Pressure regulating device having a variable travel stop

A control assembly for controlling fluid flow in a pressure regulating device having a valve body and a valve seat disposed in the valve body, the control assembly comprising:

• a valve stem;
• a control element operatively connected to the valve stem and adapted to be movable, relative to the valve seat, between an open position, wherein the control element is spaced from the valve seat, and a closed position, wherein the control element sealingly engages the valve seat;
• and
• a travel stop configured to engage the control element when the control element is in the closed position and to stop movement of the control element upon reaching the open position, wherein the travel stop is adjustable to change the open position of the control element, wherein a portion of the travel stop is movable relative to the control element to adjust the travel stop, and wherein movement of the portion away from the control element decreases a stroke of the control element,
• wherein the control element is disposed between the valve stem and the travel stop.

A method of adjusting a wide open flow capacity of a pressure regulating device having a valve body, an actuator assembly coupled to the valve body and comprising an upper casing, a lower casing secured to the upper casing, and a diaphragm disposed between the upper casing and the lower casing, a valve seat disposed in the valve body along a fluid passageway, a control assembly operatively connected to the diaphragm to move responsive to movement of the diaphragm, the control assembly comprising a valve stem and a control element operatively connected to the valve stem and movable, relative to the valve seat, between an open position, wherein the control element is spaced from the valve seat, and a closed position, wherein the control element sealingly engages the valve seat, and a bonnet assembly that is coupled to the valve body and spaced from the lower casing of the actuator assembly, the method comprising:

• adjusting a travel stop configured to engage the control element when the control element is in the closed position and to stop movement of the control element upon reaching the open position, thereby changing the open position of the control element, wherein the control element is disposed between the valve stem and the travel stop, wherein adjusting the travel stop comprises moving a portion of the travel stop toward or away from the control element and a seating surface defined by the bonnet assembly, and wherein moving the portion of the travel stop away from the control element decreases a stroke of the control element.

A pressure regulating device, comprising:

• a valve body having an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid passageway defined therebetween;
• an actuator assembly coupled to the valve body, the actuator assembly comprising an upper casing, a lower casing secured to the upper casing, and a diaphragm disposed between the upper casing and the lower casing;
• a valve seat disposed in the valve body along the fluid passageway;
• a control assembly operatively connected to the diaphragm to move responsive to movement of the diaphragm, the control assembly comprising a valve stem and a control element operatively connected to the valve stem and movable, relative to the valve seat, between an open position, wherein the control element is spaced from the valve seat, and a closed position, wherein the control element sealingly engages the valve seat;
• a travel stop configured to engage the control element when the control element is in the closed position and to stop movement of the control element upon reaching the open position, wherein the travel stop is adjustable to change the open position of the control element, such that a wide open flow capacity of the pressure regulating device can be adjusted, wherein a portion of the travel stop is movable relative to the control element to adjust the travel stop, and wherein movement of the portion away from the control element decreases a stroke of the control element;
• and
• a bonnet assembly coupled to the valve body, the bonnet assembly defining a seating surface for the travel stop,
• wherein the travel stop comprises a first portion and the portion of the travel stop comprises a second portion movable relative to the first portion and the control element to adjust the travel stop, wherein one of the first portion and the second portion engages the seating surface of the bonnet assembly when the control element has reached the open position, and
• wherein when the control element is in the open position, the control element is spaced a first distance from the valve seat when the first portion engages the seating surface of the bonnet assembly, and the control element is spaced a second distance from the valve seat when the second portion engages the seating surface of the bonnet assembly, the first distance being greater than the second distance.