Patent ID: 7011109
Filing Date: 2006-03-14
Classification: F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve assembly, comprising: a rotary closure element defining an arcuate outer surface and an axis of rotation the rotary closure element being selectively moveable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; an impedance assembly mounted to and moveable with the rotary closure element, the impedance assembly and the rotary closure element collectively defining a flow opening, with the impedance assembly defining an arcuately contoured inflow end which is substantially continuous with the outer surface of the closure element and an outflow end the impedance assembly comprising: a plurality of impedance plate assemblies secured to each other in a stacked arrangement along an axis which is generally parallel to the axis of rotation, each of the impedance plate assemblies including a plurality of openings formed therein, the openings collectively defining a plurality of tortuous passageways which each define a series of turns and extend from the inflow end to the outflow end when the impedance plate assemblies are stacked upon each other; the tortuous passageways and the flow opening being oriented relative to each other such that a portion of a flow through the valve assembly is directed at the inflow end and into the tortuous passageways and a portion of the flow is directed through the flow opening when the closure element is in the fully open position.