Gas pressure regulator having low pressure shut-off means

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a gas pressure regulator having valve means for stopping the flow of gas downstream through the regulator when the pressure of the incoming gas is lower than a predetermined acceptable value even though acceptable pressure is subsequently restored, and a unique method and means, generally not available for use by unauthorized persons, adapted to be manually operated for resetting the valve means after it is determined that the pressure of the gas flowing to the inlet of the regulator has returned to said predetermined acceptable value. Provision is made for monitoring the flow of gas through the regulator by an auxiliary valve and valve seat and stopping the flow of gas through the regulator in the event that the operation of the valve means is prevented from functioning properly by interference caused by a foreign substance between the pressure regulating orifice and the main valve seat, and also stopping the flow of gas through the regulator when the pressure of the gas is higher than said predetermined acceptable pressure. The novel method disclosed herein involves applying suction to the atmosphere side of the regulator diaphragm to reactivate a shut-off regulator.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.