US 4,308,888 AGranted

Pressure regulator

OwnerCarroll G. Gordoninventor

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Abstract

An adjustable pressure regulator for use with pneumatic or hydraulic fluids can be constructed so as to utilize a spool valve structure capable of being operated so as to prevent flow between first, second and third passages or so as to permit the flow from the first passage to the second while blocking flow to or from the third passage and so as to permit flow from the second passage to the third passage while preventing flow to or from the first passage and first and second position control means located adjacent to the valve structure. The first control means includes a bellows having its interior in communication with the first passage. The second control means also includes a second bellows having its interior in communication with the second passage. The movable ends of these bellows are operatively associated with the valve spool so that the operation of the valve structure is determined by the differential in the forces applied to the valve structure by the movable ends of the bellows.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A fluid pressure regulator having a valve structure including a valve body having first, second and third valve ports, a first passage leading to said first port, a second passage leading to said second port, and a third passage leading to said third port and including a valve member located with respect to said valve body so as to be capable of being reciprocated with respect to said valve ports so as to be located so as to prevent flow between said ports or so as to control flow from said first port to said second port while preventing flow from said second port to said third port or so as to control flow from said second port to or from said third port while preventing flow from said first port to said second port, in which the improvement comprises:

a first position control means for applying a force to said valve member so as to tend to move said valve member in one direction in accordance with the fluid pressure in said first passage so as to permit flow between said first and second ports while preventing flow from said second port to said third port, said first position control means comprising a movable member which is movable during the operation of said regulator in response to pressure in said first passage,
a second position control means for applying a force to said valve member so as to tend to move said valve member in the opposite direction in accordance with the fluid pressure in said second passage so as to permit flow between said second and third ports while preventing flow from said first port to said second port, said second position control means comprising a movable member which is movable during the operation of said regulator in response to the pressure in said second passage,
the position of said valve member with respect to said ports at any one time being determined by the differential in the forces applied to said valve member by said first and second position control means, said movable members of said position control means being operatively associated with said valve member so that the position of said valve member at any one time is determined by the positions of said movable members,
said movable members being separate and apart from said valve member and being located generally between different parts of said valve body and said valve member so as to bear against different portions of said valve member,
said valve member being capable of being moved only in response to force applied to it by said movable members.

2 more elements

a first position control means for applying a force to said valve member so as to tend to move said valve member in one direction in accordance with the fluid pressure in said first passage so as to permit flow between said first and second ports while preventing flow from said second port to said third port,
a second position control means for applying a force to said valve member so as to tend to move said valve member in the opposite direction in accordance with the fluid pressure in said second passage so as to permit flow between said second and third ports while preventing flow from said first port to said second port,
the position of said valve member with respect to said ports at any one time being determined by the differential in the forces applied to said valve member by said first and said second position control means,
said first position control means comprising a bellows having an interior, a fixed end and a movable ends, the interior of said bellows being in fluid communication with said first passage, the movable end of said first bellows being located so that movement of said movable end of it is transmitted to said valve member,
said second position control means comprising a bellows having an interior, a fixed end and a movable end, the interior of said bellows being in fluid communication with said second passage, the movable end of said second bellows being located so that movement of said movable end of it is transmitted to said valve member.

2 more elements

a first position control means for applying a force to said valve member so as to tend to move said valve member in one direction in accordance with the fluid pressure in said first passage so as to permit flow between said first and second ports while preventing flow from said second port to said third port,
a second position control means for applying a force to said valve member so as to tend to move said valve member in the opposite direction in accordance with the fluid pressure in said second passage so as to permit flow between said second and third ports while preventing flow from said first port to said second port,
the position of said valve member with respect to said ports at any one time being determined by the differential in the forces applied to said valve member by said first and said second position control means,
said valve ports are located within a cylindrical bore within said valve body so as to be linearly spaced from one another along the length of said bore,
said valve member is a valve spool having a plurality of flanges located along its length, said flanges fitting closely against the interior of said valve bore so as to control flow between said ports, said valve spool being linearly movable within said bore,
said valve body includes a first cavity adjacent to one end of said bore within said valve body and a second cavity adjacent to the other end of said bore within said valve body,
said first position control means is located within said first cavity and said second position control means is located within said second cavity,
said first position control means comprises a first bellows having an interior, a fixed end mounted on said valve body and a movable end located adjacent to one end of said bore, said first bellows being axially aligned with said bore so as to permit movement of said movable end toward and away from said bore, said first position control means also including a first communication duct placing the interior of said first bellows in fluid communication with said first passage,
said second position control means comprising a second bellows having an interior, a fixed end mounted on said valve body and a movable end located adjacent to the other end of said bore, said second bellows being axially aligned with said bore so as to permit movement of said movable end toward and away from said bore, said second position control means also including a second bellows in fluid communication with said second passage,
said movable ends of said bellows being operatively associated with the ends of said valve body so that movement of said movable ends of said bellows are transmitted to said valve spool in order to move said valve spool.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.