Throttling device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10167979-B2
Application number	US-201815894227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2018
Priority date	Jun 25, 2015
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

An air removal assembly can include an air valve mountable on a fluid system; and a throttling device in fluid communication with the air valve, the throttle device further in fluid communication with the fluid system through the air valve when the air valve is mounted on the fluid system, the throttling device including: a body having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining a body cavity, the inner and outer surfaces defining a plurality of body orifices in fluid communication through the body cavity; a throttle movably positioned within the body cavity proximate to a first orifice of the plurality of orifices, the throttle movable to a closed position closing the first orifice and to an open position opening a fluid pathway between the first orifice and the body cavity; and a biasing element biasing the throttle to a partially-open position between the closed and open positions.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. An air removal assembly comprising:
an air valve mountable on a fluid system; and
a throttling device in fluid communication with the air valve, the throttle device further in fluid communication with the fluid system through the air valve when the air valve is mounted on the fluid system, the throttling device including:
a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a body cavity, the inner surface and the outer surface defining a plurality of body orifices in fluid communication through the body cavity;
a throttle movably positioned within the body cavity proximate to a first orifice of the plurality of body orifices, the throttle movable to a closed position closing the first orifice and to an open position opening a fluid pathway between the first orifice and the body cavity; and
a biasing element biasing the throttle to a partially-open position between the closed position and the open position; wherein the partially-open position is when the biasing element is at rest.

2. The air removal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing element comprises:
a first spring, the first spring engaging a first side of the throttle and biasing the throttle towards the closed position; and
a second spring, the second spring engaging a second side of the throttle and biasing the throttle towards the open position, wherein the first spring and second spring together bias the throttle to the partially-open position.

3. The air removal assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a stem disposed at least partially within the body cavity, wherein the throttle is movably positioned on the stem.

4. The air removal assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the air valve includes a float movably positioned proximate to an upper outlet of the air valve, the float movable to a closed position closing the upper outlet and to an open position opening a fluid pathway between the upper outlet and a lower outlet of the air valve; and
the air removal assembly defines an assembly open position when the float of the air valve is in the open position and the throttle is biased away from the first orifice.

5. The air removal assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air removal assembly defines an assembly closed position when the throttle is in the closed position.

6. A method of venting air from a fluid system through an air removal assembly comprising:
venting air from the fluid system through an air valve and a throttling device in fluid communication with the air valve, the throttling device including:
a body having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a body cavity, the inner surface and the outer surface defining a plurality of body orifices in fluid communication through the body cavity;
a throttle movably positioned within the body cavity proximate to a first orifice of the plurality of body orifices, the throttle movable to a closed position closing the first orifice and to an open position opening a fluid pathway between the first orifice and the body cavity, the fluid pathway at least partially open when venting air from the fluid system through the air valve and the throttling device; and
a biasing element biasing the throttle to a partially-open position between the closed position and the open position; wherein the partially-open position is when the biasing element is at rest; and

restricting air flow through the throttling device when a venting rate of the air exceeds a predetermined threshold venting rate, the air flow restricted by moving the throttle to the closed position.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein in the closed position of the throttle:
the throttle is engaged with a first end of a nipple mounted in the first orifice; and
a notch in the throttling device permits air from the fluid system to exhaust into the atmosphere when the throttle is engaged with the first end of the nipple mounted in the orifice.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising draining fluid from the fluid system through the air removal assembly and pulling air into the fluid system.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the throttle is a first throttle, the throttling device further comprising a second throttle having a first side and a second side, the second throttle movably positioned within the body cavity and proximate to a second orifice of the plurality of orifices, the biasing element biasing the second throttle towards a closed position closing the second orifice.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising moving the second throttle towards an open position to open the second orifice and pull air through the second orifice when an air intake rate of the air exceeds a predetermined threshold air intake rate.

Assignees

• Mueller Int Llc

Inventors

• Milroy Jeff

Classifications

• F16K47/08 Primary

  for decreasing pressure {or noise level} and having a throttling member separate from the closure member {, e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths} · CPC title

• F16K24/044

  the float being rigidly connected to the valve element, the assembly of float and valve element following a substantially translational movement when actuated, e.g. also for actuating a pilot valve · CPC title

• F16K17/08

  with special arrangements for providing a large discharge passage · CPC title

• F16K17/044

  with more than one spring · CPC title

• F16K24/06

  for aerating only (F16K24/02 takes precedence) · CPC title