Vacuum regulator and intermittent flow device

A vacuum regulation device comprising:

• a body having a cylindrical hollow interior, a source aperture in fluid communication with said cylindrical hollow interior, an output aperture in fluid communication with said cylindrical hollow interior, and a vent aperture in fluid communication with said cylindrical hollow interior;
• a piston assembly comprised of a piston movably disposed in and sized to mate with the lateral surface of said cylindrical hollow interior and establish a fluid seal therebetween, said piston assembly including a hollow tube having a first end and a second end and attached to and extending through said piston and situated substantially parallel with the direction of movement of said piston, and wherein said piston divides said cylindrical hollow interior into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with said source aperture and a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with said vent aperture, and said tube movably engaging said output aperture in said second fliud chamber adjacent the second end of said tube and forming a fluid seal therebetween, and wherein said piston assembly is movable so that said first end of said tube is positionable to contact said body at a seal location within said first fluid chamber and establish a fluid seal therebetween;
• and
• a spring disposed within said first fluid chamber and in contact with said piston assembly and the interior of said body, said spring urging said piston assembly toward said output aperture.

A vacuum regulator device comprising:

• a body having a cylindrical aperture therethrough having a first end and a second end, said body further including a source aperture in fluid communication with said cylindrical aperture;
• a first cap attached to said body and disposed over and fluidly sealing said first end of said cylindrical aperture, said cap including a regulation member movably attached to said cap and extending into said cylindrical aperture, said regulation member being positionable into a plurality of fixed positions;
• a piston assembly comprised of a piston movably disposed in and sized to mate with the lateral surface of said cylindrical aperture and establish a fluid seal therebetween, said piston assembly including a hollow tube having a first end and a second end and attached to and extending through said piston and situated substantially parallel with the direction of movement of said piston, and wherein said piston divides said cylindrical aperture into a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with said source aperture and a second fluid chamber, and wherein said piston assembly is movable so that said first end of said tube is positionable to contact said regulation member and establish a fluid seal therebetween;
• a spring disposed within said first chamber and in contact with said piston assembly and the interior of said body, said spring urging said piston assembly toward said second end of said cylindrical aperture;
• and
• a second cap having an output aperture and a vent aperture, said second cap attached to said body and disposed over and fluidly sealing said second end of said cylindrical aperture, and wherein said tube is disposed within and movably engages said output aperture adjacent the second end of said tube, said tube establishing a fluid seal with said second cap in said output aperture;
• and
• connection means attached to and fluidly sealing said output aperture, said connection means providing a mechanism for attaching devices requiring a supply of vacuum to said vacuum regulator device.