Balanced pneumatic regulator

A balanced pneumatic regulator comprising:

• a body including a central axis that extends through the body;
• an inlet seat element within the body, the inlet seat element is fluidly coupled to a fluid inlet;
• a piston positioned within the body downstream of the inlet seat element, the piston being configured to translate axially along the central axis within the body between first and second axial positions, the piston including an upstream end with a seat element that is adapted to seal against the inlet seat element in the first axial position, a passageway located within the seat element that extends to an internal pressure chamber, and at least one channel that extends between the upstream end of the piston and a downstream end of the piston, the downstream end of the piston having a larger effective surface area than the upstream end of the piston, and the at least one channel is located in an area outside of the seat element;
• a piston plunger extending at least partially within a hollow interior of the piston and extending at least partially outside the piston, the piston plunger sealing the internal pressure chamber, and the piston being axially movable relative to the piston plunger;
• a spring that biases the piston toward the second axial position;
• and
• a regulated-pressure fluid outlet positioned downstream of the piston;
• wherein, upon a force of the spring exceeding a force generated by a fluid pressure at the downstream end of the piston, the piston is configured to translate axially toward the second axial position opening the at least one channel in the piston such that fluid from the fluid inlet travels toward the regulated-pressure fluid outlet, and a pressure on the downstream end of the piston is at least partially equalized by a pressure on the piston plunger within the internal pressure chamber of the piston.