Pressure regulator utilizing pliable piston seal
AssigneeTactair Fluid Controls, Inc.
InventorJohn G. Cavaliere
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure regulator uses a pliable seal to segregate a pressure confinement volume from the remaining cylinder volume. The pliable seal has a cross section comprising a pair of apexes that are disposed into grooves incorporated into the piston and the cylinder internal wall. The radii of the pliable seal establish a rolling contact to ensure pressure seal in the presence of seal deformation. The seal promotes linear regulator response and minimizes hysteresis causes by frictional forces of prior art piston rings.
Claims13
A pressure regulator comprising:
- a piston comprising an outer perimeter and an annular seal seat disposed onto the outer perimeter wherein said seal seat comprises an upper surface and a normal surface;
- a cylinder comprising an internal wall and an annular internal groove disposed in the internal wall opposing the annular seal seat of the piston when the piston is situated in an equilibrium position wherein said internal groove comprises an upper surface and a normal surface;
- a piston seal comprising pliable material formed into a ring that is mounted within said seal seat and said internal groove wherein said seal further includes:
- a first apex having a first radius;
- a second apex having a second radius;
- a concave depression disposed between said first and second apexes;
- an outer wall;
- an inner wall;
- a pressure cell;
- and
- a base;
- an inlet port for receiving high pressure gas or liquid;
- and
- a outlet prot for discharging gas or liquid at a regulated pressure.
A method for manufacturing a pressure regulator comprising the steps of:
- machining a seal seat into the outer perimeter of a piston;
- machining an internal groove in the inside perimeter of a cylinder wherein the internal groove is disposed opposing the seal seat when the piston is in an equilibrium position;
- fabricating a piston seal having a cross-section that includes:
- a first apex having a first radius;
- a second apex having a second radius;
- a concave depression situated between the first apex and the second apex;
- installing the piston seal into the seal seat and the internal groove by first compressing the cross-section of the piston seal into the seal seat;
- and
- inserting the piston into the cylinder while the cross-section of the seal is compressed into the seal seat.
A pressure regulator that includes:
- a piston this is movably contained within a cylinder;
- a first annular grooved formed in said piston and a second annular groove formed in said cylinder, said grooves being in opposed alignment when the piston is in an equilibrium position;
- an annular ring seated within said grooves to provide a seal between the piston and the cylinder;
- said ring comprising a first arcuate upper apex having a first radius, a second arcuate upper apex having a second radius, a concave depression disposed between said first and second apexes, an outer wall section that is mounted in sealing contact within said first groove and an inner wall mounted in sealing contact within said second groove and a pliable center section for conjoining said wall sections to provide axial movement between the piston and the cylinder without breaking said seal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.