Flow limiter for regulators
AssigneeEmerson Process Management Regulator Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJustin Wade Hart, Thomas Leroy Weyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control assembly can be configured for use with a pressure regulator having a valve body defining a fluid flow path. The control assembly can include a control member, a stem, and a lever, and can be disposed within the pressure regulator to selectively control fluid flow. The control assembly can include a primary control member and a secondary control member, or a mechanical stop that can operate to restrict flow along the fluid flow path, including when the stem disconnects from the lever.
Claims20
A pressure regulator comprising:
- a valve body that defines a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet;
- an orifice assembly that is positioned along the fluid flow path, the orifice assembly including a first side and a second side opposite the first side;
- a stem;
- a lever configured to control movement of the stem when engaged with the stem, as driven by movement of a diaphragm;
- a primary control member that is coupled to the stem, wherein, in a first mode of operation of the pressure regulator, the primary control member is moveable relative to the first side of the orifice assembly, by movement of the stem, between:
- a first position in which the primary control member contacts the first side of the orifice assembly to restrict fluid flow along the fluid flow path, and a second position in which the primary control member is separated from the first side of the orifice assembly;
- and
- a secondary control member that is coupled to the stem and is movable relative to the second side of the orifice assembly, by movement of the stem, wherein:
- in the first mode of operation of the pressure regulator, the secondary control member is moveable between a first position and a second position, in each of which the secondary control member is separated from the second side of the orifice assembly;
- and
- in a second mode of operation of the pressure regulator, the secondary control member is movable to a third position in which the secondary control member contacts the second side of the orifice assembly to restrict fluid flow along the fluid flow path.
A pressure regulator comprising:
- a valve body that defines a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet;
- an orifice assembly that is positioned along the fluid flow path;
- a lever configured to be moved by movement of a diaphragm in a first mode of operation of the pressure regulator;
- and
- a stem assembly that includes:
- a stem that is operably coupled to the diaphragm in the first mode of operation and is operably decoupled from the diaphragm in a second mode of operation of the pressure regulator;
- a primary control member that is coupled to the stem on a downstream side of the orifice assembly;
- and
- a secondary control member that is coupled to the stem on an upstream side of the orifice assembly;
- wherein, in the first mode of operation, the stem is movable between first and second orientations:
- wherein, with the stem in the first orientation, the primary control member is in contact with a first side of the orifice assembly to block flow past the orifice assembly;
- and
- wherein, with the stem in the second orientation, the primary control member is separated from the first side of the orifice assembly to permit flow past the orifice assembly;
- and
- wherein, in the second mode of operation, the stem is movable to a third orientation:
- wherein, with the stem moving from the second orientation towards the third orientation moves the secondary control member toward a second side of the orifice assembly to restrict flow past the orifice assembly.
A stem assembly for a pressure regulator, the pressure regulator including a valve body that defines a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet, an orifice assembly that defines a flow orifice along the fluid flow path, and a lever that is configured to be moved by movement of a diaphragm, the stem assembly comprising:
- a stem that is configured to be moved by the lever in a first mode of operation of the pressure regulator and to move freely relative to the lever in a second mode of operation of the pressure regulator;
- a primary control member that is coupled to the stem;
- and
- a secondary control member that is coupled to the stem and is spaced apart from the primary control member by an extension portion of the stem;
- the stem being configured to be installed in the pressure regulator with the extension portion extending through the flow orifice defined by the orifice assembly, and with the primary control member positioned downstream of the flow orifice and the secondary control member positioned upstream of the flow orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.