Patent ID: 6352144
Filing Date: 2002-03-05
Classification: F16F,Y10S

Abstract:
A flow-control valve assembly for an FR fluid, said valve assembly comprising:an inlet port; an outlet port; a flow path for the FR fluid extending between the inlet and outlet ports; a flow-control valve disposed in the flow path between the ports, said flow-control valve including a valve member and a seating surface, the valve member being moveable between a first position in which the valve is open and the valve member is spaced from the seating surface, and a second position in which the valve is closed and the valve member is in engagement with the seating surface; a flow restrictor disposed in the flow path upstream of the flow-control valve, said flow restrictor including means for applying a field to the FR fluid as it passes through the flow restrictor to enable control of the resistance to flow of the FR fluid therethrough, so as to affect a pressure drop across the valve member, and thereby to control movement of the valve member between its first and second positions; and a bypass passage independent of the flow-control valve defining a pressure-relief means, which can permit flow between the inlet and outlet ports when the valve member is in the second position, said bypass passage being disposed downstream of the flow restrictor and spaced from the seating surface.