Multi-stage fluid flow control device
First Claim
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1. A multi-stage control valve, comprising:
- a valve body;
a seat ring disposed within the valve body and including;
a first inner surface portion at least partially defining a generally cylindrical bore which extends through the seat ring along an axis; and
a plurality of flow passages formed in the first inner surface portion to prescribed lengths and extending in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore, the plurality of flow passages being formed in prescribed orientations relative to each other, each flow passage having a tortuous configuration defining a series of right angle turns and including at least first sections which each extend in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore and second sections which each extend generally circumferentially relative to the axis of the bore, at least two of the flow passages being of differing lengths relative to the axis of the bore, the plurality of flow passages including;
a diametrically opposed pair of first flow passages which are each of a first length;
a diametrically opposed pair of second flow passages which are each of a second length less than the first length; and
a diametrically opposed pair of third flow passages which are each of a third length less than the second length;
a valve plug advanced through the bore and reciprocally movable along the axis thereof in a manner which allows for selective variations in a portion of the length of the flow passages covered thereby.
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Abstract
A control valve which includes a uniquely configured seat ring outfitted with flow passages adapted to operatively interact with a valve plug in a manner providing prescribed pressure reduction characteristics in a fluid flowing through the flow passages. The seat ring of the control valve of the present invention is preferably fabricated through the use of a direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) process. The use of the DMLS process to facilitate the fabrication of the seat ring in the control valve allows for the creation of more intricate and complex flow passages therein. Such increased intricacy/complexity provides better flow range/rangeability within the control valve.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-stage control valve, comprising:
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a valve body; a seat ring disposed within the valve body and including; a first inner surface portion at least partially defining a generally cylindrical bore which extends through the seat ring along an axis; and a plurality of flow passages formed in the first inner surface portion to prescribed lengths and extending in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore, the plurality of flow passages being formed in prescribed orientations relative to each other, each flow passage having a tortuous configuration defining a series of right angle turns and including at least first sections which each extend in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore and second sections which each extend generally circumferentially relative to the axis of the bore, at least two of the flow passages being of differing lengths relative to the axis of the bore, the plurality of flow passages including; a diametrically opposed pair of first flow passages which are each of a first length; a diametrically opposed pair of second flow passages which are each of a second length less than the first length; and a diametrically opposed pair of third flow passages which are each of a third length less than the second length; a valve plug advanced through the bore and reciprocally movable along the axis thereof in a manner which allows for selective variations in a portion of the length of the flow passages covered thereby. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A multi-stage control valve, comprising:
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a valve body; a seat ring disposed within the valve body and including; at least first and second inner surface portions which collectively define at least a portion of a generally cylindrical bore which extends through the seat ring along an axis, the second inner surface portion being outwardly flared relative to the first inner surface portion; and a plurality of flow passages which are each formed in the first and second inner surface portions to a prescribed length and such that a portion of each of the flow passages which is formed in the first inner surface portion extends in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore, and has a tortuous configuration including at least first sections which each extend in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore and second sections which each extend generally circumferentially relative to the axis of the bore; a valve plug advanced through the bore and reciprocally movable along the axis thereof in a manner which allows for selective variations in a portion of the length of at least one of the flow passages covered thereby. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A multi-stage control valve, comprising:
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a valve body; a seat ring disposed within the valve body and including; a first inner surface portion at least partially defining a generally cylindrical bore which extends through the seat ring along an axis; a plurality of flow passages formed in the first inner surface portion to prescribed lengths and extending in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore, the plurality of flow passages being formed in prescribed orientations relative to each other, each flow passage having a tortuous configuration defining a series of right angle turns and including at least first sections which each extend in generally parallel relation to the axis of the bore and second sections which each extend generally circumferentially relative to the axis of the bore; and at least one flow control groove which is formed within the first inner surface portion thereof and fluidly connects at least two of the flow passages to each other, the at least two of the flow passages connected via the at least one flow control groove having separate inlet ends; and a valve plug advanced through the bore and reciprocally movable along the axis thereof in a manner which allows for selective variations in a portion of the length of the flow passages covered thereby. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification