US 11,703,147 B2
Three-dimensional tortuous path flow element for control valves
Dan Watson, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Stephen Freitas, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Uzair Ahmed, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); and Raymond R. Newton, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Assigned to CONTROL COMPONENTS, INC., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed by Control Components, Inc., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/142,482.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/958,437, filed on Jan. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0207741 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. F16K 47/08 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01)
CPC F16K 47/08 (2013.01) [B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A flow control element comprising:
an element body formed as a unitary structure and disposed about a body axis and having:
a first surface;
a second surface in spaced relation to the first surface;
an inner peripheral surface extending between the first and second surfaces and defining a central bore extending along the body axis;
an outer peripheral surface extending between the first and second surfaces in spaced relation to the inner peripheral surface; and
a plurality of passageways extending between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface, each passageway having an inner opening in the inner peripheral surface and an outer opening in the outer peripheral surface, the passageways being presented in an array of generally vertical columns wherein the passageways in each of the columns are in vertical alignment with each other and are positioned along a column axis which is generally parallel to the body axis, the passageways in any one column being slightly offset relative to the passageways in any adjacent column in a direction generally parallel to the body axis such that the passageways are presented in a generally helical array about the element body.