Control valve and trim assembly for a control valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12504097-B2
Application number	US-202318199542-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2023
Priority date	May 19, 2023
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

A control valve includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve seat positioned in a passageway of the body between the inlet and the outlet, and a valve plug movable between a closed position and an open position. A trim assembly is disposed within the body to provide guidance for the valve plug and to condition a flow of fluid through the control valve. The trim assembly includes a top portion and a bottom portion. A plurality of ribs extend between the top portion and the bottom portion and a plurality of arcuate lattice segments are removably secured between the top portion and the bottom portion and separated from adjacent lattice segments by a rib of the plurality of ribs. Each lattice segment has a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface and an outer surface of the lattice segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A control valve, comprising:
a body having an inlet and an outlet; a valve seat positioned in a passageway of the body between the inlet and the outlet; a valve plug positioned within the body and movable between a closed position, in which the valve plug sealingly engages the valve seat, and an open position, in which the valve plug is spaced away from the valve seat; and a trim assembly disposed within the body to provide guidance for the valve plug and to condition a flow of fluid through the control valve, the trim assembly comprising:
a top portion and a bottom portion, opposite the top portion;
a plurality of ribs extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the plurality of ribs and one of the top portion or the bottom portion are a single, integral, unitary piece; and
a plurality of arcuate lattice segments, each lattice segment of the plurality of lattice segments having a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface of the lattice segment and an outer surface of the lattice segment, and each lattice segment being removably secured between the top portion and the bottom portion and separated from adjacent lattice segments by a rib of the plurality of ribs;
wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprises a first slot on a first side of the rib and a second slot on a second side of the rib, opposite the first side; and wherein each of the plurality of lattice segments comprises a first longitudinal protrusion extending along a first side of the lattice segment and a second longitudinal protrusion extending along a second side of the lattice segment, the first and second longitudinal protrusions being radially offset from the inner surface of the lattice segment and the outer surface of the lattice segment and configured to engage the first slot and the second slot in adjacent ribs.

2 . The control valve of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the plurality of lattice segments comprises a first slot on a first side of the lattice segment and a second slot on a second side of the lattice segment, opposite the first side; and each of the plurality of ribs comprises a first longitudinal protrusion extending along a first side of the rib and a second longitudinal protrusion extending along a second side of the rib, the first and second longitudinal protrusions configured to engage the first slot and the second slot in adjacent lattice segments.

3 . The control valve of claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of each of the plurality of lattice segments is recessed from an inner diameter of the trim assembly such that the valve plug does not engage the inner surface.

4 . The control valve of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lattice segments includes a first portion configured to provide a first fluid conditioning and an axially positioned second portion configured to provide a second fluid conditioning, different than the first fluid conditioning.

5 . The control valve of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lattice segments includes a first portion configured to provide a first fluid conditioning and a radially positioned second portion configured to provide a second fluid conditioning, different that the first fluid conditioning.

6 . The control valve of claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion and the plurality of ribs are a single, integral, unitary piece.

7 . The control valve of claim 1 , wherein the top portion includes an axially extending cylindrical plug guide extending from a top surface of the top portion.

8 . A trim assembly for a control valve, the trim assembly comprising:
a top portion and a bottom portion, opposite the top portion; a plurality of ribs extending between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the plurality of ribs and one of the top portion or the bottom portion are a single, integral, unitary piece; and a plurality of arcuate lattice segments, each of the plurality of lattice segments having a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface of the lattice segment and an outer surface of the lattice segment, and each of the plurality of lattice segments being removably secured between the top portion and the bottom portion, and separated from adjacent lattice segments by a rib of the plurality of ribs; wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprises a first slot on a first side of the rib and a second slot on a second side of the rib, opposite the first side; and wherein each of the plurality of lattice segments comprises a first longitudinal protrusion extending along a first side of the lattice segment and a second longitudinal protrusion extending along a second side of the lattice segment, the first and second longitudinal protrusions being radially offset from the inner surface of the lattice segment and the outer surface of the lattice segment and configured to engage the first and second slots in adjacent ribs.

9 . The trim assembly of claim 8 , wherein:
each of the plurality of lattice segments comprises a first slot on a first side of the lattice segment and a second slot on a second side of the lattice segment, opposite the first side; and each of the plurality of ribs comprises a first longitudinal protrusion extending along a first side of the rib and a second longitudinal protrusion extending along a second side of the rib, the first and second longitudinal protrusions configured to engage the first and second slots in adjacent lattice segments.

10 . The trim assembly of claim 8 , wherein the inner surface of each of the plurality of lattice segments is recessed from an inner diameter of the trim assembly.

11 . The trim assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of lattice segments includes a first portion configured to provide a first fluid conditioning and an axially positioned second portion configured to provide a second fluid conditioning, different than the first fluid conditioning.

12 . The trim assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of lattice segments includes a first portion configured to provide a first fluid conditioning and a radially positioned second portion configured to provide a second fluid conditioning, different that the first fluid conditioning.

13 . The trim assembly of claim 8 , wherein the bottom portion and the plurality of ribs are a single, integral, unitary piece.

14 . The trim assembly of claim 8 , wherein the top portion includes an axially extending cylindrical plug guide extending from a top surface of the top portion.

15 . A method of assembling a trim assembly for a control valve, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting a plurality of lattice segments into a first trim section, wherein the first trim section includes a base portion and a plurality of ribs extending from the base portion, the plurality of ribs and the base portion are a single, integral, unitary piece, each of the plurality of lattice segments has a plurality of passages that extend between an inner surface of the lattice segment, and each of the plurality of lattice segments is configured to be removably inserted between two corresponding ribs of the plurality of ribs and is separated from adjacent lattice segments by a rib of the plurality of ribs; and securing a second trim section to the first trim section such that the plurality of lattice segments are removably secured between the first trim section and the second trim section; wherein each of the plurality of ribs comprises a first slot on a first side of the rib and a second slot on a second side of the rib, opposite the first side; and wherein each lattice segment

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Jelken Shannon E

Classifications

• B01D29/118

  open-ended · CPC title

• B01D29/112

  Ring shaped filters wherein both opposite axial sides are opened and the axial length is shorter than the diameter, e.g. as used in hydraulic transmission systems · CPC title

• F16K3/246

  Combination of a sliding valve and a lift valve · CPC title

• F16K47/14

  the throttling member being a perforated membrane · CPC title

• F16K1/54

  Arrangements for modifying the way in which the rate of flow varies during the actuation of the valve · CPC title