Pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas

Claim 2

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed natural gas therewithin, at a given pressure, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, at a given low pressure; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas, at said given low pressure, from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; means for communicating said compliant means with said second porting means, and introducing gas pressure to said compliant means at less than said given low pressure; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said body has an annular groove formed therein, in an outermost surface thereof; said diaphragm has a periphery with a rib projecting therefrom, and said rib is nested in said groove; and a bearing ring overlies said periphery, and said bonnet clamps said ring to said periphery, and said rib into said groove.

Claim 3

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; said valving means and said compliant means have means cooperative for accommodating relative angular displacement therebetween; means for communicating said compliant means with said second porting means, and introducing gas pressure to said compliant means at less than said given low pressure; said compliant means includes a diaphragm; and said housing has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body; and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said housing further has a bowl coupled to, and depending from said housing body; said bowl is fastened to said valve body; and said bowl substantially surrounds said valve body; said bowl has baffles formed therein; and said housing body has splines formed therein which receive portions of said baffles therein.

Claim 4

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; said valving means and said compliant means have means cooperative for accommodating relative angular displacement therebetween; means for communicating said compliant means with said second porting means, and introducing gas pressure to said compliant means at less than said given low pressure; said compliant means includes a diaphragm; and said housing has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body; and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said housing further has a bowl coupled to, and depending from said housing body; said bowl is fastened to said valve body; and said bowl substantially surrounds said valve body; said bowl has baffles formed therein; and said housing body has splines formed therein which receive portions of said baffles therein.

Claim 5

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising; a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said valving means comprises a poppet-type valving element, and a valve seat, and said valve seat comprises a juncture of said chambers; said valving element has a stem which penetrates said outlet chamber, and said stem has means, extending therefrom, coupling said stem to said diaphragm; said coupling means comprises a cylindrical plug; said body has a circular recess formed therein, and an annular plug guide is set within said recess to accommodate movement of said plug guidably therethrough; a washer is interposed between said plug guide and said body, said washer being bottomed in said recess; and a seal is interposed between said guide and said body, and another seal is interposed between said washer and said guide.

Claim 6

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising; a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said valving means comprises a poppet-type valving element, and a valve seat, and said valve seat comprises a juncture of said chambers; said valving element has a stem which penetrates said outlet chamber, and said stem has means, extending therefrom, coupling said stem to said diaphragm; said coupling means comprises a cylindrical plug; said body has a circular recess formed therein, and an annular plug guide is set within said recess to accommodate movement of said plug guidably therethrough; a washer is interposed between said plug guide and said body, said washer being bottomed in said recess; and a seal is interposed between said guide and said body, and another seal is interposed between said washer and said guide.

Claim 7

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing, wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said valving means comprises a poppet-type valving element, and a valve seat, and said valve seat comprises a juncture of said chambers; said valving element has a stem which penetrates said outlet chamber, and said stem has means, extending therefrom, coupling said stem to said diaphragm; a valve body; said housing body has a bore formed therein, and said valve body is confined within said bore; said valve body has a cylindrical cavity formed therein in an end thereof, and said valving element is disposed in said cavity; said cavity is rimmed by an annular wall, and said wall holds said valve seat against said housing body; said cavity has a closed end, and a bushing is set within said closed end; and said valving element has a shank, and said shank is slidably engaged with said bushing.

Claim 8

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing, wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said valving means comprises a poppet-type valving element, and a valve seat, and said valve seat comprises a juncture of said chambers; said valving element has a stem which penetrates said outlet chamber, and said stem has means, extending therefrom, coupling said stem to said diaphragm; a valve body; said housing body has a bore formed therein, and said valve body is confined within said bore; said valve body has a cylindrical cavity formed therein in an end thereof, and said valving element is disposed in said cavity; said cavity is rimmed by an annular wall, and said wall holds said valve seat against said housing body; said cavity has a closed end, and a bushing is set within said closed end; and said valving element has a shank, and said shank is slidably engaged with said bushing.

Claim 9

A pressure-reducing regulator, according to claim 4, wherein: said wall is apertured to permit fluid flow therethrough; and said cavity comprises said inner chamber.

Claim 10

A pressure-reducing regulator, according to claim 4 further including: means interposed between said bushing and said valving element biasing said valving element against said valve seat.

Claim 11

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said body has an annular groove formed therein, in an outermost surface thereof; said diaphragm has a periphery with a rib projecting therefrom; said rib is nested in said groove; a bearing ring overlies said periphery; and said bonnet clamps said ring to said periphery, and said rib into said groove.

Claim 12

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said body has an annular groove formed therein, in an outermost surface thereof; said diaphragm has a periphery with a rib projecting therefrom; said rib is nested in said groove; a bearing ring overlies said periphery; and said bonnet clamps said ring to said periphery, and said rib into said groove.

Claim 13

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing, wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said valving means comprises a poppet-type valving element, and a valve seat, and said valve seat comprises a juncture of said chambers; said valving element has a stem which penetrates said outlet chamber, and said stem has means, extending therefrom, coupling said stem to said diaphragm; a valve body; said housing body has a bore formed therein, and said valve body is confined within said bore; said valve body has a cylindrical cavity formed therein in an end thereof, and said valving element is disposed in said cavity; said cavity is rimmed by an annular wall, and said wall holds said valve seat against said housing body; said cavity has a closed end, and a bushing is set within said closed end; and said valving element has a shank, and said shank is slidably engaged with said bushing; said housing further has a bowl coupled to, and depending from said housing body; said bowl is fastened to said valve body; and said bowl substantially surrounds said valve body.

Claim 14

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing, wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means comprises a diaphragm, and said housing further has a bonnet; said bonnet is coupled to said body, and said diaphragm forms a wall between said body and said bonnet; said valving means comprises a poppet-type valving element, and a valve seat, and said valve seat comprises a juncture of said chambers; said valving element has a stem which penetrates said outlet chamber, and said stem has means, extending therefrom, coupling said stem to said diaphragm; a valve body; said housing body has a bore formed therein, and said valve body is confined within said bore; said valve body has a cylindrical cavity formed therein in an end thereof, and said valving element is disposed in said cavity; said cavity is rimmed by an annular wall, and said wall holds said valve seat against said housing body; said cavity has a closed end, and a bushing is set within said closed end; and said valving element has a shank, and said shank is slidably engaged with said bushing; said housing further has a bowl coupled to, and depending from said housing body; said bowl is fastened to said valve body; and said bowl substantially surrounds said valve body.

Claim 15

A pressure-reducing regulator, according to claim 8, wherein: said bowl has baffles formed therein; and said housing body has splines formed therein which receive portions of said baffles therein.

Claim 16

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means includes a diaphragm, and said housing includes a bonnet; said body has an annular groove formed therein, in an outermost surface thereof; said diaphragm has a periphery with a rib projecting therefrom, and said rib is nested in said groove; a bearing ring overlies said periphery, and said bonnet clamps said ring to said periphery, and said rib into said groove; said second porting means comprises a port formed in said body, and a nozzle open at one end into communication with said outer chamber and open at the opposite end into said port; and said port extends into said body a given depth, from an outermost surface of said body to an innermost termination of said port; and said nozzle opposite end opens into said port intermediate said given depth thereof.

Claim 17

A pressure-reducing regulator for compressed natural gas, comprising: a regulator housing; wherein said housing has a body; said body has (a) an inner chamber for receiving high-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin, and (b) an outer chamber for receiving low-pressure, compressed, natural gas therewithin; first porting means for admitting gas into said inner chamber; second porting means for discharging gas from said outer chamber; valving means, movably disposed within said body, for controlling gas flow between said chambers; compliant means, coupled to said valving means, for (a) sensing gas pressure in one of said chambers, and (b) effecting movement of said valving means; non-metallic filtering means, interposed between said porting means, for filtering out particulate matter from inter-chamber gas flow; said compliant means includes a diaphragm, and said housing includes a bonnet; said body has an annular groove formed therein, in an outermost surface thereof; said diaphragm has a periphery with a rib projecting therefrom, and said rib is nested in said groove; a bearing ring overlies said periphery, and said bonnet clamps said ring to said periphery, and said rib into said groove; said second porting means comprises a port formed in said body, and a nozzle open at one end into communication with said outer chamber and open at the opposite end into said port; and said port extends into said body a given depth, from an outermost surface of said body to an innermost termination of said port; and said nozzle opposite end opens into said port intermediate said given depth thereof.

Claim 18

A pressure-reducing regulator, according to claim 10, wherein: said nozzle has a given length and has holes cross-drilled in said opposite end thereof; and said body has an aspirator hole formed therein, intermediate said length of said nozzle, communicating said outer chamber with said compliant means.