U.S. patent application number 09/731634 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-13 for fluid stream pulse damper.
Invention is credited to Johnson, Joel S., Knox, Kevin J..
Application Number | 20020069922 09/731634 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24940344 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020069922 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson, Joel S. ; et
al. |
June 13, 2002 |
FLUID STREAM PULSE DAMPER
Abstract
A fluid stream pulse damper having a fluid conduit defining a
fluid path and a fluid flow direction. The conduit has an inlet end
and an outlet end. A damper body in the conduit intersects the
fluid path. An energy absorber attached to the damper body operates
in resistance to fluid flowing in the conduit.
Inventors: |
Johnson, Joel S.; (Peoria,
IL) ; Knox, Kevin J.; (Peoria, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Todd T. Taylor
Taylor & Aust, P.C.
142 South Main Street
Avilla
IN
46710
US
|
Family ID: |
24940344 |
Appl. No.: |
09/731634 |
Filed: |
December 7, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
138/43 ;
138/46 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L 55/02718 20130101;
F16L 55/0332 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
138/43 ;
138/46 |
International
Class: |
F15D 001/00 |
Claims
1. A fluid stream pulse damper, comprising; a fluid conduit
defining a fluid path and a fluid flow direction in said fluid
path, said conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end for all
fluid flowing along said fluid path; a damper body disposed in said
conduit, said damper body intersecting said fluid path; and an
energy absorber attached to said damper body, and operating in
resistance to fluid flowing in said fluid flow direction.
2. The damper of claim 1, said damper body being a perforated plate
extending across said conduit.
3. The damper of claim 2, said perforated plate disposed
substantially transverse to said fluid flow direction.
4. The damper of claim 1, said conduit including an expansion
chamber and an inlet and an outlet for said expansion chamber, said
damper body disposed in said expansion chamber opposite said
expansion chamber inlet.
5. The damper of claim 4, said expansion chamber outlet being
opposite said damper body in said expansion chamber.
6. The damper of claim 4, said damper body being a solid plate.
7. The damper of claim 6, said expansion chamber outlet being
opposite said damper body in said expansion chamber.
8. The damper of claim 7, including a partition in said chamber
between said expansion chamber inlet and said expansion chamber
outlet.
9. The damper of claim 1, said damper body extending only partially
across said fluid flow path.
10. A method for damping pulse energy of a fluid stream,
comprising; providing a fluid flow path and a body in said path;
providing an energy absorber for said body; conducting a fluid
along said fluid flow path; intercepting with said body at least a
portion of the fluid flowing along said path; translating pulse
energy in said fluid to mechanical energy in said body; and
conducting away from said body all of the fluid conducted toward
said body.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of intercepting
comprises intercepting only a portion of the fluid flowing along
said path.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of intercepting
comprises intercepting substantially all of the fluid flowing along
said path.
13. The method of claim 12, including providing a plurality of
openings in said plate, and directing substantially all of the
fluid flowing along said path to flow through said plurality of
openings.
14. The method of claim 10, including providing a plurality of
openings in said plate, and directing substantially all of the
fluid flowing along said path to flow through said plurality of
openings.
15. The method of claim 10, including providing an expansion
chamber in said fluid flow path and an inlet and an outlet for said
expansion chamber, mounting said body in said expansion chamber,
and directing substantially all of the fluid in said fluid flow
path against said body.
16. A gaseous fluid circuit, comprising; a source of gaseous fluid;
a gaseous fluid destination; a fluid conduit defining a fluid path
from said source to said destination, and having a fluid flow
direction in said fluid path, said conduit having an inlet end and
an outlet end for all fluid flowing along said fluid path; a damper
body disposed in said conduit, said damper body intersecting said
fluid path; and an energy absorber attached to said damper body,
and operating in resistance to fluid flowing in said fluid flow
direction.
17. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said source being an
internal combustion engine.
18. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said destination being
an internal combustion engine.
19. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said damper body being a
perforated plate extending across said conduit.
20. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 19, said perforated plate
disposed substantially transverse to said fluid flow direction.
21. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said conduit including
an expansion chamber and an inlet and an outlet for said expansion
chamber, said damper body disposed in said expansion chamber
opposite said expansion chamber inlet.
22. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 21, said expansion chamber
outlet being opposite said damper body in said expansion
chamber.
23. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 21, said damper body being a
solid plate.
24. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 23, said expansion chamber
outlet being opposite said damper body in said expansion
chamber.
25. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 24, including a partition in
said chamber between said expansion chamber inlet and said
expansion chamber outlet.
26. The gaseous fluid circuit of claim 16, said damper body
extending only partially across said fluid flow path.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to fluid stream control
devices, and more particularly to a damping device for attenuating
pulses in a gaseous fluid stream.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Gaseous fluid streams, from industrial processes or the
like, can exhibit wide swings or variations in characteristics such
as velocity and pressure, often exhibiting significant pulses.
Large industrial engine exhaust streams include strong pulses
corresponding to combustion cylinder cycles. Some engines
demonstrate strong pulses in the inlet air stream as well. Other
industrial processes including highly pressurized gas streams from
reciprocating compressors also may exhibit pulses in the fluid
stream. Such fluid streams can be objectionably noising.
[0003] Mufflers are known for reducing sound in engine exhaust
streams. Known engine exhaust mufflers include expansion chambers
and perforated baffles and tubes for reducing noise. It is known to
use exhaust stream operated valves for controlling flow through an
engine exhaust muffler.
[0004] Dissipative mufflers are known for reducing sound in gaseous
fluid exhaust streams. U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,753 teaches one such
dissipative muffler in which an expansion chamber includes
perforated walls through which the exhaust air stream can escape,
and an outlet passage having an auto adjusting baffle assemble.
Normally, such mufflers are used near the end of an exhaust stream,
just preceding release to ambient. Some such mufflers are of
relatively complex construction.
[0005] It is further known to compensate for pulses in a fluid
stream by passing the fluid stream through a multi-chambered
apparatus in which the chambers are separated by a bladder or other
flexible membrane. One of the chambers is charged with a
compressible fluid. As the process fluid stream passes through the
other of the chambers, fluctuations in the pressure of the process
fluid stream are evened out by compression of the pre-charged
fluid.
[0006] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In one aspect of the invention, a fluid stream pulse damper
comprises a fluid conduit defining a fluid path and a fluid flow
direction in the fluid path. The conduit has an inlet end and an
outlet end for all fluid flowing along the fluid path. A damper
body is disposed in the conduit intersecting the fluid path. An
energy absorber is attached to the damper body.
[0008] In another aspect of the invention, a method for damping
pulse energy of a fluid stream comprises providing a fluid flow
path and a body in the path; conducting a fluid along the fluid
flow path; intercepting with the body at least a portion of the
fluid flowing along the path; translating pulse energy in the fluid
to mechanical energy in the body; and conducting away from the body
all of the fluid conducted toward the body.
[0009] In yet another aspect of the invention, a gaseous fluid
circuit comprises a source of gaseous fluid and a gaseous fluid
destination. A fluid conduit defines a fluid path from the source
to the destination. The conduit has an inlet end and an outlet end
for all fluid flowing along the fluid path. A damper body is
disposed in the conduit, intersecting the fluid path. An energy
absorber is attached to the damper body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a gaseous fluid
circuit having a fluid stream pulse damper of the present
invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic representation of a gaseous
fluid circuit having a second embodiment of the fluid stream pulse
damper of the present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial schematic representation of a gaseous
fluid circuit having a third embodiment of the fluid stream pulse
damper of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0013] Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1,
there is shown a gaseous fluid circuit 10 having a fluid stream
pulse damper 12 of the present invention. Pulse damper 12 is
disposed between a source 14 of gaseous fluid and a gaseous fluid
destination 16. Pulse damper 12 is provided for acting upon a fluid
flowing from source 14 to destination 16, the fluid flowing along a
fluid path in a fluid flow direction. The fluid path and fluid flow
direction are each indicated in the drawings by arrows designated
with the numeral 18.
[0014] Source 14 and destination 16 may be of many different
embodiments. For example, source 14 may be an internal combustion
engine, and the fluid flowing along fluid path 18 may be exhaust
gas from an exhaust manifold of the internal combustion engine. So
also, destination 16 may be subsequent exhaust gas processing,
which may include an intake manifold of the internal combustion
engine if pulse damper 12 is provided for an internal combustion
engine having exhaust gas re-circulation. Those skilled in the art
will readily understand that source 14 and destination 16 may also
be stations in an industrial process having a fluid stream in which
an undesirably high pulse is present, such as a high pressure gas
stream from a reciprocating compressor.
[0015] Pulse damper 12 includes a fluid conduit 20 defining fluid
path and flow direction 18 from source 14 to destination 16. A
damper body 22 is disposed in fluid conduit 20, intersecting fluid
path 18. An energy absorber 24, or a plurality thereof, are
attached to damper body 22, generally in a manner to resist forces
applied to damper 22 by a fluid flowing along fluid path and flow
direction 18. Energy absorbers 24 may be springs, compressed fluid
cylinders, elastomeric mountings, or the like.
[0016] In a first embodiment of pulse damper 12, shown in FIG. 1,
damper body 22 includes a solid plate 30 disposed in fluid conduit
20 at an angle to fluid path and flow direction 18. Solid plate 30
is connected to fluid conduit 20 at a hinge 32, which allows solid
plate 30 to be deflected by fluid flowing along fluid path and flow
direction 18. One or more energy absorbers 24 are disposed between
solid plate 30 and fluid conduit 20, in a manner to resist
deflection of solid plate 30 caused by fluid flowing along fluid
path and flow direction 18. At least some of the fluid flowing
along fluid path and flow direction 18 impacts solid plate 30 as
the fluid moves from an inlet end 34 to an outlet end 36 of fluid
conduit 20.
[0017] In a second embodiment of pulse damper 12, shown in FIG. 2,
damper body 22 includes a perforated plate 40 disposed in fluid
conduit 20, generally transverse to the direction of fluid path and
flow direction 18. Perforated plate 42 extends outwardly of fluid
conduit 20, and is connected by a plurality of energy absorbers 24
to an external frame or mounting structure 42. Perforated plate 40
includes a plurality of openings or holes 44 therein, allowing
fluid flowing along fluid path and flow direction 18 to pass
through perforated plate 40, as the fluid passes from inlet end 34
to outlet end 36 of fluid conduit 20.
[0018] In a third embodiment of pulse damper 12, shown in FIG. 3,
an expansion chamber 50 is provided. Expansion chamber 50 includes
a plurality of outer walls, and in the embodiment shown includes
four outer walls 52, 54, 56 and 58, defining an enclosed space 60.
Expansion chamber 50 has an inlet opening 62 and an outlet opening
64 in fluid flow communication with enclosed space 60. Inlet end 34
of fluid conduit 20 is disposed in inlet opening 62, and outlet end
36 of fluid conduit 20 is disposed in outlet opening 64. In the
embodiment shown, inlet opening 62 and outlet opening 64 are both
provided in the same outer wall 52. Damper body 22 is provided
within enclosed space 60, on outer wall 56, directly opposite outer
wall 52. Damper body 22 is a solid deflection plate 66, which
substantially fills a cross section of enclosed space 60, and is
secured by a plurality of energy absorbers 24 to outer wall 56, or
to a frame or support, not shown. To further direct flow within
enclosed space 60, a partition 68 extends within enclosed space 60
from outer wall 52, between inlet opening 62 and outlet opening
64.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0019] In use, pulse damper 12 is provided in gaseous fluid circuit
10, and receives a gaseous fluid stream from source 14, providing
the fluid stream to destination 16. More specifically, inlet end 34
of fluid conduit 20 is in fluid flow communication with source 14,
and provides a fluid path and flow direction 18 for fluid received
from source 14. Outlet end 36 of fluid conduit 20 is in fluid flow
communication with destination 16. Along fluid path and flow
direction 18, between inlet end 34 and outlet end 36, at least some
of the fluid impacts damper body 22, with at least some of the
pulse energy of the fluid being transferred to energy absorber or
absorbers 24.
[0020] In use of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, solid plate 30
impedes flow as fluid flowing along fluid path and flow direction
18 encounters solid plate 30. Energy in the fluid stream forces
solid plate 30 rearward, pivoting solid plate 30 at hinge 32.
Movement of solid plate 30 is resisted by energy absorber or
absorbers 24, which allow limited movement of solid plate 30. If
the fluid stream contains significant pulse energy, solid plate 30
may pulsate in response to the energy pulses. Much of the pulse
energy in the fluid stream is translated to mechanical energy in
moving solid plate 30.
[0021] In use of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, as fluid flowing
along fluid path and flow direction 18 encounters perforated plate
40, perforated plate 40 is caused to vibrate. Vibrations of
perforated plate 40 are transferred to energy absorbers 24. Again,
pulse energy in the fluid stream is damped.
[0022] In use of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, as fluid flowing
along fluid path and flow direction 18 enters expansion chamber 50
via inlet end 34, it is directed toward deflection plate 66, and is
restricted from flowing directly to outlet end 36 by partition 68.
The fluid stream impacts deflection plate 66, causing the plate to
vibrate. Again, energy absorbers 24 are used to remove pulse energy
from the fluid stream. After impacting deflection plate 66, the
fluid stream rebounds from deflection plate 66 toward outlet end
36.
[0023] In any of the aforedescribed embodiments of pulse damper 12,
energy absorbers 24 should be provided of sufficient resistive
force, in sufficient numbers and at appropriate placements to
prevent damper body 22 from "bottoming out" in any but the most
extreme operating conditions.
[0024] Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can
be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the
appended claims.
* * * * *