Temperature control device and process control apparatus including a temperature control device
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorTrenton F. Jackson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process control apparatus includes a housing, a process control device disposed in the housing, and a temperature control device operably coupled to the housing for regulating a temperature of an atmosphere internal to the housing. The temperature control device includes a vortex tube and a flow control valve. The flow control valve is coupled to the vortex tube and includes a temperature sensing feature configured to sense a temperature of an atmosphere internal to the housing and configured to move a control element of the flow control valve based on the sensed temperature between a plurality of positions to selectively direct the flow of fluid from the first and second vortex outlets to the atmosphere internal to the housing.
Claims18
A temperature control device for controlling a temperature of a process control apparatus, the temperature control device comprising:
- a vortex tube having a vortex inlet for receiving a compressed fluid, a first vortex outlet for discharging fluid from the vortex tube at a first temperature, and a second vortex outlet for discharging fluid from the vortex tube at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature,
- a flow control valve coupled to the vortex tube to selectively direct the flow of fluid from the first and second vortex outlets of the vortex tube, the flow control valve comprising:
- a valve body defining a valve cavity, a first valve inlet in communication with the valve cavity and the first vortex outlet of the vortex tube, a second valve inlet in communication with the valve cavity and the second vortex outlet of the vortex tube, a first valve outlet extending through a sidewall of the valve body and in communication with the valve cavity and an atmosphere external to the valve cavity, and a second, separate valve outlet extending through the sidewall of the valve body and in communication with the valve cavity and an atmosphere external to the valve cavity;
- and
- a movable control element disposed in the valve cavity for selectively controlling the flow of fluid from the first and second vortex outlets and the atmosphere internal to a housing.
A process control apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a process control device disposed in the housing;
- and
- a temperature control device operably coupled to the housing for regulating a temperature of an atmosphere internal to the housing, the temperature control device comprising a vortex tube and a flow control valve,
- the vortex tube having a vortex inlet for receiving a compressed fluid, a first vortex outlet for discharging fluid from the vortex tube at a first temperature, and a second vortex outlet for discharging fluid from the vortex tube at a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature,
- the flow control valve coupled to the vortex tube and comprising a valve body defining a valve cavity, a control element disposed in the valve cavity, a first valve outlet extending through a sidewall of the valve cavity and in communication with the valve cavity and an atmosphere external to the housing, and a second, separate valve outlet extending through the sidewall of the valve body and in communication with the valve cavity and the atmosphere internal to the housing, and a temperature sensing feature configured to sense a temperature of an atmosphere internal to the housing and configured to move the control element based on the sensed temperature between a plurality of positions to selectively direct the flow of fluid from the first and second vortex outlets to the atmosphere internal to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.