Flow control valve having adjustable sleeve for varying flow rate

Abstract

A constant flow rare controller valve includes a piston spring biased towards the top of the valve. Fluid or gas flowing into the valve increases the forces in the chamber above the piston, forcing the piston toward a valve seat. The piston is thus seated in the valve seat, blocking gas or fluid flow to the outlet port. The forces on the piston in the chamber below the piston builds as flow goes through the piston until the forces in this chamber including the piston spring force is greater than the forces in the chamber above the piston. The piston then is lifted from the valve seat, and the pathway to the outlet orifice is opened. Fluid or gas flows through the piston via the calibrated orifice. An equilibrium flow rate is reached by variation in the piston position based on the location of the movable seat which sets and maintains a constant differential pressure across the piston thus maintaining constant flow.