Pressure regulator and safety valve assembly

• US 4,370,997 A
• Filed: 12/31/1980
• Issued: 02/01/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berger Jenson & Nicholson Limited, Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: King, Derrick O., Braithwaite, John D., Williams, Sidney J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spiegel, H. Jay
• Application Number:
  US06/221,901
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 222/5, 222/153, 222/399, 137/116.3, 137/116.5, 137/318, 137/377, 137/384, 251/90, 251/111, 251/89.5, 251/83, 251/149.9
• US Class Current: 137/116.3
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/04 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/107 with a spring-loaded piston in combination with a spring-loaded slideable obturator that move together over range of motion during normal operation
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/109 with two or more pistons acting as a single pressure controller that move together over range of motion during normal operations controllers mounted in series G05D16/0402, controller mounted in parallel G05D16/0404
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2607 With pressure reducing inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6123 With aperture forming means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7043 Guards and shields

Abstract

A pressure regulator and safety valve assembly comprises pressure regulating means and safety valve means. The pressure regulating means is so coupled to the safety valve means that the pressure at which the safety valve means opens varies independence upon the setting of the pressure regulating means. The safety valve means includes a safety valve member mounted for movement relative to a static surface between a closed position in which the safety valve member seals against the static surface and an open position in which the safety valve member is spaced from the static surface.

Claims

1. A pressure regulator and safety valve assembly, comprising:

a body having a chamber therein with an inlet and an outlet, and said body having a bore therein in communication with said chamber;

pressure regulating means, associated with said inlet, for regulating the pressure in said chamber;

a safety valve member mounted for movement relative to a static surface in said body between a closed position in which the safety valve member seals against the static surface and an open position in which the safety valve member is spaced from the static surface and vents said chamber externally of said body;

said safety valve member being slidably received in said bore and having a face in communication with said chamber, and said safety valve member being annular with a shoulder;

a first spring resiliently urging said safety valve member against said static surface whereby when the pressure in said chamber acting upon said face overcomes the bias force of said first spring said safety valve member is lifted off said static surface to vent said chamber to atmosphere;

said pressure regulating means comprising a piston slidably and sealingly received within said safety valve member, and a second spring resiliently urging said piston towards said chamber;

a control member movably mounted on said body and operatively connected to said pressure regulating means for normally turning said pressure regulating means on and off, and for readily adjusting the setting thereof during normal use of the assembly;

said control member also being operatively connected to said safety valve member whereby normal adjusting of said pressure regulating means by said control member simultaneously changes the setting of the safety valve member in dependence upon the setting of the pressure regulating means;

said piston having an anchor extending therefrom which is engaged by said control member to positively withdraw said piston away from said chamber when said control member is moved to the "off" position; and

said piston engaging said shoulder to positively lift said safety valve member away from said static surface when said control member is moved to the "off" position.

2. A pressure regulator and safety valve assembly, comprising:

a body having a chamber therein having an inlet and an outlet for gas being regulated in pressure;

a housing, for receiving a capsule of liquified or pressurized gas, removably screwed to said body and having projecting fins;

a valve for closing said inlet;

a first movable member resiliently biased to open said valve, and being acted upon by the pressure of the gas in said chamber to allow said valve to close, whereby the pressure at said outlet is regulated;

a second movable member located around said first movable member and resiliently biased against a seat associated with said chamber, said second movable member communicating with said chamber and being displaceable off said seat to vent said chamber to atmosphere upon the pressure in said chamber acting directly upon said second movable member exceeding a predetermined pressure;

a control member for turning the pressure regulator on and off, said control member having an adjusting member concealed therein and adjustably secured thereto for preadjusting the resilient bias acting upon said first movable member, said adjusting member being factory set and being inaccessible during normal operation of the assembly;

said control member being movably mounted on said body for simultaneously adjusting the resilient biases acting on both said first and second movable members, whereby said predetermined pressure is automatically adjusted in relation to the regulated pressure; and

an interlocking linkage extending between said housing and said control member, and having one end connected to said control member for movement thereby and having a part at the other end protruding into the path of said fins except when said control member is in the "off" position, whereby said housing cannot be screwed on to or off said body except when said control member is in the "off" position.

3. A pressure regulator and safety valve assembly, comprising:

a body having a chamber therein with an inlet and an outlet, and said body having a bore therein communicating with said chamber;

a housing, for receiving a capsule of liquified or pressurized gas, connected to said body and communicating with said inlet;

a valve for closing said inlet;

a pressure regulating piston biased by a first spring to open said valve, and being urged by the pressure of the gas in said chamber against the bias of said first spring to allow said valve to close, whereby the pressure at said outlet is regulated;

an annular safety valve member slidably received in said bore, and biased by a second spring against a seat associated with said chamber and at one end of said bore, said safety valve member being in communication with said chamber and being displaceable off said seat to vent said chamber to atmosphere upon the force of the pressure in said chamber acting directly upon said safety valve member overcoming the bias force of said second spring;

said pressure regulating piston being slidably received within said annular safety valve member, the latter having a shoulder which is engageable by said pressure regulating piston to exert a further force acting to displace said safety valve member off said seat to vent said chamber to atmosphere upon the pressure in said chamber becoming uncontrolled if said safety valve member has not already been so displaced by the chamber pressure acting directly thereupon;

a cap assembly, for turning the pressure regulator on and off, screw-threaded to said body and closing the other end of said bore, said first and second springs being received in said cap assembly and compressed thereby, rotation of said cap assembly relative to said body adjusting simultaneously the compressions of said springs, whereby the value of the pressure in said chamber at which the safety valve member opens varies in dependence upon the setting of the pressure regulating member;

an adjusting member forming part of said cap assembly, said first spring extending between said adjusting member and said pressure regulating piston, whereby the compression of said first spring is adjustable by said adjusting member independently of said second spring; and

an anchor extending from said pressure regulating piston into said adjusting member and being movable relative thereto, said anchor limiting the movement of said pressure regulating piston relative to said cap under the influence of said first spring, and rotation of said cap to the "off" position causing said anchor to positively withdraw said pressure regulating piston away from said valve and into engagement with said shoulder thereby lifting said safety valve member off its seat.