Vibration dampening spring clip for pressure regulator

A control assembly for a fluid flow control device, the assembly comprising:

• a control element adapted to be movably disposed in a fluid flow control device for controlling fluid flow;
• a load spring biasing the control element into a predetermined position;
• and
• a spring clip contacting an outer peripheral surface of the load spring at a plurality of points to dampen vibrations experienced by the load spring, the spring clip comprising a body plate and first and second opposing arm plates extending away from the body plate,
• each of the first and second arm plates including a proximal end adjacent the body plate, a distal end spaced away from the body plate, and a finger extending upwardly away from the distal end such as to define a corner at an intersection between the finger and the distal end, the corner including a contoured edge for facilitating attachment of the load spring to the spring clip, wherein the first and second arm plates are biased together into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the load spring, wherein the body plate and the first and second arm plates are arranged such that the spring clip is U-shaped when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the load spring, and wherein the first and second arm plates extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the load spring, and wherein the contoured edge of the corner comprises:
• (a) an inwardly curved side profile having a radius in a range of approximately 5 mm to approximately 20 mm;
• or
• (b) a chamfered side profile disposed at an angle in the range of 15° to 85° relative to a corresponding one of the first and second arm plates.

A fluid flow control device comprising:

• a valve body defining an inlet, an outlet, a throat disposed between the inlet and the outlet, and a flow path extending between the inlet and the outlet;
• a bonnet attached to the valve body adjacent to the throat and defining a bonnet cavity;
• a control element movably disposed in the throat of the valve body between an open position and a closed position for controlling a flow of fluid along the flow path;
• a diaphragm fixed between the valve body and the bonnet for imparting motion to the control element in response to changes in pressure at the outlet of the valve body;
• a load spring disposed in the bonnet cavity and biasing the control element toward the open position;
• a back-up plate disposed in the bonnet cavity between the load spring and the diaphragm, the back-up plate including a cavity receiving a portion of the load spring;
• and
• a spring clip disposed in the cavity of the back-up plate around a portion of the load spring and contacting an outer peripheral surface of the load spring at a plurality of points to dampen vibrations during operation of the fluid flow control device, the spring clip comprising a body plate and first and second opposing arm plates extending away from the body plate,
• each of the first and second arm plates including a proximal end adjacent the body plate, a distal end spaced away from the body plate, and a finger extending upwardly away from the distal end such as to define a corner at an intersection between the finger and the distal end, the corner including an inwardly curved profile or a chamfered profile for facilitating attachment of the load spring to the spring clip, wherein the first and second arm plates are biased together into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the load spring, wherein the body plate and the first and second arm plates are arranged such that the spring clip is U-shaped when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the load spring, and wherein the first and second arm plates extend transverse to the longitudinal axis of the load spring, and wherein the contoured edge of the corner comprises:
• (a) an inwardly curved side profile having a radius in a range of approximately 5 mm to approximately 20 mm;
• or
• (b) a chamfered side profile disposed at an angle in the range of 15° to 85° relative to a corresponding one of the first and second arm plates.