US 2003/0140967 A1Published application

Direct-acting pressure regulator

AssigneeS. H. Leggitt Company

InventorsPaul W. Heald, Christopher G. Turney, Lottus A. Fitzwater III, Mark E. Hood, Charles M. Olds, Brian K. Yutzy

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Abstract

A pressure regulator having a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port. A plug is located within the housing and dividing the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, with the upper and lower chamber being connected by a vent. The plug includes a fluid path between the inlet port and the bore. A yoke is adapted selectively close the fluid path in the plug. A diaphragm is located in the upper chamber and is connected to the yoke. A biasing member biases the yoke to open the fluid path through the plug. The diaphragm is configured to move the yoke to open the fluid path when pressure in the lower chamber and vented to the upper chamber through the vent is above a predetermined amount. The pressure regulator can also include a second biasing member used to positively close the fluid path through the plug.

Claims49

Dependent claims

A pressure regulator comprising:

a housing having a bore, the housing including an inlet port and an outlet port fluidly connected to the bore;
a plug located within the housing and dividing the bore into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the plug includes a pair of parallel through holes, the plug further including a channel fluidly connected to the inlet port, the channel including a valve seat fluidly connecting the inlet port to the bore;
a yoke extending through the plug and being adapted to move relative to the plug, the yoke being connected to a valve, the valve being adapted to selectively cover the valve seat, the yoke including a pair of parallel legs extending through the through holes of the plug, the valve being interconnected to the legs adjacent the valve seat;
a diaphragm located in the upper chamber, the diaphragm being connected to the yoke;
a vent fluidly connecting the upper chamber to the lower chamber;
and
a biasing member biasing the yoke through the plug such that the valve does not cover the valve seat;
and
wherein the diaphragm is configured to move against the biasing member when pressure in the lower chamber is above a predetermined amount, thereby forcing the yoke to slide within the plug and the valve to cover the valve seat such that fluid is not able to pass through the inlet port of the housing and the channel of the plug.

6 more elements

A pressure regulator comprising:

a housing having a bore, the housing including an inlet port and an outlet port fluidly connected to the bore;
a plug located within the housing and dividing the bore into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the plug including a channel fluidly connected to the inlet port, the channel including a valve seat fluidly connecting the inlet port to the bore;
a yoke extending through the plug and being adapted to move relative to the plug, the yoke being connected to a valve, the valve being adapted to selectively cover the valve seat;
a diaphragm located in the upper chamber, the diaphragm being connected to the yoke;
a vent fluidly connecting the upper chamber to the lower chamber;
and
a biasing member biasing the yoke through the plug such that the valve does not cover the valve seat;
and
wherein the diaphragm is configured to move against the biasing member when pressure in the lower chamber is above a predetermined amount, thereby forcing the yoke to slide within the plug and the valve to cover the valve seat such that fluid is not able to pass through the inlet port of the housing and the channel of the plug;
and
wherein the yoke further includes a valve holder, the valve holder including at least one opening configured to accept a portion of the yoke therein, the valve holder including locking fingers extending into the at least one opening of the valve holder, the locking fingers being configured to deflect as the portion of the yoke is inserted into the at least one opening and then dig into the outer surface of the portion of the yoke to prevent the removal of the portion of the yoke from the at least one opening.

8 more elements

A pressure regulator comprising:

a housing having a bore, the housing including an inlet port and an outlet port fluidly connected to the bore;
a plug located within the housing and dividing the bore into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the plug including a channel fluidly connected to the inlet port, the channel including a valve seat fluidly connecting the inlet port to the bore;
a yoke extending through the plug and being adapted to move relative to the plug, the yoke being connected to a valve, the valve being adapted to selectively cover the valve seat;
a diaphragm located in the upper chamber, the diaphragm being connected to the yoke;
a vent fluidly connecting the upper chamber to the lower chamber;
and
a biasing member biasing the yoke through the plug such that the valve does not cover the valve seat;
and
a pressure plate connecting the diaphragm against the yoke, the pressure plate including a central aperture configured to accept a portion of the yoke, the pressure plate further including locking fingers extending into the aperture, the locking fingers being configured to deflect as the portion of the yoke is inserted into the aperture and then dig into the outer surface of the portion of the yoke to prevent the removal of the portion of the yoke from the aperture;
wherein the diaphragm is configured to move against the biasing member when pressure in the lower chamber is above a predetermined amount, thereby forcing the yoke to slide within the plug and the valve to cover the valve seat such that fluid is not able to pass through the inlet port of the housing and the channel of the plug;
and

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/385,109Filed 10 Mar 2003
Priority: 7 Jul 2000
Published: 31 Jul 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G05D 16/0661
Using one spring-loaded membrane: characterised by the loading mechanisms of the membrane
Y10T 137/5994
Pressure regulating type valve: diaphragm type
Y10T 137/7809
With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]: reactor surface separated by apertured partition
Y10T 137/7828
Reactor surface closes chamber: valve head on yoke

Family

Application60/216,533Us provisional application · filed 7 Jul 2000
Application09/898,571Continuation in part · filed 3 Jul 2001
Application10/385,109Continuation in part · filed 10 Mar 2003
US 2002/0066485 A1Published application
US 6,668,855 B2Related patent
US 6,971,403 B2Related patent
US 2003/0140967 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.