Patent ID: 7429027
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flow control valve comprising: (a) a valve body defining a chamber sealingly separated into a flow control portion and a valve control portion, (b) a needle valve in communication with both the flow control and valve control portions of the chamber, the needle valve configured and arranged for longitudinal reciprocation within the valve body, (c) a biasing spring retained within the valve control portion of the chamber, the biasing spring biasing the needle valve in a first longitudinal direction, (d) a plurality of dynamic seals in sealing contact with the needle valve effective for maintaining sealed separation of the flow control portion and the valve control portion, and (e) a lumen in the needle effective for permitting a minor portion of a fluid passing through the flow control portion of the chamber to flow through the lumen, past every dynamic seal in sealing contact with the needle valve, and into the valve control portion of the chamber, and thereafter exit the valve body through any leaks in the valve, whereby any environmental fluid within the valve body is displaced by the fluid passing through the flow control portion of the chamber.