Adjustable fluid restrictor method and apparatus

Claim 2

An adjustable fluid restrictor, comprising a. means providing a tubular cage; b. a cylindrical chamber defined within said cage; c. means defining an inlet end opening to said cylindrical chamber; d. means defining an outlet side opening to said cylindrical chamber; e. a cylindrical reciprocating stem extending within and coaxially with said cage means chamber, said stem comprising e1. a stem-centering cylindrical guide closing the opposite-toinlet end of Said cylindrical chamber, e2. a stem-terminating valve plug closing and opening said inlet opening upon the flow controlling axial adjustment of said stem, and e3. a series of annular discs spaced intermediate said guide and plug, said discs radially projecting within said cylindrical chamber to a sliding, sealing interfitting with said cage means; said stem reduced from the wall of said cylindrical chamber intermediate said discs and defining thereat a series of axial passages sealed by said discs and wall in the inlet closing position of said stem and plug; and f. a series of ports recessing the inner wall of said tubular cage means, at least one of said ports overlapping the periphery of each of said discs to define in the inlet-opening position of said stem and plug a series of throttling stages in which pressure fluid admitted through said inlet end opening is, between one and the next of said axial passages, reversely flowed in radial passages defined between the opposing faces of said discs and ports.

Claim 3

An adjustable fluid restrictor, comprising a. means providing a tubular cage; b. a cylindrical chamber defined within said cage; c. means defining an inlet end opening to said cylindrical chamber; d. means defining an outlet side opening to said cylindrical chamber; e. a cylindrical reciprocating stem extending within and coaxially with said cage means chamber, said stem comprising e1. a stem-centering cylindrical guide closing the opposite-to-inlet end of Said cylindrical chamber, e2. a stem-terminating valve plug closing and opening said inlet opening upon the flow controlling axial adjustment of said stem, and e3. a series of annular discs spaced intermediate said guide and plug, said discs radially projecting within said cylindrical chamber to a sliding, sealing interfitting with said cage means; said stem reduced from the wall of said cylindrical chamber intermediate said discs and defining thereat a series of axial passages sealed by said discs and wall in the inlet closing position of said stem and plug; and f. a series of ports recessing the inner wall of said tubular cage means, at least one of said ports overlapping the periphery of each of said discs to define in the inlet-opening position of said stem and plug a series of throttling stages in which pressure fluid admitted through said inlet end opening is, between one and the next of said axial passages, reversely flowed in radial passages defined between the opposing faces of said discs and ports.

Claim 4

An adjustable fluid restrictor, comprising a. means providing a tubular cage; b. a cylindrical chamber defined within said cage; c. means defining an inlet end opening to said cylindrical chamber; d. means defining an outlet side opening to said cylindrical chamber; e. a cylindrical reciprocating stem extending within and coaxially with said cage means chamber, said stem comprising e1. a stem-centering cylindrical guide closing the opposite-to-inlet end of Said cylindrical chamber, e2. a stem-terminating valve plug closing and opening said inlet opening upon the flow controlling axial adjustment of said stem, and e3. a series of annular discs spaced intermediate said guide and plug, said discs radially projecting within said cylindrical chamber to a sliding, sealing interfitting with said cage means; said stem reduced from the wall of said cylindrical chamber intermediate said discs and defining thereat a series of axial passages sealed by said discs and wall in the inlet closing position of said stem and plug; and f. a series of ports recessing the inner wall of said tubular cage means, at least one of said ports overlapping the periphery of each of said discs to define in the inlet-opening position of said stem and plug a series of throttling stages in which pressure fluid admitted through said inlet end opening is, between one and the next of said axial passages, reversely flowed in radial passages defined between the opposing faces of said discs and ports.

Claim 5

drilling a longitudinal series of radial holes in an inner sleeve;

Claim 6

drilling a longitudinal series of radial holes in an inner sleeve;

Claim 7

press fitting an outer sleeve over said inner sleeve to close said openings and define the same as ports forming recessing of the inner surface of said cage means; and

Claim 8

press fitting an outer sleeve over said inner sleeve to close said openings and define the same as ports forming recessing of the inner surface of said cage means; and

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ports comprise for each said disc a balanced plurality of uniformly distributed, radially oriented flow passages cut part way through said cage means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said cage means comprise concentric, sealingly interfitted cylinders, and wherein said passages aperture the inner of said cylinders.

Claim 11

assembling said stem with said sleeves to provide for controlled covering and uncovering of said ports by the relative axial adjustment of said cage and stem means.

Claim 12

assembling said stem with said sleeves to provide for controlled covering and uncovering of said ports by the relative axial adjustment of said cage and stem means.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said flow passages comprise a set of uniformly circumferentially distributed passages juxtaposed to each said disc, and wherein the passages of each said set have the same number and proportion and the same orientation circumferentially of said cage means chamber as have the passages of every other of said sets.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said outlet side opening defining means comprise passage means in the outer of said cylinders communicating with the port passages at the outlet end of said inner cylinder.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 5, and a valve body sealing enclosing said tubular cage means, said body having a chamber surrounding said cage means in communication with said outer cylinder passage means.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said inlet end opening defines a valve seat adapted for sealing engagement by said plug.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cage means comprises an inner tube and an outer tube sealingly press fitted over said inner tube, and wherein said ports comprise wall apertures in said inner tube sealingly closed over and made into blind holes by said outer tube.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said discs are defined at their inlet side by flat transverse faces, at their outlet side by conical faces, and intermediate said faces by cylindrical lengths having axial peripheries proportioned for snug sliding interfitting with said chamber wall and having thereby the capacity to wipe cleanly said ports recessing said wall.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 1, and a valve body sealingly enclosing said tubular cage means.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ports are progressively larger in successive ones of said series of throttling stages, whereby to compensate for the fluid density changes accompanying the successive fluid pressure reductions in said throttling stages.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said ports are progressively greater in number in successive ones of said series of throttling stages, whereby to compensate for the fluid density changes accompanying the successive fluid pressure reductions in said throttling stages.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein successive ones of said series of throttling stages are spaced progressively further apart, whereby to compensate for the fluid density changes accompanying the successive fluid pressure reductions in said throttling stages.

Claim 23

Cage and stem means for adjustable fluid restrictor comprising a. a cylindrical stem, said stem having spaced annular reductions defining therebetWeen b. a series of annular radially projecting discs; c. an inner sleeve received over and sealingly interfitting said stem; d. a series of ports aperturing said inner sleeve, at least one said port opposite each said disc; and e. a concentric outer sleeve press fitted over said inner sleeve and having a solid wall closing over said ports.

Claim 24

Cage and stem means for adjustable fluid restrictor comprising a. a cylindrical stem, said stem having spaced annular reductions defining therebetWeen b. a series of annular radially projecting discs; c. an inner sleeve received over and sealingly interfitting said stem; d. a series of ports aperturing said inner sleeve, at least one said port opposite each said disc; and e. a concentric outer sleeve press fitted over said inner sleeve and having a solid wall closing over said ports.