US4718456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam conditioning valve
Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
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Filing: 1986-03-25
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Granted: 1988-01-12
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Expires: 2006-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A valve which conditions steam from a relatively high pressure source, by simultaneously reducing the steam pressure and temperature to the level desired for a particular steam utilizing application. The steam conditioning valve allows the amount of steam flow to be adjusted over a wide range, and simultaneously adjusts the amount of desuperheating liquid in direct proportion to the selected steam flow. Steam flow control is accomplished by passing the steam through an array of orifices in a fixed sleeve mounted in a valve body. A piston is movable within the sleeve to selectably cover or uncover the orifices as desired to regulate the amount of steam flowing therethrough. Steam flowing through the uncovered orifices enters a throat region where the steam accelerates and is subjected to a flow of desuperheating liquid; this liquid flows through a passage concentric with the steam flow control piston, and the amount of liquid flow is controlled by the reciprocal position of the piston assembly. The regulated flow of steam may optionally pass through orifices in one or more concentric steam diffusers to reduce the steam pressure in stages maintaining a subcritical velocity.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin G. Schoonover
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:03
CPC Classifications
F; F01; F01D; F01D17/00; F01D17/10; F01D17/12; F01D17/14; F01D17/141; F01D17/145; F16; F16K; F16K47/00; F16K47/04; F16K47/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86718; Y10T137/86759; Y10T137/86791; Y10T137/86815; Y10T137/87571; Y10T137/87652; Y10T137/8766; Y10T137/87668
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
692 words
A steam conditioning valve for adjusting a flow of steam and introducing a selectable flow of desuperheating water to the steam, comprising: a valve body having an interior wall defining a hollow interior region extending within the valve body along a longitudinal axis; said interior region having a first end opening and a second end opening aligned on the longitudinal axis; a steam inlet opening in said valve body for connection to a source of steam and interrupting a side of said interior wall to admit steam into said interior region intermediate said first and second end openings; said valve body having an outlet throat region communicating with the interior region at one end opening; a hollow stationary sleeve located in the interior region of the valve body, said sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface axially aligned with the longitudinal axis within the valve body; said sleeve having an outer surface spaced apart from the interior wall defining the interior region of the valve body, the sleeve defining an annular space between the sleeve and the interior wall, the annular space surrounding the sleeve and communicating with the steam inlet opening to admit steam to the outer surface of the sleeve; said sleeve having first and second ends respectively engaging the first and second openings of the interior region and isolating the annular space, and thus the steam inlet opening, from said outlet throat region; a plurality of steam flow orifices extending through said hollow sleeve and arrayed along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the steam flow orifices allowing steam to enter the sleeve from the annular space and the steam inlet opening; a steam control valve slidably disposed within the hollow sleeve and operable from outside the valve body for axial movement between first and secondpositions within the sleeve along the longitudinal axis; the steam control valve including a blocking member having an end proximal to the outlet throat region and having a blocking surface in close sliding relation with the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow sleeve to block all the steam flow orifices when the steam control valve is at said first position, thereby preventing steam flow through the sleeve; the blocking surface configured to progressively unblock the steam flow orifices arrayed along the sleeve as the steam control valve moves from said first position toward said second position, thereby allowing a progressively greater amount of steam flow from the steam inlet opening to enter the outlet throat region through the hollow sleeve; said steam control valve further including a stem coaxial with said blocking member, the stem longitudinally extending to first and second end portions beyond the ends of the blocking member; a water flow passage extending within the stem; one end portion of the stem extending into the outlet throat region of the steam conditioning valve and having water spray orifices communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; means defining a liquid receiving chamber on the valve body in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis; a water inlet opening into said liquid receiving chamber for connection to a source of water; said other end portion of the stem extending in the liquid receiving chamber for reciprocal movement therein as the steam control valve moves between first and second positions; a plurality of water flow orifices extending through the other end portion of the stem into communication with the liquid receiving chamber and communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged along the other portion of the stem, in relation to the liquid receiving chamber, to lie outside the liquid receiving chamber when the steam control valve is at said first position, so that no water enters the water flow passage in the stem; and the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged for progressive entry into the liquid receiving chamber as the steam control valve moves from the first to second positions, so that water is admitted to the outlet throat region through the water spray orifices for desuperheating the steam therein, in proportion to the amount of steam entering the throat region through the hollow sleeve.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
692 words
A steam conditioning valve for adjusting a flow of steam and introducing a selectable flow of desuperheating water to the steam, comprising: a valve body having an interior wall defining a hollow interior region extending within the valve body along a longitudinal axis; said interior region having a first end opening and a second end opening aligned on the longitudinal axis; a steam inlet opening in said valve body for connection to a source of steam and interrupting a side of said interior wall to admit steam into said interior region intermediate said first and second end openings; said valve body having an outlet throat region communicating with the interior region at one end opening; a hollow stationary sleeve located in the interior region of the valve body, said sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface axially aligned with the longitudinal axis within the valve body; said sleeve having an outer surface spaced apart from the interior wall defining the interior region of the valve body, the sleeve defining an annular space between the sleeve and the interior wall, the annular space surrounding the sleeve and communicating with the steam inlet opening to admit steam to the outer surface of the sleeve; said sleeve having first and second ends respectively engaging the first and second openings of the interior region and isolating the annular space, and thus the steam inlet opening, from said outlet throat region; a plurality of steam flow orifices extending through said hollow sleeve and arrayed along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the steam flow orifices allowing steam to enter the sleeve from the annular space and the steam inlet opening; a steam control valve slidably disposed within the hollow sleeve and operable from outside the valve body for axial movement between first and secondpositions within the sleeve along the longitudinal axis; the steam control valve including a blocking member having an end proximal to the outlet throat region and having a blocking surface in close sliding relation with the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow sleeve to block all the steam flow orifices when the steam control valve is at said first position, thereby preventing steam flow through the sleeve; the blocking surface configured to progressively unblock the steam flow orifices arrayed along the sleeve as the steam control valve moves from said first position toward said second position, thereby allowing a progressively greater amount of steam flow from the steam inlet opening to enter the outlet throat region through the hollow sleeve; said steam control valve further including a stem coaxial with said blocking member, the stem longitudinally extending to first and second end portions beyond the ends of the blocking member; a water flow passage extending within the stem; one end portion of the stem extending into the outlet throat region of the steam conditioning valve and having water spray orifices communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; means defining a liquid receiving chamber on the valve body in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis; a water inlet opening into said liquid receiving chamber for connection to a source of water; said other end portion of the stem extending in the liquid receiving chamber for reciprocal movement therein as the steam control valve moves between first and second positions; a plurality of water flow orifices extending through the other end portion of the stem into communication with the liquid receiving chamber and communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged along the other portion of the stem, in relation to the liquid receiving chamber, to lie outside the liquid receiving chamber when the steam control valve is at said first position, so that no water enters the water flow passage in the stem; and the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged for progressive entry into the liquid receiving chamber as the steam control valve moves from the first to second positions, so that water is admitted to the outlet throat region through the water spray orifices for desuperheating the steam therein, in proportion to the amount of steam entering the throat region through the hollow sleeve.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
132 words
The valve as in claim 1, further comprising: a plug valve member at said proximal end of the steam control valve; an annular plug valve seat within the valve body, coaxial with the longitudinal axis and upstream from the outlet throat region; the plug valve seat being longitudinally located within the interior region for sealing engagement by the plug valve member whenever the steam control valve is at said first position, and for opening disengagement whenever the steam control valve is moved away from said first position, whereby the plug valve member and plug valve seat comprise a steam plug valve downstream from the steam control valve and completely blocking steam flow through the steam conditioning valve when the blocking member of the steam control valve blocks all the steam flow orifices.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Valve as in claim 2, wherein: said valve seat is adjacent and end of said sleeve; and said plug valve member is disposed on a confronting element of said steam control valve to engage the valve seat and close the steam flow path through the valve seat as the steam control valve moves to said first position of the sleeve to block all said orifices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said blocking member comprises a piston movable within said sleeve to progressively block or unblock said orifices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
Apparatus as in claim 4, further comprising: a passage formed in said valve body in substantial alignment with said longitudinal axis, and extending into said interior region of the valve body at an end opening of the interior region; said sleeve being removably received through said passage for disposition in said interior region; a bonnet removably secured to said valve body to retain the sleeve fixedly within said passage; and an actuating member extending through said bonnet to slidably move said piston within said sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A valve as in claim 1, further comprising: apertured steam flow diffuser means located downstream of said steam control valve so as to diffuse the steam flowing past the unblocked orifices; and said water flow orifices extend through and terminate outside said steam diffuser means so as to introduce the desuperheating water to the diffused steam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
A valve as in claim 1, wherein said outlet throat region comprises a first flow region downstream of said sleeve, and a second flow region downstream of said first region; the cross-section area of said first flow region being less than that of said second flow region, so that steam from the unblocked orifices initially passes through said first flow region at increased velocity and reduced pressure, and thereafter undergoes a reduction in velocity with a corresponding increase in pressure when in said second flow region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A valve as in claim 6, wherein: said water flow orifices are associated with said orifice blocking member to introduce said desuperheating water to the steam in said first flow region, whereby the water is evaporated as the mixture of steam and water enters said second flow region so as to reduce the amount of superheat in the steam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
663 words
A steam conditioning valve for adjusting a flow of steam and introducing a selectable flow of desuperheating water to the steam, comprising: a valve body having an interior wall defining a hollow interior region extending within the valve body along a longitudinal axis; said interior region having an opening aligned on the longitudinal axis; a steam inlet opening in said valve body for connection to a source of steam and interrupting a side of said interior wall to admit steam into said interior region upstream from said end opening; said valve body having an outlet throat region communicating with the interior region at said end opening; a hollow stationary sleeve located in the interior region of the valve body, said sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface axially aligned with the longitudinal axis within the valve body; said sleeve having an outer surface spaced apart from the interior wall defining the interior region of the valve body and defining an annular space between the sleeve and the interior wall, said annular space surrounding the sleeve and communicating with the steam inlet opening to admit steam to the outer surface of the sleeve; said sleeve isolating the annular space, and thus the steam inlet opening, from said outlet throat region; a plurality of steam flow orifices extending through said hollow sleeve and arrayed along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the steam flow orfices allowing steam to enter the sleeve from the annular space and the steam inlet opening; a steam control valve slidably disposed within the hollow sleeve and selectably operable for axial movement between first and second positions within the sleeve along the longitudinal axis; the steam control valve including a blocking member having an end proximal to the outlet throat region and having a blocking surface in close sliding relation with the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow sleeve to block all the steam flow orifices when the steam control valve is at said first position, thereby preventing steam flow through the sleeve; the blocking surface configured to progressively unblock the steam flow orifices arrayed along the sleeve as the steam control valve moves from said first position toward said second position, thereby allowing a progressively greater amount of steam flow from the steam inlet opening to enter the outlet throat region the hollow sleeve; said steam control valve further including a stem coaxial with said blocking member, the stem longitudinally extending to first and second end portions beyond the ends of the blocking member; a water flow passage extending within the stem; one end portion of the stem extending into the outlet throat region of the steam conditioning valve and having water spray orifices communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; means defining a liquid receiving chamber associated with the valve body in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis; a water inlet opening into said liquid receiving chamber for connection to a source of water; said other end portion of the stem extending in the liquid receiving chamber for reciprocal movement therein as the steam control valve moves between said first and second positions; a plurality of water flow orifices extending through the other end portion of the stem into communication with the liquid receiving chamber and communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged along the other portion of the stem, in relation to the liquid receiving chamber, to lie outside the liquid receiving chamber when the steam control valve is at said first position, so that no water enters the water flow passage in the stem; and the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged for progressive entry into the liquid receiving chamber as the steam control valve moves from the first to second positions, so that water is admitted to the outlet throat region through the water spray orifices for desuperheating the steam therein, in proportion to the amount of steam entering the throat region through the hollow sleeve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
663 words
A steam conditioning valve for adjusting a flow of steam and introducing a selectable flow of desuperheating water to the steam, comprising: a valve body having an interior wall defining a hollow interior region extending within the valve body along a longitudinal axis; said interior region having an opening aligned on the longitudinal axis; a steam inlet opening in said valve body for connection to a source of steam and interrupting a side of said interior wall to admit steam into said interior region upstream from said end opening; said valve body having an outlet throat region communicating with the interior region at said end opening; a hollow stationary sleeve located in the interior region of the valve body, said sleeve having a cylindrical inner surface axially aligned with the longitudinal axis within the valve body; said sleeve having an outer surface spaced apart from the interior wall defining the interior region of the valve body and defining an annular space between the sleeve and the interior wall, said annular space surrounding the sleeve and communicating with the steam inlet opening to admit steam to the outer surface of the sleeve; said sleeve isolating the annular space, and thus the steam inlet opening, from said outlet throat region; a plurality of steam flow orifices extending through said hollow sleeve and arrayed along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, the steam flow orfices allowing steam to enter the sleeve from the annular space and the steam inlet opening; a steam control valve slidably disposed within the hollow sleeve and selectably operable for axial movement between first and second positions within the sleeve along the longitudinal axis; the steam control valve including a blocking member having an end proximal to the outlet throat region and having a blocking surface in close sliding relation with the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow sleeve to block all the steam flow orifices when the steam control valve is at said first position, thereby preventing steam flow through the sleeve; the blocking surface configured to progressively unblock the steam flow orifices arrayed along the sleeve as the steam control valve moves from said first position toward said second position, thereby allowing a progressively greater amount of steam flow from the steam inlet opening to enter the outlet throat region the hollow sleeve; said steam control valve further including a stem coaxial with said blocking member, the stem longitudinally extending to first and second end portions beyond the ends of the blocking member; a water flow passage extending within the stem; one end portion of the stem extending into the outlet throat region of the steam conditioning valve and having water spray orifices communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; means defining a liquid receiving chamber associated with the valve body in coaxial alignment with said longitudinal axis; a water inlet opening into said liquid receiving chamber for connection to a source of water; said other end portion of the stem extending in the liquid receiving chamber for reciprocal movement therein as the steam control valve moves between said first and second positions; a plurality of water flow orifices extending through the other end portion of the stem into communication with the liquid receiving chamber and communicating with the water flow passage in the stem; the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged along the other portion of the stem, in relation to the liquid receiving chamber, to lie outside the liquid receiving chamber when the steam control valve is at said first position, so that no water enters the water flow passage in the stem; and the water flow orifices being longitudinally arranged for progressive entry into the liquid receiving chamber as the steam control valve moves from the first to second positions, so that water is admitted to the outlet throat region through the water spray orifices for desuperheating the steam therein, in proportion to the amount of steam entering the throat region through the hollow sleeve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-01-11 | 1991-07-13 | 1992-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-01-11 | 1995-07-13 | 1996-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-01-11 | 1999-07-13 | 2000-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |