First and second stage regulator system for breathing gas

A first stage regulator for regulating a source of pressurized gas wherein the improvement comprises:

• a housing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a source of pressurized gas, and an outlet;
• a first piston having first and second ends slidably mounted in said housing, a chamber in said first piston between said ends, a first passage at least partially extending through said first piston in connected relationship to said first end and to said chamber;
• first valve means operatively connected to said first end of said first piston for controlling gas through said inlet from said source of pressurized gas for passage into said chamber through said first passage;
• a second piston having first and second ends wherein said piston is slidably mounted in said first piston;
• second passage means extending from said first end to said second end of said second piston;
• second valve means operatively connected to said first end of said second piston for controlling gas through said second passage means of said second piston from said chamber;
• said second ends of said first and second pistons having surfaces fluidically communicating with said outlet thereby being subject to outlet pressure;
• first spring biasing means for biasing said first piston away from said inlet to regulate gas flow by said first valving means from said source of pressure through said inlet and then to said outlet;
• and,
• second spring biasing means for biasing said second piston within said first piston to maintain said second valve means open until said first piston away from said chamber fails to regulate gas from said source of pressure whereupon said second piston is operated to regulate gas from said source of pressure.

A second stage regulator adapted for connected relationship to a first stage regulator wherein the improvement comprises:

• a housing having an interior chamber and an outlet therefrom;
• an inlet connected to said interior chamber having a first passage terminating in a valve seat and adapted for connected relationship to a high pressure regulator;
• a piston housing having a chamber and mounted within said regulator housing;
• a piston slidably mounted within said chamber of said piston housing having a valve cover on one end thereof for overlying relationship with said valve seat and a second passage through said piston providing a fluidic path from said valve cover to said chamber within said piston housing for exposure of gas to the opposite end of said piston;
• the surface of the opposite end of said piston within said chamber being of a size equivalent to the size of the valve cover of said piston covering said first passage;
• a diaphragm mounted on said housing and partially defining said interior chamber with said housing, a lever pivotally mounted in said interior chamber and oriented for operating said piston upon deflection of said diaphragm;
• a third passage connected between said first passage and said third;
• a poppet means for closing said second passage;
• and,
• means for moving said poppet from closing said second passage to provide for the diversion of gas therethrough for free unregulated flow through said second stage regulator comprising a camming member movably mounted on said regulator housing which cams said poppet member into a respective closed or opened position.