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;
- a stem;
- a lever configured to control movement of the stem when engaged with the stem, as driven by movement of a diaphragm;
- a control member that is coupled to the stem, wherein, in a first mode of operation of the pressure regulator, the control member is moveable relative to the orifice assembly between a first position in which the control member contacts the orifice assembly to restrict fluid flow along the fluid flow path and a second position in which the control member is separated from the orifice assembly;
- and
- a mechanical stop that is coupled to the stem, wherein the mechanical stop is configured to engage a stop feature in a second mode of operation of the pressure regulator to prevent the control member from moving past a third position;
- wherein, in the first mode of operation, the lever is connected to the stem;
- and
- wherein, in the second mode of operation, the lever is disconnected from the stem.
A pressure regulator comprising:
- a valve body that defines a fluid flow path between an inlet and an outlet;
- an orifice assembly 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;
- a stop feature;
- and
- a stem assembly that includes:
- a stem that is connected by the lever to the diaphragm in the first mode of operation and is not connected by the lever to the diaphragm in a second mode of operation of the pressure regulator;
- a control member;
- and
- a mechanical stop;
- wherein, in the first mode of operation, the stem is movable between first and second orientations, as controlled by the diaphragm via the lever:
- wherein, with the stem in the first orientation, the control member is in contact with the orifice assembly to block flow past the orifice assembly;
- and
- wherein, with the stem in the second orientation, the control member is separated from the orifice assembly to permit flow past the orifice assembly;
- wherein, in the second mode of operation, the stem is movable past the second orientation to a third orientation, in which the control member is spaced farther from the orifice assembly than when the stem is in the second orientation;
- and
- wherein the stop feature is disposed to engage the mechanical stop, in the second mode of operation, to define the third orientation and to prevent movement of the stem past the third orientation.
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, a stop feature, 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 control member that is coupled to the stem and is configured to block or permit flow past the orifice assembly depending on an orientation of the stem;
- and
- a mechanical stop on the stem;
- wherein, in the second mode of operation, the mechanical stop is configured to engage the stop feature, upon movement of the lever in a first direction, to stop further movement of the stem in the first direction and thereby limit a spacing between the control member and the orifice assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.