US 5,427,132 AGranted

Temperature compensating pressure regulator

OwnerThomas C. Fenner, Jr.inventor

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Abstract

The temperature compensating pressure regulator (TCPR) allows a modified constant output pressure regulator to change its output pressure in response to changes in the ambient temperature. Furthermore, the changes in the ambient temperature are extrapolated to estimate the changes in a mass which is in the same ambient environment. The best mode teaches a beer keg application. A wax filled container expands in relation to the temperature changes in a cold storage room. The thermal expansion coefficient of the wax and impurities therein simulate the temperature changes in a keg of beer in the same cold storage room. Upon responding to a temperature change, the TCPR adjusts the keg pressure to the brewer's predetermined pressures, thereby maintaining the proper CO.sub.2 solution in the beer. Further embodiments include controlling a quarter turn valve with a wax element having a controllable heating coil and controlling the TCPR with a controllable heating coil. Another embodiment teaches a self-contained automatic freezing temperature shut off valve.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A pressure regulator for regulating the flow of a pressurized fluid responsive to temperature levels, said pressure regulator comprising:

a valve member having an inlet port for receiving the pressurized fluid, an outlet port, and a plug member positioned between the inlet port and the outlet port, the plug member actuatable into position alternately to block, or to permit, formation of a fluid connection between the inlet and outlet ports, respectively;
a supportive bonnet positioned about said valve member;
an enclosure supported above said valve member, said enclosure for holding a thermally-expansive material therein, the thermally-expansive material of volumetric dimension variable proportional to the temperature levels said enclosure having a downwardly-extending cylindrical guide formed at a bottom portion thereof and positioned to extend into said bonnet;
and
linkage structure for interconnecting said valve member witch said enclosure and the thermally-expansive material therein, said linkage structure translatable responsive to changes in the volumetric dimensions of the thermally-expansive material for causing actuation of the plug member into the positions alternately to block, or to permit, the formation of the fluid connection thereby to regulate the flow of the pressurized fluid wherein changes in the volumetric dimensions of the thermally-expansive material and changes in the flow of the pressurized fluid through said valve member are linearly related;
and
a locking element positioned about the cylindrical guide of said enclosure, said locking element for locking said enclosure in position together with said valve member.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.