Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a control valve for regulating temperature comprises a conduit, a fluid limiter, a restoring actuator, an opening actuator, and a restoring actuator chamber. The conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and an opening between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is operable to receive fluid into the conduit and the outlet is operable to dispense of fluid out of the conduit. The fluid limiter is operable to at least partially cover the opening and thereby resist flow of fluid through the opening. The restoring actuator is operable to provide a force that moves the fluid limiter toward the opening to resist flow of fluid through the opening. The opening actuator is operable to provide a second force that moves the fluid limiter away from the opening to allow the flow of fluid through the opening. The opening actuator is activated based on a temperature of fluid in the conduit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for regulating temperature in a system comprises receiving, at a building management system, information concerning a degree of opening of a plurality of control valves. Each of the plurality of control valves is associated with at least one terminal that is in communication with a supply header line of a system, and is operable to open or close according to its own logic based on the demand of the associated terminal or terminals. A determination is made, based on the degree of opening of the plurality of control valves, as to whether changes need to be made to the operating parameters of production equipment of the system. The changes to the production equipment operation of the system are operable to change at least one parameter of a fluid being supplied to the supply header line of the system. An initiation of changes is made if it is determined that the change needs to be made.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for regulating a temperature of a fluid through a conduit comprises a conduit, a moveable obstruction, an actuator, and a pressure generator. The conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and an opening between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is operable to receive fluid into the conduit and the outlet is operable to dispense of fluid out of the conduit. The moveable obstruction is operable to at least partially cover the opening and thereby resist flow of fluid through the opening. The actuator has a chamber with a heat sensitive substance. The heat sensitive substance is operable to change a characteristic upon receipt of thermal energy from fluid traveling through the conduit. The actuator is additionally operable to move the obstruction upon the change in characteristic of the heat sensitive substance. The pressure generator is operable to apply pressure to the chamber to change a property of the heat sensitive substance.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a control valve for regulating temperature comprises a conduit, a fluid limiter, a restoring actuator, an opening actuator, and a restoring actuator chamber. The conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and an opening between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is operable to receive fluid into the conduit and the outlet is operable to dispense of fluid out of the conduit. The fluid limiter is operable to at least partially cover the opening and thereby resist flow of fluid through the opening. The restoring actuator is operable to provide a force that moves the fluid limiter toward the opening to resist flow of fluid through the opening. The opening actuator is operable to provide a second force that moves the fluid limiter away from the opening to allow the flow of fluid through the opening. The opening actuator is activated based on a temperature of fluid in the conduit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a method for regulating temperature in a system comprises receiving, at a building management system, information concerning a degree of opening of a plurality of control valves. Each of the plurality of control valves is associated with at least one terminal that is in communication with a supply header line of a system, and is operable to open or close according to its own logic based on the demand of the associated terminal or terminals. A determination is made, based on the degree of opening of the plurality of control valves, as to whether changes need to be made to the operating parameters of production equipment of the system. The changes to the production equipment operation of the system are operable to change at least one parameter of a fluid being supplied to the supply header line of the system. An initiation of changes is made if it is determined that the change needs to be made.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for regulating a temperature of a fluid through a conduit comprises a conduit, a moveable obstruction, an actuator, and a pressure generator. The conduit has an inlet, an outlet, and an opening between the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is operable to receive fluid into the conduit and the outlet is operable to dispense of fluid out of the conduit. The moveable obstruction is operable to at least partially cover the opening and thereby resist flow of fluid through the opening. The actuator has a chamber with a heat sensitive substance. The heat sensitive substance is operable to change a characteristic upon receipt of thermal energy from fluid traveling through the conduit. The actuator is additionally operable to move the obstruction upon the change in characteristic of the heat sensitive substance. The pressure generator is operable to apply pressure to the chamber to change a property of the heat sensitive substance.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a fluid regulating control valve includes a housing having an upstream region and a downstream region and having a control orifice formed therein adjacent the downstream region and a piston slidably disposed within the housing. The piston has a fluid passage defining an intermediate region disposed between the upstream region and the downstream region and an edge adjacent the downstream region. The valve also includes an elastic member disposed within the housing for opposing translation of the piston within the housing and a throttling element adjacent the upstream region. The throttling element has a throttling surface adjacent the edge of the piston, in which the throttling surface and the edge define a throttling orifice therebetween.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a fluid regulating control valve includes a housing having an upstream region and a downstream region and having a control orifice formed therein adjacent the downstream region and a piston slidably disposed within the housing. The piston has a fluid passage defining an intermediate region disposed between the upstream region and the downstream region and an edge adjacent the downstream region. The valve also includes an elastic member disposed within the housing for opposing translation of the piston within the housing and a throttling element adjacent the upstream region. The throttling element has a throttling surface adjacent the edge of the piston, in which the throttling surface and the edge define a throttling orifice therebetween.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a combination air vent/probe port includes an outer body adapted to couple to a conduit, the outer body formed with a longitudinal bore defining an inner wall, the longitudinal bore having a seating surface. The combination air vent/probe port also includes an inner sleeve adapted to adjustably engage the outer body, the inner sleeve having an outer diameter and formed with an inner chamber. Furthermore, a resilient member is disposed within the inner chamber, the resilient member operable to allow a probe to be inserted therethrough when the inner sleeve is adjustably engaged with the outer body and an end of the inner sleeve is engaged with the seating surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping fluid flow comprises a body having upstream and downstream ends and formed with a characterizing channel. The characterizing channel has a first cross-section adjacent the upstream end that gradually changes to a second cross-section adjacent the downstream end that is different in configuration from the first cross-section.

Abstract: A fluid valve for controlling flow of a fluid from an upstream region to a downstream region includes a housing having a fluid exit, a fluid entry member having a sidewall, and a shut-off member associated with the housing. The sidewall and the fluid entry member is formed with at least one regulating aperture for receiving fluid from the upstream region and a second aperture for receiving fluid from the upstream region. The fluid entry member is movably disposed within the housing such that the at least one regulating aperture has an effective area exposed to the upstream region that decreases as a pressure differential between the upstream region and the downstream region increases. The shut-off member is associated with the housing and the fluid entry member such that fluid flow through the second aperture is prevented when the difference in fluid pressure between the upstream region and the downstream region exceeds a desired value.

Abstract: A flow control valve (10) is provided including a valve body (20) and a piston (16). The valve body (20) has extending therethrough a longitudinal bore (18) defining a fluid passage (32). The piston (16) is slidably disposed within the bore (18) to vary the flow area of a fluid flow through the control valve (10). The piston (16) has a generally cylindrical body formed from a solid piece of material. The piston (16) contains a longitudinal flow channel (24). The longitudinal flow channel (24) has a varying depth. The piston (16) preferably slides within the longitudinal bore (18) to vary the flow area of the fluid passage (32) such that the fluid flow through the control valve (10) is substantially constant over a selected range of pressure differentials across the control valve (10).

Abstract: A flow control valve (10) is provided including a valve body (20) and a piston (16). The valve body (20) has extending therethrough a longitudinal bore (18) defining a first flow passage (32). The piston (16) is slidably disposed within the bore (18) to vary the flow area of a fluid flow through the control valve (10). The piston (16) contains a second flow passage (28) defined by a side wall (68) and an end wall (70). The side wall (68) has at least one longitudinal flow channel (24) with a first orifice (26) extending therethrough. The piston (16) preferably slides within the longitudinal bore (18) to vary the flow area of the first flow passage (32) such that the fluid flow through the control valve (10) is substantially constant over a selected range of pressure differentials across the control valve (10).

Abstract: A constant flow rate control valve (10) is provided including a cup member (12) disposed in a flow passage through the valve (10). The cup member has an orifice (18) located in an end wall (14) of the cup member (12) and a plurality of side ports (22) in a side wall (16) of the cup member (12) The cup member (12) is moveable axially within the-valve (10), with such movement being opposed by a resilient spring member (30) downstream of the cup member (12). The valve (10) includes a fixed retainer ring (26) in a valve body (24) surrounding the side wall (16) of the cup member (12) which blocks or exposes areas of the side ports (22) in response to movement of the cup member (12). Start up slots (34) in a side wall (36) of the valve body (24) are also blocked or exposed in response to movement of the cup member (12).

Abstract: A constant flow rate control valve (10) is provided including a cup member (12) disposed in a flow passage through the valve (10). The cup member has an orifice (18) located in an end wall (14) of the cup member (12) and a plurality of side ports (22) in a side wall (16) of the cup member (12). The cup member (12) is moveable axially within the valve (10), with such movement being opposed by a resilient spring member (30) downstream of the cup member (12). The valve (10) includes a fixed retainer ring (26) in a valve body (24) surrounding the side wall (16) of the cup member (12) which blocks or exposes areas of the side ports (22) in response to movement of the cup member (12). Start up slots (34) in a side wall (36) of the valve body (24) are also blocked or exposed in response to movement of the cup member (12).

Abstract: A valve test plug for connection with a pressure vessel. The plug includes a hollow valve body and a resilient valve core. The valve core includes first and second core portions bonded in end-to-end relationship and has a slit extending therethrough. The first core portion is exposed directly to the pressure and is softer than the second core portion which engages the valve body to close the slit or to seal on the probe when the probe is extending through the slit. The softer first core portion maintains a seal with the valve body and urges the second core portion into sealing engagement with the valve body end to close the slit.