SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HYDRAULICALLY MANAGING FLUID PRESSURE DOWNSTREAM FROM A MAIN VALVE
First Claim
1. A method of controlling fluid pressure downstream a main valve, comprising the steps of:
- providing a main valve having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the main valve being configured to open to increase fluid flow therethrough, and close to reduce fluid flow therethrough;
associating a variable orifice with the main valve such that the flow area of the variable orifice changes as the main valve position changes;
passing a fluid stream, having a pressure substantially matching a fluid inlet pressure of the main valve, to an inlet of the variable orifice;
placing an inlet of a fixed orifice in fluid communication with an outlet of the variable orifice;
detecting a pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the fixed orifice; and
opening or closing the main valve in response to the detected fixed orifice pressure differential.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling fluid pressure downstream a main valve includes associating a variable orifice with the main valve such that the variable orifice opens as the main valve is opened and closes as the main valve is closed. A fluid stream taken from a fluid inlet of the main valve is passed to an inlet of the variable orifice. A fixed orifice is in fluid communication with an outlet of the variable orifice. A pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of a fixed orifice is detected by a control pilot device, which hydraulically opens or closes the main valve in response to the detected fixed orifice pressure differential between low pressure and high pressure set points.
40 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of controlling fluid pressure downstream a main valve, comprising the steps of:
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providing a main valve having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the main valve being configured to open to increase fluid flow therethrough, and close to reduce fluid flow therethrough; associating a variable orifice with the main valve such that the flow area of the variable orifice changes as the main valve position changes; passing a fluid stream, having a pressure substantially matching a fluid inlet pressure of the main valve, to an inlet of the variable orifice; placing an inlet of a fixed orifice in fluid communication with an outlet of the variable orifice; detecting a pressure differential between the inlet and outlet of the fixed orifice; and opening or closing the main valve in response to the detected fixed orifice pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for hydraulically managing fluid pressure downstream of a main valve, comprising:
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a main valve having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the main valve being configured to open to increase fluid flow therethrough, and to close to reduce fluid flow therethrough; a variable orifice assembly coupled to the main valve such that the flow area of the variable orifice changes as the main valve position changes; a fixed orifice in fluid communication with an outlet of the variable orifice; and a control device operably associated with the main valve, an inlet of the fixed orifice and an outlet of the fixed orifice and configured to detect pressure differentials between the inlet and outlet of the fixed orifice and open and close the main valve in response to the detected pressure differentials. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A control pilot valve apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a fluid low pressure regulating chamber disposed within the housing, and divided into first and second sub-chambers, each having a fluid inlet, by a first flexible diaphragm; a fluid high pressure regulating chamber disposed within the housing, including a fluid passageway intermediate an inlet and an outlet thereof, and at least partially defined by a second flexible diaphragm; an atmospheric chamber disposed between the fluid low pressure regulating chamber and the fluid high pressure regulating chamber; a poppet slidably disposed within the atmospheric chamber; and a stem extending from the first flexible diaphragm into the atmospheric chamber and movable into contact with the poppet; wherein movement of the poppet by either the stem or the second flexible diaphragm due to fluid pressure variations in the high fluid pressure regulating chamber or the low pressure regulating chamber varies fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet of the fluid high pressure regulating chamber. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification