Fluid flow control valve
OwnerShane S. Taylorinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid flow control valve is disclosed. This valve includes a housing which defines a central passageway having fluid inlet and fluid outlet openings. A pressure responsive element is disposed within the passageway for selectively opening and closing the inlet opening to fluid flow in response to pressure exerted thereon at the inlet opening. A mechanism is provided within the passageway for exerting a bias force against the pressure responsive element sufficient to close the inlet opening to fluid flow absent a pre-established level of pressure exerted on the pressure responsive element in opposition to the bias force. Finally, a retainer device is positioned for removably securing the pressure responsive element and bias force exerting mechanism within the passageway.
Claims24
A filter assembly for use with a regulator device, said filter assembly comprising:
- a housing including a bore;
- a pressure responsive element located within the bore and moveable between a first position and a second position;
- a spring located within the bore and configured to bias the pressure responsive element into a first position;
- and
- a filter;
- a retainer device for removably securing the filter;
- wherein the housing has a threaded attachment portion configured for connection to said regulator device;
- wherein the threaded attachment portion includes an exit opening configured to permit gas to pass through the exit opening into said regulator;
- and
- wherein the filter is sized and shaped to block the exit opening so that fluid must pass through the filter to pass through the exit opening;
- wherein the retainer device is configured such that the filter is removable through the exit opening.
A regulator device configured to reduce the gas pressure of a source of pressurized breathable gas in a self contained underwater breathing apparatus, comprising:
- a first stage regulator comprising:
- a housing;
- and
- a gas inlet opening located within a bore in the housing;
- a fluid flow control valve, comprising:
- a housing defining an internal passageway, where the passageway has a gas inlet opening near an upstream end of said housing and a gas outlet opening near a downstream end of said housing and spaced from the gas inlet opening;
- a filter located in the passageway proximate the gas outlet opening;
- a retainer device for removably securing the filter within the passageway;
- wherein the housing of the fluid flow control valve includes a portion threaded into the bore;
- wherein the gas outlet opening of the fluid control valve is in fluid communication with the gas inlet opening of the first stage regulator;
- wherein the filter is located so that fluid must pass through the filter to pass through the gas outlet opening;
- and
- wherein the retainer device is configured such that the filter is removable through the gas outlet opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.