Apparatus for flow regulation
AssigneeTco AS
InventorKeith Donald Woodford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for regulating the flow of a fluid from a source to a target location comprises a housing defining a fluid inlet configured to communicate with a fluid source and a fluid outlet configured to communicate with a target location, and a flow path extending between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet. An inlet valve assembly is mounted in the flow path and comprises a valve seat and a valve member configured to cooperate with the valve seat to regulate flow through the flow path. A balance arrangement is provided and is configured to balance the effect of fluid pressure acting on the inlet valve assembly.
Claims39
An apparatus for regulating the flow of a fluid from a source to a target location, comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid inlet for communicating with a fluid source and a fluid outlet for communicating with a target location;
- a flow path extending between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet;
- an inlet valve assembly mounted in the flow path and comprising a valve seat and a valve member which cooperates with the valve seat to regulate flow through the flow path;
- and
- a balance arrangement for balancing the effect of fluid pressure acting on the inlet valve assembly.
A method for regulating flow between a source and a target location, comprising:
- providing an apparatus having a housing defining a fluid inlet for communicating with a fluid source and a fluid outlet configured to communicate for communicating with a target location, and a flow path extending between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet;
- delivering fluid into the fluid inlet and through an inlet valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a valve member configured to cooperate with the valve seat to regulate flow through the flow path;
- and
- exposing the inlet valve assembly and a balance arrangement within the apparatus to a common fluid pressure to balance the effect of fluid pressure acting on inlet valve assembly.
An apparatus for regulating the flow of a fluid from a source to a target location, comprising:
- a housing defining a fluid inlet for communicating with a fluid source and a fluid outlet for communicating with a target location;
- a flow path extending between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet;
- an inlet valve assembly mounted in the flow path and comprising a valve seat and a valve member configured to cooperate which cooperates with the valve seat to regulate flow through the flow path;
- and
- a flow restrictor mounted within the flow path and configured to be exposed to a pressure differential across said flow restrictor.
A method for regulating flow between a source and a target location, comprising:
- providing an apparatus having a housing defining a fluid inlet for communicating with a fluid source and a fluid outlet for communicating with a target location with a flow path extending between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, and comprising a flow control member mounted within the flow path;
- delivering fluid into the fluid inlet and through an inlet valve assembly comprising a valve seat and a valve member configured to cooperate with the valve seat to regulate flow through the flow path;
- and
- flowing the flow through a flow restrictor within the flow control member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.