Hybrid flow and pressure regulation
AssigneeThe ESAB Group, Inc.
InventorRobert Boyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An outlet assembly for hybrid pressure and flow regulation includes a first orifice of a first size, a second orifice of a second size that is larger than the first size, and a mechanism that automatically moves the first orifice between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the first orifice is in the first position, the flow of gas passes through the first orifice, which regulates a flow rate of the flow of gas through the second orifice. When the first orifice is in the second position, the flow of gas primarily bypasses the first orifice and flows through the second orifice with a first specific flow rate. When the first orifice is in the third position, the flow of gas primarily bypasses the first orifice and flows through the second orifice with a second specific flow rate.
Claims20
An outlet assembly, comprising:
- a housing defining an internal cavity;
- a first orifice of a first size that is disposed proximate an upstream end of a main pathway that extends longitudinally through the internal cavity;
- a second orifice of a second size that is larger than the first size disposed proximate a downstream end of the main pathway;
- one or more first auxiliary pathways that are disposed between the first orifice and the second orifice and that intersect the main pathway;
- one or more second auxiliary pathways that are disposed between the first orifice and the second orifice and that intersect the main pathway, wherein the one or more second auxiliary pathways are downstream from the one or more first auxiliary pathways;
- and
- an internal mechanism that automatically moves the first orifice between a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein the internal mechanism includes a movable poppet and the one or more second auxiliary pathways extend through the movable poppet, and wherein:
- when the first orifice is in the first position, a flow of gas flowing through the outlet assembly flows into the main pathway via the first orifice so that the flow of gas flows through the second orifice at a first flow rate regulated by the first orifice;
- when the first orifice is in the second position, the flow of gas primarily bypasses the first orifice and flows into the main pathway via the one or more first auxiliary pathways so that the flow of gas flows through the second orifice at a second flow rate regulated by the first orifice and the one or more first auxiliary pathways;
- and
- when the first orifice is in the third position, the flow of gas primarily bypasses the first orifice and flows into the main pathway via the one or more first auxiliary pathways and the one or more second auxiliary pathways so that the flow of gas flows through the second orifice at a maximum flow rate.
A gas cylinder comprising:
- a cylinder with a tank and an outlet;
- and
- a hybrid pressure and flow fitting irremovably coupled to the outlet of the cylinder, the hybrid pressure and flow fitting including an outlet assembly comprising:
- a housing defining an internal cavity extending from an upstream end to a downstream end;
- a plug disposed within the internal cavity proximate the upstream end;
- and
- a two-stage poppet disposed within the internal cavity between the plug and the downstream end of the internal cavity, the two-stage poppet including:
- a first seat defining a central orifice;
- a second seat disposed around the first seat;
- a first biasing member that is biased against the first seat to cause the first seat to engage the plug until backpressure acting against the first seat reaches a first predetermined threshold, wherein disengaging the first seat from the plug opens a first flow path between the first seat and the second seat, the first flow path allowing gas to flow at a first flow rate that is greater than a flow rate allowed by the central orifice;
- and
- a second biasing member that is biased against the second seat to cause the second seat to engage the plug until backpressure acting against the second seat reaches a second predetermined threshold, wherein disengaging the second seat from the plug opens a second flow path between the second seat and the housing, the second flow path allowing a gas to flow at a second flow rate that is greater than the flow rate allowed by the central orifice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.