NEGATOR-SPRING, ROLLING-TAPE, FLOW-CONTROL, QUIET THROTTLING VALVE

摘要

A negator-spring is used as the rolling flow-control gate of a flow-control valve. The negator-spring is a strip of flat spring stock which is stressed on one side to make it roll upon itself. Fluid flows across the roll of negator-spring so that a pressure differential exists across the negator-spring roll. Any increase in the flow rate would cause the negator-spring to be extended or rolled out further upon the porous surface. The negator-spring is fixed at one end and is forced by the differential pressure to roll out over a port containing material which provides a fluid passage through its pores. Traditional springs increase or decrease in force with the amount extension. The spring force of the negator-spring is constant all along its length. Therefore, the valve configuration maintains the flow rate at a constant level since any increase or decrease in the differential pressure across the spring roll will cause a corresponding extension or contraction of the negator-spring which in turn will result in a change in the flow cross-sectional area of the porous material port until an equilibrium is again reached. The flow through the porous material causes quiet throttling of the fluid while the flow rate remains constant by the action of the negator-spring.