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US 7,325,747 B2Granted
Flow compensated control valve
AssigneeMasco Corporation of Indiana
InventorPatrick Jonte
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid control system includes a valve and a restrictor. The valve is configured to regulate the proportion at which a first fluid and a second fluid are mixed together. Based on the pressure drop across the restrictor, the valve further regulates the overall flow rate of the mixed first and second fluids. In one form, the valve includes a pair of spools that regulate the proportion and flow rate of the fluids. In another form, the valve includes a thermostatic element that regulate the proportion at which the first and second fluids are mixed together so as to control the temperature of the mixed fluids. The valve in a further form incorporates a pair of diaphragm valves.
Claims38
A flow control valve system, comprising:
- a flow sensor configured to sense flow of a mixed fluid that includes at least a first fluid and a second fluid;
- and
- a valve including
- a flow regulator operatively coupled to the flow sensor to regulate the flow of the mixed fluid based on the flow of the mixed fluid sensed by the flow sensor,
- the flow regulator defining at least in part a first flow opening through which the first fluid flows, the flow regulator being configured to shrink the first flow opening to reduce flow of the first fluid upon a decrease in the flow of the mixed fluid at the flow sensor and to enlarge the first flow opening to increase flow of the first fluid upon an increase in the flow of the mixed fluid at the flow sensor, and
- a mixture regulator defining at least in part the first flow opening, the mixture regulator being configured to regulate a mixture ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed fluid by at least adjusting size of the first flow opening.
3 more elements
A flow control valve system, comprising:
- a flow sensor configured to sense flow of a mixed fluid that includes at least a first fluid and a second fluid;
- and
- a valve including
- a flow regulator operatively coupled to the flow sensor to regulate the flow of the mixed fluid based on the flow of the mixed fluid sensed by the flow sensor,
- the flow regulator defining at least in part a first flow opening through which the first fluid flows, the flow regulator being configured to shrink the first flow opening to reduce flow of the first fluid upon a decrease in the flow of the mixed fluid at the flow sensor and to enlarge the first flow opening to increase flow of the first fluid upon an increase in the flow of the mixed fluid at the flow sensor,
- a mixture regulator defining at least in part the first flow opening, the mixture regulator being configured to regulate a mixture ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed fluid by at least adjusting size of the first flow opening;
- wherein the flow regulator and the mixture regulator are integrated into a flow control element assembly that includes a first fluid control element for controlling the flow of the first fluid and a second fluid control element for controlling flow of the second fluid;
- a restrictor disposed downstream from the flow control element assembly, the restrictor having a restrictor opening sized to create a pressure drop;
- wherein the valve has a valve body that defines a valve cavity in which the flow control element assembly is disposed;
- wherein a mixed fluid cavity is defined between the first fluid control element and the second fluid control element;
- wherein the valve body defines a first fluid discharge opening, the first flow opening being defined between the first fluid control element and the first fluid discharge opening;
- wherein the valve body defines a second fluid discharge opening, a second flow opening being defined between the second fluid control element and the second discharge opening;
- wherein the valve body and the first fluid control element define a first fluid cavity;
- wherein the first fluid cavity is fluidly coupled upstream of the restrictor to receive the first fluid;
- wherein the valve body and the second fluid control element define a second fluid cavity;
- wherein the second fluid cavity is fluidly coupled upstream from the restrictor to receive the second fluid;
- wherein the first fluid control element is configured to shrink the first flow opening upon an increase in pressure of the first fluid in the first fluid cavity and to expand the first flow opening upon a decrease in pressure of the first fluid in the first fluid cavity;
- wherein the second fluid control element is configured to shrink the second flow opening upon an increase in pressure of the second fluid in the second fluid cavity and to expand the second flow opening upon a decrease in pressure of the second fluid in the second fluid cavity;
- and
- wherein the second fluid control element being configured to shrink the second flow opening to reduce flow of the second fluid upon an increase in pressure of the mixed fluid downstream from the restrictor and to enlarge the second flow opening to increase flow of the mixed fluid upon a decrease in the pressure of the mixed fluid downstream from the restrictor.
17 more elements
A flow control valve system, comprising:
- a flow sensor configured to sense flow of a mixed fluid that includes at least a first fluid and a second fluid;
- and
- a valve including
- a flow regulator operatively coupled to the flow sensor to regulate the flow of the mixed fluid based on the flow of the mixed fluid sensed by the flow sensor,
- the flow regulator defining at least in part a first flow opening through which the first fluid flows, the flow regulator being configured to shrink the first flow opening to reduce flow of the first fluid upon a decrease in the flow of the mixed fluid at the flow sensor and to enlarge the first flow opening to increase flow of the first fluid upon an increase in the flow of the mixed fluid at the flow sensor,
- a mixture regulator defining at least in part the first flow opening, the mixture regulator being configured to regulate a mixture ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid in the mixed fluid by at least adjusting size of the first flow opening;
- wherein the flow regulator and the mixture regulator are integrated into a flow control element assembly that includes a first fluid control element for controlling the flow of the first fluid and a second fluid control element for controlling flow of the second fluid;
- and
- wherein the flow control element assembly includes a spring disposed between the first fluid control element to the second fluid control element.
6 more elements
A flow control valve system for controlling a ratio of a first fluid and a second fluid in a mixed fluid and flow rate of the mixed fluid under varying flow conditions, the system comprising:
- an outlet valve configured to at least adjust the flow rate of the mixed fluid;
- means for measuring the flow rate of the mixed fluid;
- a flow control valve located upstream from the outlet valve, the flow control valve including
- a first fluid control port having a first opening size for supplying the first fluid,
- a second fluid control port having a second opening size for supplying the second fluid, together the first opening size and the second opening size defining an effective opening size for the flow control valve that limits flow of the mixed fluid,
- means for changing the first opening size of the first fluid control port and the second opening size of the second fluid control port in a general inverse manner to control the ratio of the first fluid and the second fluid, and
- means for changing the effective opening size of the flow control valve based on the flow rate of the mixed fluid so that the outlet valve is able to reliably adjust the flow rate of the mixed fluid.
4 more elements
A control valve system, comprising
- a flow sensor configured to measure flow rate of a mixed fluid that includes at least a first fluid and a second fluid;
- and
- a control valve assembly including
- a valve housing defining a first control port through which the first fluid flows and a second control port through which the second fluid flows,
- a first spool slidably disposed in the valve housing to adjust size of the first control port,
- a second spool slidably disposed in the valve housing to adjust size of the second control,
- the first spool and the second spool being configured to change the size of the first control port and the size of the second control port in an inverse fashion, and
- the first spool and the second spool being configured to change the size of the first control port and the second control port in a same fashion based on the flow rate measured at the flow sensor.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.