Cage apparatus having fluid passageways to affect flow characteristics of valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9845901-B2
Application number	US-201615075889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2016
Priority date	Mar 21, 2016
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

Cage apparatus having fluid passageways to affect flow characteristics of valves are disclosed. An example valve cage includes clustered fluid flow passages. Each fluid flow passage has a first portion connected to a second portion. The first portion tapers towards the second portion and the second portion tapers towards the first portion. The clustered fluid flow passages include a first row and an adjacent second row. The first row and the second row are oriented at a first angle relative an axis of the valve cage to extend along a helically-shaped path on the valve cage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A valve cage, comprising:
clustered fluid flow passages, each fluid flow passage having a first portion, a second portion, and a throat to couple the first portion and the second portion, the first portion defining an inlet and the second portion defining an outlet, the inlet having a first cross-sectional area and the outlet having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area, the first portion having an arcuate tapered profile between the inlet and the throat, and the second portion having a linear tapered profile between the outlet and the throat, the clustered fluid flow passages include a first row and an adjacent second row, the first row and the second row being oriented at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the valve cage, the first row and the second row extend in a helically-shaped pattern along the valve cage.

2. The valve cage of claim 1 , wherein the throat has a third cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area and the second cross-sectional area.

3. The valve cage of claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first length and the second portion has a second length greater than the first length.

4. The valve cage of claim 1 , wherein the helically-shaped pattern of the clustered fluid flow passages produces at least one of a linear change in flow capacity or a constant pressure recovery of the valve cage as a valve plug moves relative the valve cage between an open position and a closed position.

5. The valve cage of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate tapered profile of the first portion of each of the fluid flow passages provides a converging profile toward the throat to increase a pressure recovery produced by each of the fluid flow passages.

6. The valve cage of claim 1 , wherein the linear tapered profile of the second portion of each of the fluid flow passages provides a diverging profile from the throat toward the outlet.

7. The valve cage of claim 6 , wherein the linear tapered profile of the second portion has an angle of about between 2 and 4 degrees to increase a pressure recovery produced by each of the fluid flow passages.

8. The valve cage of claim 1 , wherein a first fluid flow passage of the first row and a first fluid flow passage of the second row are laterally offset by a second angle relative to a lateral axis of the valve cage perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve cage, the second angle being less than the first angle.

9. The valve cage of claim 8 , further including a third row adjacent the second row and spaced from the first row such that the second row is positioned between the first row and the third row, wherein a first fluid flow passage of the third row is laterally offset relative to at least one of the first fluid flow passage of the first row or the first fluid flow passage of the second row at a distance defined by the second angle.

10. The valve cage of claim 9 , further including a valve plug movable relative to the valve cage between a fully open position and a fully closed position, wherein at a first partially open position of the valve plug, the first fluid flow passage of the first row has a first exposed area and the first fluid flow passage of the second row has a second exposed area, the first exposed area is greater than the second exposed area.

11. The valve cage of claim 10 , wherein the first fluid flow passage of the third row has a third exposed area less than the first exposed area and the second exposed area.

12. An apparatus, comprising:
a valve cage disposed between a bonnet and a valve seat, the valve cage having clustered fluid flow passages extending through a wall of the valve cage between a first surface and an opposing second surface, each of the clustered fluid flow passages including:
a first portion having an arcuate tapered profile between an inlet formed on the first surface and a throat, the inlet provided at a first end of the arcuate tapered profile and the throat provided at a second end of the arcuate tapered profile such that the first portion has a first length defined by a radius of curvature of the arcuate tapered profile;
a second portion having a linear tapered profile between the throat and an outlet formed on the second surface, the throat provided at a third end of the linear tapered profile, the second portion having a second length greater than the first length; and
a first row and an adjacent second row that extend in a helical pattern along the wall of the valve cage at a first angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the valve cage.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the second portion diverges linearly from the throat to the second surface at an angle of about between 2 and 4 degrees.

14. The valve cage of claim 12 , wherein a first fluid flow passage of the first row is laterally offset relative to an adjacent first fluid flow passage of the second row at a second angle relative to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the first fluid flow passage of the first row to have a first exposed area and the first fluid flow passage of the second row to have a second exposed area when a valve plug is at a first open position relative to the valve cage, the valve cage having an opening defined by a wall to slidably receive the valve plug, the first exposed area being greater than the second exposed area.

15. The valve cage of claim 12 , wherein a center of the radius of curvature lies on a plane coinciding with the throat.

16. The valve cage of claim 12 , wherein a line tangent to the first end of the arcuate tapered profile defining the inlet is substantially perpendicular to a line tangent to the second end of the arcuate tapered profile adjacent the throat.

17. A valve cage, comprising:
a body having means for allowing fluid flow through the valve cage, the means for allowing fluid flow being helically arranged in adjacent rows along a length of the body relative to a longitudinal axis of the valve cage, the means for allowing fluid flow including means for increasing pressure recovery, the pressure recovery means including:
a first portion having means for converging fluid flow, the means for converging having an arcuate tapered profile between an inlet of the means for allowing fluid flow and a throat of the means for allowing fluid flow, the first portion has a first end defining the inlet and a second end defining the throat; and
a second portion coupled to the first portion, the second portion having means for diverging the converged fluid flow, the means for diverging having a linear tapered profile between the throat and an outlet of the means for allowing fluid flow, the second portion having a third end defining the throat and a fourth end defining the outlet.

18. The valve cage of claim 17 , wherein the means for allowing fluid flow is to produce at least one of a linear change in flow capacity or a constant pressure recovery as a valve plug moves between an open position and a closed position relative to the valve cage.

19. The valve cage of claim 17 , wherein the second end and the third end are to lie on a common plane.

Assignees

• Fisher Controls Int Llc

Inventors

• Mccormick Nathan
• Eilers Daniel James
• Olberding Jason Gene

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

• F16K1/54

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

• F16K3/246

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

• F16K3/34

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

• F16K3/00

  Gate valves or sliding valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closing members having a sliding movement along the seat for opening and closing (F16K5/00 takes precedence; in barrages or weirs E02B8/04) · CPC title