US 12,031,636 B2
Valve assemblies with integrated temperature control
Thomas N. Gabriel, Marshalltown, IA (US)
Assigned to FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC, Marshalltown, IA (US)
Filed by FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC, Marshalltown, IA (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/161,501.
Application 18/161,501 is a division of application No. 16/241,633, filed on Jan. 7, 2019, granted, now 11,585,456.
Prior Publication US 2023/0167917 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 49/00 (2006.01); F16K 1/42 (2006.01); F16K 31/00 (2006.01); F16K 37/00 (2006.01); F16K 3/30 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/002 (2013.01) [F16K 1/42 (2013.01); F16K 37/0091 (2013.01); F16K 49/005 (2013.01); F16K 3/30 (2013.01); Y10T 137/6579 (2015.04)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing, comprising:
creating a valve control assembly using an additive manufacturing technique, the creating comprising:
forming a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet, the inlet adapted to be coupled to a source of process fluid having a first temperature;
forming a means for changing the temperature of the process fluid flowing through the fluid flow path from the first temperature to a second temperature different from the first temperature, wherein forming the means for changing the temperature of the process fluid flowing through the fluid flow path comprises:
forming an inlet port in the valve body, the inlet port adapted to be coupled to a source of media, the media having a control temperature different from the first temperature;
forming an outlet port in the valve body;
forming an annular plenum in the valve body between the inlet port and the outlet port and immediately adjacent a portion of the fluid flow path, wherein the annular plenum extends circumferentially around the portion of the fluid flow path;
forming an inlet passage in the valve body to direct the media from the inlet port to the annular plenum, such that the annular plenum changes the temperature of the process fluid flowing through the portion of the fluid flow path from the first temperature to the second temperature; and
forming an outlet passage in the valve body to direct the media from the annular plenum to the outlet port.