US 2020/0386339 A1 · Valve with Expandable Sleeve Fitted Over Perforated Walls of Inlet and Outlet Channels to Control Flow Therebetween

Abstract

A valve features an outer housing, in which there are provided inlet and outlet channels respectively reaching into the housing from inlet and outlet openings thereof. The two channels are axially closed at adjacent inner ends thereof, but feature perforated circumferential walls. A resiliently expandable sleeve is disposed around the circumferential walls in a position normally overlying the perforations, while leaving a gap between the sleeve and inner surfaces of the housing. A charging port communicates with the gap to enable pressurization thereof. Pressurization of the gap normally holds the sleeve tightly over the perforations to prevent flow from one channel to the other. When pressure in the inlet channel exceeds the pressure in the charging chamber, the sleeve radially expands from the circumferential walls of the channels to uncover the perforations and allow fluid to flow between the channels.

A valve installation comprising:

a first sleeve valve installed in a bypass line of a pump or compressor and comprising:
an outer housing having an inlet by which fluid is introducible into an interior of said housing and an outlet by which said fluid is exhaustible from said housing;
an inlet channel extending further into the interior of the housing from the inlet thereof to a closed end of said inlet channel situated opposite of the inlet of the housing;
a first circumferential wall surrounding said inlet channel between the closed end thereof and the inlet of the housing;
an outlet channel extending further into the interior of the housing from the outlet thereof to a closed end of said outlet channel situated opposite to the outlet of the housing;
a second circumferential wall surrounding said outlet channel between the closed end thereof and the outlet of the housing;
a first set of one or more perforations in said first circumferential wall;
a second set of one or more perforations in said second circumferential wall;
a resiliently expandable sleeve disposed around the first and second circumferential walls within the interior of the outer housing in a position overlying said first and second sets of perforations;
an expansion gap between said resiliently expandable sleeve and interior wall surfaces of the housing to accommodate expansion of said sleeve outwardly from the first and second circumferential walls to open up said first and second sets of perforations;
and
a charging port opening into the interior the housing and communicating with the expansion gap therein to enable pressurization of said expansion gap, whereby the sleeve is expandable off of the first and second circumferential walls to open up the first and second sets of one more perforations when an inlet pressure in the inlet channel exceeds a charge pressure in the expansion gap to enable fluid flow between the inlet and outlet channels via the first and second sets of perforations;
an upstream pipe of the bypass line coupled to the sleeve valve in a position feeding into the inlet thereof;
a downstream pipe of the bypass line coupled to the sleeve valve in a position exhausting the outlet thereof;
a first sensing line installed in a configuration enabling pressurization of the expansion gap from the upstream pipe;
and
a second sensing line installed in a configuration enabling venting of the expansion gap to the downstream pipe;
a pressure reducing regulator valve installed in the second sensing line;
a back-pressure regulator valve connected in parallel with said pressure reducing regular valve;
and
a matching second sleeve valve of same type as the first sleeve valve and installed in a discharge line running from an outlet of the pump or compressor, wherein the charge port of said second sleeve valve is connected to a pre-loaded expansion vessel to pressurize the expansion gap inside the valve housing of the second sleeve valve, and thereby prevent opening of the second valve until the inlet channel of the second valve achieves greater pressure than said pre-loaded expansion vessel.

18 more elements

Valve with Expandable Sleeve Fitted Over Perforated Walls of Inlet and Outlet Channels to Control Flow Therebetween

Life of this patent

Valve with Expandable Sleeve Fitted Over Perforated Walls of Inlet and Outlet Channels to Control Flow Therebetween

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims5