Control valve

A valve for controlling the pressure and volume rate of flow of a fluid delivered to a utilization device comprising:

• a valve housing having inlet means for receiving fluid at an elevated pressure, a first outlet means axially spaced from said inlet means for providing fluid at a regulated pressure and rate of flow to the utilization device, a second outlet means axially spaced from said first outlet means for providing fluid pressure to a control means for said utilization device, vent means axially spaced from said second outlet means for selectively venting fluid from said second outlet means, and a regulator valve chamber;
• an axially movable valve spool contained in said valve housing have a metering means positioned adjacent said inlet means and adapted to regulate the pressure and flow rate of fluid entering the regulator valve chamber in response to axial movement of said spool;
• first valve means positioned on said spool between said regulator valve chamber and said first outlet, said first valve means operable by axial movement of said valve spool to open and close a fluid flow path between said inlet means and said first and second outlet means,
• second valve means positioned on said spool adjacent said second outlet means and slidably engaging said housing to selectively connect said second outlet means to said regulator valve chamber or to said vent;
• and
• means to bias said movable valve member against fluid forces in said regulator valve chamber to provide a regulating function for said metering means said second valve means isolating said second outlet from said vent means when said first valve means is closed, and said second valve means connecting said second outlet to said vent means after said first valve means has moved a defined increment between a fully closed position and a fully opened position.