Patent ID: 7702423

Claim:
An apparatus to control the rate of flow of pressurized fluid through a conduit connected to a discharge of a pump which draws fluid from a reservoir, the apparatus permitting the discharge of fluid from the conduit at a rate below the output rate of the pump, the apparatus comprising: (i) a flow measurement device operatively associated with said conduit and for generating an output signal proportionate to the rate of flow of fluid through said conduit; (ii) an adjustable flow control device operatively connected to said pump discharge downstream of the connection of said conduit to said pump discharge, said flow control device including an adjustable orifice wherein upon the opening of said orifice a portion of the fluid from said pump discharge is independently released and injected into a work stream of a wellbore, wherein said flow control device, together with the pump and reservoir, forming part of a continuous loop fluid circuit, said flow control device being adjustable to control the release of pressurized fluid from the continuous loop fluid circuit.