Fluid pressure control valve

Claim 1

A fluid pressure operated control apparatus of the type having a casing with an inlet and an outlet for the flow of a first fluid under pressure, said casing having first and second flanged members, a diaphragm mounted in said casing, the peripheral edges of said diaphragm being clamped between said first and second flanged members, said diaphragm having a first side and a second side, means placing a portion of said first diaphragm side in communication with fluid pressure in said inlet or outlet, means applying a regulating pressure on said second diaphragm side, and means actuated by said diaphragm in response to variations in differences of pressure on said first and second diaphragm sides for regulating said inlet or outlet fluid pressure, wherein the improvement comprises said diaphragm being flexible and having a main layer, and a protective layer permeable to said first fluid at high temperature, said main layer being incompatible with said first fluid at high temperature in pure form, said protective layer being at least coextensive with said first diaphragm side, said protective layer being separable from said main layer at said portion of said first diaphragm side in communication with said inlet or outlet fluid pressure, and means for permitting a second fluid to enter between said protective layer and said main layer in order to contaminate said first fluid at high temperature which permeates through said protective layer, said means actuated by said diaphragm including a valve stem passing centrally through said diaphragm, said main layer slot extending outwardly from said valve stem and said stem having a passage for conducting a second fluid into said slot.