Pressure regulator and method of use

• US 7,032,611 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2000
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xiayang Sheng
• Original Assignee: Xiayang Sheng
• Inventors: Sheng, Xiayang
• Primary Examiner(s): RIVELL, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/069,910
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 137/102, 137/109, 137/225, 137/226, 137/505.25, 137/557, 137/559, 152/415
• US Class Current: 137/225
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 29/068 Pressure relief devices, i.e. safety devices for overpressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/207 and combined with other valves, e.g. safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/103 the sensing element placed between the inlet and outlet multiple-way valve G05D16/101
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3631 Diaphragm, bellows or expansible tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7808 Apertured reactor surface surrounds flow line
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8326 Fluid pressure responsive indicator, recorder or alarm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8359 Inspection means

Abstract

A pressure regulating device for connecting a pressure source to an inflatable object comprises: a hollow casing; a valve system positioned inside the hollow casing; a fluid inlet connected to the valve system; a fluid outlet; a fluid conduit positioned inside the hollow casing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet; a pressure-sensing structure attached to the conduit and being movable inside the hollow casing and attached to the pressure sensing structure; a pressure-generating structure disposed inside the hollow casing and attached to the pressure-sensing structure. The pressure-generating structure can exert a bias force upon the pressure-sensing structure in proportion to a desired pressure in the inflatable object. The pressure regulator can inflate the object when the initial pressure inside the inflatable object is lower than the desired pressure and automatically terminates inflation when the pressure inside the object reaches the desired pressure.

Claims

1. A pressure regulator for connecting a pressure source to an inflatable object, comprising:

a hollow casing having a fluid inlet end, a fluid outlet end, and a side wall;

a valve system positioned inside the hollow casing;

a fluid inlet connected to the valve system, the inlet located at the fluid inlet end of the hollow casing and adaptable for connection to a pressure source;

a fluid outlet located at the fluid outlet end of the hollow casing, the outlet adaptable for connection to an inflatable object;

a fluid conduit positioned inside the hollow casing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;

a pressure-sensing structure attached to the conduit, the pressure-sensing structure movable inside the hollow casing in the longitudinal direction; and

a pressure-generating structure disposed inside the hollow casing and attached to the pressure-sensing structure, the pressure-generating structure capable of exerting a bias force upon the pressure-sensing structure in proportion to a desired pressure in the inflatable object;

wherein the valve system is actuated by the conduit which moves longitudinally with the pressure-sensing structure in response to the pressure differential between the two sides of the pressure-sensing structure, capable of preventing the force produced by the pressure source from transferring to the pressure-sensing structure when the valve system is in close state;

wherein the pressure regulator is capable of inflating the object when the initial pressure inside the inflatable object is lower than the desired pressure, and the pressure regulator is capable of automatically terminating inflation when the pressure inside the object reaches the desired pressure.

2. The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator is capable of deflating the object when the initial pressure inside the inflatable object is higher than the desired pressure, and the pressure regulator is capable of automatically terminating deflation when the pressure inside the object reaches the desired pressure.

3. The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensing structure is a piston.

4. The pressure regulator of claim 3, wherein the piston is of a lip type.

5. The pressure regulator of claim 3, wherein the piston is an O-ring piston.

6. The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the pressure-generating structure is a coil spring disposed between the pressure-sensing structure and a spring collar.

7. The pressure regulator of claim 6, wherein the side wall of the hollow casing includes a port between the pressure-sensing structure and the spring collar, and the port is capable of releasing fluid from the inflatable object when the pressure inside the object exceeds the desired pressure.

8. The pressure regulator of claim 7, wherein the distance between the port and the pressure-sensing structure is proportional to the maximum pressure allowed for the inflatable object.

9. The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the valve system is a Shrader valve.

10. The pressure regulator of claim 1, wherein the valve system is a ball valve.

11. The pressure regulator of claim 1, further includes a reed disposed in the fluid flow path.

12. The pressure regulator of claim 11, wherein the reed comprises two sound-generating pieces;

the first piece generates a buzzing sound during inflation; and

the second piece generates a different buzzing sound during deflation.

13. The pressure regulator of claim 6, wherein the spring collar is connected to at least one screw which extends outside the side wall of the hollow casing.

14. The pressure regulator of claim 13, wherein the setting for the desired pressure is adjusted by sliding the screw along a longitudinal slot formed in the side wall of the hollow casing.

15. The pressure regulator of claim 13, wherein a bellows is disposed between the spring collar and the fluid outlet.

16. The pressure regulator of claim 1, further includes a component for presetting the desired pressure in the inflatable object.

17. The pressure regulator of claim 1, further includes a pressure indicator disposed in the hollow casing.

18. The pressure regulator of claim 17, wherein the pressure indicator is a marker.

19. The pressure regulator of claim 18, wherein the maker is attached to the outside of the conduit.

20. The pressure regulator of claim 1, further comprising a flow indicator.

21. The pressure regulator of claim 20, wherein the flow indicator is a visual ball display.

22. A product made according to claim 1.

23. The product of claim 22, wherein the product is a tire valve.

24. The product of claim 22, wherein the product is a tire valve extension.

25. The product of claim 22, wherein the product is a flow control device.

26. The product of claim 22, wherein the product is a tire inflating or deflating device.

27. A method of inflating or deflating an inflatable object comprising using the pressure regulator according to claim 1.

28. A method of inflating or deflating an inflatable object, comprising:

obtaining a pressure regulator comprising a pressure-sensing structure, a pressure-generating structure, a fluid conduit, and a valve system inside a hollow casing, the valve system capable of actuating fluid flow to the fluid conduit according to the difference between a desired pressure and the actual pressure inside the inflatable object, and capable of preventing the force produced by the pressure source from transferring to the pressure-sensing structure when the valve system is in close state;

presetting the desired pressure on the regulator to cause the pressure-generating structure to exert a bias force on the pressure-sensing structure;

connecting the pressure regulator to a pressure source and the inflatable object;

effectuating fluid flow from the pressure source to the inflatable object through the fluid conduit if the desired pressure is higher than the initial pressure in the inflatable object; and

effectuating fluid release from the inflatable object if the desired pressure is lower than the initial pressure in the inflatable object.