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US 5,020,774 AGranted
Variable orifice flow regulator
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorRollin C. Christianson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flow regulator for high-pressure fluids at elevated temperatures includes a body having a flow passage extending between inlet and outlet openings. First and second orifice members are arranged in the flow passage so at least one of the orifice members can be moved transversely in relation to the flow passage between one operating position where the two orifice openings are aligned for establishing a maximum flow rate of fluids flowing through the flow passage and at least one other operating position in which the two openings are moderately misaligned with one another for establishing a predetermined reduced flow rate of fluids flowing through the flow passage.
Claims20
Apparatus for regulating the flow of fluids comprising:
- a body including inlet and outlet flow passages on opposite sides of an intermediate central portion;
- a first fixed orifice member arranged in said inlet flow passage and a transversely movable second orifice member in said central portion, said orifice members having juxtaposed adjacent ends which are shaped for cooperatively defining complemental transverse surfaces as well as first and second longitudinal orifice passages extending between the opposite ends of said orifice members and terminating in first and second reduced throat portions which are respectively circumscribed by said complemental end surfaces and aligned with the longitudinal axis of the fixed orifice in a first flow position;
- means for maintaining at least those portions of said complemental end surfaces surrounding said throat portions of said orifice passages in contact with each other as said second orifice member is being moved transversely in relation to said first orifice member;
- and
- actuating means cooperatively arranged on said body for selectively moving said second orifice member transversely in relation to said first orifice member only between a first flow-regulating position where said throat portions are in alignment with one another for establishing the first flow rate for fluids flowing through said flow passage and a second flow-regulating position where said throat portions are only partially misaligned in relation to one another to establish a reduced second flow rate for fluids flowing through said flow passage.
2 more elements
Apparatus for regulating the flow of fluids comprising:
- a body including inlet and outlet terminal portions on opposite sides of an intermediate body portion and having a longitudinal flow passage extending between inlet and outlet openings respectively arranged in said inlet and outlet terminal portions of said body;
- a first orifice member mounted in said inlet terminal portion of said body and including a first orifice passage extending along a first longitudinal axis between said inlet opening to a reduced throat portion of said first orifice passage which terminates at a transverse downstream surface of said first orifice member;
- a second orifice member cooperatively arranged in said intermediate portion of said body for movement therein along an axis of movement intersecting said first longitudinal axis and having a second orifice passage having a reduced throat portion which terminates at a transverse upstream surface of said second orifice member;
- means cooperatively arranged for positioning said first and second orifice members within said body for maintaining said transverse downstream surface of said first orifice member slidably engaged against said transverse upstream surface of said second orifice member;
- and
- actuating means cooperatively arranged for selectively moving said second orifice member transversely in relation to said first orifice member only between a first operating position where said reduced throat portions of said orifice passages are substantially aligned to enable fluids to flow at an selected flow rate through said body and a second operating position where said reduced throat portions are partly misaligned in relation to one another to enable fluids to flow at a reduced flow rate through said body.
3 more elements
Apparatus for controlling high-pressure fluids comprising:
- a body having an elongated flow passage extending along a central body axis;
- a tubular member arranged in said flow passage;
- means for coupling said body to external piping including a tubular adapter member threadedly coupled into one end of said flow passage and having a reduced-diameter end portion adjacent to said tubular member;
- a tubular coupling member threadedly mounted in said flow passage and having a reduced-diameter portion adjacent to said opposite end of said tubular member and defining an annular space within said flow passage;
- and
- means for fluidly sealing said coupling member and said tubular member within said body including matching inner and outer metal seal rings respectively having opposed complementally-tapered annular faces cooperatively fitted together and arranged in said annular space for being compressed together and into sealing engagement between the opposed ends of said coupling member and said tubular member upon threadedly mounting of said coupling member into said body.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.