Fluid choke

Claim 2

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow comprising: an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, a one-piece choke member having an elongated inlet section having an outer diameter significantly less than the inner diameter of the inlet pipe, an axial orifice extending through the inlet section having a substantially constant diameter, means for reducing the collection of foreign material in the inlet section orifice including a plurality of generally radial openings extending from the orifice to the outer diameter of the inlet section, said choke member having an outlet section communicating with the outlet pipe, said outlet section having a substantially constant diameter orifice extending therethrough communicating with the inlet section orifice, said outlet section orifice being of greater diameter than the inlet section orifice, said outlet section having a first end adjacent the inlet section and a second end opposite the first end, a first coupling member connecting first end to the inlet pipe, and a separate second coupling member connecting the second end of the outlet section defines the outer diameter of part of the assembly.

Claim 3

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inlet section projects within the inlet pipe to reduce the length of the assembly.

Claim 4

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow, comprising: an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that does not require the use of any separate filters, a unitary one-piece member of cylindrical construction, said member having a reduced diameter inlet end and an enlarged diamter outlet end, the inlet end diamter being substantially less than the inlet pipe inside diameter to permit flow therearound, a substantially constant diameter orifice in the inlet section extending axially therethrough, a plurality of radially extending apertures in the inlet end between the orifice and the outer diameter thereof, the outlet end having an orifice therethrough communicating with the inlet end orifice and having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the inlet end orifice, a first coupler connecting one end of the outlet end to the inlet pipe, and a second separate coupler connecting the other end of the outlet end to the outlet pipe so that at least a portion of the outlet end of the one-piece member defines the entire radial part of at least a length of the assembly.

Claim 5

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow, comprising: an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe that does not require the use of any separate filters, a unitary one-piece member of cylindrical construction, said member having a reduced diameter inlet end and an enlarged diamter outlet end, the inlet end diamter being substantially less than the inlet pipe inside diameter to permit flow therearound, a substantially constant diameter orifice in the inlet section extending axially therethrough, a plurality of radially extending apertures in the inlet end between the orifice and the outer diameter thereof, the outlet end having an orifice therethrough communicating with the inlet end orifice and having a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of the inlet end orifice, a first coupler connecting one end of the outlet end to the inlet pipe, and a second separate coupler connecting the other end of the outlet end to the outlet pipe so that at least a portion of the outlet end of the one-piece member defines the entire radial part of at least a length of the assembly.

Claim 6

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow as claimed in claim 3 wherein the outlet section is substantially larger in outer diameter than the inlet section.

Claim 7

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow as claimed in claim 3 wherein said apertures are radially extending holes positioned in planes spaced 90 degrees apart around the inlet section.

Claim 8

A condensate drain system for a steam system having a high pressure steam line, a first bypass drain line connected to the inlet line having a trap therein for draining during system start-up, a second drain line connected to the inlet line for steady-state drain, said second drain line having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe with a choke therebetween, said choke having an inlet section with an outer diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of the second drain line, an orifice through the inlet section, a plurality of apertures between the orifice and the outer diameter of the inlet section to eliminate the need for any filters with the choke, an outlet section having a first end adjacent the inlet section and a second end opposite the first end, a first coupling member connecting the first end to the inlet pipe, and a separate second coupling member connecting the second end of the outlet section to the outlet pipe so that the outlet section defines the outer diameter of part of the assembly.

Claim 9

A condensate drain system for a steam system having a high pressure steam line, a first bypass drain line connected to the inlet line having a trap therein for draining during system start-up, a second drain line connected to the inlet line for steady-state drain, said second drain line having an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe with a choke therebetween, said choke having an inlet section with an outer diameter substantially less than the inner diameter of the second drain line, an orifice through the inlet section, a plurality of apertures between the orifice and the outer diameter of the inlet section to eliminate the need for any filters with the choke, an outlet section having a first end adjacent the inlet section and a second end opposite the first end, a first coupling member connecting the first end to the inlet pipe, and a separate second coupling member connecting the second end of the outlet section to the outlet pipe so that the outlet section defines the outer diameter of part of the assembly.

Claim 10

A choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow, comprising: an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a unitary choke member having a cylindrical construction, said choke member having a reduced diameter inlet section substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the inlet pipe to permit flow around the inlet section inside the inlet pipe, said choke member having an enlarged diameter outlet section substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of both the inlet pipe and the oulet pipe, a substantially constant diameter orifice extending completely axially through the inlet section, a plurality of generally radially extending apertures in the inlet section between the orifice and the outer diameter thereof, said inlet section projecting substantially within the inlet pipe, said enlarged diameter outlet section having a length somewhat less than the space between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe and positioned substantially equal distances from both, a first coupler connecting one end of the outlet section of the choke member to the inlet pipe, and a separate coupler connecting the other end of the outlet section to the outlet pipe so that the outlet section forms parts of the outside length of the entire assembly.

Claim 11

A choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow, comprising: an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, a unitary choke member having a cylindrical construction, said choke member having a reduced diameter inlet section substantially smaller than the inside diameter of the inlet pipe to permit flow around the inlet section inside the inlet pipe, said choke member having an enlarged diameter outlet section substantially the same diameter as the outer diameter of both the inlet pipe and the oulet pipe, a substantially constant diameter orifice extending completely axially through the inlet section, a plurality of generally radially extending apertures in the inlet section between the orifice and the outer diameter thereof, said inlet section projecting substantially within the inlet pipe, said enlarged diameter outlet section having a length somewhat less than the space between the inlet pipe and the outlet pipe and positioned substantially equal distances from both, a first coupler connecting one end of the outlet section of the choke member to the inlet pipe, and a separate coupler connecting the other end of the outlet section to the outlet pipe so that the outlet section forms parts of the outside length of the entire assembly.

Claim 12

A fluid choke assembly for controlling pressurized fluid flow as claimed in claim 7 wherein said apertures are slightly smaller than the orifice.