초록 ▼

An automatic flow control valve according to the instant invention maintains a constant flow rate despite varying fluid pressure, and employs a dual outer and inner cup construction through which a range of flow rates can be accommodated via a change in the orientation between the outer and the inne

An automatic flow control valve according to the instant invention maintains a constant flow rate despite varying fluid pressure, and employs a dual outer and inner cup construction through which a range of flow rates can be accommodated via a change in the orientation between the outer and the inner cup. Two modes of implementation are disclosed. In one mode, the adjustment of the orientation between the cups to correspond to a desired flow rate is made prior to assembly and installation. In the other mode, an external adjustment means is provided for altering the relative orientation between the outer and the inner cup at field and after assembly and installation. In a third mode, the flow rate can be adjusted on a fully assembled valve at any time other than when said valve in installed in a process line. Additionally, a means for adjusting the preload of a range spring balancing the cups is also provided. In a further embodiment, a corrosive resistent split ring member is included as a valve component which is firmly held in a inwardly raised section of the pipe housing in which the valve is inserted and which wraps around the outer cup as an intermediate member between the outer cup and the inside surface of the pipe housing. In this manner, corrosion of the pipe housing will not obstruct motion of the outer and inner cups.

대표청구항 ▼

An automatic flow control valve comprising: a generally cylindrical valve housing having an upstream end and a downstream end and having a reduced bore section intermediate said ends; said reduced bore section defined by an upstream surface, a downstream surface and an inner surface; a flow control

An automatic flow control valve comprising: a generally cylindrical valve housing having an upstream end and a downstream end and having a reduced bore section intermediate said ends; said reduced bore section defined by an upstream surface, a downstream surface and an inner surface; a flow control set slidably received by said inner surface, said set including a first cup and an outer sleeve; said first cup having a cylindrical portion which includes at least one port hole of predetermined configuration for passage of fluid from the outside to the inside thereof; said outer sleeve having generally cylindrical shape disposed about said cylindrical portion of said cup and having at least one port hole of predetermined configuration which overlaps at least partially with said port hole of said first cup according to a predetermined arrangement so that fluid can flow through said holes; a range spring disposed between said downstream end and said set for biasing said set upstream; means to fixedly secure said first cup and said sleeve in fixed radial relationship with one another so that said cup and said sleeve can be positioned in predetermined relative orientations to adjust the degree of overlap of said port holes; wherein said means to fixedly secure include means responsive to operator manipulation to vary the orientation of said sleeve with respect to said cup so as to adjust the degree of overlap of said port holes; wherein said at least one port hole of said sleeve and said cup respectively include at least one fixed port hole and at least one throttling port hole; wherein said plurality of predetermined relative orientations are in rotational offset from each other, and said varying means is operative to rotate one of said outer sleeves and said cup relative to the other; wherein said varying means comprises: a center pin axially inserted through said cup and said second cup; said pin being loosely engaged with said cup in a guided relationship, and fixedly engaged relative to said inner cup; a pin retainer ring through which a portion of said center pin outside of said cup is fixedly engaged and operative to be rotationally driven via gear teeth extending therefrom; and a turndown shaft having circulatory arranged teeth for engaging said teeth on said peripheral structure of said pin retainer ring, whereby rotation of said turndown shaft responsive to an external force caused a corresponding rotation of said pin retainer ring and thus the center pin, resulting in rotation of said inner sup relative to said outer sleeve whereby the selected flow rate is maintained and effected by the rotational position of said turndown shaft.