Balanced plug assemblies and pressure regulators having balanced plug assemblies

An apparatus comprising:

• a stem having a stem body and a flange extending radially from the stem body;
• and
• a stem guide having a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a channel extending between the first side and the second side, and a balance chamber defined in the channel, the stem body extending through the channel of the stem guide such that the flange is disposed in the balance chamber and divides the balance chamber into a first balance chamber portion and a second balance chamber portion, the stem defining a first balance passage to fluidly couple the first balance chamber portion and a fluid passageway exposed to the first side, the stem guide defining a second balance passage to fluidly couple the second balance chamber portion and an external fluid chamber exposed to the second side, wherein the stem guide includes:
• a first stem guide body;
• and
• a second stem guide body, wherein the first stem guide body includes a first disc and a first collar extending from the first disc toward the second stem guide body, and the second stem guide body includes a second disc and a second collar extending from the second disc toward the first stem guide body, and wherein the first collar of the first stem guide body is disposed within the second collar of the second stem guide body.

An apparatus comprising:

• a stem having a stem body and a flange extending radially from the stem body;
• and
• a stem guide defining a chamber, the stem to extend into the stem guide such that the flange is disposed in the chamber, the flange to divide the chamber into a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion, the stem defining a first passage to fluidly couple the first chamber portion and a first fluid area exposed to a first side of the stem guide, the stem guide defining a second passage to fluidly couple the second chamber portion and a second fluid area exposed to a second side of the stem guide opposite the first side, the stem guide including:
• a first stem guide body including a first disc and a first collar extending from the first disc;
• and
• a second stem guide body including a second disc and a second collar extending from the second disc, the first collar of the first stem guide body disposed in the second collar of the second stem guide body, at least a portion of the second passage formed by a gap between the first collar and the second collar.

An apparatus comprising:

• a stem having a stem body and a flange extending radially from the stem body;
• and
• a stem guide including:
• a first stem guide body including a first disc and a first collar extending from the first disc;
• and
• a second stem guide body including a second disc engaged with an end of the first collar such that a balance chamber is formed in the first collar between the first disc and the second disc, the stem extending through the first and second stem guide bodies such that the flange is disposed in the balance chamber, the flange dividing the balance chamber into a first balance chamber portion and a second balance chamber portion.