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US 11,713,828 B2Granted
Pilot-operated pressure regulator
AssigneeDresser, Inc.
InventorsJames Kenneth Mears, Orie Woodman Van Doran
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure regulator is configured for better accuracy and response times at higher inlet pressures. These configurations may integrate two-path control with a pressure-balanced plug. The two-path control may leverage a pair of pilot valves, one with a fixed differential pressure and the other with a variable differential pressure. In one implementation, the device is plumbed so that downstream pressure is sensed at both the actuator and the variable differential pressure pilot valve.
Claims20
A pressure regulator, comprising:
- a pressure-balanced plug having openings from a first side to a second side so as to vent fluid from space on the first side to space on the second side;
- a pneumatic actuator coupled with the pressure-balanced plug, the pneumatic actuator including a diaphragm;
- a pilot unit disposed on the pneumatic actuator, the pilot unit comprising a first pilot valve, an orifice, and a check valve;
- and
- conduit coupling the pilot unit with the pneumatic actuator, the conduit including a first sense line coupling flow between a first side of the check valve on the first pilot valve and a first side of the diaphragm in the actuator, a second sense line coupling flow of fluid between a location downstream of said pressure regulator and the first side of the diaphragm in the actuator, and a load line coupling flow of fluid between a second side of the check valve on the first pilot valve and a second side of the diaphragm in the actuator.
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a valve body with flanged ends;
- a trim assembly disposed in the valve body, the trim assembly comprising a cage, a plug disposed in the cage, and a seat disposed at one end of the cage, the plug having openings that extend from a first side to a second side of the plug so as to allow fluid to flow through the plug from space on the first side to space on the second side;
- a valve stem coupled with the plug;
- an actuator coupled with valve stem, the actuator comprising a diaphragm and a spring;
- pilot valves plumbed to the actuator, the pilot valves comprising a first pilot valve and a second pilot valve, one each with a fixed differential pressure and a variable differential pressure;
- an orifice and check valve coupled with the pilot valves;
- and
- conduit including a first sense line coupling flow between a first side of the check valve on the first pilot valve and a first side of the diaphragm in the actuator, a second sense line coupling flow of fluid between a location downstream of said pressure regulator and the first side of the diaphragm in the actuator, and a load line coupling flow of fluid between a second side of the check valve on the first pilot valve and a second side of the diaphragm in the actuator.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a flow control comprising a pressure-balanced valve with a plug having openings that extend from a first side to a second side so as to allow fluid to vent from space on the first side to space on the second side;
- an actuator having a housing and a diaphragm disposed inside of the housing and coupled with the pressure-balanced valve, the diaphragm creating two separate, airtight chambers in the housing, one on each side of the diaphragm;
- a control system, the control system comprising a fixed differential pressure pilot valve and a variable differential pressure pilot valve, and an orifice and a check valve in flow connection with the variable differential pressure pilot valve;
- and
- conduit coupling the variable differential pressure pilot valve to both chambers in the housing, the conduit including a first sense line coupling flow between a first side of the check valve on the variable differential pilot valve and a first side of the diaphragm in the actuator, a second sense line coupling flow of fluid between a location downstream of said pressure regulator and the first side of the diaphragm in the actuator, and a load line coupling flow of fluid between a second side of the check valve on the variable differential pilot valve and a second side of the diaphragm in the actuator.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.