Patent ID: 8528649

Claim:
A pulse valve for producing pressure pulses within a conduit, comprising an elongate housing that includes: (a) an internal passage for conveying a pressurized fluid between an inlet disposed on one end of the housing and an outlet disposed on an opposite end of the housing, the inlet being configured to couple to a source of the pressurized fluid, and the outlet being configured to provide the pressurized fluid flowing through the outlet to a component that is coupled to the housing; (b) a poppet seat disposed adjacent to said outlet of said housing, the poppet seat including a constricted throat and at least one port disposed in the throat, said port being coupled in fluid communication with a one or more fluid passages axially spaced from said poppet seat; and (c) a valve assembly disposed within the elongate housing and axially spaced from said poppet seat, the valve assembly including: (i) a poppet that is reciprocally movable between a closed position in which it at least partially blocks pressurized fluid from flowing through the poppet seat, and an open position in which the pressurized fluid flows through the throat of the poppet seat, (ii) a pilot that is disposed within the poppet and reciprocates between a disparate first and second positions to alter fluid communication paths within the valve assembly, and (iii) a plurality of fluid passages, each of which is intermittently configured in fluid communication with said port disposed in the throat of said poppet seat, the pilot and the poppet moving in response to differential pressures developed in the valve assembly, including a differential pressure between a higher pressure of the pressurized fluid within the internal passage and a relatively lower pressure in said port in the throat while the poppet is in the open position, wherein the relatively lower pressure is produced in said port by a Venturi effect as the pressurized fluid flows through the throat of the poppet seat, and the relatively lower pressure is communicated from front said port to one or more of the fluid passages located within the axially spaced valve assembly a pressure pulse being produced each time that the poppet moves to the closed position.