Single-piece valve closure members having integral flow paths formed via additive manufacturing
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorJeffrey Michael Von Arb
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Single-piece valve closure members (e.g., discs, plugs, balls, etc.) including integral flow paths formed via additive manufacturing processes are disclosed. In some examples, an apparatus includes a single-piece valve closure member. In some examples of the apparatus, the single-piece valve closure member includes an integral flow path to direct a flow of fluid within the valve closure member. In some examples, a method includes forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a single-piece valve closure member. In some examples of the method, the single-piece valve closure member includes an integral flow path to direct a flow of fluid within the valve closure member.
Claims26
An apparatus, comprising:
- a single-piece valve closure member including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an integral flow path in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the flow path being adjacent a sealing surface of the valve closure member and tracing a circular-shaped profile of the sealing surface, the flow path to receive a fluid from the fluid inlet, circulate the fluid through the flow path, and exhaust the fluid via the fluid outlet.
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A method, comprising:
- forming, via an additive manufacturing process, a single-piece valve closure member including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an integral flow path in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the flow path being adjacent a sealing surface of the valve closure member and tracing a circular-shaped profile of the sealing surface, the flow path to receive a fluid from the fluid inlet, circulate the fluid through the flow path, and exhaust the fluid via the fluid outlet.
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An apparatus, comprising:
- a single-piece valve disc including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and an integral flow path in fluid communication with the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the flow path being adjacent a sealing surface of the valve disc and tracing a circular-shaped profile of the sealing surface, the flow path to receive a fluid from the fluid inlet, circulate the fluid through the flow path, and exhaust the fluid via the fluid outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.