Pneumatic pressure regulator

• US 5,586,569 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 12/24/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Parker Intangibles LLC (Parker-Hannifin Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
• Inventors: Hanning, John R., Olmsted, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US08/508,306
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 137/505, 137/505.37, 137/484.8, 137/116.5
• US Class Current: 137/116.5
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/02 Modifications to reduce the effects of instability, e.g. due to vibrations, friction, abnormal temperature, overloading or imbalance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0663 using a spring-loaded membrane with a spring-loaded slideable obturator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/261 Relief port through common sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7757 Through separate aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7793 With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7821 With valve closing bias

Abstract

A fluid pressure regulator having various features that contribute to a low cost regulator that is easy to assemble from components that require less machining than existing regulator designs of comparable performance. The invention is characterized by (i) a fluid pressure regulator of closed bottom design that has a flow path similar to a conventional open bottom design, with other attendant advantages arising from the closed bottom design; (ii) a slant seal between a main body including the inlet and outlet ports and an insert body closing an open end of an intersecting chamber in the main body in which the valve element and valve seat are located; (iii) the valve seat insert having a wall portion separating the main flow path in the main body of the housing from a control chamber for the valve element and the wall portion including therein an aspirating passage for connecting the control chamber a portion of the main flow passage downstream of the valve seat; (iv) a diaphragm piston assembly including an axially elongated mounting bead which hold the assembly to a bonnet body with other components of the bonnet retained in the bonnet body for easy assembly of the bonnet to the main body of the regulator housing; and (v) a relief type regulator that has during forward flow low hysteresis arising from use of a rolling diaphragm and a unique vent seal that dampens vibrations to eliminate unwanted noise that might otherwise arise.

Claims

1. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body having formed therein an inlet port, an outlet port and an intersecting chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the intersecting chamber having a longitudinal axis,

a valve seat insert disposed in the intersecting chamber and having a insert body separating an upstream portion of the intersecting chamber from a downstream portion respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the insert body having a valve seat surrounding a valve seat opening,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port,

the insert body having a peripheral edge in supportive engagement with a sealing surface on the main body, the peripheral edge and sealing surface being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the intersecting chamber and having a seal therebetween to provide fluid tight engagement of the insert body with the housing, and the insert body including a passage for directing the flow of fluid from the valve seat to the outlet port.

2. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein the passage in the insert body is generally L-shape.

3. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body having formed therein an inlet port, an outlet port and an intersecting chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the intersecting chamber having a longitudinal axis,

a valve seat insert disposed in the intersecting chamber and having a insert body separating an upstream portion of the intersecting chamber from a downstream portion respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the insert body having a valve seat surrounding a valve seat opening,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port,

the insert body having a peripheral edge in supportive engagement with a sealing surface on the main body, the peripheral edge and sealing surface being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the intersecting chamber and having a seal therebetween to provide fluid tight engagement of the insert body with the housing, and

further comprising a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the intersecting chamber, a piston having one side thereof forming a movable wall of the control chamber, a stem interposed between the valve element and piston and engageable by the piston, a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element, the piston including a vent passage therein and a vent seal surrounding the vent passage, the vent seal having a seat portion engageable by an adjacent end of the stem to close the vent passage against escape of fluid from the control chamber, and an axially extending damper portion which resiliently laterally constrains the end of the stem over a limited range of axial movement of the stem.

4. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body having formed therein an inlet port, an outlet port and an intersecting chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the intersecting chamber having a longitudinal axis,

a valve seat insert disposed in the intersecting chamber and having a insert body separating an upstream portion of the intersecting chamber from a downstream portion respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the insert body having a valve seat surrounding a valve seat opening,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port,

the insert body having a peripheral edge in supportive engagement with a sealing surface on the main body, the peripheral edge and sealing surface being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the intersecting chamber and having a seal therebetween to provide fluid tight engagement of the insert body with the housing, and

further comprising a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the intersecting chamber, a diaphragm piston assembly having a central piston forming a movable wall of the control chamber and a diaphragm having a peripheral mounting flange portion secured between a bonnet body and main body, a stem interposed between the valve element and piston and engageable by the piston, a set point adjustment mechanism including a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element and an adjustment device for adjusting the compression on the spring to enable adjustment of the regulator'"'"'s set point, the mounting flange portion of the diaphragm including a bead and the bonnet having an annular end face including an annular groove for the bead, the bead having an axial length greater than its radial width, and the width of the bead in its uncompressed state being sufficient, when inserted into the annular groove, to retain the diaphragm piston assembly and set point adjustment mechanism assembled to the bonnet body when the bonnet body is separate from the main body.

5. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body having formed therein an inlet port, an outlet port and an intersecting chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the intersecting chamber having an open end and a closed end, the open and closed end of the intersecting chamber being aligned along an axis of the intersecting chamber, and the inlet and outlet ports intersecting the intersecting chamber at respective openings that are aligned with one another along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the intersecting chamber,

a valve seat insert disposed in the intersecting chamber and including an insert body separating an upstream portion of the intersecting chamber from a downstream portion respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the insert body having a valve seat surrounding a valve seat opening,

a valve element including a valve head on the upstream side of the insert body and movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port,

a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the intersecting chamber,

a piston having one side thereof forming a movable wall of the control chamber,

a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element,

a stem connecting the valve element and the piston,

the valve seat insert including a generally L-shape passage for directing the flow of fluid from the valve seat opening to the outlet port, one leg thereof extending from the valve seat opening and the other leg forming an axial continuation of the outlet port.

6. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body having formed therein an inlet port, an outlet port and an intersecting chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the intersecting chamber having a longitudinal axis,

a valve seat insert disposed in the intersecting chamber and including an insert body separating an upstream portion of the intersecting chamber from a downstream portion respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the insert body having a valve seat surrounding a valve seat opening,

a valve element including a valve head on the upstream side of the insert body and movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, and

wherein the valve seat insert and main body have opposed sealing surfaces inclined to the axis of the intersecting chamber, and further comprising an annular seal between the opposed sealing surfaces, the opposed sealing surfaces being arranged such that the upstream and downstream portions of the intersecting chamber are sealed from one another by the annular seal.

7. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the inlet and outlet ports are aligned along an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the intersecting chamber.

8. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the insert body includes an aspirating hole.

9. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the opposed sealing surfaces are axially opposed.

10. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the main body is a metal casting and the insert is molded from plastic.

11. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 6, wherein the intersecting chamber has an open end and a closed end, and the open and closed ends of the intersecting chamber are aligned along an axis of the intersecting chamber, and further comprising:

a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the intersecting chamber,

a piston having one side thereof forming a movable wall of the control chamber,

a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element, and

a stem connecting the valve element and the piston, and

the valve seat insert including a generally L-shape passage for directing the flow of fluid from the valve seat opening to the outlet port, one leg thereof extending from the valve seat opening and the other leg forming an axial continuation of the outlet port.

12. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 11, wherein the valve seat insert includes a wall portion separating the L-shape passage from the control chamber.

13. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 12, wherein the wall portion includes an aspirating hole.

14. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing having a main passage therethrough that has portions thereof upstream and downstream of a valve seat,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow through the main passage,

a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the main passage,

a piston having one side thereof forming a movable wall of the control chamber,

a chamber wall separating the control chamber from the downstream portion of the main passage,

a stem interposed between the valve element and piston and engageable by the piston, the stem passing through an opening in the chamber Wall,

a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element,

the piston including a vent passage therein and a vent seal surrounding the vent passage, the vent seal having a seat portion engageable by an adjacent end of the stem to close the vent passage against escape of fluid from the control chamber, and an axially extending damper portion which resiliently laterally constrains the end of the stem over a limited range of axial movement of the stem.

15. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 14, including a rolling diaphragm in engagement with a movable piston member including the vent passage.

16. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing having a main passage therethrough that has portions thereof upstream and downstream of a valve seat,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow through the main passage,

a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the main passage,

a piston having one side thereof forming a movable wall of the control chamber,

a stem interposed between the valve element and piston and engageable by the piston,

a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element,

the piston including a vent passage therein and a vent seal surrounding the vent passage, the vent seal having a seat portion engageable by an adjacent end of the stem to close the vent passage against escape of fluid from the control chamber, and an axially extending damper portion which resiliently laterally constrains the end of the stem over a limited range of axial movement of the stem, and

wherein the damper portion has a tubular wall extending axially from the seat portion and at least one gripping rib protruding radially from the tubular wall for engaging a side of the stem.

17. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 16, wherein the at least one gripping rib includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart gripping ribs protruding radially from the tubular wall for engaging a side of the stem.

18. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body and a bonnet body removably attached to the main body, the main body having a main passage therethrough that has portions thereof upstream and downstream of a valve seat,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow through the main passage,

a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the main passage,

a diaphragm piston assembly having a central piston forming a movable wall of the control chamber and a diaphragm having a peripheral mounting flange portion secured between a bonnet body and main body,

a stem interposed between the valve element and piston and engageable by the piston,

a set point adjustment mechanism including a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element and an adjustment device for adjusting the tension on the spring to enable adjustment of the regulator'"'"'s set point,

the mounting flange portion of the diaphragm including a bead and the bonnet having an annular end face including an annular groove for the bead, the bead having an axial length greater than its radial width, and the width of the bead in its uncompressed state being sufficient, when inserted into the annular groove, to retain the diaphragm piston assembly and set point adjustment mechanism assembled to the bonnet body when the bonnet body is separate from the main body.

19. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body having formed therein an inlet port, an outlet port and an intersecting chamber between the inlet and outlet ports, the intersecting chamber having an open end and a closed end, the open and closed ends of the intersecting chamber being aligned along an axis of the intersecting chamber,

a valve seat insert disposed in the intersecting chamber and including an insert body separating an upstream portion of the intersecting chamber from a downstream portion respectively in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, the insert body having a valve seat surrounding a valve seat opening,

a valve element including a valve head on the upstream side of the insert body and movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow from the inlet port to the outlet port,

a control chamber in the housing separated by a wall of the valve seat insert from the intersecting chamber, the valve seat insert including an aspirating passage connecting the control chamber to the downstream portion of the intersecting chamber,

a piston having one side thereof forming a movable wall of the control chamber,

a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element, and

a stem connecting the valve element and the piston, the stem passing through an opening in the wall of the valve seat.

20. A fluid pressure regulator as set forth in claim 19, wherein the valve seat insert has an annular flange portion, and further comprising a bonnet body including a control spring chamber for housing the control spring, and a collar for removably holding the bonnet body to the main body with the annular flange portion of the valve seat insert held between the bonnet body and main body.

21. A fluid pressure regulator comprising

a housing including a main body and a bonnet body removably attached to the main body by a collar, the main body having an externally threaded portion and the collar being internally threaded for screwing onto the externally threaded portion of the main body by hand turning the collar without the aid of a tool, the collar being rotatable relative to the bonnet body and cooperative with the bonnet body to hold the bonnet body to the main body;

the main body further having a main passage therethrough that has portions thereof upstream and downstream of a valve seat,

a valve element including a valve head movable into and out of engagement with the valve seat for opening and closing the valve seat opening to control flow through the main passage,

a control chamber in the housing and connected by an aspirating passage to the downstream portion of the main passage,

a diaphragm piston assembly having a central piston forming a movable wall of the control chamber and a diaphragm having a peripheral mounting flange portion secured between a bonnet body and main body,

a stem interposed between the valve element and piston and engageable by the piston,

a set point adjustment mechanism including a control spring on the other side of the piston for urging the piston toward the valve element and an adjustment device for adjusting the tension on the spring to enable adjustment of the regulator'"'"'s set point,

the mounting flange portion of the diaphragm including a bead and the bonnet having an annular end face including an annular groove for the bead, the bead having an axial length greater than its radial width and being press fit into the into the annular groove and engageable at its side opposite the groove against an annular surface of the main body to form a fluid tight seal therebetween.