Regulator with multiple flow diffusers
AssigneeSiemens VDO Automotive Corporation
InventorsJames Wynn, Jason T. Kilgore, Markus Kopetzky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A flow-through pressure regulator includes a retainer that secures a diaphragm relative to a seat, and includes an intermediate portion, an end portion and a base portion. The intermediate portion extends along a longitudinal axis and is fixed with respect to the seat. The end portion extends from the intermediate portion and includes a concave surface facing the seat. The regulator includes multiple flow diffusers such that the end portion includes at least one aperture having a flow axis that is oblique to the longitudinal axis so as to reduce noise due to fluid flow and/or the seat forms a passage having an increasing cross-sectional area from an inlet to an outlet.
Claims20
A flow-through pressure regulator, comprising:
- a housing having an inlet and an outlet disposed along a longitudinal axis;
- a divider separating the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, the divider including:
- a seat defining a passage between the first and second chambers;
- a diaphragm extending between the housing and the seat;
- a retainer securing the diaphragm to the seat, the retainer including:
- a base portion proximate the seat;
- an intermediate portion extending along the longitudinal
- axis from the base portion toward the outlet;
- and
- an end portion extending from the intermediate portion, the end portion including at least one aperture, the at least one aperture having a flow axis, the at least one aperture permitting fluid communication between the passage and the second chamber;
- and
- a flow diffuser including at least one of (1) an increasing cross-sectional area of the passage in a direction from the inlet to the outlet along the longitudinal axis;
- and (2) an oblique orientation of the flow axis of the at least one aperture to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a closure member being arranged between first and second configurations relative to the seat, the first configuration substantially preventing fluid communication through the passage, and the second configuration permitting fluid communication through the passage.
A method of diffusing fluid flow through a pressure regulator, the pressure regulator including a divider, the divider including a seat, a diaphragm and a retainer, the retainer having a plurality of apertures, the divider separating a housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, the housing having a longitudinal axis, the seat defining a passage extending along the longitudinal axis between the first and second chambers, the seat including a first portion proximate the first chamber having a first cross-sectional area and a second portion proximate the second chamber and having a second cross-sectional area, and the diaphragm extending between the housing and the seat, the method comprising:
- flowing the fluid through the passage with the first cross-sectional area being less than the second cross-sectional area;
- and
- flowing the fluid through a first one of the plurality of apertures along an axis oblique to the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.