Flow plate assembly and method of controlling flow of a fluid

A flow plate assembly for installation in a housing defining a flow axis of a fluid therethrough and having a flow plate portion, the assembly comprising:

• a cap configured for positioning at the flow plate portion of the housing and comprising a cap surface and a cap opening having a cap opening diameter;
• a spring configured for positioning at the flow plate portion of the housing and comprising at least one spring opening configured to allow the fluid to flow therethrough;
• and
• a flow plate disposed between the cap and the spring and comprising a flow plate surface and a flow plate central opening having a flow plate central opening diameter that is less than the cap opening diameter and at least one flow plate outer opening that is disposed radially outside of the cap opening such that the fluid flows through the at least one flow plate outer opening upon compression of the spring and movement of the flow plate surface away from the cap surface;
• wherein the cap comprises an axially extending portion, and the spring and the flow plate are axially aligned with the axially extending portion;
• and
• wherein the spring plate and the flow plate are disposed within the axially extending portion of the cap.

A method of controlling flow of a fluid through a housing, the method comprising:

• metering flow of the fluid through a cap opening of a cap and a flow plate central opening of a flow plate disposed in a flow plate portion of the housing and comprising a flow plate surface and at least one flow plate outer opening disposed radially outside of the cap opening;
• compressing a spring and moving the flow plate surface away from the cap surface with the fluid being at a first fluid pressure and with the fluid acting on the flow plate surface such that the fluid flows in a first direction through both the flow plate central opening and the at least one flow plate outer opening;
• and
• biasing the flow plate with the spring such that the flow plate surface contacts the cap surface of the cap to prevent flow of the fluid through the at least one flow plate outer opening while allowing flow of fluid in the first direction to continue through the flow plate central opening with the fluid being at a second fluid pressure lower than the first fluid pressure;
• wherein metering flow of the fluid through the cap opening of the cap and the flow plate central opening of the flow plate comprises metering flow of the fluid through the cap opening of the cap, the flow plate central opening, and a spring central opening;
• and
• wherein the method further includes:
• flowing the fluid through a plurality of spring openings diametrically opposed around the spring central opening upon compressing the spring and moving the flow plate surface away from the cap surface.