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US 8,534,315 B2Granted
Diaphragm assemblies for use with fluid control devices
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorJames Robert Mason
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Diaphragm assemblies for use with fluid control devices are described. An example diaphragm assembly includes a body defining a plurality of chambers to be fluidly coupled to an outlet pressure of a fluid control device. Each of the chambers is spaced along a stem at least partially disposed in the chambers, and the stem is to move to control a flow of fluid through the fluid control device. Additionally, the example diaphragm assembly includes a first plurality of diaphragms, each of which is disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers, and each of which is coupled to the stem to move the stem in response to the outlet pressure of the fluid control device.
Claims23
A diaphragm assembly for use with a fluid control device, comprising:
- a plurality of housings to be coupled to a fluid control device to define a plurality of chambers, the chambers to comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion to be fluidly coupled to an outlet pressure of the fluid control device;
- tie rods to extend through the housings to couple the housings to the fluid control device;
- a stem defining an aperture therethrough and a seating surface adjacent an end of the stem, the seating surface to be removably engaged by a valve stem to enable an overpressure to vent through the aperture to the atmosphere, wherein each of the chambers is spaced along the stem which is at least partially disposed in the chambers, and wherein the stem is to move to control a flow of fluid through the fluid control device;
- a plurality of diaphragm rings to surround and be operatively coupled to the stem, wherein the diaphragm rings comprises a sleeve and a rim, each sleeve defining an aperture through which the stem is to extend and each rim comprising a portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of first diaphragms to separate the first and second portions, each of the first diaphragms is disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers and which is coupled to the stem to move the stem in response to the outlet pressure of the fluid control device, wherein one or more of the first diaphragms is positioned between opposing first sides of the diaphragm rings, the rim comprising an annular gripping surface to seal against an adjacent first diaphragm, an annular groove is defined by each of the diaphragm rings between the annular gripping surface and the sleeve.
3 more elements
A pressure regulator, comprising:
- a regulator body;
- a plurality of housings coupled to the regulator body to define a plurality of chambers, the chambers to be fluidly coupled to an outlet pressure of the pressure regulator;
- tie rods extending through the housings to couple the housings to the regulator body;
- a stem defining an aperture therethrough and a seating surface adjacent an end of the stem, the seating surface to be removably engaged by a valve stem to enable an overpressure to vent through the aperture to the atmosphere, wherein each of the chambers is spaced along the stem which is at least partially disposed in the chambers, and wherein the stem is to move to control a flow of fluid through the pressure regulator;
- a plurality of diaphragm rings surrounding and operatively coupled to the stem, the respective diaphragm rings comprising a sleeve and a rim, the rim comprising a first portion and an annular gripping portion, the first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the sleeve, the annular gripping portion extending substantially perpendicularly relative to the first portion and substantially parallel to the sleeve, an annular groove is defined by the respective diaphragm rings between the annular gripping portion and the sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of first diaphragms, each of which is disposed in a corresponding one of the chambers, and each of which is coupled to the stem to move the stem in response to the outlet pressure of the pressure regulator, wherein one or more of the first diaphragms is positioned between opposing first sides of the diaphragm rings, each first side comprising gripping surfaces to seal against an adjacent first diaphragm.
4 more elements
A regulator, comprising:
- a regulator body having an inlet and an outlet;
- a plurality of housings coupled to the regulator body to define a plurality of chambers, the chambers to comprise a first portion and a second portion, the first portion to be coupled to an outlet pressure;
- tie rods extending through the housings to couple the housings to the regulator body;
- a stem extending through the housings to the regulator body;
- a plurality of diaphragm rings surrounding and operatively coupled to the stem;
- a plurality of first diaphragms to separate the first and second portions of the respective chambers, wherein one or more of the first diaphragms is positioned between opposing first sides of the diaphragm rings, each first side comprising two gripping surfaces to seal against an adjacent first diaphragm;
- and
- a second diaphragm coupled to the stem by and positioned between adjacent second sides of the diaphragm rings to separate the respective chambers, each second side comprising a gripping surface to seal against an adjacent second diaphragm, the housings comprise a first diameter portion and a second diameter portion, the second diameter portion smaller than the first diameter portion, adjacent first diameter portions of opposing housings to seal against the adjacent first diaphragm, the second diameter portion to seal against the adjacent second diaphragm, wherein each of the diaphragm rings comprises a sleeve and a rim, the sleeve defining an aperture through which the stem is to extend and the rim comprising a first portion and an annular gripping portion, the first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the sleeve, the annular gripping portion extending substantially perpendicularly relative to the first portion and substantially parallel to the sleeve, an annular groove is defined by the respective diaphragm rings between the annular gripping portion and the sleeve.
5 more elements
A pressure regulator, comprising:
- a body coupled to first and second housings via tie rods, the body and the first housings to define first chamber portions and the second housings to define second chamber portions, the body comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a flow aperture to fluidly couple the inlet and the outlet;
- a stem operatively coupled to a plug to control fluid flow through the flow aperture, a rim of the stem positioned in the first chamber defined by the body;
- first and second diaphragms to surround the stem;
- and
- diaphragm rings operatively coupled to the stem to transfer a load thereto, the diaphragm rings opposingly positioned in the chamber portions defined by the first and second housings, the first diaphragms positioned between first ends of the diaphragm rings and the second diaphragms positioned between second ends of the diaphragm rings, the diaphragm rings comprising a sleeve and a rim, the rim comprising a first portion and an annular gripping portion, the first portion extending substantially perpendicularly from the sleeve, the annular gripping portion extending substantially perpendicularly relative to the first portion and substantially parallel to the sleeve, the annular gripping portion to seal against the adjacent second diaphragm, an annular groove is defined by the respective diaphragm rings between the annular gripping portion and the sleeve.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.