Pressure-reducing control valve for severe service conditions

A pressure-reducing valve assembly for use in a high-pressure fluid piping system, the valve assembly comprising:

• a first stage annular cylindrical member having a plurality of regularly-spaced radial fluid passages extending to outlets in its exterior wall, the interior surface of the annular member configured to receive a movable plug in sealing relation, and
• a second stage multiple-path stacked disk drag valve member having a circular opening extending along its axis, a plurality of regularly-spaced, tortuous fluid passages extending generally radially from inlet ports at the axial opening to discharge ports at the exterior surface, the axial opening configured to operably receive the first stage cylindrical member in close-fitting relation, the radial passages of the first stage member being in fluid communication with the fluid passages of the drag valve member, a plurality of radially extending circumferential seals on the exterior wall of the first stage member at positions intermediate the outlets of the plurality of radial fluid passages, whereby fluid flow is maintained in a radial direction between adjacent seals.