U.S. patent number 3,700,003 [Application Number 05/134,364] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-24 for valve with flow regulating means.
Invention is credited to Russell G. Smith.
United States Patent |
3,700,003 |
Smith |
October 24, 1972 |
VALVE WITH FLOW REGULATING MEANS
Abstract
The valve is one which, by preference, has a Teflon liner
forming a self-lubricating seal within which the hollow valving
member rotates; and included in the structure is a flow regulator
in the form of a replaceable or adjustable orifice sleeve which
normally is embodied wholly within the axial bore of the hollow
valving member.
Inventors: |
Smith; Russell G. (Cincinnati,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
22463038 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/134,364 |
Filed: |
April 15, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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851951 |
Aug 21, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/614.17;
137/630.21; 251/207; 137/630; 137/637.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
5/0264 (20130101); F16K 5/10 (20130101); F16K
5/0207 (20130101); Y10T 137/8803 (20150401); Y10T
137/87145 (20150401); Y10T 137/86944 (20150401); Y10T
137/87032 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16K
5/10 (20060101); F16K 5/00 (20060101); F16K
5/02 (20060101); F16k 005/02 (); F16k 031/44 ();
F16k 005/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/614.17,614.16,630,630.21,625.43,637.3,637.5
;251/207,89,111,112,110,368 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nelson; M. Cary
Assistant Examiner: Wright; William H.
Parent Case Text
This invention is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent
application, Ser. No. 851,951, filed Aug. 21, 1969 now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lined valve with flow regulating means, comprising in
combination: a valve body and a liner member carried thereby, each
having an inlet port, an outlet port and an intermediate connecting
member; a rotatable valving member in the chamber of said liner
member and having a transverse port therethrough movable between a
closed position and an open position, at which latter position
fluid communication is provided between said body ports at selected
rotated positions of said valving member, said valving member
including a wall to block communication between the inlet and
outlet ports upon disposition of the valving member to the closed
position; said valving member having an axial bore in fluid
communication with the transverse port thereof; and a hollow
orifice sleeve slidingly supported within the axial bore of the
valving member, said sleeve having a wall with opposite end
portions, a flow control orifice in one side of said wall and an
inlet orifice in another side thereof, the orifice sleeve being
rotatable within the bore to selectively bring the orifices therein
into and out of registry with the inlet and outlet ports of the
valving member to modify the flow of fluid through the aforesaid
ports of the valve body, and cooperative adjustable interlocking
means on the orifice sleeve and the valve body to fix the orifice
sleeve in selected rotated position within the bore, the pressure
drop occurring between the inlet and outlet ports incident to
rotation of the valving member being confined between adjacent
edges of the ports of the valving member and the orifices of the
sleeve to thus prevent damage to the liner.
2. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein means is connected with
said valving member for effecting axial rotation of the valving
member between the open and closed positions.
3. The valve as defined by claim 2, wherein said interlocking means
includes means accessible exteriorly of the valve body for
effecting adjustment of said orifice sleeve.
4. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein the interlocking means
which is carried by the valve body, is selectively detachable from
said body.
5. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein the orifice sleeve is
bodily displaceable from the axial bore of the valving member.
6. The valve as defined by claim 3, wherein the orifice sleeve is
bodily displaceable from the axial bore of the valving member.
7. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein the interlocking means
is exterior of the valve body.
8. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein said flow control
orifice of the sleeve is disposed closer to the outlet port than to
the inlet port of the valve body.
9. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein said orifice sleeve is
in the form of a hollow cylinder having a wall with opposite end
portions, and the flow control orifice thereof comprises an
aperture pattern in the cylinder wall, said aperture pattern being
constricted in size in one direction circumferentially of the
cylinder.
10. The valve as defined by claim 9, wherein said interlocking
means for precluding rotation of the orifice sleeve is located at
one end portion only of the cylinder wall.
11. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein the valve body has an
opening therein axially aligned with the orifice sleeve, said
opening being dimensioned to permit axial sliding of the orifice
sleeve therethrough to a location outside the limits of the valve
body; and a base member displaceably mounted upon the valve body to
close the opening last mentioned.
12. The valve as defined by claim 11, wherein said interlocking
means for precluding rotation of the orifice sleeve, includes a
restraining element carried by said displaceable base member.
13. The valve as defined by claim 12, wherein said orifice sleeve
is in the form of a hollow cylinder having a wall with opposite end
portions, and the flow control orifice thereof comprises an
aperture pattern in the cylinder wall designed to establish a
predetermined flow characteristic.
14. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein the flow control
orifice in said sleeve is sized and contoured to effect said
modification of flow in accordance with predetermined
characteristics.
15. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein said liner is of a
material of the class of polytetraflouroethylene.
16. The valve as defined by claim 8, wherein said liner is of a
material having the characteristics of self-lubrication, low
porosity, and corrosion and wear resistance.
17. The valve as defined by claim 16, wherein the combination
includes self-lubricating non-metallic bearing means interposed in
the axial bore of the valving member in substantial contact with
said flow control means.
18. The valve as defined by claim 5, wherein the combination
includes self-lubricating non-metallic bearing means interposed in
the axial bore of the valving member in substantial contact with
said orifice sleeve; and said liner comprises a self-lubricating
non-metallic bearing means located within said intermediate chamber
in substantial contact with the valving member.
19. The valve as defined by claim 14, wherein said interlocking
means includes means accessible exteriorly of the valve body.
20. The valve as defined by claim 1, wherein the interlocking means
which is carried by the valve body, is selectively detachable from
said body.
21. A lined valve with flow regulating means comprising in
combination: a valve body and a liner member carried thereby, each
having an inlet port, an outlet port, and an intermediate
connecting chamber; a rotatable valving member in the chamber of
said liner member having a transverse port therethrough movable
between a closed position and an open position, at which latter
position fluid communication is provided between said body and
liner ports at selected rotated positions of said valving member,
said valving member including a wall to block communication between
the inlet and outlet ports upon disposition of the valving member
to closed position; said valving member having an axial bore in
fluid communication with the transverse port thereof; and flow
control means disposed within the axial bore of the valving member
having ports therein to modify the flow of fluid through the
aforesaid ports of the liner member and valve body; and cooperative
interlocking means comprising complementary interfitting portions
on the flow control means and the valve body to fix the flow
control means relative to said liner member and body within the
bore of said valving member, said locking means being accessible
only interiorly of the valve body.
22. A valve as defined in claim 21, wherein said interlocking means
includes means on an end of said flow control means and an adjacent
surface of the valve body.
23. A lined valve as defined in claim 21, wherein the ports of said
flow control means are disposed in substantial alignment with the
inlet and outlet ports of the valve body adjacent the connecting
chamber thereof, whereby the pressure drop occuring between said
inlet and outlet ports incident to rotation of the valving member
between open and closed positions is confined between adjacent
edges of the ports of the valving member and flow control
means.
24. A lined valve with flow regulating means comprising in
combination: a valve body having an inlet port, an outlet port and
an intermediate connecting chamber; a liner member in said chamber
having an inlet port, an outlet port and an intermediate connecting
chamber for supporting a rotatable valving member; a rotatable
valving member in the chamber of said liner member; a flow cage
receivable within said valving member, said valving member and flow
cage having a transverse port therethrough; complementary
interengaging means on the flow cage and the interior of the valve
body for locking said flow cage against rotational movement, and
means for rotating the valving member between and relative to said
liner member and flow cage.
25. A lined valve as called for in claim 24, wherein the inlet and
outlet ports of the flow cage are disposed relative to the inlet
and outlet ports of the liner member whereby pressure drop induced
in said chamber when the valving member is in throttling positions
is restricted to the port defining edges of the flow cage and
valving member, and wherein a seal is provided between adjacent
surfaces of the liner and valving member when said valving member
is in fully open and fully closed positions.
Description
This invention relates to a valve with flow regulating means of a
simple and effective type, whereby the characteristics of the flow
and the capacity of the valve may be altered, with ease and
dispatch
Under certain conditions of use, valves should be capable of very
accurate regulation, to assure passage of fluid therethrough in
predetermined amounts or at specified rates of flow, without damage
to the seats and other components of the valve. The valve in many
instances includes a non-metallic liner within which the movable
valving member seats to effect a leakproof seal. The liner may be
formed of a wear-resistant self-lubricating material, an example of
which is polytetrafluoroethylene, trade-named "TEFLON", which forms
an ideal seal. The liner invariably is subject to erosion,
particularly in valves which control fluids at high velocity, or
fluids of a corrosive or abrasive nature, and protection of the
liner accordingly is to be provided for.
An object of the invention is to provide in a lined valve, improved
means for simply and accurately regulating the flow of a fluid,
either liquid or gaseous, through the valve, in such a manner as to
prevent damage to the liner as the valving member is rotated from
one position to another.
Another object is to provide simple, economical, and effective
means, easily replaceable and easily adjustable within the valve,
to provide for a desired flow control without shutdown of the pipe
system in which the valve is incorporated.
A further object is to provide in a control valve, simple and
effective means for the accurate control of flow, said means being
in the form of multiple orifice sleeves differently shaped and
easily substitutable for one another within the valve, to achieve
different desired flow patterns; another object being to enable the
bodily substitution of said orifice sleeves while the valve is in
closed position, so that no loss of fluid may occur incident to
interchanging of the sleeves.
Another object of the invention is to provide in a control valve, a
flow control means comprising a normally stationary orifice sleeve
supported within the movable valving member of the valve, to
cooperate with the valving member port.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide in a lined
control valve, flow control means comprising an orifice sleeve or
flow cage which remains fixed and is held rigidly relative to the
valve body and interiorly of a rotatable valving member whereby
rotation of the valving member produces a pressure drop between the
port defining edges of the orifice sleeve and valving member
thereby protecting the liner from the fluid media being throttled
by the valving member.
A further object of the invention is to substantially reduce wear
or erosion of parts in a valve of the character disclosed.
The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described
herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-section taken through the inlet and
outlet ports of a valve embodying the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a development in the flat, of a substantially cylindrical
orifice sleeve embodied in the movable valving member of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3--3 of FIG. 1, showing the
valve in the fully open position, subject to such constriction of
flow as may be imposed by the internal orifice sleeve.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, indicating a flow constriction
determined by a limited rotation of the valving member with no
change in the position of the orifice sleeve.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the valve in fully
closed position, the position of the orifice sleeve remaining
unchanged.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, the valving member being in
full open position, but the orifice sleeve being rotated to a
flow-constricting position establishing a reduced maximum flow.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the FIG. 1 valve, on a reduced scale,
certain parts being omitted.
FIG. 9, 10 and 11 are graphs indicating flow characteristics at
different rotated positions of the valving member of a valve,
utilizing different types of orifice sleeves.
FIG. 12 is a fragmental cross-section of a modification, showing a
simplified construction of the valve and a modified form of orifice
sleeve.
FIG. 13 is a fragmental elevational view taken on line 13--13 of
FIG. 12, and detailing the orifice sleeve.
FIG. 14 is a fragmental cross-section of a second modification of
the valve construction, in which the orifice sleeve is of a shape
differing from that of FIGS. 12 and 13, and in which said sleeve
may be removed and replaced while the valving member remains seated
in shut-off position.
FIG. 15 is a fragmental elevation taken on line 15--15 of FIG. 14,
and detailing the orifice in the sleeve of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is an exploded view of the valve of FIG. 12, on a reduced
scale, certain parts being omitted, illustrating a modification of
the orifice sleeve.
FIG. 17 is a fragmental cross-section of the valve of FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is a cross-section taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 17.
FIGS. 19 and 20 are cross-sectional views similar to FIG. 18
illustrating the valving member in throttling and closed positions
respectively.
The valve comprises a hollow body 20 having an inlet port 22 and an
outlet port 24, with the usual flanges 26 or other means provided
for connecting the valve in a pipe system conveying a fluid, either
gaseous or liquid. Between the ports is a transverse bore 28, in
which is supported a rotary valving member 30. The valving member
30, though herein illustrated as a tapered plug by way of example,
may just as well be a cylindrical plug; or alternatively, it may be
the rotary valving member of a ball valve, to which the present
invention is equally adaptable.
The valving member 30 has an operating stem 32, which may be
rotated either manually or by means of any form of motor, such as a
fluid motor, electric motor, or the like, arranged to rotate the
valving member between open and closed positions. In the interest
of simplicity of disclosure, the valving member is shown operable
by means of a hand lever 34, attached to a collar 36 suitably fixed
upon the outer end of stem 32.
Beneath the collar 36 is located suitable means for precluding
leakage of fluid upwardly about the valving member and its stem 32.
Such means may include the sealing diaphragms 38, 40, clamped
against the valve body by a removable bonnet 42 secured upon the
body by means of bolts 44, and an internal pressure ring 46
applying force against the diaphragms where the diaphragms overlie
the adjacent end of valving member or plug 30. Pressure against
pressure ring 46 may be regulated by means of a circular row of
adjusting screws 48 threadedly mounted in the bonnet at equal
distances from stem 30. This particular sealing means is described
in no greater detail, as it forms no part of the present invention.
It is sufficient to note that the aforesaid sealing means normally
precludes upward displacement of the valving member or plug 30, but
permits bodily removal thereof from bore 28 after removal of the
bolts 44.
By preference, though not of necessity, and depending upon the
service requirements of the valve, the valving member or plug 30
seals against a resilient non-metallic liner 50--50, which lines
the bore 28. Liner 50--50 may be substantially in the form of a
cylindrical sleeve, or of such shape as will conform to the shape
of plug 30, and it may be formed of a non-metallic, inherently
slippery, self-lubricating material such as
polytetrafluoroethylene, known in the trade as "TEFLON". The liner
is non-rotatable in bore 28, and forms continuous circular seals
near opposite ends of the plug or valving member, above and below
the diametral port 52 thereof. Port 52 is open at opposite ends of
a diameter of the plug, so that a fluid controlled by the valve may
pass through port 52 when in register with the inlet and outlet
ports of the valve body. By rotating the plug about 90.degree., the
port 52 may be closed so as to preclude passage of fluid through
the valve as is customary.
According to the present invention, the plug or valving member 30
is bored axially from one end 54 to produce a cylindrical bore 56
which extends above and below the upper and lower limits of plug
port 52. The innermost or blind end of bore 56 is denoted 58. Bore
56 is adapted to receive, with a sliding fit, a hollow cylindrical
sleeve-like member 60 referred to quite properly as an "orifice
sleeve" or flow cage, which may be substantially coextensive in
length with the length of bore 56. The orifice sleeve 60 is
normally fixed against rotation, notwithstanding rotational
manipulation of the plug or valving member 30 surrounding it. The
plug or valving member may be provided with internal rings 62, 62,
preferably of an inherently slippery material such as TEFLON,
providing a substantially frictionless bearing means, as well as
sealing means, in sliding contact with the outer cylindrical wall
of orifice sleeve 60.
At opposite ends of a diameter of orifice sleeve 60 are formed the
orifices 64 and 66, both in fluid communication with the open
interior of said sleeve. Orifice 64 preferably is sized and shaped
in correspondency with plug port 52; however, the opposite orifice
66 of the sleeve is to be contoured in a particular manner to
determine the flow characteristic and the capacity of the valve
output. Thus, as in the flat development of sleeve 60 depicted by
FIG. 2, the orifice 66 may include convergent edges forming an apex
68. If the valving member or plug 30 be rotated relative to orifice
sleeve 60, the area of the orifice 66 will be modified in
accordance with its overlap or its degree of registry with the
adjacent opening 70 of plug port 52.
The extent to which there is registration between openings 70 and
66, determines the amount of fluid flow through the valve; and
moreover, a changing position of a point in opening 70 with respect
to the constriction 68, resulting from rotation of the valve plug
or member 30, determines the throttling characteristic affecting
the flow.
In connection with the foregoing, reference is made to FIG. 3 which
shows in cross-section the relationship of elements depicted by
FIG. 1, the valve being in the maximum flow condition. The apex 68
is seen to be located at a point quite remote from the outlet
passageway of the valve body. According, the largest portion of the
orifice 66 of sleeve 60, is in registry with the outlet passageway
24 and with the opening 70 of the plug port, this resulting in a
high volume flow through the valve in the direction of the
arrows.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the plug or valving member 30 has been
rotated clockwise about 50 degrees toward closing position, thereby
to reduce flow of fluid through the plug port opening 70 and part
of the constricted portion 68 of orifice sleeve 60. Further
clockwise rotating of the plug 30, FIG. 4, will further reduce the
flow, but the rate of flow at various positions of the plug will be
modified by the gradual restriction in size of orifice 66 in the
direction of apex 68.
As was previously noted, orifice sleeve 60 is normally fixed
against rotation; however, the orifice sleeve is preferably fixed
at different axially rotated positions of adjustment within the
valving member or plug 30. This is illustrated by FIG. 6, wherein
the orifice sleeve 60 is shown rotated counter-clockwise about 50
degrees from the FIG. 3 position. Sleeve 60 as before stated, is to
be fixed, against rotation. When the sleeve is disposed according
to FIG. 6, the constricted apex portion 68 of the sleeve is located
in the flow path, and will therefore serve to reduce the maximum
capacity of the valve. In the FIG. 6 position of the sleeve, apex
portion 68 serves also to establish a desired flow pattern as plug
30 rotates between the open and closed valve positions.
The graph, FIG. 10, indicates the flow character of FIG. 6. In FIG.
10, the vertical column of numerals from 0 to 90 indicate degrees
of rotation of the valving member or plug 30 in moving from closed
to open position. The horizontal row of numerals indicate "GPM at 1
psi" or "Gallons per Minute at pressure of 1 Pound per Square
Inch". According to the graph of FIG. 10, the valve of FIG. 6 will
pass 34 GPM at the 90.degree. or full open position of the valve
plug. Also, the graph indicates a very sensitive control of flow
through the valve during the first 45.degree. of opening, after
which the flow line flattens to indicate a gradual flow increase
during the final 45.degree. of opening.
The flow line of the FIG. 10 graph can be altered in many respects
by simply changing the shape, size, and/or position of the orifice
sleeve opening 66, which of course characterizes the flow through
the valve for the purpose of meeting any given flow requirements as
may be specified for some installations.
The graph, FIG. 9, indicates the flow character of the valve having
an orifice sleeve as illustrated in FIGS. 16-20, wherein the ports
of the orifice sleeve substantially equal in size to the port
openings in the plug. The curve of the flow line here is seen to
differ substantially from that of FIG. 10, particularly in the
sensitivity of flow control during the first 70.degree. of opening.
The capacity of the valve here is greater than that of FIG. 6, but
the control at opening is substantially less sensitive.
FIG. 11 is the graph for the valve of FIGS. 12 and 13, wherein the
orifice sleeve 360 is provided with an upright narrow slot opening
362 and an adjacent transverse slot opening 364 forming an aperture
pattern. In this instance, initial opening movement of the valve
plug 30 first exposes the slot 364 to fluid flow; then as the
opening movement approaches about 33.degree. of plug rotation, the
transverse slot 362 gradually is exposed to flow, resulting in the
gradually increasing flow toward maximum indicated by the graph
line between 33.degree. and 90.degree..
It is noted here that the orifices in the orifice sleeve of FIG.
13, as well as those of FIGS. 1 through 8, are subject to
considerable modification for obtaining various desired flow
characteristics. For example, in FIG. 13, the upright slot 362
could be disposed at an angle to the perpendicular, or slot 364
could be wider at one end than at the other, as might also the slot
362.
FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate a slight, modification of the orifice
used in the sleeve of FIGS. 1 through 8. The sleeve in FIGS. 14 and
15 is denoted 460, and the control orifice is indicated by the
reference character 462. On the upstream side, the sleeve 460 has a
larger opening or port 464. A similar larger opening or port is
indicated at 366 upon the orifice sleeve of FIGS. 12 and 13,
corresponding to the opening 64 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
Various forms of means may be provided for precluding rotation of
the orifice sleeve with the rotary valving member or plug of the
valve. A simple means for the purpose is illustrated in FIGS. 12,
16 and 17, wherein the base 76 of the plug bore is integral with
the valve body and carries an upstanding lug 78 located to engage a
notch or depression 80 formed in the cylindrical wall of the
orifice sleeve 360 of FIG. 12, and orifice sleeve 400 of FIGS. 16
and 17 at their lower ends. The notch or depression 80 may be one
of several provided in the lower end of the orifice sleeve at
different locations, to engage lug 78 at different rotated
positions of the orifice sleeve. Changing the position of the
orifice sleeve within the valving member or plug 30 serves to alter
the flow characteristic, as was previously explained. The lug 78
and notch or notches 80, may be made much smaller than shown in
FIG. 12, to provide for a greater range of orifice sleeve
adjustment rotationally within the valve plug.
With further reference to FIG. 12, it should be understood that the
lower end of sleeve 360 might carry an extending locating pin or
the equivalent (not Illustrated), instead of the notch 80, to
engage any one of many spaced depressions or blind holes (not
illustrated) formed in the base wall 76 interiorly thereof, this
being a reversal of the structure shown. It may here be noted that
replacement or any desired adjustment of the orifice sleeve 360
rotationally within the valve, necessitates removal of the bonnet
42 and lifting of the valving member or plug 30 from the plug
chamber in order to gain access to the orifice sleeve for purpose
of replacement or adjustment thereof.
FIG. 14 illustrates an alternative form of means for adjustably
supporting the orifice sleeve 460. In this form of the valve, the
base wall 476 of the plug chamber is a part made detachable from
the valve body by the removal of several screws 478. Base 476 may
carry a stop member 480 to engage a cooperative stop member 482,
like in FIG. 12, or equivalent means, so that the orifice sleeve
460 may not rotate with the valve plug. In this construction, the
orifice sleeve is withdrawable from the open bottom of the valving
member or plug 30, after removal of base 476, without unseating the
plug or otherwise interfering with its normal function. The orifice
sleeve so withdrawn may be replaced by a different sleeve, or the
original sleeve may be rotationally adjusted as desired, and
secured by replacement of base 476 according to FIG. 14. If plug 30
is rotated to the closed position of FIG. 14, sleeve 460 can be
bodily removed without interfering with process operation.
It should be understood in connection with FIG. 14, that a
multiplicity of notches 482 may be provided in the lower end of
sleeve 460, for selective engagement with lug 480, to provide for
mounting of the orifice sleeve in different rotated positions of
adjustment. Equivalent means for this purpose may be employed if
desired, including reversal of the elements 480, 482, with the lug
carried by the sleeve, and the lug-receptive recesses or holes
provided in the material of the base at various locations. Other
forms of equivalent securing means for the orifice sleeve will
readily be substituted for the exemplary means herein
disclosed.
The valve construction as illustrated by FIGS. 1 through 8,
includes means whereby the orifice sleeve may be rotationally
adjusted with the use of means exposed exteriorly of the valve
body, thereby eliminating the need for partial disassembly, of the
valve. In this construction, the bottom wall 82 of the plug chamber
is provided with a bore 84 receptive of a shaft 86 disposed axially
of the valving member or plug 30. The shaft is rotationally
supported in the bore, and carries a diametrally bored cylindrical
head 88 fitted into the open lower end of the orifice sleeve 60. A
pin 90 or equivalent securing means locks the orifice sleeve to
head 88, so that rotational movements of shaft 86 are transmitted
to the orifice sleeve, independently of plug 30. Packings 92
provide seals about the adjusting shaft 86.
An adjusting wheel or disc 94 may be securely fixed to the exposed
end of adjusting shaft 86, as by means of a nut 96. Member 94 may
be provided with apertures 98 arranged in a circular row, said
apertures being selectively receptive of a screw 100 having a
pintle end 102 to enter a hole 104 in the bottom wall 82 of the
valve body. A lock nut 106 fixes the screw to wheel or plate 94,
with its end 102 engaging the hole 104. By this means, the wheel
94, its shaft 86, and the orifice sleeve 60 are fixed against
rotation. It should be noted that whenever the valve is to be used
the orifice sleeve is immovably fixed or secured to the valve
body.
When it is considered necessary or desirable to change the flow
characteristics of the valve, the supervisor need only remove the
screw 100 from its aperture 98, rotate the wheel 94 to re-position
the orifice sleeve as required, and then project the screws 100
through one of the apertures 98 that may be aligned with the hole
104, to lock the sleeve in the re-adjusted position. Although only
one hole 104 appears on the drawing, FIG. 1, it is to be understood
that several such holes receptive of screw 100 may be provided in
the bottom wall 82 of the valve body, to augment rotational
adjustability of the orifice sleeve. The number of apertures 98
provided in member 94 may be increased or decreased as required for
the adjustability sought.
The orifice sleeve preferably is formed of a suitable metal, as is
also the valving member and certain other parts exposed to the
fluid controlled by the valve, to resist any corrosive or abrasive
effects of the fluid. As FIGS. 3 through 6 clearly indicate, the
orifice sleeve in most positions of the valving member, shields the
TEFLON liner 50--50 from the cutting force of the flow through the
valve.
With particular reference now to FIGS. 18, 19 and 20, it will be
noted that the TEFLON liner 50 is effectively protected at all
times whether the valving member is fully open, as in FIG. 18, in
an intermediate or throttling position, as in FIG. 19, or fully
closed, as in FIG. 20.
When the valving member 30 is in a fully opened position its port
walls 402-404 and 406-408 are in substantial alignment with edges
401-403 and 405-407, respectively, of the edges of ports 399 of the
orifice sleeve 400, and with edges 410-412 and 414-416 of the body
port. A metal to TEFLON seal is obtained between the adjacent
surfaces of valving member 30 and the liner 50.
When the valving member is disposed in a throttling position,
between open and closed positions, as illustrated in FIG. 19, the
unrestricted or straight-line flow of fluid media, as indicated by
the headed arrow of FIG. 18, will be altered to the flow pattern
illustrated by the headed arrows of FIG. 19, wherein the pressure
drop occurring in the fluid media will occur between edges 404 and
406 of the valving member with edges 401 and 407 of the orifice
sleeve, for thereby effectively confining the pressure drop and
throttling action of the fluid media between the aforesaid metal
surfaces of the valving member and orifice sleeve so that the flow
does not impinge on the liner 50, thereby effectively preventing
damage to the liner.
When the valving member has been advanced to a fully closed
position its edges 404 and 406 will be disposed in overlapping
relationship with portions of the liner 50 for providing a metal to
TEFLON seal, as best illustrated in FIG. 20. When the valving
member is rotated from closed to open position, the situation
illustrated in FIG. 19 will again prevail wherein the pressure drop
in the fluid media will occur between the metal edges 401-404 and
407-406 of the port edges of the orifice sleeve and valving
member.
To summarize, it will be noted that the subject valve provides
metal-to-metal throttling surfaces; no impingement of process fluid
on the liner member and a drop tight shutoff when the valving
member is rotated to a full closed position. Whenever the valving
member is in the throttling range, that is, between full open and
fully closed positions, all throttling of the fluid media is
confined between the corresponding throttling surfaces of the
orifice sleeve and valving member. When the valving member is in
its closed, or shut off position, it engages the liner member 50 to
provide a true double block and bleed shut off.
In control of process fluid, it is desirable to spread throttling
over as wide a range as possible, and by varying the downstream
port configuration of the orifice sleeve a variety of flow patterns
can be obtained.
In those instances in which abrasive slurries containing, by way of
example, titanium oxide are to be handled the inner, or orifice
sleeve may be fabricated from a carbide material and another sleeve
of carbide material may be pressed or otherwise applied onto the
outer surface of the valving member. However, whatever material is
being controlled the liner member 50 is effectively protected from
erosion and/or the cutting action of such material, since the
material will not impinge upon the liner when the valving member is
in a throttling condition.
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