Patent US3554221A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3554221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for stabilizing fluid flow
Assignee: Hughes Tool Co
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Filing: 1969-01-27
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Granted: 1971-01-12
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Expires: 1989-01-27
Abstract
Abstract Methods and apparatus are provided for stabilizing the flow rate of fluid independently of variations in upstream or downstream pressure. A controller is provided which incorporates a selectively adjustable throttling valve, and a control valve responsive to variations in upstream pressure. A chamber is provided between the two valves to contain the fluid at a pressure intermediate of upstream and downstream pressures, and a loading mass is connected to the control valve to maintain a fixed differential in the chamber between the intermediate and the upstream pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Everett D Mcmurry
- 👤 Bolling A Abercombie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 06:28
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/01; G05D7/0146; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/12; F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/36; F16K31/363; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7781; Y10T137/7784; Y10T137/7787; Y10T137/7788; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/87917
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
Flow control apparatus for selectively establishing and stabilizing fluid flow at substantially a preselected flow rate, said apparatus comprising: a hollow body member adapted to be interconnected across the flow path of said fluid flow sought to be stabilized and having spaced-apart inlet and exit ports for receiving and discharging said fluid; a valve seat body means centrally located in said body member to establish an upstream pressure region between said valve seat body means and said inlet port and a downstream pressure region between said valve seat body means and said exit port; said valve seat body being hollow to estaBlish an intermediate pressure region and further having an intake port communicating with said upstream region to establish a pressure differential between said intermediate and upstream regions and an outlet port communicating with said downstream region to establish a pressure differential between said intermediate and downstream regions; throttling means engageable with said valve seat body for establishing fluid flow through said intake port at a preselected flow rate; control valve means responsive to the pressure in said upstream pressure region for selectively engaging said valve seat body and maintaining the pressure in said intermediate pressure region as a function of said pressure in said upstream pressure region; and loading means interconnected with said control valve means in opposition to said pressure in said upstream pressure region for establishing and maintaining a preselected differential between said intermediate and upstream pressure regions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
Flow control apparatus for selectively establishing and stabilizing fluid flow at substantially a preselected flow rate, said apparatus comprising: a hollow body member adapted to be interconnected across the flow path of said fluid flow sought to be stabilized and having spaced-apart inlet and exit ports for receiving and discharging said fluid; a valve seat body means centrally located in said body member to establish an upstream pressure region between said valve seat body means and said inlet port and a downstream pressure region between said valve seat body means and said exit port; said valve seat body being hollow to estaBlish an intermediate pressure region and further having an intake port communicating with said upstream region to establish a pressure differential between said intermediate and upstream regions and an outlet port communicating with said downstream region to establish a pressure differential between said intermediate and downstream regions; throttling means engageable with said valve seat body for establishing fluid flow through said intake port at a preselected flow rate; control valve means responsive to the pressure in said upstream pressure region for selectively engaging said valve seat body and maintaining the pressure in said intermediate pressure region as a function of said pressure in said upstream pressure region; and loading means interconnected with said control valve means in opposition to said pressure in said upstream pressure region for establishing and maintaining a preselected differential between said intermediate and upstream pressure regions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The flow control apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said loading means is a weight of a fixed preselected magnitude functionally related to the preselected differential sought to be maintained between said intermediate and upstream pressure regions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus described in claim 1, wherein said throttling means includes a valve stem member movably interconnected with said body member for selective throttling engagement with said intake port in said valve seat body means to establish a preselected rate of fluid flow from said upstream pressure region into said intermediate pressure region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The apparatus described in claim 3, wherein said apparatus further comprises: a body plug means gas tightly connected to said hollow body member and defining and establishing a secondary pressure region substantially separate from said upstream and downstream pressure regions and said intermediate pressure region; wherein said pressuring means includes conduit means interconnected between said upstream pressure region and secondary pressure region to substantially equalize the pressure therebetween; and wherein said control valve means is responsive to the pressure in said secondary pressure region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
95 words
The apparatus described in claim 4, wherein said valve seat body means includes a further aperture separate from said intake and outlet ports therein for communication between said secondary pressure region defined by said body plug means and said upstream pressure region, and wherein said control valve comprises a metering piston-like plunger slidably and generally fluid-tightly disposed in said further aperture with one end located in said secondary pressure region and with the other end thereof extending into said intermediate pressure region for blocking engagement with said outlet port in said valve seat body means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus described in claim 5, wherein said weight is disposed in said secondary pressure region and supported on said one end of said metering plunger, and wherein said pressure differential between said intermediate and upstream pressures is functionally related to the sum of the weights of said loading mass and said metering plunger divided by the cross-sectional area of said further aperture in said valve seat body means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus described in claim 6, further including indicator means interconnected with said hollow body member and said valve stem member to provide a functional indication of the flow rate of fluid flow through said intake port in said valve seat body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-11 | 1974-07-13 | 1975-01-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-11 | 1978-07-13 | 1979-01-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-11 | 1982-07-13 | 1983-01-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |