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An apparatus and method are provided for modifying a flow characteristic, such as a valve characteristic, through use of a flow characterizing device having a segmented flow characterizing channel therein including three or more discrete segments, at least one of which is a through-hole, for modifyi

An apparatus and method are provided for modifying a flow characteristic, such as a valve characteristic, through use of a flow characterizing device having a segmented flow characterizing channel therein including three or more discrete segments, at least one of which is a through-hole, for modifying a flow of fluid through a flowpath, in which the flow characterizing device is mounted, when a controlling edge, mounted in the flowpath adjacent the flow characterizing device, is aligned with one or more of the three or more discrete segments of the flow characterizing channel. Either or both of the flow characterizing channel and the controlling edge are selectively movable relative to one another.

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What is claimed is: 1. A flow characterizing device, adapted for placement in a flowpath adjacent to a movable valve member, but not including the valve member or the flowpath, for modifying fluid flow through the flowpath, where the flowpath defines a longitudinal axis thereof and the valve member

What is claimed is: 1. A flow characterizing device, adapted for placement in a flowpath adjacent to a movable valve member, but not including the valve member or the flowpath, for modifying fluid flow through the flowpath, where the flowpath defines a longitudinal axis thereof and the valve member includes an outer surface thereof having a controlling edge which is selectively movable, along a path extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, between a fully open and a fully closed position of the valve member in the flowpath, the flow characterizing device comprising: a body, defining a longitudinal centerline of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the flowpath when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, and a transverse axis of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the path of the controlling edge when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, the body also defining a datum surface of the flow characterizing device corresponding to the outer surface of the valve member when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, and inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device disposed in a spaced relationship along the centerline of the flow characterizing device; the inner surface of the flow characterizing device defining a land surface thereof conforming to a portion of the datum surface and contoured to bear against the outer surface of the valve member, for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the land surface and the outer surface of the valve member; the inner surface of the flow characterizing device further defining a segmented flow characterizing channel therein bounded at least partially by the land surface and the datum surface and including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole extending through the body for providing fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device, and the other two of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole, with each discrete segment opening through the datum surface, and, when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned therewith, providing a uniquely sized, discrete, flow area at least partially bounded by the datum surface, for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 2. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the other two or more discrete segments includes a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by the at least one of the other two or more discrete segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith is a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 3. The flow characterizing device of claim 2, wherein at least two of the other two or more discrete segments include substantially axially facing walls thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device. 4. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein the discrete segments are oriented in a series fluid circuit relationship to one another, and sized such that, when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath and controlling edge of the valve member is aligned with a given one of the segments, substantially all of a flow of fluid through the flowpath will pass through and be controlled by the uniquely sized, discrete, flow area provided by the given segment. 5. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein two or more given segments of the three or more segments are oriented in a parallel fluid circuit arrangement to one another, such that when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath and the controlling edge of the valve member is concurrently aligned with all of the given segments, substantially all of a flow of fluid through the flowpath will pass through and be controlled by the uniquely sized, discrete, flow areas provided by all of the given segments acting in a parallel fluid flow relationship. 6. The flow characterizing device of claim 5, wherein the given segments are oriented in a parallel-series fluid relationship to the through-hole in the flow characterizing channel, such that a summation of flows through the given segments passes through the through-hole. 7. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein two or more given segments of the three or more segments are oriented in a parallel fluid circuit arrangement to one another, such that when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath and the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned with any one of the two or more given segments, substantially all of a flow of fluid through the flowpath will pass through and be controlled by the uniquely sized, discrete, flow areas provided by all of the given segments acting in a parallel fluid flow relationship. 8. The flow characterizing device of claim 7 wherein at least one of the two or more given segments includes a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by the at least one of the two or more given segments, when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath and the controlling edge is aligned therewith, provides a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 9. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the other two or more discrete segments includes a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by the at least one of the other two or more discrete segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith provides a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath; and the segmented flow characterizing channel extends along the transverse axis of the flow characterizing device, with the through-hole being disposed substantially at one end of the channel and the at least one segment, having a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to the centerline, being disposed at an opposite end of the channel. 10. The flow characterizing device of claim 9, wherein: the segmented flow characterizing channel includes a first and a second segment thereof, with the one segment of claim 9 forming the first segment; and the segmented flow characterizing channel further includes a substantially axially facing flow characterizing surface having adjacent first and second sections thereof extending at least partially across the flowpath and having discrete leading and trailing edges thereof that form a discontinuity at a juncture of the first and second segments of the flow characterizing channel and are configured for having the controlling edge selectively aligned therewith. 11. The flow characterizing bearing of claim 10, wherein the first and second sections of the flow characterizing surface are disposed at different distances from the datum surface. 12. The flow characterizing device of claim 10, wherein the first and second segments, form first and second transversely facing flow areas of different respective sizes, to thereby provide a stepped change in transversely facing flow area at the juncture between the first and second segments. 13. The flow characterizing device of claim 12, wherein the second transversely facing flow area is larger than the first transversely facing flow area. 14. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein the through-hole includes adjacent first and second discrete segments thereof, without a separating wall therebetween, and having discrete sidewalls discontinuously joined to one another at a juncture configured for having the controlling edge selectively aligned therewith at a predetermined location along the transverse axis. 15. The flow characterizing device of claim 14, wherein the first and second segments of the through-hole form first and second axially facing flow areas of different respective sizes, to thereby provide a stepped change in axially facing flow area at the juncture between the first and second segments. 16. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein the body further defines a bearing surface adapted for bearing against the outer surface of the valve member, when the valve member and flow characterizing device are installed in the flow passage. 17. The flow characterizing device of claim 16, wherein the bearing surface is formed by a portion of the land surface. 18. The flow characterizing device of claim 16, wherein the bearing surface includes a groove therein, dividing the bearing surface into a first and a second bearing surface that bear against the outer surface of the valve member, when the valve member and characterizing device are installed in the housing. 19. The flow characterizing device of claim 18, wherein the first and second bearing surfaces provide a substantially fluid-tight seal against the outer surface of the valve member, when the valve member and characterizing device are installed in the housing. 20. The flow characterizing device of claim 19, wherein the groove is adapted for holding a lubricant, for reducing friction between the outer surface of the valve member and the first and second bearing surfaces of the characterizing device. 21. The flow characterizing device of claim 1, wherein the land surface includes one or more recessed areas therein, spaced a clearance distance from the datum, to thereby reduce frictional drag between the land surface and the valve member. 22. A ball valve, comprising: a valve housing defining a flowpath and a longitudinal axis of the flowpath; a valve member mounted in the flowpath for selective rotation about an axis of rotation extending through the longitudinal axis of the flowpath, the valve member having an outer surface thereof defining a controlling edge which is selectively movable along a path extending substantially transverse to both the longitudinal axis and the axis of rotation between a fully open and a fully closed position of the valve member in the flowpath as the valve member is rotated about the rotational axis; and a flow characterizing device attached to the valve housing in the flowpath adjacent to the valve member, for modifying fluid flow through the flowpath, the flow characterizing device comprising: a body, defining a longitudinal centerline of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the flowpath, and a transverse axis of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the path of the controlling edge, the body also defining a datum surface of the flow characterizing device corresponding to the outer surface of the valve member, and inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device disposed in a spaced relationship along the centerline of the flow characterizing device; the inner surface of the flow characterizing device defining a land surface thereof conforming to a portion of the datum surface and contoured to bear against the outer surface of the valve member, for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the land surface and the outer surface of the valve member; the inner surface of the flow characterizing device further defining a segmented flow characterizing channel therein bounded at least partially by the land surface and the datum surface and including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole extending through the body for providing fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device, and the other two of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole, with each discrete segment opening through the datum surface, and, when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned therewith, providing a uniquely sized, discrete, flow area at least partially bounded by the datum surface, for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 23. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein at least one of the other two or more discrete segments of the flow characterizing device includes a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by the at least one of the other two or more discrete segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith is a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 24. The ball valve of claim 23, wherein at least two of the other two or more discrete segments of the flow characterizing device include substantially axially facing walls thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device. 25. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein the discrete segments of the flow characterizing device are oriented in a series fluid circuit relationship to one another, and sized such that, when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned with a given one of the segments, substantially all of a flow of fluid through the flowpath passes through and be controlled by the uniquely sized, discrete, flow area provided by the given segment. 26. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein two or more given segments of the three or more segments of the flow characterizing device are oriented in a parallel fluid circuit arrangement to one another, such that when the controlling edge of the valve member is concurrently aligned with all of the given segments, substantially all of a flow of fluid through the flowpath would pass through and be controlled by the uniquely sized, discrete, flow areas provided by all of the given segments acting in a parallel fluid flow relationship. 27. The ball valve of claim 26, wherein the given segments of the flow characterizing device are oriented in a parallel-series fluid relationship to the through-hole in the flow characterizing channel, such that a summation of flows through the given segments passes through the through-hole. 28. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein two or more given segments of the three or more segments of the flow characterizing device are oriented in a parallel fluid circuit arrangement to one another, such that when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned with any one of the two or more given segments, substantially all of a flow of fluid through the flowpath passes through and is controlled by the uniquely sized, discrete, flow areas provided by all of the given segments acting in a parallel fluid flow relationship. 29. The ball valve of claim 28 wherein at least one of the two or more given segments of the flow characterizing device includes a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by the at least one of the two or more given segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith provides a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 30. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein: at least one of the other two or more discrete segments of the flow characterizing device includes a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by the at least one of the other two or more discrete segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith provides a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath; and the segmented flow characterizing channel extends along the transverse axis of the flow characterizing device, with the through-hole being disposed substantially at one end of the channel and the at least one segment, having a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to the centerline, being disposed at an opposite end of the channel. 31. The ball valve of claim 30, wherein: the segmented flow characterizing channel of the flow characterizing device includes a first and a second segment thereof, with the one segment of claim 30 forming the first segment; and the segmented flow characterizing channel of the flow characterizing device further includes a substantially axially facing flow characterizing surface having adjacent first and second sections thereof extending at least partially across the flowpath and having discrete leading and trailing edges thereof that form a discontinuity at a juncture of the first and second segments of the flow characterizing channel and are configured for having the controlling edge selectively aligned therewith. 32. The ball valve of claim 31, wherein the first and second sections of the flow characterizing surface of the flow characterizing device are disposed at different distances from the datum surface. 33. The ball valve of claim 31, wherein the first and second segments of the flow characterizing device, form first and second transversely facing flow areas of different respective sizes, to thereby provide a stepped change in transversely facing flow area at the juncture between the first and second segments. 34. The ball valve of claim 33, wherein the second transversely facing flow area is larger than the first transversely facing flow area. 35. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein the through-hole of the flow characterizing device includes adjacent first and second discrete segments thereof, without a separating wall therebetween, and having discrete sidewalls discontinuously joined to one another at a juncture configured for having the controlling edge selectively aligned therewith at a predetermined location along the transverse axis. 36. The ball valve of claim 35, wherein the first and second segments of the through-hole of the flow characterizing device form first and second axially facing flow areas of different respective sizes, to thereby provide a stepped change in axially facing flow area at the juncture between the first and second segments. 37. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein the body of the flow characterizing device further defines a bearing surface adapted for bearing against the outer surface of the valve member. 38. The ball valve of claim 37, wherein the bearing surface of the flow characterizing device is formed by a portion of the land surface. 39. The ball valve of claim 37, wherein the bearing surface of the flow characterizing device includes a groove therein, dividing the bearing surface into a first and a second bearing surface that bear against the outer surface of the valve member. 40. The ball valve of claim 39, wherein the first and second bearing surfaces of the flow characterizing device provide a substantially fluid-tight seal against the outer surface of the valve member. 41. The ball valve of claim 40, wherein the groove is adapted for holding a lubricant, for reducing friction between the outer surface of the valve member and the first and second bearing surfaces of the characterizing device. 42. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein the land surface of the flow characterizing device includes one or more recessed areas therein, spaced a clearance distance from the datum, to thereby reduce frictional drag between the land surface and the valve member. 43. The ball valve of claim 22, wherein the ball valve is a three-way valve with the flowpath including an A passage, an AB passage, and a B passage, and the outer surface of the valve member includes an A face, an AB face, and a B face of the valve member, each having a respective controlling edge thereof, and the ball valve further comprises: a first flow characterizing device, according to claim 22, attached to the housing adjacent one of the A, B, or AB faces of the valve member; and a second flow characterizing device, according to claim 22, attached to the housing adjacent another of the A,B, or AB faces of the valve member. 44. The ball valve of claim 43, wherein: the A port is adapted for connection to a first fluid source, and the B port is adapted for connection to a second fluid source; the first characterizing device is installed in the A port, and the second characterizing device is installed in the B port; and the first and second characterizing devices are configured for providing a substantially equal percentage flow characteristic from the AB port at angular positions of the valve member where the B port is completely closed, and a substantially constant flow rate from the AB port at angular positions of the valve member where the B port is fully or partly open. 45. A method for modifying fluid flow through a flowpath having a valve member therein, where the flowpath defines a longitudinal axis thereof and the valve member includes an outer surface thereof having a controlling edge which is selectively movable, along a path extending transverse to the longitudinal axis, between a fully open and a fully closed position of the valve member in the flowpath, the method comprising inserting a flow characterizing device into the flowpath adjacent the valve member, wherein the flow characterizing device includes: a body, defining a longitudinal centerline of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the flowpath when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, and a transverse axis of the flow characterizing device that extends substantially coincident with the path of the controlling edge when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, the body also defining a datum surface of the flow characterizing device corresponding to the outer surface of the valve member when the flow characterizing device is installed in the flowpath, and inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device disposed in a spaced relationship along the centerline of the flow characterizing device; the inner surface of the flow characterizing device defining a land surface thereof conforming to a portion of the datum surface and contoured to bear against the outer surface of the valve member, for forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between the land surface and the outer surface of the valve member; the inner surface of the flow characterizing device further defining a segmented flow characterizing channel therein bounded at least partially by the land surface and the datum surface and including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole extending through the body for providing fluid communication between the inner and outer surfaces of the flow characterizing device, and the other two of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole, with each discrete segment opening through the datum surface, and, when the controlling edge of the valve member is aligned therewith, providing a uniquely sized, discrete, flow area at least partially bounded by the datum surface, for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath. 46. A method for modifying fluid flow through a flowpath defining a longitudinal axis thereof, the method comprising: controlling fluid flow through the flowpath with a segmented characterizing channel and a controlling edge disposed adjacent the segmented characterizing channel, by placing the segmented characterizing channel and controlling edge into the flowpath and adjusting the relative positions of the segmented characterizing channel and the controlling edge with respect to one another; the segmented flow characterizing channel including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole, with at least two or more of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole along a channel axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flowpath, with each of the at least two or more segments including a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by each one of the at least two or more discrete segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith is a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath; at least one of the controlling edge and the segmented flow characterizing channel being selectively movable along the channel axis. 47. An apparatus for modifying fluid flow through a flowpath defining a longitudinal axis thereof, the apparatus comprising: a segmented characterizing channel disposed in the flowpath, and a controlling edge disposed in the flowpath adjacent the segmented characterizing channel; the segmented flow characterizing channel including three or more discrete segments thereof, at least one of which is a through-hole, with at least two or more of the three or more discrete segments being connected in fluid communication with the through-hole along a channel axis extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flowpath, with each of the at least two or more segments including a substantially axially facing wall thereof extending transversely to centerline of the flow controlling device, such that the flow area provided by each one of the at least two or more discrete segments, when the controlling edge is aligned therewith is a transversely facing flow area for controlling a flow of fluid through the flowpath; at least one of the controlling edge and the segmented flow characterizing channel being selectively movable along the channel axis.