Micrometer-controlled linear flow rate fluid flow valve assembly

A valve assembly for regulating fluid flow therethrough in linear proportion to displacement, comprising:

• a valve base member having a fluid input port into which fluid is introduced, a fluid output port from which fluid, the flow rate of which is to be proportionally regulated, exits said valve assembly, and a generally circular fluid flow rate control port formed of a generally cylindrical valve seat surrounding a circular fluid flow aperture, disposed between said input port and said output port, said generally cylindrical valve seat having a generally ring-shaped termination valve seat surface, which is arranged to be contacted by a flat surface of one end of a displaceable poppet element and thereby close said circular fluid flow aperture, said generally ring-shaped termination valve seat surface having a contact surface area with said poppet element that is less than the cross-sectional circular area of said circular fluid flow aperture, said poppet element having a key portion disposed at a portion spaced apart from said one end thereof;
• a valve body configured to be installed with said valve base member and forming therewith a fluid flow chamber between said fluid flow rate control port and said output port, said valve body having an internally threaded cylindrical portion extending along a major portion thereof and a keyed opening along a minor portion thereof;
• a rotatable valve adjustment member having an externally threaded cylindrical portion sized to engage the internally threaded cylindrical portion of said valve body, said externally threaded cylindrical portion of said rotatable valve adjustment member having an internally threaded axial bore extending along a major portion thereof, the internally threaded bore of said rotatable valve adjustment member having a longitudinal axis and a thread pitch different than that of the externally threaded cylindrical portion thereof;
• and
• a valve stem having an externally threaded shaft portion, sized to engage and being threaded into the internally threaded axial bore of said cylindrical portion of said rotatable valve adjustment member, and wherein said popper element is disposed at one end of said externally threaded shaft, said valve stem being axially translatable within the internally threaded axial bore of said cylindrical portion of said rotatable valve adjustment member as said key portion of said poppet element moves within said keyed opening of said valve body by the rotation of said rotatable valve adjustment member about said longitudinal axis, thereby controlling the position of said flat surface poppet element relative to said generally cylindrical valve seat as defined by the range of movement of said key portion of said poppet with said keyed opening of said valve body and thereby provide a linearly proportional fluid flow rate through said generally circular fluid flow rate control port between said input port and said output port.