Method of manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorsThomas N. Gabriel, Michael W McCarty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet section formed in one of the inner and outer walls, a curved intermediate section, and an outlet section formed in the other of the inner and outer walls.
Claims19
A fluid pressure reduction device for use in a fluid flow control device, the fluid pressure reduction device comprising:
- a unitary body having a top end, a bottom end opposite the top end, an inner wall, and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall;
- a plurality of flow paths formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall, each of the flow paths comprising an inlet section formed in the inner wall, an outlet section formed in the outer wall, and a curved intermediate section between the inlet and outlet sections, wherein the inlet section of each of the flow paths is oriented along a respective inlet axis and has an inlet length measured along the respective inlet axis, and
- wherein the inlet length of the inlet section of each of the flow paths changes based on an axial location of the respective flow path relative to the bottom end.
A fluid pressure reduction device for use in a fluid flow control device, the fluid pressure reduction device comprising:
- a unitary body having a top end, a bottom end opposite the top end, an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall;
- a plurality of first flow paths defined between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body at a first axial distance from the top end, each of the first flow paths comprising an inlet section formed in the inner wall, an outlet section formed in the outer wall, and a curved intermediate section between the inlet and outlet sections;
- and
- a plurality of second flow paths defined between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body at a second axial distance from the top end that is greater than the first axial distance, each of the second flow paths comprising an inlet section formed in the inner wall, an outlet section formed in the outer wall, and a curved intermediate section between the inlet and outlet sections,
- wherein the inlet section of each of the first flow paths is oriented along a respective first inlet axis and has a first inlet length measured along the respective first inlet axis, wherein the outlet section of each of the first flow paths is oriented along a respective first outlet axis and has a first outlet length measured along the respective first outlet axis,
- wherein the inlet section of each of the second flow paths is oriented along a respective second inlet axis and has a second inlet length measured along the respective second inlet axis, and wherein the outlet section of each of the second flow paths is oriented along a respective second outlet axis and has a second outlet length measured along the respective second outlet axis, the second inlet length being different from the first inlet length and the second outlet length being different from the first outlet length.
A method of manufacturing, comprising:
- creating a fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, the creating comprising:
- forming a body having a top end, a bottom end opposite the top end, an inner wall, and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall;
- and
- forming a plurality of flow paths in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body, each of the flow paths comprising an inlet section formed in the inner wall, an outlet section formed in the outer wall, and a curved intermediate section between the inlet and outlet sections, wherein the inlet section of each of the flow paths is oriented along a respective inlet axis and has an inlet length measured along the respective inlet axis,
- wherein the inlet length of the inlet section of each of the flow paths changes based on an axial location of the respective flow path relative to the bottom end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.