A DUAL ORIFICE VARIABLE FLOW RATE VALVE
A dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100, 700, 900 ) is provided. The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100, 700, 900 ) includes a valve body ( 110, 710, 910 ) with a first fluid port ( 112, 712, 912 ) and a second fluid port ( 114, 714, 914 ), the first fluid port ( 112, 712, 912 ) having a first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ) and a dual valve member ( 120, 720, 920 ) disposed in the valve body ( 110, 710, 910 ). The dual valve member ( 120, 720, 920 ) includes a first valve member ( 122, 722, 922 ) disposed in the valve body ( 110, 710, 910 ), the first valve member ( 122, 722, 922 ) having a second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) fluidly coupled to the first fluid port ( 112, 712, 912 ) and a first distal end ( 122 a, 722 a, 922 a ) proximate the first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ) and a second valve member ( 124, 724, 924 ) disposed in the valve body ( 110, 710, 910 ) proximate the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) in the first valve member ( 122, 722, 922 ). The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100, 700, 900 ) also includes an actuator ( 130, 730, 930 ) configured to move the second valve member ( 124, 724, 924 ) relative to the first valve member ( 122, 722, 922 ) to control a fluid flow between the first fluid port ( 112, 712, 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114, 714, 914 ) through the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) in the first valve member ( 122, 722, 922 ).
1 . A dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ), comprising:
a valve body ( 110 , 710 , 910 ) with a first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and a second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ), the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) having a first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a );
a dual valve member ( 120 , 720 , 920 ) disposed in the valve body ( 110 , 710 , 910 ), the dual valve member ( 120 , 720 , 920 ) comprised of:
a first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) disposed in the valve body ( 110 , 710 , 910 ), the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) having a second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) fluidly coupled to the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and a first distal end ( 122 a, 722 a, 922 a ) proximate the first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ); and
a second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) disposed in the valve body ( 110 , 710 , 910 ) proximate the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) in the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ); and
an actuator ( 130 , 730 , 930 ) configured to move the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) relative to the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) to control a fluid flow between the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ) through the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) in the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).
2 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) of claim 1 , wherein the actuator ( 130 , 730 , 930 ) is further configured to move the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) to control a fluid flow rate between the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ) through the first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ).
3 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) of claim 1 , wherein the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) further comprises a sealing end ( 124 b, 724 b , 924 b ) that selectively engages the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).
4 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) of claim 3 , wherein the sealing end ( 124 b, 724 b, 924 b ) is disposed inside the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) and is adapted to contact a surface inside the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).
5 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) of claim 1 , wherein the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) further comprises an armature end ( 124 a, 724 a , 924 a ) that selectively engages a diaphragm ( 140 , 740 , 940 ) to limit a stroke length of the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ).
6 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) of claim 1 , wherein the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) and the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) move along an axis (X-X) of the dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ).
7 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) of claim 6 , wherein the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) moves along the axis (X-X) at a second stroke length that corresponds with the fluid flow rate between the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ) via the conduit in the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).
8 . The dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 900 ) of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of conduits ( 922 c ) concentrically disposed about the axis (X).
9 . A method of controlling a fluid flow through a dual orifice variable flow rate valve ( 100 , 700 , 900 ) comprised of a first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and a second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ), the method comprising:
providing a first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) and a second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 );
fluidly coupling the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ) through a second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) in the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) by moving the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ); and
fluidly coupling the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ) through a first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ) by moving the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) with the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ).
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
flowing fluid through the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) at a first fluid flow rate that corresponds to a displacement distance of the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ); and
flowing fluid through the first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ) at a second fluid flow rate that corresponds to a displacement distance of the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising controlling the fluid flow rate through the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) and the first fluid orifice ( 112 a, 712 a, 912 a ) with a current in an actuator ( 130 , 730 , 930 ) that applies a magnetic force to the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ).
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising selectively engaging a sealing end ( 124 b, 724 b, 924 b ) of the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) with the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) to move the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the selectively engaging comprises contacting a surface in the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) with the sealing end ( 124 b, 724 b , 924 b ).
14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising selectively engaging an armature end ( 124 b, 724 b, 924 b ) on the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) with a diaphragm to limit a stroke length of the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ).
15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising moving the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ) and the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) along an axis (X-X) to fluidly couple the first fluid port ( 112 , 712 , 912 ) and the second fluid port ( 114 , 714 , 914 ).
16 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising displacing the second valve member ( 124 , 724 , 924 ) away from the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) wherein the second fluid orifice ( 122 e, 722 e, 922 e ) is in the first valve member ( 122 , 722 , 922 ).