Pressure regulator and flow control valve with pre-exhaust vent means

In a combination pressure regulating and flow control valve for controlling fluid flow through a fluid flow circuit, the combination comprising:

• (a) a valve body and cover means having an upstream port for connection to a source of pressurized fluid, and a downstream port for connection to a fluid controlled apparatus in said fluid flow circuit, and a first fluid flow passage interconnecting said ports;
• (b) an adjustable pressure regulator valve means operatively mounted in said first fluid flow passage to provide a reduced downstream pressure at the downstream pressure port when fluid is flowing through said first fluid flow passage from the upstream port to the downstream port, and to maintain said reduced downstream pressure at a fixed differential relative to the pressure at the upstream port;
• (c) an adjustable fluid flow control valve means operatively mounted in said first fluid flow passage to provide a meter in control operation on the flow of fluid flowing through said first fluid flow passage in one direction, and a meter out control operation on the flow of fluid flowing through said first fluid flow passage in the opposite direction;
• (d) a check valve means operatively mounted in said first fluid flow passage in parallel with said adjustable fluid flow control valve means to provide a free flow of fluid flowing through said first fluid flow passage in a direction opposite to the direction of metering control;
• (e) an adjustable quick exhaust valve means operatively mounted in a second fluid flow passage that is parallel to said first fluid flow passage and which interconnects said ports, and having a valve element movably mounted in a bore communicating with said second fluid flow passage, and said valve element having a back end and a front valve end, and said quick exhaust valve means bypassing the pressure regulator valve means, the check valve means, and fluid flow control valve means, for selective fast exhausting of fluid volume from said downstream pressure port through said second fluid flow passage and out said upstream pressure port for a time interval prior to a meter out control operation;
• (f) a vent passage means connected to said upstream port for venting the valve element bore behind the valve element of the quick exhaust valve means.