Vibration Damping Device for a Valve

Abstract

Embodiments provide a valve including a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat between the inlet and the outlet. The valve further includes a valve member arranged at least partially within the housing and moveable between an open position where flow is provided from the inlet through the valve seat to the outlet and a closed position where flow is inhibited through the valve seat The valve further includes an inerter element arranged to convert linear motion of the valve member into rotary movement beginning at the closed position, thereby damping the valve.

1 . A valve comprising:
 a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat between the inlet and the outlet;   a valve member arranged at least partially within the housing and movable between an open position where flow is provided from the inlet through the valve seat to the outlet, and a closed position where flow is inhibited through the valve seat; and   an inerter element arranged to convert linear motion of the valve member into rotary movement beginning at the closed position, thereby damping the valve.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing element biasing the valve member toward the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member moves linearly between the open position and the closed position, the linear motion of the valve member converted by the inerter element into rotary movement of the valve member, the mass and rotational movement of the valve member providing inertial damping. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inerter element is fixed to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member moves linearly between the open position and the closed position,
 wherein the inerter element rotates in response to the linear movement of the valve member, the mass and rotational movement of the inerter element providing inertial damping.   
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inerter element defines a cam profile, the valve member engaging the cam profile. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 6 , wherein the cam profile is helical. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member is biased toward the open position by a pressure. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve member actuates in response to a non-mechanical force. 
     
     
         10 . A valve comprising:
 a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat between the inlet and the outlet;   a valve member arranged at least partially within the housing and movable between an open position where flow is provided from the inlet through the valve seat to the outlet, and a closed position where flow is inhibited through the valve seat, the valve member coupled to the housing for linear and rotary movement relative to the housing about an axis; and   an inerter element substantially fixed to the housing and defining a cam profile, a portion of the valve member engaging the cam profile such that in response to a non-mechanical force the valve member moves between the open position and the closed position and linear motion of the valve member is converted to rotary motion of the valve member, thereby damping the valve when the valve member first leaves the closed position.   
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the cam profile is helical. 
     
     
         12 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the valve member includes a pin that engages the cam profile. 
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the valve member is biased toward the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 10 , wherein the valve member is coupled to the inerter element such that the inerter element supports the valve member for linear motion along the axis and rotation about the axis. 
     
     
         15 . A method for damping a valve, the valve including a housing defining an inlet, an outlet, and a valve seat between the inlet and the outlet, a valve member arranged at least partially within the housing and moveable between an open position where flow is provided from the inlet through the valve seat to the outlet and a closed position where flow is inhibited through the valve seat, and an inerter element, the method comprising:
 engaging a cam profile defined in the inerter element with the valve member; and   damping the valve by continuously rotating the valve member along the cam profile as the valve member moves from the closed position to the open position in response to a non-mechanical force and as the valve member moves from the open position to the closed position in response to a non-mechanical force.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising engaging a pin with the cam profile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein continuously rotating the valve member includes helically rotating the valve member along a helical cam profile. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising linearly moving the valve member between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising converting the linear motion of the valve member into rotary motion of the valve member with the inerter element. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising inertially damping the valve member with the mass and rotational motion of the valve member.