Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
247 words
A fuel pressure regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into a first chamber and second chamber, a passage from the exterior of the housing to said first chamber, an inlet and an outlet associated with the second chamber of the housing, a frustoconical valve seat associated with the outlet, a cage mounted on and movable with the diaphragm, a spring within the first chamber yieldingly urging the cage toward the valve seat, a cage, a first plate fixedly mounted on said cage and having an opening therethrough, a second plate overlying said first plate and having an opening therethrough, a ball positioned between said cage and said second plate and engaging the opening in said second plate, said cage having a cavity into which said ball is attached, said ball being rotatable relative to said second plate, the opening in said second plate having a diameter less than the diameter of said ball, the diameter of the opening in said first plate being less than the outer diameter of said second plate, a light spring interposed between said cage and said ball urging said ball through the opening in said first plate toward said valve seat, the outer diameter of said second plate being less than the diameter of the portion of the cage which surrounds the periphery of said second plate such that said ball and said second plate can move laterally to accommodate any misalignment between the ball and the valve seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
247 words
A fuel pressure regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm dividing the housing into a first chamber and second chamber, a passage from the exterior of the housing to said first chamber, an inlet and an outlet associated with the second chamber of the housing, a frustoconical valve seat associated with the outlet, a cage mounted on and movable with the diaphragm, a spring within the first chamber yieldingly urging the cage toward the valve seat, a cage, a first plate fixedly mounted on said cage and having an opening therethrough, a second plate overlying said first plate and having an opening therethrough, a ball positioned between said cage and said second plate and engaging the opening in said second plate, said cage having a cavity into which said ball is attached, said ball being rotatable relative to said second plate, the opening in said second plate having a diameter less than the diameter of said ball, the diameter of the opening in said first plate being less than the outer diameter of said second plate, a light spring interposed between said cage and said ball urging said ball through the opening in said first plate toward said valve seat, the outer diameter of said second plate being less than the diameter of the portion of the cage which surrounds the periphery of said second plate such that said ball and said second plate can move laterally to accommodate any misalignment between the ball and the valve seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The fuel pressure set forth in claim 1 wherein said cage has an axial portion extending toward said ball and being adapted to engage said ball.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fuel pressure regulator set forth in claim 2 wherein said light spring comprises a helical spring about said axial portion of said cage.