Gas flow control valve

Abstract

A gas flow control valve comprising coupling means for coupling to a measurement tube, wherein the coupling means are compatible with existing means for coupling valves to the measurement tube, means for directing gas from a well head through the gas flow control valve and out of an exit port, means for finely tuning the flow rate of gas passing through the flow control valve comprising, means for longitudinally translating a valve needle via rotation of a rotating assembly, wherein the valve needle comprises a tapered portion and a shoulder, wherein the tapered portion of the valve needle comprises a truncated cone which increases in diameter in the direction of gas flow, and means for visually indicating the longitudinal position of the gas flow control valve.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A gas flow control valve comprising:
 a valve body having a central bore and an exit port, the central bore of the valve body having a valve body central axis, the exit port having an exit bore in fluid communication with the central bore, the exit port of the valve body angled between about 20 and 85 degrees relative to the valve body central axis;   wherein the valve body has a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein gas enters the valve body through the proximal portion and exits through the exit port;   a threaded member having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion of the threaded member affixed to the distal portion of the valve body, the threaded member having a threaded member central axis collinear with the valve body central axis, the threaded member comprising a threaded bore and a sliding bore; and   a rotating assembly configured to rotate about the valve body central axis and to translate along the valve body central axis, the rotating assembly comprising a handle including measurement indicia configured to indicate a longitudinal position of the rotating assembly relative to the threaded member;   wherein the sliding bore of the threaded member is configured to accept a proximal portion of the handle of the rotating assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 4 , wherein the handle is affixed to a threaded shaft affixed to a valve needle. 
     
     
         6 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 5 , wherein the valve body includes a valve seat configured to receive the valve needle of the rotating assembly such that translation of the valve needle relative to the valve seat alters the flow rate of gas travelling through the gas flow control valve. 
     
     
         7 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 5 , wherein the valve needle comprises a tapered portion. 
     
     
         8 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 6 , wherein the valve seat further comprises a proximal face, an inner face, and a distal face. 
     
     
         9 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 8 , wherein the distal face of the valve seat is configured to seal against the valve needle when the flow control valve is in a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 8 , wherein the inner face of the valve seat is substantially parallel to a valve body central axis. 
     
     
         11 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 8 , further comprising an intermediate tube affixing the valve body to a union. 
     
     
         12 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 11 , wherein the inner face of the valve seat is configured to match an inner diameter of the intermediate tube. 
     
     
         13 . The gas flow control valve of  claim 4 , wherein the exit bore of the exit port is located distally from the valve seat of the valve body. 
     
     
         14 . A valve needle for a gas flow control valve having a valve seat, the valve needle comprising:
 a tapered portion,   wherein the tapered portion increases in diameter in the direction of gas flow; and   a shoulder protruding outwards from the center of the valve needle, wherein the shoulder is configured to seal with the valve seat when the flow control valve is in a closed position;   wherein translation of the valve needle relative to the valve seat alters a gas the flow rate of any gases travelling through the gas flow control valve.   
     
     
         15 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the shoulder further comprises a shoulder proximal face configured to seal with the valve seat when the flow control valve is in a closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the shoulder further comprises a sealing recess configured to accept a sealing member. 
     
     
         17 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the tapered portion comprises a cone structure. 
     
     
         18 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the tapered portion comprises a curved profile. 
     
     
         19 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , the tapered portion comprises a truncated shape such that the tapered portion forms a proximal face. 
     
     
         20 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the tapered portion further comprises one or more flutes on surface of the tapered portion. 
     
     
         21 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the valve needle is configured to attach to a threaded shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The valve needle of  claim 21 , wherein the threaded shaft and a threaded bore of a threaded member of the gas flow control valve have a thread pitch configured such that at least 6 turns of the threaded shaft is required to span an adjustable range of the gas flow rate provided by the gas flow control valve. 
     
     
         23 . The valve needle of  claim 14 , wherein the valve needle is configured to utilize a measurement indicia to adjust the gas flow control valve to achieve a desired flow rate.