Regulated gas supply system

• US 6,854,480 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InVeris Training Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FATS, Inc. (Meggitt-USA, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fleming, Paul Heath, Wilson, Henry Martin Jr., Metcalfe, Corey Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/631,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20040025943A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 137/505.25, 137/505.26, 137/505.27, 137/505.18, 137/505.28, 137/454.2, 124 71- 76, 431/334, 222/3
• US Class Current: 137/505.18
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/06 Recoil simulators
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/56 the magazine also housing a gas cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/724 for gas pressure reduction
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/103 the sensing element placed between the inlet and outlet multiple-way valve G05D16/101
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7504 Removable valve head and seat unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7801 Balanced valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7808 Apertured reactor surface surrounds flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7811 Also through reactor surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86574 Supply and exhaust
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8667 Reciprocating valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86678 Combined disk or plug and gate or piston
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86686 Plural disk or plug

Abstract

A regulated gas supply system having a body defining a pressurized gas reservoir connected to a high-pressure regulator that regulates the high pressure gas from the gas reservoir to disperse the gas at a desired pressure. The regulating assembly includes a piston chamber with a piston slidably positioned in the piston chamber. A spring is positioned between one side of the piston and the piston chamber, with the piston including a piston channel to allow pressurized gas to flow through the piston. Pressure is developed on the piston opposite the spring that is proportional to the force of the spring, providing a balanced piston. The system is miniature and self-contained to fit inside any number of small pneumatically operated devices.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the pressure of gas from a gas reservoir using a regulated gas supply system comprising the steps of:

a) providing a body defining a piston chamber connected to the gas reservoir by a channel, said piston chamber having an uppermost surface, a seat, and a chamber wall connecting said uppermost surface with said seat;

b) urging a piston in said piston chamber away from said seat with a spring;

c) releasing gas from the gas reservoir into said piston camber, said gas flowing through a piston channel through said piston;

d) applying a pressurized force on said piston flange opposite said spring; and

e) forcing said piston into contact with said seat of said piston chamber to obstruct the flow of the gas through said piston channel;

f) providing a secondary chamber and a central channel traversing said piston from a first end of said piston to a second end of said piston;

g) engaging said secondary chamber with a first end of said piston;

h) distributing gas through said central channel into said secondary chamber to balance said piston

i) exerting said gas from said body through a gas outlet.

2. A regulated gas supply system for regulating the distribution of a highly pressurized gas to a desired pressure comprising:

a body defining a gas inlet to receive a highly pressured gas and a gas outlet to distribute a regulated gas;

a piston chamber defined in said body;

a secondary chamber defined in said body;

a piston slidably positioned in said piston chamber, said piston having piston channel traversing said piston and a piston extension to slidably engage said secondary chamber;

a spring biasing said piston within said piston chamber, and

a central channel extending through said piston and said piston extension.

3. The regulated gas supply system of claim 2 further comprising a vent aperture through said body, said vent aperture proximate said spring.

4. The regulated gas supply system as described in claim 2 wherein said piston chamber comprises:

an uppermost surface;

a seat opposing said uppermost surface; and

a chamber wall between said uppermost surface and said seat.

5. The regulated gas supply system as described in claim 4 wherein said piston comprises:

a piston body, wherein said piston channel traverses said piston body; and

a piston flange abutting said piston body, said piston flange engaging said chamber wall.

6. The gas regulating assembly of claim 5, wherein said spring is positioned between said piston flange and said seat to urge said piston flange away from said seat.

7. A gas regulator for receiving a highly pressurized gas from a gas source and distributing the gas at a desired pressure, said regulator comprising:

a housing having an gas inlet and a gas outlet;

a piston chamber defined in said housing between said gas inlet and said gas outlet, said piston chamber including an uppermost surface, a seat opposing said uppermost surface, and a chamber wall connecting said uppermost surface with said seat;

a secondary chamber defined in said housing;

a piston slidably positioned in said piston chamber, said piston having a piston body with an abutting flange engaging said chamber wall, a piston channel traversing said piston body, a piston extension extending from said piston body to engage said secondary chamber, and a central channel traversing said piston; and

resilient means for urging said piston flange away from said seat, said resilient means positioned between said piston flange and said seat.

8. The regulator as described in claim 7, wherein said resilient means comprises a spring.