Cascade orificial resistive device

A device for throttling a fluid flow while minimizing acoustic noise and internal vibrations which comprises:

• a hollow body having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a fluid passageway therebetween;
• a plurality of perforated plates positioned within said fluid passageway for throttling a flow of fluid through said passageway;
• each said plate having a plurality of orifices therein and an integrally molded spacer ring;
• means for joining said plates together so that said orifices in any of said plates are misaligned with respect to the orifices in at least one adjacent plate;
• said joining means including an integrally formed key member centrally located on a first face of a first one of said plates and an integrally formed mating key member centrally located on a second face of a second one of said plates, said first face facing said second face, and said key members forming a substantially cylindrical configuration when mated;
• means for compressing said plate against each other so as to substantially avoid the production of noise and vibrations;
• said compressing means comprising a first end ring positioned within said hollow body and welded thereto at a desired location;
• said compressing means further comprising a second end ring positioned entirely within said hollow body and threadedly engaging a threaded portion of said hollow body;
• and
• said second end ring upon tightening deflecting all of said plates until all of said spacer rings are in contact with each other and said key members are in compression.

A single piece plate for use in a device for throttling a flow of fluid, said plate comprising:

• a generally circular plate having a plurality of orifices;
• an integrally formed key system for positioning said plate relative to an adjacent plate so that said orifices in said plate are misaligned with respect to orifices in said adjacent plate;
• said keys system comprising a partially cylindrical key mounted to a first face of said plate and a wedge shaped key mounted to a second face of said system;
• and
• said wedge shaped key being offset with respect to the partially cylindrical key.

A single piece plate for use in a device for throttling a flow of fluid, said plate comprising:

• a generally circular plate having a plurality of orifices;
• an integrally formed key system for positioning said plate relative to an adjacent plate so that said orifices in said plate are misaligned with respect to orifices in said adjacent plate;
• said key system comprising a partially cylindrical key mounted to a first face of said plate and a wedge shaped key mounted to a second face of said system;
• said wedge shaped key being offset with respect to the partially cylindrical key;
• said partially cylindrical key having first and second surfaces defining an obtuse angle;
• and
• said wedge shaped key having third and fourth surfaces defining an angle substantially equal to said obtuse angle.