Patent ID: 6588725
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: B67D,F16K

Abstract:
A flow control valve for controlling the flow rate of a liquid in a down stream direction from an inlet to and out of an outlet thereof, the flow control valve, comprising:a housing body defining a flow passage extending there through from the inlet to the outlet, and the flow passage having a flow control portion defined by a flow orifice, flow orifice sidewalls, and one or more grooves formed in the flow orifice sidewalls, and the one or more grooves having a cross-sectional area that decreases in a downstream direction along the flow orifice sidewalls, a rod extending through the housing and into and substantially coextensive with the flow passage and the rod linearly moveable by a linear drive means, the linear drive means electrically operable on command to relatively accurately and repeatedly move the rod to a plurality of positions, and the rod having a distal end portion opposite from the linear drive means for insertion into the flow orifice and the rod distal end portion having exterior sidewalls sized to lie closely adjacent the flow orifice sidewalls for substantially preventing fluid flow there between and the distal end portion for cooperating with a seat means positioned downstream of the flow passage control portion to prevent liquid flow through the flow passage when the rod is moved to a fully extended position by the linear drive means and the rod also moveable thereby to a fully retracted position for permitting maximum liquid flow and the linear drive means for moving the rod distal end portion to a plurality of positions along the one or more grooves for regulating the flow rate of the liquid as a function of the cross-sectional area of the one or more grooves.