| 摘要 |
<p>A flow regulator (246) comprises a housing (252) defining a chamber therein and including an inlet port (248) and an outlet port (250). A piston assembly (254), including an orifice defining member (264) in which is formed an orifice (336), is movably disposed in the chamber and is capable of moving in directions toward and away from the outlet port (250). An urging device (268) urges the piston assembly (254) away from the outlet port (250). As fluid flows into the flow regulator (246), the fluid flows through the orifice (336). The clearance between a control surface (328) of the piston assembly (254) and the outlet port (250) automatically adjusts so that an equilibrium condition occurs in the flow regulator (246) in which the difference between the pressure of the fluid upstream of the orifice (336) and the pressure of the fluid downstream of the orifice (311) is maintained essentially constant. This results in the fluid flowing through the orifice (336), and in turn through the clearance between the control surface (328) of the piston (254) and the outlet port (250), and subsequently out of the flow regulator (246), at a flow rate which is relatively unaffected by a change in supply pressure, downstream pressure, and the temperature of the fluid which affects the viscosity of the fluid.</p> |
