Axial flow valve

Claim 2

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching, flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall, manifold means having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through the periphery of said housing, and said cage means including a passageway at the outlet of said cage means communicating with another port of said manifold means.

Claim 3

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching, flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall, manifold means having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through the periphery of said housing, and said first and second wall portions of said cage means including passageways therethrough respectively communicating with said inlet and said outlet, said passageways communicating with second and third ports, respectively, of said manifold means.

Claim 4

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching, flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall, manifold means having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through the periphery of said housing, and said first and second wall portions of said cage means including passageways therethrough respectively communicating with said inlet and said outlet, said passageways communicating with second and third ports, respectively, of said manifold means.

Claim 5

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housinG having an opening through the periphery thereof, manifold means having a port communicating with said opening in said housing, cage means mounted in said housing through which fluid may flow, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of elongated openings therein for enabling fluid to flow through said wall, and said elongated openings in both portions having converging ends at the regions thereof near said baffle, said cage means comprising a pair of substantially identical cages, each of said cages having a throat and baffle member with a respective wall portion extending between the throat and baffle member, said baffle members of said cages comprising said baffle of said cage means, there being a groove about the periphery of each of said cages at the baffle member thereof, said grooves defining an annular groove about the intermediate portion of said cage means when said cages are in an abutting relationship, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall.

Claim 6

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housinG having an opening through the periphery thereof, manifold means having a port communicating with said opening in said housing, cage means mounted in said housing through which fluid may flow, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of elongated openings therein for enabling fluid to flow through said wall, and said elongated openings in both portions having converging ends at the regions thereof near said baffle, said cage means comprising a pair of substantially identical cages, each of said cages having a throat and baffle member with a respective wall portion extending between the throat and baffle member, said baffle members of said cages comprising said baffle of said cage means, there being a groove about the periphery of each of said cages at the baffle member thereof, said grooves defining an annular groove about the intermediate portion of said cage means when said cages are in an abutting relationship, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall.

Claim 7

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching. said cage means comprising first and second similar cages, each of said respective first and second wall portions extend from the respective inlet and outlet to a baffle member, the baffle members of said cages defining said baffle of said cage means, and fastening means for engaging the baffle member of said cages for securing together said cages, the baffle member of the second of said cages being substantially conical and said fastening means including a substantially conical fairing member engaging the outlet end of the baffle member of said second cage for aiding in said fluid outlet velocity profile matching, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall.

Claim 8

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching. said cage means comprising first and second similar cages, each of said respective first and second wall portions extend from the respective inlet and outlet to a baffle member, the baffle members of said cages defining said baffle of said cage means, and fastening means for engaging the baffle member of said cages for securing together said cages, the baffle member of the second of said cages being substantially conical and said fastening means including a substantially conical fairing member engaging the outlet end of the baffle member of said second cage for aiding in said fluid outlet velocity profile matching, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall.

Claim 9

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said hoUsing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching, said cage means comprising a pair of substantially identical cages, each of said cages having a throat and baffle member with a respective wall portion extending between the throat and baffle member, said baffle members of said cages comprising said baffle of said cage means, there being a groove about the periphery of said cages at the baffle member thereof, said grooves of the cages defining an annular groove about the intermediate portion of said cage means when said baffle member of said cages are in an abutting relationship, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall.

Claim 10

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said hoUsing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a conical fairing to aid in fluid outlet velocity profile matching, said cage means comprising a pair of substantially identical cages, each of said cages having a throat and baffle member with a respective wall portion extending between the throat and baffle member, said baffle members of said cages comprising said baffle of said cage means, there being a groove about the periphery of said cages at the baffle member thereof, said grooves of the cages defining an annular groove about the intermediate portion of said cage means when said baffle member of said cages are in an abutting relationship, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall.

Claim 11

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough and adapted to be mounted between pipe flanges and the like comprising valve body means adapted to be coupled with pipe flanges and the like, said body means comprising housing means and cage means, with said cage means including an inlet and an outlet defining ends having faces adapted to be coupled with pipe flanges and the like and having openings therethrough between said ends, said housing means having an opening through the periphery thereof, and said cage means including a passageway therethrough communicating with the outlet end thereof, flexible preloaded sleeve means mounted between said housing means and said cage means, said sleeve means and an inner wall of said housing means defining a control chamber, and said sleeve means being normally in contact with at least a portion of said cage means for normally sealing said openings therethrough, and manifold means coupled with said housing means and having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through the periphery of said housing means, and another port communicating with the outlet of said cage means through said passageway in the outlet end of said cage means.

Claim 12

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough and adapted to be mounted between pipe flanges and the like comprising valve body means adapted to be coupled with pipe flanges and the like, said body means comprising housing means and cage means, with said cage means including an inlet and an outlet defining ends having faces adapted to be coupled with pipe flanges and the like and having openings therethrough between said ends, said housing means having an opening through the periphery thereof, and said cage means including a passageway therethrough communicating with the outlet end thereof, flexible preloaded sleeve means mounted between said housing means and said cage means, said sleeve means and an inner wall of said housing means defining a control chamber, and said sleeve means being normally in contact with at least a portion of said cage means for normally sealing said openings therethrough, and manifold means coupled with said housing means and having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through the periphery of said housing means, and another port communicating with the outlet of said cage means through said passageway in the outlet end of said cage means.

Claim 13

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a fairing to aid in fluid outLet velocity profile matching, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall, and said sleeve means having a plurality of longitudinal protrusions on the periphery thereof substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve means for preventing firm peripheral contact of said sleeve means with the inner surface of said housing.

Claim 14

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a housing, said housing having an opening through the periphery thereof, cage means through which fluid may flow, mounted in said housing, said cage means having a wall with first and second portions separated by a baffle, the first portion converging in the form of a truncated cone from an inlet toward said baffle and the second portion diverging in the form of a truncated cone from said baffle to an outlet, each of said portions having a plurality of openings therein for enabling fluid flow from said inlet through openings in said wall to the exterior of said cage means and from the exterior of said cage means through openings in said wall to said outlet, and said baffle extending into said outlet and forming a fairing to aid in fluid outLet velocity profile matching, and flexible sleeve means mounted over the outer periphery of said wall, said flexible sleeve means having a configuration substantially the same as the outer periphery of said wall and being normally in contact with the periphery of the wall for sealing said openings through said wall, said opening in said housing communicating with a control chamber defined by the outer periphery of said sleeve means and the inner wall of said housing for enabling a differential pressure to be established across at least a portion of said sleeve means for expanding said sleeve means away from said openings through said wall, and said sleeve means having a plurality of longitudinal protrusions on the periphery thereof substantially parallel to the axis of the sleeve means for preventing firm peripheral contact of said sleeve means with the inner surface of said housing.

Claim 15

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping and axially confining the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 16

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping and axially confining the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 17

A valve as in claim 8 wherein said means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means comprises rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means.

Claim 18

A valve as in claim 8 wherein the periphery of each cage means is relatively smooth except for a groove about the periphery thereof at said central barrier which defines an annular groove about the intermediate portion of the cage means at the central barrier.

Claim 19

A valve as in claim 8 wherein each cage means is substantially identical and each has a substantially frusto-conical shape.

Claim 20

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of said cage means having a plurality of narrow ribs defining a plurality of narrow elongated slots forming transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, and said elongated slots having converging ends near said central barrier, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 21

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of said cage means having a plurality of narrow ribs defining a plurality of narrow elongated slots forming transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, and said elongated slots having converging ends near said central barrier, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 22

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a flexible sleeve means, a pair of substantially identical hollow cage means each having a substantially frusto-conical shape, said cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for trapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of said cage means having a plurality of narrow ribs defining a plurality of narrow elongated slots forming transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, and said elongated slots having converging ends near said central barrier, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means in sealing engagement about the trAnsverse flow passages of the cage means, and rigid sleeve means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 23

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising a flexible sleeve means, a pair of substantially identical hollow cage means each having a substantially frusto-conical shape, said cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for trapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of said cage means having a plurality of narrow ribs defining a plurality of narrow elongated slots forming transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, and said elongated slots having converging ends near said central barrier, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means in sealing engagement about the trAnsverse flow passages of the cage means, and rigid sleeve means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 24

A valve as in claim 13 wherein each of said cage means has a relatively smooth periphery for allowing ready insertion thereof into said flexible sleeve means, and the inner surface of said rigid sleeve means includes rims near the outer edges thereof, and said flexible sleeve means includes grooves on the outer periphery near the ends thereof for engaging and mating with the respective rims of said rigid sleeve means.

Claim 25

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve, said means forming said control chamber comprising rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means, and the inner surface of said rigid sleeve means including rims near the outer edges thereof, and said flexible sleeve means including grooves on the outer periphery near the ends thereof for engaging and mating with the respective rims of said rigid sleeve means.

Claim 26

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve, said means forming said control chamber comprising rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means, and the inner surface of said rigid sleeve means including rims near the outer edges thereof, and said flexible sleeve means including grooves on the outer periphery near the ends thereof for engaging and mating with the respective rims of said rigid sleeve means.

Claim 27

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, each of said cage means having a plurality of narrow ribs defining a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, said transverse flow passages being elongated and having converging ends near said central barrier, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 28

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, each of said cage means having a plurality of narrow ribs defining a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, said transverse flow passages being elongated and having converging ends near said central barrier, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 29

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of said cage means having a relatively smooth periphery and terminating in a flange exteriorly of said flexible sleeve means, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve, said means forming said control chamber comprising rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means, and the inner surface at the outer ends of said rigid sleeve means and the peripheral surface at the outer ends of said flexible sleeve means having cooperatively mating portions with the outer ends of said sleeve means being sandwiched bEtween the ends of the outer periphery of said cage means and the outer internal ends of said rigid sleeve means, and with the flanges of said cage means abutting the outer edges of said rigid sleeve means.

Claim 30

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of said cage means having a relatively smooth periphery and terminating in a flange exteriorly of said flexible sleeve means, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve, said means forming said control chamber comprising rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means, and the inner surface at the outer ends of said rigid sleeve means and the peripheral surface at the outer ends of said flexible sleeve means having cooperatively mating portions with the outer ends of said sleeve means being sandwiched bEtween the ends of the outer periphery of said cage means and the outer internal ends of said rigid sleeve means, and with the flanges of said cage means abutting the outer edges of said rigid sleeve means.

Claim 31

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, said central barrier extending outwardly in a downstream flow direction of said valve, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 32

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, said central barrier extending outwardly in a downstream flow direction of said valve, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 33

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve, said means forming said control chamber comprising rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means, said rigid sleeve means having an opening therethrough, one of said cage means is a downstream cage means and has an orifice therethrough communicating with the outlet of the valve, and manifold means coupled with said rigid sleeve means and having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through said rigid sleeve means and another of said ports communicating with the outlet of said valve through said orifice in said downstream cage means.

Claim 34

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve, said means forming said control chamber comprising rigid sleeve means disposed about said flexible sleeve means, said rigid sleeve means having an opening therethrough, one of said cage means is a downstream cage means and has an orifice therethrough communicating with the outlet of the valve, and manifold means coupled with said rigid sleeve means and having a plurality of ports, a first of said ports providing external communication with said opening through said rigid sleeve means and another of said ports communicating with the outlet of said valve through said orifice in said downstream cage means.

Claim 35

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, said cage means being interconnected to each other by bolt means, said bolt means forming a conical fairing at said central barrier of said cage means in the downstream flow direction of said valve, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.

Claim 36

A valve for regulating the flow of fluid therethrough comprising, a flexible sleeve means, a pair of hollow cage means extending into the sleeve means from opposite ends thereof interconnected to each other for entrapping the sleeve means therebetween, each of the cage means having a plurality of transverse flow passages therethrough, the cage means having a central barrier to prevent direct axial flow therethrough, said cage means being interconnected to each other by bolt means, said bolt means forming a conical fairing at said central barrier of said cage means in the downstream flow direction of said valve, the flexible sleeve means being preloaded in contact with the cage means and in sealing engagement about the transverse flow passages of the cage means, and means forming a control chamber about the periphery of the flexible sleeve means to control the movement of the flexible sleeve means in permitting flow through the valve.