# US 4,398,563 A · Multi-tube flow restrictor

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 4,398,563 A
- Document ID: US4398563A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/306,134
- Filed: 1981-09-28
- Granted: 1983-08-16
- Earliest claimed: 1981-09-28
- Assignees: Vacco Industries
- Inventors: George Kay; Alan Keskinen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398563A

## CPC

- F16K 3/34: Arrangements for modifying the way in which the rate of flow varies during the actuation of the valve
- F16K 47/08: for decreasing pressure {or noise level} and having a throttling member separate from the closure member {, e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths}
- Y10T 137/86734: With metering feature
- Y10T 137/86791: Piston
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A fluid flow restrictor for spanning a passage of a body to minimize noise and cavitation in a high pressure fluid flowing through the passage and undergoing a substantial pressure drop in passing through the restrictor. The device comprises at least one tier of fixed perforated tubelets defining a myriad of tortuous flow paths with restricted orifices and expansion areas to dissipate energy in the fluid. The fluid flow through or between individual tubelets may be further subdivided into restriction orifices and expansion areas by additional fixedly held solid elements, e.g., BB shot tightly packed within the tubelets. The preferred inventive embodiment described is a sound suppressing, high pressure reducing poppet valve having several tiers, isolated from one another, of annular clamped arrays of parallel perforated tubelets.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A sound suppressing flow restrictor for pressurized fluid comprising:
a housing having inlet and outlet ports and a fluid passage communicating said ports;
a plurality of tubelets;
means comprising a spaced pair of plates obstructing opposite ends of each of said tubelets and between which said tubelets are clamped for fixedly holding said tubelets in eccentric parallel relationship to one another with the walls of said tubelets spanning said fluid passage and also defining interstices between the walls of adjacent tubelets; and
means defining a myriad of tortuous fluid energy dissipating paths extending from the inlet side to the outlet side of said plurality of tubelets and comprising perforations in said walls of said tubelets, said interstices, and the interiors of said tubelets.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The flow restrictor of claim 1 wherein:
said tubelets are held in mutual contact of portions only of the side walls of adjacent ones of said tubelets.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The flow restrictor of claim 1 wherein:
said tubelets are of circular cross-sectional configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The flow restrictor of claim 1 wherein:
said means for fixedly holding said tubelets comprises a means for constricting said plurality of tubelets into mutual engagement of their side walls.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A flow restrictor as in claim 1 wherein:
at least some of said plurality of tubelets fixedly mount a plurality of discrete solid objects for further subdividing fluid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A flow restrictor as in claim 1 wherein:
at least some of said plurality of tubelets internally fixedly mount a means for further subdividing fluid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The flow restrictor as in claim 1 wherein:
said tubelets are clamped to be fixedly arranged in eccentric parallel relationship to one another with mutual contact of portions only of their sidewalls, to leave at least some perforations open for fluid communication between the inside and outside of said tubelets.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A flow restrictor as in claim 7 wherein:
said tubelets are mounted in an annular array between a central perforated sleeve and an outer perforated band.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A flow restrictor as in claim 8 wherein:
a rigid means surrounds said plurality of tubelets to constrain them in said parallel relationship,
said rigid means being perforated at opposite sides for fluid communication into and out of said array of tubelets, and
a means is mounted on said restrictor for pressing said tubelets into firm mutual contact of their side walls.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

A flow restrictor as in claim 7 wherein:
at least some of said plurality of tubelets fixedly mount a means for further subdividing fluid passing through said tubelets.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A flow restrictor as in claim 10 wherein:
said means for subdividing comprise a plurality of discrete solid objects.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

A flow restrictor as in claim 11 wherein:
said discrete solid objects comprise spherical members.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A flow restrictor as in claim 10 wherein:
said means for subdividing comprise a solid insert fixedly nested within a tubelet,
said tubelet and said insert having shape characteristics defining at least one fluid expansion plenum with said insert.

### Claim 14

A flow restrictor for pressurized fluid comprising:
a tier of an annular array of perforated tubelets;
a pair of solid annular plates between which said tubelets are fixedly held in eccentric parallel relationship, the opposite ends of said tubelets being closed by said pair of plates;
a perforated sleeve at the radially inner edge of said plates and said annular array of tubelets; and
a perforated band at the outer edge of said plates and said annular array of tubelets.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A flow restrictor as in claim 14 wherein:
said tubelets are of circular cross section and have perforations circularly and axially spaced apart on the walls thereof.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A flow restrictor as in claim 15 wherein:
said tubelets are held into mutual contact of the side walls of adjacent ones of said tubelets.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

A flow restrictor as in claim 14 that includes:
a means on said tier for pressing said tubelets into tight mutual engagement of the side walls of said tubelets and of inner and outer ones of said tubelets with said inner sleeve and outer band.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

A flow restrictor as in claim 17 wherein said pressing means comprises:
a means oriented transversely relative to said tier of tubelets for adjustable movement radially of said tier to press said tubelets.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

A flow restrictor as in claim 14 wherein:
a plurality of discrete solid objects are fixedly held among said plurality of tubelets for further subdividing fluid flow therepast.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A flow restrictor as in claim 19 wherein:
said solid discrete objects comprise spheres.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

A flow restrictor as in claim 20 wherein:
a plurality of said spheres ae tightly packed within some, at least, of said tubelets.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

A flow restrictor as in claim 19 wherein:
said discrete objects comprise solid inserts within some, at least, of said tubelets; and
said tubelet and said insert have shape characteristics defining at least one fluid expansion plenum within said insert.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

A flow restrictor as in claim 22 wherein:
said tubelets are cylinders; and
said inserts are cylinders formed with a plurality of circumferential grooves defining said expansion plenum.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

A flow restrictor as in claim 22 wherein:
said tubelets are cylinders; and
said inserts are cylinders formed with a helical groove defining said expansion plenum.

### Claim 25 (depends on 1)

The flow restrictor as in claim 1, wherein:
at least one intermediate plate is disposed between and parallel to said plates for dividing the tubelets into a plural stacked tubelet assembly.