Adjustable cage assembly for flow control devices
AssigneeEmerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJustin Masias, David Scheffert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adjustable cage assembly for a flow control device can include a first cage body and a second cage body. The first cage body can be rotationally fixed relative to the second cage body at a plurality of alignments to provide a flow opening of variable size for adjustable control of fluid flow areas through the adjustable cage assembly.
Claims19
An adjustable cage assembly for a flow control device, the adjustable cage assembly comprising:
- a first cage body;
- and
- a second cage body, each of the first and second cage bodies including:
- a first wall segment having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a first locking feature formed on the interior surface of the first wall segment;
- a second wall segment having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
- a second locking feature formed on the exterior surface of the second wall segment;
- wherein the first wall segment and the second wall segment are spaced in a circumferential direction to form a first opening therebetween, and
- wherein the first locking feature of the first cage body is configured to engage the second locking feature of the second cage body to rotationally secure the first cage body relative to the second cage body at one of a plurality of alignments to at least partially align the first opening of the first cage body with the first opening of the second cage body to form a corresponding plurality of opening profiles for flow across the first and second cage bodies.
A restriction cage for a flow control device, the restriction cage comprising:
- a first annular member;
- and
- a second annular member that is substantially identical to the first annular member, the second annular member configured to be rotationally fixed relative to the first annular member at a plurality of alignments to provide a flow opening of a corresponding plurality of sizes, to provide adjustable control of fluid flow areas through the restriction cage.
A method of adjusting an effective flow area in a flow control device, the method comprising:
- rotating a first cage body having a first opening relative to a second cage body having a second opening to align the first opening with the second opening at any selected one of a plurality of alignments to define an effective flow area, the first cage body being substantially similar to the second cage body;
- rotationally securing the first cage body relative to the second cage body in the selected one of the plurality of alignments;
- and
- installing the first cage body and the second cage body in the flow control device at a flow control opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.