Flow control valve

A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:

• a body with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a fluid passageway therebetween;
• an adjustable flow restriction coupled to the fluid passageway and being configured to provide a substantially constant fluid flow to the fluid outlet substantially independent of a pressure differentials between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet;
• and
• an adjustable restrictor assembly having the fluid passageway extending therethrough, the restrictor assembly having an inlet portion, an outlet portion, and a restrictor with a fluid pathway extending therebetween, the inlet portion being positioned to direct the fluid to the restrictor, and the outlet portion being positioned to receive fluid from the restrictor and direct fluid toward the fluid outlet, the restrictor having an entry portion and an exit portion of the fluid pathway, the entry portion defined by a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with fluid pathway between the entry and exit portions, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the inlet and outlet portions to adjust a fluid flow rate of fluid through fluid pathway to fluid outlet.

A constant-flow valve assembly, comprising:

• a first fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a first fluid pressure;
• a chamber having at least a portion configured to receive fluid at a second fluid pressure less than the first fluid pressure;
• a second fluid passageway connected to the portion of the chamber and configured to carry fluid at the second fluid pressure;
• a third fluid passageway configured to carry fluid at a third fluid pressure less than the first and second fluid pressures;
• and
• an adjustable restrictor assembly between the first and second fluid passageways, the restrictor having an entry portion defining a fluid passageway portion that receives fluid from the first fluid passageway, the restrictor having an exit portion that directs fluid along the fluid passageway portion toward the second fluid passageway, the restrictor being movable to adjust the position of the entry and exit portions relative to the first and second fluid passageways, the entry portion having a plurality of blind notches interconnected by at least one blind channel and in fluid communication with a through passage between the entry and exit portions, the restrictor being movable to allow the fluid inlet portion to interfere with at least a portion of the entry portion to adjustably restrict the fluid flow into the blind notches, blind channel, or through hole and to control the fluid flow rate through the adjustable restrictor.