Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
352 words
A pressure regulator for gaseous and liquid fluids comprising: a main valve having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, and having a main valve body movable in a first direction to increase and in a second direction to lessen flow from said inlet to said outlet; means defining a control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating with said inlet; a control valve for controlling the pressure in said control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating via said control valve with a first vent; force-exerting means for exerting a force in said first direction on said main valve body and being exposed to and responsive to fluid pressure in said control pressure space; means for establishing a desired value for the fluid pressure in said outlet by controlling the fluid pressure in said control pressure space responsive to the desired value by controlling the degree of closure of said control valve; and means defining a feedback pressure space for exerting pressure on said force-exerting means proportional to the fluid pressure in said outlet and opposed to the pressure on said force exerting means in said control pressure space, said feedback pressure space being connected with said outlet and with a second vent; and said force-exerting means thereby exerting on said main valve body a force proportional to the pressure differential between said opposing pressures on said force-exerting means; a cylindrical volume disposed between and communicating with said inlet, said outlet, and said feedback pressure space; said main valve body comprising a piston accomodated in said cylindrical volume; said piston having a cross-sectional area which is exposed to the fluid pressure in said inlet; said main valve body further comprising a valve closure element that communicates with said inlet and is urgeable in said first direction by fluid pressure in said inlet; said main valve comprising first means for exposing a first cross-sectional area of said valve closure element to the fluid pressure in said inlet and second means for exposing a larger cross-sectional area of said piston than said first cross-sectional area to the fluid pressure in said inlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
352 words
A pressure regulator for gaseous and liquid fluids comprising: a main valve having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, and having a main valve body movable in a first direction to increase and in a second direction to lessen flow from said inlet to said outlet; means defining a control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating with said inlet; a control valve for controlling the pressure in said control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating via said control valve with a first vent; force-exerting means for exerting a force in said first direction on said main valve body and being exposed to and responsive to fluid pressure in said control pressure space; means for establishing a desired value for the fluid pressure in said outlet by controlling the fluid pressure in said control pressure space responsive to the desired value by controlling the degree of closure of said control valve; and means defining a feedback pressure space for exerting pressure on said force-exerting means proportional to the fluid pressure in said outlet and opposed to the pressure on said force exerting means in said control pressure space, said feedback pressure space being connected with said outlet and with a second vent; and said force-exerting means thereby exerting on said main valve body a force proportional to the pressure differential between said opposing pressures on said force-exerting means; a cylindrical volume disposed between and communicating with said inlet, said outlet, and said feedback pressure space; said main valve body comprising a piston accomodated in said cylindrical volume; said piston having a cross-sectional area which is exposed to the fluid pressure in said inlet; said main valve body further comprising a valve closure element that communicates with said inlet and is urgeable in said first direction by fluid pressure in said inlet; said main valve comprising first means for exposing a first cross-sectional area of said valve closure element to the fluid pressure in said inlet and second means for exposing a larger cross-sectional area of said piston than said first cross-sectional area to the fluid pressure in said inlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein said main valve has a valve seat, and further comprising spring means for urging said main valve body in said second direction against said valve seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein said force-exerting means comprises a diaphragm separating said control pressure space and said feedback pressure space, said diaphragm having two opposite surfaces, one in said control pressure space and the other in said feedback pressure space.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The pressure regulator of either of claims 1 or 3, wherein said force exerting means comprises rod means disposed in said feedback pressure space for exerting force on said main valve body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The pressure regulator of claim 3, wherein said control valve includes a control valve body which is exposed to said control pressure space and is urged by the fluid pressure in said control pressure space in a third direction to open said control valve, and further includes means for exposing to the fluid pressure in said control pressure space an area of said control valve body that is smaller than the area of said diaphragm that is exposed to the fluid pressure in said control pressure space.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1, further comprising control pressure pre-regulator means for regulating the fluid pressure in said control pressure space.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pressure regulator of claim 6, wherein said pre-regulator means communicates with said inlet and further communicates with said control pressure space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
The pressure regulator of claim 7, wherein said control pressure pre-regulator means comprises a pre-regulator valve seat and a pre-regulator valve body movable in a fourth direction to open said pre-regulator means, and movable in a fifth direction against said pre-regulator valve seat to close said pre-regulator means; and wherein said pre-regulator means further comprises spring means urging said pre-regulator valve body in said fourth direction, and said pre-regulator valve body being urgeable by fluid pressure in said control pressure space in said fifth direction against said pre-regulator valve seat.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The pressure regulator of any of claims 1, 5 or 8, wherein said desired-value establishing means comprises an electromagnetic device for exerting a force on said control valve to control the degree of closure of said control valve responsive to the value of a parameter of an electrical signal applied to said electromagnetic device, the value of said parameter being representative of the desired value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pressure regulator of claim 1, further comprising a first choke disposed between and communicating with said inlet and said control pressure space for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The pressure regulator of claim 7, further comprising a first choke disposed between and communicating with said pressure pre-regulator means and said control pressure space for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The pressure regulator of either of claims 1 or 10, further comprising a second choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said outlet for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The pressure regulator of claim 12, further comprising an adjustable choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said second vent for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The pressure regulator of any of claims 1, 7 or 10, further comprising an adjustable choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said second vent for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
274 words
A pressure regulator for gaseous and liquid fluids comprising; a main valve having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, and having a main valve body movable in a first direction to increase and in a second direction to lessen flow from said inlet to said outlet; means defining a control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating with said inlet; a control valve for controlling the pressure in said control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating via said control valve with a first vent; force-exerting means for exerting a force in said first direction on said main valve body and being exposed to and responsive to fluid pressure in said control pressure space; means for establishing a desired value for the fluid pressure in said outlet by controlling the fluid pressure in said control pressure space responsive to the desired value by controlling the degree of closure of said control valve; and means defining a feedback pressure space for exerting pressure on said force-exerting means proportional to the fluid pressure in said outlet, and opposed to the control pressure space, said feedback pressure space being connected with said outlet and with a second vent; and said force-exerting means thereby exerting on said main valve body a force proportional to the pressure differential between said opposing pressures on said force-exerting means; an adjustable choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said second vent for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween; a second choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said outlet for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
274 words
A pressure regulator for gaseous and liquid fluids comprising; a main valve having an inlet and an outlet for a fluid, and having a main valve body movable in a first direction to increase and in a second direction to lessen flow from said inlet to said outlet; means defining a control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating with said inlet; a control valve for controlling the pressure in said control pressure space, said control pressure space communicating via said control valve with a first vent; force-exerting means for exerting a force in said first direction on said main valve body and being exposed to and responsive to fluid pressure in said control pressure space; means for establishing a desired value for the fluid pressure in said outlet by controlling the fluid pressure in said control pressure space responsive to the desired value by controlling the degree of closure of said control valve; and means defining a feedback pressure space for exerting pressure on said force-exerting means proportional to the fluid pressure in said outlet, and opposed to the control pressure space, said feedback pressure space being connected with said outlet and with a second vent; and said force-exerting means thereby exerting on said main valve body a force proportional to the pressure differential between said opposing pressures on said force-exerting means; an adjustable choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said second vent for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween; a second choke disposed between and communicating with said feedback pressure space and said outlet for limiting the rate of flow of a fluid therebetween.