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US 12,025,997 B2Granted
Regulator stability in a pressure regulated storage vessel
AssigneeEntegris, Inc.
InventorsEdward Edmiston Jones, Paul Eidsmore
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure regulator device for use within a pressure-regulated fluid storage and dispensing vessel primarily in low flow, low delivery pressure applications. Regulator stiction challenges have been solved with an improved poppet assembly using different poppet element configurations as well as an improved bellows structure in the pressure-sensing assembly that provides more flexibility during contraction and expansion of the diaphragm elements.
Claims14
A fluid supply package comprising:
- a pressure-regulated fluid storage and dispensing vessel;
- a pressure regulator disposed in an interior volume of the dispensing vessel and including a housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the chamber including a pressure-sensing assembly with a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary portion and the movable portion being interconnected by a bellows structure, wherein the bellows structure includes a flexible member that includes diaphragm elements adapted to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber, wherein the diaphragm elements comprise a series of annular members alternately secured by a single weld at radially inner and outer regions, wherein opposite ends of the bellows structure are secured to the stationary portion and the movable portion in order to fully collapse when a poppet closure is operatively coupled to the movable portion and the inlet is closed;
- a damper assembly adapted to dampen oscillations and stabilize movement of the pressure-sensing assembly between an open position and a closed position, the damper assembly disposed within a sleeve formed on the movable portion;
- a poppet closure assembly operatively coupled to the pressure-sensing assembly and adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and the outlet of the chamber, the poppet closure assembly including a poppet element and a seating structure located at the inlet of the chamber, the poppet element having an upper hemispherical-shaped surface adapted to mate and contact the seating structure to form a seal, wherein the poppet closure assembly further includes an O-ring member interposed between an upper poppet element surface and the seating structure;
- and
- a valve head coupled to the dispensing vessel and adapted for dispensing of a fluid from the dispensing vessel through a discharge port, the pressure regulator being disposed upstream of the discharge port and coupled to the valve head, the valve head including a flow control valve that is operable to control the fluid dispensing from the dispensing vessel.
3 more elements
A pressure regulator assembly comprising:
- a pressure regulator disposed in an interior volume of a dispensing vessel and including a housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the chamber including a pressure-sensing assembly with a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary portion and the movable portion being interconnected by a bellows structure, wherein the bellows structure includes a flexible member that includes diaphragm elements adapted to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber, wherein the diaphragm elements comprise a series of annular members alternately secured by a single weld at radially inner and outer regions, wherein opposite ends of the bellows structure are secured to the stationary portion and the movable portion in order to fully collapse when a poppet closure is operatively coupled to the movable portion and the inlet is closed;
- a damper assembly adapted to dampen oscillations and stabilize movement of the pressure-sensing assembly between open and closed positions, the damper assembly disposed within a sleeve formed on the movable portion;
- and
- a poppet closure assembly operatively coupled to the pressure-sensing assembly and adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and the outlet of the chamber, the poppet closure assembly including a poppet element and a seating structure located at the inlet of the chamber, the poppet element having an upper hemispherical-shaped surface adapted to mate and contact the seating structure to form a seal, wherein the poppet closure assembly further includes an O-ring member interposed between an upper poppet element surface and the seating structure.
1 more element
A fluid supply package comprising:
- a pressure-regulated fluid storage and dispensing vessel;
- a pressure regulator disposed in an interior volume of the dispensing vessel and including a housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the chamber including a pressure-sensing assembly with a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary portion and the movable portion being interconnected by a bellows structure, wherein the bellows structure includes a flexible member that includes diaphragm elements adapted to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber, wherein the diaphragm elements comprise a series of annular members alternately secured by a single weld at radially inner and outer regions, wherein opposite ends of the bellows structure is secured to the stationary portion and the movable portion in order to fully collapse when a poppet closure is operatively coupled to the movable portion and the inlet is closed;
- a damper assembly adapted to dampen oscillations and stabilize movement of the pressure-sensing assembly between open and closed positions, the damper assembly disposed within a sleeve formed on the movable portion;
- a poppet closure assembly operatively coupled to the pressure-sensing assembly and adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and the outlet of the chamber, the poppet closure assembly including a poppet element and a seating structure located at the inlet of the chamber, the poppet element having an upper hemispherical-shaped surface adapted to mate and contact the seating structure to form a seal, wherein the poppet closure assembly further includes an O-ring member interposed between an upper poppet element surface and the seating structure;
- and
- a valve head coupled to the dispensing vessel and adapted for dispensing of a fluid from the dispensing vessel through a discharge port, the pressure regulator being disposed upstream of the discharge port and coupled to the valve head, the valve head including a flow control valve that is operable to control a fluid dispensing from the dispensing vessel.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.