Flow cage assemblies
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flow cage assembly comprising:
- at least one flow cage body having a planar portion disposed along a first axis and a non-planar portion disposed along a second axis that is at an out-of-plane angle to said first axis, each at least one flow cage body having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the at least one outlet is configured to be within the non-planar portion, and defining at least one flow path therebetween, such that there is fluid communication through said flow cage body through the at least one flow path;
wherein each of the at least one inlets defines a first fluid flow direction and each of the at least one outlets defines a second fluid flow direction, and each of the at least one flow paths is configured to redirect an incoming fluid flow in at least one redirected fluid flow direction that is angled to the first fluid flow direction at least once prior to interconnecting said incoming fluid flow to the outlet.
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Abstract
Apparatus, systems and methods for implementing flow cages and flow cage assemblies in association with high pressure fluid flows and fluid valves are provided. Flow cages and flow assemblies are provided to dissipate the energy of a fluid flow, such as by reducing fluid flow pressure and/or fluid flow velocity. In some embodiments the dissipation of the fluid flow energy is adapted to reduce erosion, such as from high-pressure jet flows, to reduce cavitation, such as by controllably increasing the flow area, and/or to reduce valve noise associated with pressure surge.
7 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A flow cage assembly comprising:
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at least one flow cage body having a planar portion disposed along a first axis and a non-planar portion disposed along a second axis that is at an out-of-plane angle to said first axis, each at least one flow cage body having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, wherein the at least one outlet is configured to be within the non-planar portion, and defining at least one flow path therebetween, such that there is fluid communication through said flow cage body through the at least one flow path; wherein each of the at least one inlets defines a first fluid flow direction and each of the at least one outlets defines a second fluid flow direction, and each of the at least one flow paths is configured to redirect an incoming fluid flow in at least one redirected fluid flow direction that is angled to the first fluid flow direction at least once prior to interconnecting said incoming fluid flow to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A valve comprising:
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a valve body having a valve inlet in fluid communication with a first external fluid passage and a valve outlet in fluid communication with a second external fluid passage and a valve gate disposed therebetween for opening and closing the fluid communication therebetween; at least one flow cage assembly disposed in fluid communication with said valve body, the flow cage assembly comprising at least one flow cage body having a planar portion disposed along a first axis and a non-planar portion disposed along a second axis at an out-of-plane angle to said first axis, each at least one flow cage body having at least one inlet in fluid communication with the valve gate and at least one outlet, wherein the at least one outlet is configured to be within the non-planar portion and in fluid communication with the valve outlet, the flow cage body further defining at least one flow path between said at least one inlet and at least one outlet; wherein each of the at least one inlets defines a first fluid flow direction and each of the at least one outlets defines a second fluid flow direction, and each of the at least one flow paths is configured to redirect an incoming fluid flow in at least one redirected fluid flow direction that is angled to the first fluid flow direction at least once prior to interconnecting said incoming fluid flow to the outlet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification