Patent ID: 7591276
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An expansion valve block for controlling or adjusting the pressure or the flow rate of a fluid, comprising, a) a main body within which at least one internal fluid passage between at least one fluid inlet orifice and at least one fluid outlet orifice is formed; b) at least one fluid-pressure control means arranged on at least part of said internal fluid passage between said fluid inlet orifice and said fluid outlet orifice, such that the portion of said internal fluid passage between said pressure control means and the fluid inlet orifice forms an upstream circuit and the internal fluid passage between said pressure control means and the fluid outlet orifice forms a downstream circuit; c) at least one first fluid flow rate control means arranged on at least part of the downstream circuit; d) at least one second fluid flow rate control means arranged on at least part of the upstream circuit; and e) at least one command means for causing a fluid to flow in the passage, wherein the command means collaborates with the first and second fluid flow rate control means in such a way that, when an operator commands delivery of a fluid in the passage, the opening of the upstream circuit by the second control means occurs before the opening of the downstream circuit by the first control means and, when an operator commands the stopping of the delivery of a fluid in the passage, closure of the downstream circuit by the first control means occurs before closure of the upstream circuit by the second control means.