Pressure regulator

A pressure regulator comprising:

• a housing having a chamber defined therein and an inlet and outlet selectively communicating with the chamber depending on the location of a pressure responsive member that moves relative to the housing in response to fluid pressure;
• the pressure responsive member including an enclosed cavity having a predetermined charge therein and a flexible member operatively associated with the cavity for expanding and contracting the volume of the cavity in response to the pressure in the chamber;
• a poppet assembly extending from the pressure responsive member for cooperation with a valve seat adjacent one of the inlet and outlet, the poppet assembly including a poppet adapted to selectively engage the valve seat;
• and
• means for interconnecting the poppet assembly to the pressure responsive member, the interconnecting means including a normally planar member having an elongated flexible portion that is secured adjacent a first end to the pressure responsive member and receives the poppet assembly at a second end, the flexible portion moving out of its normally planar configuration during selected ranges of movement of the poppet assembly.

A pressure regulator comprising:

• a housing having a chamber defined therein that selectively communicates with an inlet and an outlet;
• a pressure responsive member received in the chamber having a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary and movable portions being interconnected by a flexible member that surrounds a predetermined pressure charge to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber;
• mean for varying a dampening force imposed on movement of the pressure responsive member between open and closed positions;
• a poppet assembly operatively associated with the pressure responsive member adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and outlet;
• and
• means for biasing the poppet assembly toward a closed position.

A pressure regulator comprising:

• a housing having a chamber defined therein;
• an inlet and outlet for communicating with the chamber;
• and
• a pressure responsive member interposed between the inlet and outlet for regulating fluid communication therebetween, the pressure responsive member having a first movable portion and a second stationary portion, the pressure responsive member further including means for varying the freedom of movement thereof at different positions to allow freer movement of the pressure responsive member adjacent a shutoff position and a dampened range of movement adjacent a full open position, the varying means including a resilient member operatively associated with one of the first and second portions, and different fixed diameter portions on the other of the first and second portions that are adapted to engage the resilient member and provide the variable freedom of movement of the pressure responsive member.

A pressure regulator comprising:

• a housing having a chamber defined therein;
• an inlet and outlet for communicating with the chamber;
• a pressure responsive member interposed between the inlet and outlet for regulating fluid communication therebewteen, at least a portion of the pressure responsive member being movable relative to the chamber in response to fluid pressure, the pressure responsive member including means for varying the freedom of movement thereof at different positions to allow freer movement of the pressure responsive member adjacent a shutoff position and a dampened range of movement adjacent a full open position;
• and
• means for biasing the pressure responsive member to the shutoff position.

A pressure regulator comprising:

• a housing having a chamber defined therein that selectively communicates with an inlet and an outlet;
• a pressure responsive member received in the chamber having a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary and movable portions being interconnected by a flexible member that surrounds a predetermined pressure charge to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber;
• a poppet assembly operatively associated with the pressure responsive member adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and outlet;
• means for biasing the poppet assembly toward a closed position;
• and
• a planar retaining means interconnecting the poppet assembly and the pressure responsive member, the retaining means includes an elongated flexible member that extends from its planar configuration during selected ranges of movement of the poppet assembly.