A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and an intermediate section extending between the inlet and outlet apertures. At least a portion of the intermediate section extends in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, such that the flow paths are able to utilize previously un-used space in the device.

A thermal expansion valve (TXV) for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The TXV includes a first inlet chamber configured to receive refrigerant from a condenser of the HVAC system. The first inlet chamber includes a first portion and a second portion with an aperture therebetween that fluidly connects the first portion and the second portion together. The TXV also has a first outlet chamber through which the refrigerant from the condenser exits the TXV. Bubbles in the refrigerant rise due to buoyancy and are trapped by the partition in the first portion of the first inlet chamber to restrict the bubbles from passing through the TXV to an evaporator of the HVAC system until the bubbles shrink to a size smaller than the aperture.

A thermal expansion valve (TXV) for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The TXV includes a first inlet chamber configured to receive refrigerant from a condenser of the HVAC system. The first inlet chamber includes a first portion and a second portion with an aperture therebetween that fluidly connects the first portion and the second portion together. The TXV also has a first outlet chamber through which the refrigerant from the condenser exits the TXV. Bubbles in the refrigerant rise due to buoyancy and are trapped by the partition in the first portion of the first inlet chamber to restrict the bubbles from passing through the TXV to an evaporator of the HVAC system until the bubbles shrink to a size smaller than the aperture.

A non-plugging, multi-stage valve trim and a fluid flow control device employing the same. The valve trim includes a unitary cage body extending along a longitudinal axis, and a valve plug movably disposed within the unitary cage body to control fluid flow through the unitary cage body. The unitary cage body includes an outer wall arranged to engage the valve body, an inner wall spaced radially inwardly of the outer wall, a cage inlet formed in the outer wall, a cage outlet formed in the outer wall, and a pressure reducing fluid flow passageway formed within the unitary cage body and extending between the cage inlet and the cage outlet.

A valve may include: a valve body; a valve member in the body, movable between closed and open, comprising a first orifice, a second orifice, a main conduit between them, and a bypass in fluid communication with the main conduit. The bypass includes a first portion with a first cross-section area and a second portion with a second cross-section area different from the first cross-section area. The valve body comprises a compensation chamber having a compensation orifice. The bypass comprises an outer bypass orifice defined by and disposed on the outer surface of the valve member. The valve member comprises an internal orifice situated between the bypass and the main conduit. In the closed position, the inlet is in fluid communication with the compensation chamber via the outer bypass orifice, the bypass, the internal orifice of the valve member, the main conduit, the first orifice, and the compensation orifice.

A valve comprises a valve seat and a rotary valve element. The valve seat comprises a valve opening having a sealing surface. The valve element is mounted with respect to said valve seat for rotation about an axis of rotation between a closed position in which the valve element substantially closes the valve opening and an open position in which the valve element permits flow through the valve opening. The valve opening is elliptical in shape, having spaced apart upper and lower edges the upper and lower edges being generated as respective ellipses formed by parallel sections through a conical surface. The valve seat sealing surface is defined between said upper and lower edges.

A valve comprises a valve seat and a rotary valve element. The valve seat comprises a valve opening having a sealing surface. The valve element is mounted with respect to said valve seat for rotation about an axis of rotation between a closed position in which the valve element substantially closes the valve opening and an open position in which the valve element permits flow through the valve opening. The valve opening is elliptical in shape, having spaced apart upper and lower edges the upper and lower edges being generated as respective ellipses formed by parallel sections through a conical surface. The valve seat sealing surface is defined between said upper and lower edges.

A fluid flow metering rotary valve body is provided that includes a central axis, and at least one lobe having at least one fluid opening. At least one fluid throttle is formed on a perimeter surface of the at least one fluid opening. The fluid throttle can have at least one blind void or at least one protrusion and can facilitate various flow strategies, including a decreasing fluid flow with increasing overlap between the fluid opening and a fluid port. The at least one protrusion can extend to various depths to accommodate different fluid openings and injection molding strategies.

A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and an intermediate section extending between the inlet and outlet apertures. At least a portion of the intermediate section extends in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, such that the flow paths are able to utilize previously un-used space in the device.

A method of custom manufacturing a fluid pressure reduction device for use in a process control valve. The method includes creating the fluid pressure reduction device using an additive manufacturing technique, which generally includes forming a body and forming a plurality of flow paths in the body. The body has an inner wall and an outer wall spaced radially outward of the inner wall. The flow paths are formed in the body between the inner wall and the outer wall of the body. Each of the flow paths includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture, and an intermediate section extending between the inlet and outlet apertures. At least a portion of the intermediate section extends in a substantially vertical direction that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, such that the flow paths are able to utilize previously un-used space in the device.