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A flow control valve is provided that comprises a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber that includes a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet. The various embodiments further comprise a modula

A flow control valve is provided that comprises a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber that includes a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet. The various embodiments further comprise a modulating member having first and second tapered arcuate slots therein, which is disposed in the valve chamber approximate the first valve port opening and second valve port opening. The modulating member is rotatable to adjustably position a wider or narrower portion of both the first tapered arcuate slot and second tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and second valve port opening respectively, to adjustably vary the rate of fluid flow through the valve.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A valve comprising: a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber therein, the valve chamber having a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet; a modulating member disposed in t

What is claimed is: 1. A valve comprising: a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber therein, the valve chamber having a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet; a modulating member disposed in the valve chamber approximate the first valve port opening and second valve port opening, the modulating member having a central aperture, and a first tapered arcuate slot extending completely through the modulating member and second tapered arcuate slot extending completely through the modulating member, the first and a second tapered arcuate slots encircling the central aperture, where the modulating member is configured to be rotated about the central aperture for positioning a portion of the first tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and a portion of the second tapered arcuate slot over the second valve port opening, wherein rotation of the modulating member adjustably positions a wider or narrower portion of both the first tapered arcuate slot and second tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and second valve port opening respectively, to adjustably vary the rate of fluid flow through the first valve port opening and second valve port opening, such that fluid flows from the inlet through the first valve port opening and first tapered arcuate slot extending completely through the modulating member into a portion of the valve chamber that is above the modulating member, and out through the second tapered arcuate slot extending completely through the modulating member and second valve pod opening to the outlet; and a biasing spring for biasing the modulating member against the first valve port opening and the second valve pod opening, where the spring is coupled to the modulating member such that the spring and the modulating member rotate together. 2. A valve comprising: a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber therein, the valve chamber having a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet; a modulating member disposed in the chamber approximate the first valve port opening and second valve port opening, the modulating member having a central aperture, and a first tapered arcuate slot and second tapered arcuate slot encircling the central aperture, where the modulating member is capable of being rotated about the central aperture for positioning a portion of the first tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and a portion of the second tapered arcuate slot over the second valve port opening, wherein rotation of the modulating member adjustably positions a wider or narrower portion of both the first tapered arcuate slot and second tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and second valve port opening respectively, to adjustably vary the rate of fluid flow through the first valve port opening and second valve port opening, wherein when fluid pressure at the inlet is greater than the fluid pressure at the outlet, the valve permits fluid flow from the inlet through the first valve port opening and first tapered arcuate slot into the valve chamber, and out through the second tapered arcuate slot and second valve port opening to the outlet, the flow rate of which is controlled by the rotational position of the first and second tapered arcuate slots relative to the first and second valve port openings respectively; and a two-way check valve comprising a converging-diverging passageway having first and second end portions, each end portion of which has a check ball retained therein, each check ball being configured to block the converging-diverging passageway to restrict fluid flow through the converging-diverging passageway when exposed to a pressure differential across the inlet and outlet of at least 5 psi. 3. The valve of claim 2 further comprising a bleed passage disposed between the valve chamber and the converging-diverging passageway of the two-way check valve, wherein fluid is passed through the bleed passage and two-way check valve to a low pressure side of the two-way check valve to reduce the effect of forward and reverse flow hysteresis caused by changes in pressure levels. 4. A valve comprising: a valve housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve chamber therein, the valve chamber having a first valve port opening in communication with the inlet and a second valve port opening in communication with the outlet; a modulating member disposed in the chamber approximate the first valve port opening and second valve port opening, the modulating member having a central aperture, and a first tapered arcuate slot and a second tapered arcuate slot encircling the central aperture, the modulating member being configured to rotate about the central aperture for positioning a portion of the first tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and a portion of the second tapered arcuate slot over the second valve port opening, where rotation of the modulating member adjustably positions a wider or narrower portion of both the first tapered arcuate slot and second tapered arcuate slot over the first valve port opening and second valve port opening respectively, to adjustably vary the flow rate through the first valve port opening and second valve port opening; a two-way check valve disposed between the inlet and the outlet of the valve housing, the two-way check valve including a converging-diverging passageway, each end portion of which has a check ball retained therein; and a motor having a shaft coupled to the modulating member's central aperture for adjustably rotating the modulating member to controllably adjust the rate of fluid flow through the first and second valve pod openings. 5. The valve of claim 4 further comprising a bleed passage extending between the valve chamber and the converging-diverging passageway of the two-way check valve chamber, wherein fluid is passed through the bleed passage and two way check valve to the low pressure side to reduce the effect of forward and reverse flow hysteresis caused by changes in pressure levels. 6. The valve of claim 4 wherein each check ball is configured to block off the passageway to restrict fluid flow through the passageway when the valve is exposed to a pressure differential across the inlet and outlet of at least 5 psi. 7. The valve of claim 4 further comprising a biasing spring for biasing the modulating member against the first valve port opening and the second valve port opening. 8. The valve of claim 4 wherein the modulating member is configured to be rotated to a closed position in which the first and second valve port openings are substantially closed off to restrict fluid flow therethrough. 9. The valve of claim 4 wherein the motor controllably rotates the modulating member to incrementally index the modulating member to a plurality of positions for incrementally adjusting the rate of fluid flow through the valve port openings. 10. The valve of claim 4 wherein the modulating member comprises a plate having a generally round contour, a central aperture having a keyed configuration, a first inner semi-circular slot concentric with the central aperture, and a second outer semi-circular slot concentric with the central aperture, the first and second semi-circular slots being disposed on generally opposing sides of the modulating member.