US3783891A — Balanced regulator second stage

Claim 1

Independent Claim 260 words

A demand valve for use as the second stage of a regulator in an underwater breathing apparatus, said demand valve receiving breathable gas from the supply tank associated regulator first stage via a conduit and providing said breathable gas to a diver via a mouthpiece in response to inhalation demand, comprising: a body including an inlet chamber to which said conduit is connected and an outlet chamber communicating to said mouthpiece, a generally internally cylindrical valve housing contained within said body, a primary valve within said valve housing and moveable axially thereof for controlling the flow of breathable gas between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, a diaphragm in said outlet chamber and responsive to the pressure therein for sensing said inhalation demand, and pneumatic amplifier means within said valve housing for operating said primary valve in response to the inhalation demand sensed by said diaphragm, said pneumatic amplifier means comprising; a control chamber within said valve housing, said primary valve opening in proportional response to the differential between the pressure in said inlet chamber and the pressure in said control chamber, and pilot valve means for establishing the pressure in said control chamber in response to said sensed inhalation demand, comprising a pilot orifice in a flow path between said control chamber and said outlet chamber, and a valve poppet mounted for axial movement within said valve housing and connected to said diaphragm by a linkage, said valve poppet cooperating with said pilot orifice to control the extent of opening thereof in response to said sensed inhalation demand.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 260 words

A demand valve for use as the second stage of a regulator in an underwater breathing apparatus, said demand valve receiving breathable gas from the supply tank associated regulator first stage via a conduit and providing said breathable gas to a diver via a mouthpiece in response to inhalation demand, comprising: a body including an inlet chamber to which said conduit is connected and an outlet chamber communicating to said mouthpiece, a generally internally cylindrical valve housing contained within said body, a primary valve within said valve housing and moveable axially thereof for controlling the flow of breathable gas between said inlet chamber and said outlet chamber, a diaphragm in said outlet chamber and responsive to the pressure therein for sensing said inhalation demand, and pneumatic amplifier means within said valve housing for operating said primary valve in response to the inhalation demand sensed by said diaphragm, said pneumatic amplifier means comprising; a control chamber within said valve housing, said primary valve opening in proportional response to the differential between the pressure in said inlet chamber and the pressure in said control chamber, and pilot valve means for establishing the pressure in said control chamber in response to said sensed inhalation demand, comprising a pilot orifice in a flow path between said control chamber and said outlet chamber, and a valve poppet mounted for axial movement within said valve housing and connected to said diaphragm by a linkage, said valve poppet cooperating with said pilot orifice to control the extent of opening thereof in response to said sensed inhalation demand.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 59 words

A demand valve according to claim 1 wherein said primary valve includes a bleed orifice permitting limited air flow from said conduit to said control chamber, and a first spring biasing said primary valve toward a closed position as said pressure differential approaches zero, and a second spring biasing said valve poppet toward a position blocking said pilot orifice.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 214 words

A demand regulator for use with an underwater breathing apparatus, comprising: a regulator body containing separate inlet, outlet and control chambers, primary valve means controlling flow between said inlet and outlet chambers in response to the pressure differential between said inlet and control chambers, said primary valve means comprising; a valve seat communicating from said inlet chamber, a valve piston adapted to reciprocate between a flow preventing closed position against said valve seat and open positions permitting flow from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, a bleed orifice permitting limited flow from said inlet chamber to said control chamber, a bias spring urging said valve piston toward said closed position, pilot valve means controlling the pressure in said control chamber in response to the pressure in said outlet chamber, a diaphragm in said outlet chamber, and a linkage operatively connecting said diaphragm to said pilot valve means, and wherein said valve piston reciprocates within a generally cylindrical valve housing within said regulator body, an annular chamber surrounding a portion of said valve housing, lateral openings in said housing permitting flow from said inlet chamber to said annular chamber in an amount established by the extent of opening of said valve piston, and an aspirator opening from said annular chamber to said outlet chamber.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 214 words

A demand regulator for use with an underwater breathing apparatus, comprising: a regulator body containing separate inlet, outlet and control chambers, primary valve means controlling flow between said inlet and outlet chambers in response to the pressure differential between said inlet and control chambers, said primary valve means comprising; a valve seat communicating from said inlet chamber, a valve piston adapted to reciprocate between a flow preventing closed position against said valve seat and open positions permitting flow from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, a bleed orifice permitting limited flow from said inlet chamber to said control chamber, a bias spring urging said valve piston toward said closed position, pilot valve means controlling the pressure in said control chamber in response to the pressure in said outlet chamber, a diaphragm in said outlet chamber, and a linkage operatively connecting said diaphragm to said pilot valve means, and wherein said valve piston reciprocates within a generally cylindrical valve housing within said regulator body, an annular chamber surrounding a portion of said valve housing, lateral openings in said housing permitting flow from said inlet chamber to said annular chamber in an amount established by the extent of opening of said valve piston, and an aspirator opening from said annular chamber to said outlet chamber.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

A regulatOr according to claim 3 wherein said valve piston separates said inlet chamber from said control chamber, and wherein said bias spring is situated within said control chamber.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

A regulator according to claim 3 wherein said pilot valve means comprises: a pilot orifice communicating from said control chamber, a valve poppet connected to said diaphragm by said linkage for selectively opening or closing said pilot orifice in response to pressure in said outlet chamber as sensed by said diaphragm.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 54 words

A regulator according to claim 5 further comprising a bleed orifice permitting limited flow from said inlet chamber to said control chamber, said bleed orifice being of smaller diameter than said pilot orifice, wherein said linkage provides substantial mechanical advantage, and wherein said valve poppet is spring biased toward the pilot orifice closing position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 50 words

A regulator according to claim 3 wherein said aspirator opening is in a generally cylindrical member surrounding a portion of said valve housing and defining said annular chamber, the radial orientation of said cylindrical member being adjustable with respect to said regulator body to control the amount of aspirator effect.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 196 words

A balanced regulator for use with a breathing apparatus comprising: primary valve means for controlling the flow of a breathable gas from an inlet to an outlet in response to the pressure differential between said inlet and a control chamber, said primary valve means comprising a valve piston movable with respect to a valve seat communicating to said inlet, and a lateral passageway for flow of said gas past said piston to said outlet in proportion to the separation of said piston from said seat, a bleed orifice providing a secondary flow path from said inlet through said piston to said control chamber, and a spring biasing said piston toward said valve seat, and pilot valve means for controlling the pressure in said control chamber in response to inhalation demand for said gas, the amount of supplied breathable gas thus corresponding to said demand, said pilot valve means comprising a pilot orifice and a cooperating valve poppet in the secondary flow path between said control chamber and said outlet, spring means urging said poppet into blocking relationship with said pilot orifice, and means for sensing said inhalation demand and for operating said poppet in response thereto.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 196 words

A balanced regulator for use with a breathing apparatus comprising: primary valve means for controlling the flow of a breathable gas from an inlet to an outlet in response to the pressure differential between said inlet and a control chamber, said primary valve means comprising a valve piston movable with respect to a valve seat communicating to said inlet, and a lateral passageway for flow of said gas past said piston to said outlet in proportion to the separation of said piston from said seat, a bleed orifice providing a secondary flow path from said inlet through said piston to said control chamber, and a spring biasing said piston toward said valve seat, and pilot valve means for controlling the pressure in said control chamber in response to inhalation demand for said gas, the amount of supplied breathable gas thus corresponding to said demand, said pilot valve means comprising a pilot orifice and a cooperating valve poppet in the secondary flow path between said control chamber and said outlet, spring means urging said poppet into blocking relationship with said pilot orifice, and means for sensing said inhalation demand and for operating said poppet in response thereto.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

A balanced regulator according to claim 8 wherein said means for sensing comprises a diaphragm responsive to the gas pressure at said outlet, and a linkage with substantial mechanical advantage between said diaphragm and said poppet.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 260 words

A balanced regulator second stage for use with an underwater breathing apparatus, comprising: a. a body having an outlet for connection to a mouthpiece and an inlet for connection to a conduit from the air supply tank of said apparatus, b. a valve housing within said body and having a valve seat communicating from said inlet, c. a valve piston within said housing movable toward and away from said valve seat, the spacing of said piston from said valve seat establishing the magnitude of flow between said inlet and said outlet, said piston extending into a control chamber within said housing, a bleed orifice through said piston permitting limited air flow from said inlet to said control chamber, d. a first spring within said control chamber biasing said piston toward said valve seat, e. a pilot orifice of lesser restriction than said bleed orifice communicating from said control chamber to said outlet, f. a valve poppet for selectively blocking or unblocking air flow through said pilot orifice, said valve poppet being mounted within and movable axially of said valve housing, g. a diaphragm within said body external to said housing and in pressure sensing relationship with said outlet, and h. a linkage transmitting movement of said diaphragm to said poppet with mechanical advantage, inhalation demand sensed by said dIaphragm causing said poppet and pilot orifice cooperatively to modify the pressure in said control chamber, thereby causing movement of said piston to a position resulting in air flow from said conduit to said outlet in an amount to satisfy said demand.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 260 words

A balanced regulator second stage for use with an underwater breathing apparatus, comprising: a. a body having an outlet for connection to a mouthpiece and an inlet for connection to a conduit from the air supply tank of said apparatus, b. a valve housing within said body and having a valve seat communicating from said inlet, c. a valve piston within said housing movable toward and away from said valve seat, the spacing of said piston from said valve seat establishing the magnitude of flow between said inlet and said outlet, said piston extending into a control chamber within said housing, a bleed orifice through said piston permitting limited air flow from said inlet to said control chamber, d. a first spring within said control chamber biasing said piston toward said valve seat, e. a pilot orifice of lesser restriction than said bleed orifice communicating from said control chamber to said outlet, f. a valve poppet for selectively blocking or unblocking air flow through said pilot orifice, said valve poppet being mounted within and movable axially of said valve housing, g. a diaphragm within said body external to said housing and in pressure sensing relationship with said outlet, and h. a linkage transmitting movement of said diaphragm to said poppet with mechanical advantage, inhalation demand sensed by said dIaphragm causing said poppet and pilot orifice cooperatively to modify the pressure in said control chamber, thereby causing movement of said piston to a position resulting in air flow from said conduit to said outlet in an amount to satisfy said demand.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 95 words

A regulator according to claim 10, further comprising: i. a generally cylindrical member surrounding a portion of said housing to define therewith an annular chamber, j. at least one lateral opening through said housing to permit air flow from said inlet chamber into said annular chamber at a rate established by the spacing between said piston and said valve seat, and k. an aspirator opening through said cylindrical member to permit flow from said annular chamber to said outlet, the radial orientation of said cylindrical member being adjustable to control the amount of aspirator action.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 83 words

A regulator according to claim 10 wherein the region within said body exterior of said valve housing comprises an outlet chamber, said diaphragm being responsive to the pressure within said outlet chamber, wherein said linkage comprises a diaphragm stem extending from said diaphragm, a demand lever for transmitting motion to said valve poppet, and a connection lever operatively connecting said diaphragm stem to said demand lever, and further comprising a second spring biasing said valve poppet toward a position blocking said pilot orifice.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

A regulator according to claim 12 wherein the mechanical advantage of said linkage is at least 10 to 1.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 28 words

A regulator according to claim 12 further comprising means for adjusting the force of said second spring, such adjustment controlling the demand effort needed to actuate said regulator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-07	1977-07-09	1978-01-08	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-07	1981-07-09	1982-01-08	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-07	1985-07-09	1986-01-08	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Balanced regulator second stage

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