wherein fluid can flow in the axially extending flow passageway around the metering valve to a flow restricting position wherein the metering valve can restrict the flow of fluid in the axially extending passageway around the metering valve a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve in the rest position and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position, and an axially moveable shaft member for functionally coupling the metering valve to the biasing device, the shaft member including an axially extending interior passageway having an open upstream end, an open downstream end and a generally constant cross sectional area between the upstream end and the downstream end to permit fluid flowing through the valve to flow through the axially extending interior passageway of the shaft member, wherein the flow control valve provides a low variance in the rate of fluid flow through the valve throughout the control range of varying fluid pressures.
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18. A flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an axially extending flow passageway, a metering valve axially moveable under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position to a flow restricting position, wherein the metering valve can restrict the flow of fluid through the axially extending passageway, a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve into the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position, an axially moveable shaft member for functionally coupling the metering valve to the biasing device, and a shaft holder including a sleeve defining a central passageway for receiving the axially moveable shaft member, the shaft holder includes at least two support legs extending axially and radially at an oblique angle to a long axis of the axially movable shaft member between the sleeve and the body portion, the at least two legs defining apertures therebetween through which fluid can flow, in the axially flow extending passageway both interiorly and exteriorly of the biasing device.
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22. A flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an axially extending flow passageway, a metering valve axially moveable under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position to a flow restricting position, wherein the metering valve can restrict the flow of fluid through the axially extending passageway, a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve into the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position, an axially moveable shaft member for functionally coupling the metering valve to the biasing device, and a shaft holder including a sleeve defining a central passageway for receiving the axially moveable shaft member, the shaft holder includes at least two support legs extending axially and radially between the sleeve and the body portion , the at least two legs defining apertures therebetween through which fluid can flow, in the axially flow extending passageway both interiorly and exteriorly of the biasing device, wherein the metering valve includes an upstream portion and a downstream portion, the upstream portion having a flattened top spherical shape and the downstream portion having a frusto-conical shape, and the axially moveable shaft member includes an axially extending interior passageway having an open upstream end and an open downstream end to permit fluid flowing through the valve to flow through the axially extending interior passageway of the shaft member, and wherein the first end of the body portion is an upstream end, and the second end of the body portion is a downstream end when the flow control valve is disposed in a fluid system, wherein the axially extending passageway includes a relatively reduced diameter portion disposed relatively closer to the downstream end, and a relatively enlarged diameter portion disposed relatively closer to the upstream end, the reduced diameter portion including a progressively reducing inner diameter, wherein the diameter of the reduced diameter portion adjacent to the enlarged diameter portion is restrictively greater than the diameter of the reduced diameter portion adjacent to the downstream end, the downstream end terminating in a minimum diameter portion, wherein the metering valve has a maximum diameter portion smaller than the minimum diameter portion to permit fluid to flow around the metering valve between the minimum diameter portion of the axially extending passageway and the maximum diameter portion of the metering valve.
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23. A flow control valve comprising
a body portion including a first end, a second end and an interior surface defining an axially extending passageway having a minimum diameter portion, a metering valve including an upstream portion, downstream portion and a side portion between the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the side portion including a maximum diameter portion smaller than the minimum diameter portion of the axial passageway to define a fluid flow space though which fluid can flow between the maximum diameter portion of the metering valve and the minimum diameter portion of the axially extending passageway, the upstream portion having a flattened top spherical shape, the metering valve being axially moveable within the axially extending passageway under the influence of fluid pressure from a rest position wherein flow of fluid through the valve is relatively unrestricted, to a flow restricting position wherein the metering valve can relatively restrict, while still permitting the flow of fluid through the fluid flow space of the axially extending passageway, a biasing device for normally biasing the metering valve in the rest position, and for providing resistence to movement of the metering valve to the flow restricting position, and an axially movable shaft member for functionally coupling the metering valve to the biasing device, the shaft member including an axially extending interior passageway having an open upstream end and an open downstream end to permit fluid flowing through the valve to flow through the axially extending interior passageway of the shaft member.
Specification