Patent ID: 7438277

Claim:
A flow force compensated sleeve valve comprising: an elongate body having an outer surface and including a lumen for receiving a fluid and an associated fluid pressure therein and for defining a flow path of said fluid; at least one fluid flow port formed through said outer surface and in fluid connection with said lumen; and a sleeve slidably disposed about said outer surface and configured to displace across said fluid flow port to precisely regulate fluid emission through said fluid flow port, said sleeve comprising: an outer sleeve surface, an inner sleeve surface, a sidewall extending from said inner sleeve surface, and a tapered segment extending between said sidewall and said outer sleeve surface, and being adapted to minimize contact of said fluid exiting said fluid flow port with said outer sleeve surface and sidewall of said sleeve, and to reduce the effects of low pressure acting on said sleeve as a result of said fluid exiting said fluid flow port at a high velocity, and said sleeve and elongate body being operably related to provide force compensation, such that those forces necessary to displace said sleeve across said fluid flow port are substantially unaffected by said fluid pressure at said fluid flow port.