U.S. patent number 3,821,968 [Application Number 05/326,640] was granted by the patent office on 1974-07-02 for control valve structure having double ports.
This patent grant is currently assigned to ACF Industries Incorporated. Invention is credited to Gayle E. Barb.
United States Patent |
3,821,968 |
Barb |
July 2, 1974 |
CONTROL VALVE STRUCTURE HAVING DOUBLE PORTS
Abstract
A control valve structure in which the flow of fluid from the
inlet is divided into two separate streams and then recombined at
the outlet. The control valve is of the globe-valve type having two
opposed parts through which the fluid flows from the inlet, and the
control valve includes two cylindrical valve portions thereon to
control the flow of fluid through the two ports. The cylindrical
valve portions are mounted on a common valve post in spaced
relation to each other and are perforated to provide a restriction
to the fluid flow, thereby converting some of the energy of the
fluid stream to heat.
Inventors: |
Barb; Gayle E. (Houston,
TX) |
Assignee: |
ACF Industries Incorporated
(New York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
23273080 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/326,640 |
Filed: |
January 26, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/625.3;
251/210 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16K
47/04 (20130101); Y10T 137/86734 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16K
47/04 (20060101); F16K 47/00 (20060101); F16k
011/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/625.3,625.37,625.38,625.39 ;251/205,210 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Klinksiek; Henry T.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Riddle; Eugene N.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A valve structure comprising, a body having an inlet and an
outlet, said inlet having an end portion extending within said body
and having aligned upper and lower annular valve ports
communicating with said outlet, aligned upper and lower valve seats
defining said valve ports, a valve plug structure mounted within
said valve body having axially aligned integral upper and lower
valve plug portions connected to a common post and adapted to seat
on the respective upper and lower valve seats, said lower valve
plug portion having a perforated cylindrical wall and an open lower
end, the upper end of said lower valve plug portion being closed
and adapted to seat on the lower valve seat in a closed position to
prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, a fixed cage having an
upper circumference forming the lower valve seat and a lower
cylindrical perforated wall communicating with the outlet, said
lower valve plug portion being received within the cage and
covering at least a substantial portion of the perforated area of
the fixed cage in a closed position, the perforated area of the
lower plug portion and the perforated area of the cage which are
exposed to fluid flow both increasing simultaneously in size upon
movement of the lower plug portion toward an open position and said
fluid first flowing through the perforations in said lower valve
plug portion and then through the perforations in said cage to said
outlet, and means to move said valve plug portions between open and
closed positions relative to the valve ports.
2. A valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the openings
in each of said generally cylindrical walls are arranged in a
plurality of spaced rings about the walls with the openings being
of an increasing size from closed position toward full open
position.
3. A valve structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the openings
in the perforated wall of said cage are of a decreasing size from a
position adjacent the associated seat to a position remote from the
associated seat.
4. A valve structure comprising, a body having an inlet and an
outlet, said inlet having an end portion extending within said body
and having a pair of aligned annular valve ports communicating with
said outlet, a pair of aligned valve seats defining said valve
ports, a valve plug structure mounted within said valve body having
a pair of axially aligned valve plug portions connected to a common
post and adapted to seat on said valve seats, one of said valve
plug portions having a perforated cylindrical wall and one open
end, the other end of said valve plug portion being closed and
adapted to seat on its associated valve seat in a closed position
to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough, a fixed cage forming one
of the valve seats and having a cylindrical perforated wall
communicating with the outlet, said one valve plug portion being
received within the cage and covering at least a substantial
portion of the perforated area of the fixed cage in a closed
position, the perforated area of said one plug portion and the
perforated area of the cage which are exposed to fluid flow both
increasing simultaneously in size upon movement of said one plug
portion toward an open position and said fluid first flowing
through the perforations in said one valve plug portion and then
through the perforations in said cage to said outlet, and means to
move said valve plug portions between open and closed positions
relative to the valve ports.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A low noise level must be obtained in order to meet governmental
and industry standards. Several methods have been advised for a
reduction in noise levels, such as directing the flow of fluid
through tortuous fluid passages with the direction of flow being
changed. This technique also converts some of the energy of the
fluid stream to heat. A plurality of perforated discs has also been
provided heretofore for the flow of fluid therethrough. Perforated
or slotted cages through which the fluid is directed have likewise
been utilized heretofore. Multiple-orifice plates or discs placed
downstream of a valve will reduce the pressure drop across the
valve and reduce the discharge velocity. Flow passages of the
multiple plates may be staggered or spaced so that flow does not
jet straight through the plates. All such means have converted some
of the energy of the fluid stream and reduce the tendency toward
cavitation. Thus, excessive valve noise has been reduced or
minimized by such previous arrangements.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention introduces a large ratio of wetted area to
flow area thus converting energy of the fluid stream to heat. This
large ratio, i.e. wetted area to flow area, is provided by having
an inlet leading to a pair of opposed ports. To control the flow of
fluid through the opposed ports to the outlet, two cylindrical
valve plug portions are mounted on a common post. The cylindrical
valve plug portions have open lower ends and imperforate upper ends
which seat about the opposed ports in closed position. The
cylindrical valve plug portions are perforated so that in the open
position of the valve the fluid flows through the perforated
portions to the discharge outlet. The change in direction of the
fluid as it flows through the perforated valve plug portions also
converts energy of the fluid stream. This energy conversion tends
to reduce cavitation and the resultant noise.
In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible
embodiments of the invention is illustrated,
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a control valve constructed in
accordance with the invention, certain parts thereof shown in
elevation, with the valve being in a closed position;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view generally similar to FIG. 1 but showing
the valve plug member in an open position thereof with the fluid
flow from the inlet through the upper and lower cylindrical
portions and thence through the outlet;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the double port type valve plug
forming the present invention and including the lower fixed cage
structure;
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the pattern or arrangement of
the multiple openings in the fixed lower cage structure;
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the
multiple openings in the identical upper and lower sections of the
valve plug.
Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of the
invention, a control valve structure generally indicated 10 and
embodying the present invention includes a valve body generally
indicated 11 having an inlet 12 and an outlet 14. Flanges 16 are
provided adjacent inlet 12 and outlet 14 having suitable openings
18 adapted to receive bolts or the like for connecting an adjacent
pipe section thereto. Valve body 11 has a lower flange 22 thereon.
Suitable openings 24 in lower flange 22 receive bolts 26 for
securing a bottom closure 28 fitting over an opening 29 in the
lower end of valve body 11 to provide easy access to the interior
of valve body 11. An upper flange 30 of valve body 11 has suitable
bolt openings 32 therein which receive bolts 34 for securing a
bonnet generally indicated 43. A valve actuator generally indicated
36 may be suitably secured to bonnet 43.
A lower stem 38 has a valve plug generally indicated 40 connected
thereto. An upper valve stem 42 is connected to lower valve stem
38. A suitable stuffing box is generally indicated 44. Upper stem
42 is secured to a diaphragm plate 46. A diaphragm 49 is clamped
between an upper casing 48 and a lower casing 50 by bolts 52. A
spring 53 contacts diaphragm plate 46.
Inlet 12 has a closed end 54 and a pair of opposed openings 56 and
58. An upper generally cylindrical valve seat member indicated 60
is threaded within opening 56 and has a seat 62 thereon. A lower
generally cylindrical valve seat member or cage 64 is threaded
within opening 58 and has a lower seat 66 thereon. Lower valve seat
member 64 has a lower skirt or wall 70. Perforations or openings
70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D are formed in rings about skirt 70 and
increase in size from the lower end of skirt 70 toward the upper
end thereof. As a non-limiting example of openings 70A, 70B, 70C,
70D, openings 70A may comprise six rings of 96 openings each having
a diameter of 3/32 inch and spaced 3.75.degree. apart in each ring.
Openings 70B comprise four rings of 96 openings each of one-eighth
inch diameter 3.75.degree. apart in each ring. Openings 70C
comprise four rings of 96 openings each of five thirty-seconds inch
diameter 3.75.degree. apart in each ring. Openings 70D comprise
five rings of 96 openings each of three-sixteenths inch diameter
and 3.75.degree. apart in each ring. Each ring is spaced
approximately 0.20 inch from the adjacent ring. It is noted that
openings 70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D are arranged in FIG. 4 in an
inverted relation with respect to FIGS. 1-3.
Valve plug 40 includes an upper plug portion generally indicated 76
and a lower plug portion generally indicated 78 connected by a post
79. Upper plug portion 76 includes an upper body 80 and a lower
skirt or wall 82 extending therefrom and having an open lower end.
Perforations or openings 84A, 84B, 84C, and 84D are formed in rings
about skirt 82 and increase in size from the upper ring thereof to
the lower ring thereof. As a non-limiting example of 84A, 84B, 84C,
and 84D, openings 84A may comprise five rings of 96 openings each
of five sixty-fourths inch diameter which are 3.75.degree. apart.
Openings 84B comprise four rings of 96 openings each of seven
sixty-fourths inch diameter which are 3.75.degree. apart. Openings
84C comprise five staggered rings of 96 openings each of nine
sixty-fourths inch diameter which are 3.75.degree. apart. Openings
84D comprise five staggered rings of 96 openings each of five
thirty-seconds inch diameter which are 3.75.degree. apart. Each
ring from openings 84A to 84D is spaced approximately 0.20 inch
from the adjacent ring.
Lower valve plug portion 78 includes an upper main body 90 having a
wall or skirt 92 extending therefrom and having an open lower end.
Perforations or openings 94A-94D are formed in valve plug skirt 92
identical to those of 84A, 84B, 84C, and 84D.
In operation, as shown in FIG. 1 with valve plug member 40 in
seated position, main body 80 is seated on seat 62 and main body 90
is seated on seat 66 to prevent the flow of fluid through valve 10.
Upon the opening of valve plug 40 by diaphragm plate 46, diaphragm
49, and spring 53 exerting an upward movement on stem 42, valve
plug portions 76 and 78 are moved to an open position as shown in
FIG. 2 and fluid flows from inlet 12 simultaneously through
openings 84A, 84B, 84C, 84D, and 94A, 94B, 94C, and 94D. Openings
70A, 70B, 70C, and 70D are introduced in series with openings 94A,
94B, 94C, and 94D.
Valve 10 may be suitably employed with either gaseous or liquid
fluids, such as steam or water, for example. Further, the present
invention may be suitably employed with a so-called reverse acting
valve plug as contrasted with the present design which is a direct
acting valve plug. A direct acting valve plug moves downwardly
toward a closed position while a reverse acting valve plug moves
downwardly toward an open position. The valve plug of the present
invention may be easily designed to move downwardly toward an open
position, if desired.
* * * * *