Regulated gas supply system

• US 7,140,387 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InVeris Training Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: FATS, Inc. (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Metcalfe, Corey Howard, Fleming, Paul Heath, Wilson, Henry Martin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US10/970,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 137/505.18, 137/505.25, 222/3
• US Class Current: 137/505.18
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/06 Recoil simulators
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/103 the sensing element placed between the inlet and outlet multiple-way valve G05D16/101
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7801 Balanced valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7808 Apertured reactor surface surrounds flow line

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 gas regulating assembly includes a piston chamber with a piston slidably positioned in the piston chamber, the piston chamber having a secondary chamber connected to the gas reservoir. 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.

Claims

1. A gas supply system for distributing highly pressurized gas form from a gas reservoir at a desired pressure, said system comprising:

a body having a gas inlet in communication with the gas reservoir and a gas outlet;

a gas regulating assembly defined in said body between said gas inlet and said gas outlet, said gas regulating assembly having a first end proximate said gas inlet and a second end proximate said gas outlet, said first and second ends defining an axis, a piston positioned intermediate said first end and said second end, said piston sliding along a second axis parallel to or coaxial with said first axis; and

a balancing chamber defined in said body proximate said second end of said gas regulating assembly, said balancing chamber being in communication with the gas reservoir and engaged by said piston.

2. The regulated gas supply system as defined in claim 1 wherein said regulator assembly comprises:

a piston chamber defined in said body, said piston chamber having an uppermost surface;

a seat opposing said uppermost surface; and

a chamber wall between said uppermost surface and said seat;

said piston slidably positioned in said piston chamber, said piston having a piston flange engaging said chamber wall; and

a spring between said piston flange and said seat, where said spring urges said piston flange away from said seat.

3. The regulated gas supply system as defined in claim 2 wherein said piston further comprises:

a piston body abutting said piston chamber; and

a piston extension connected to said piston body, said piston extension abutting said balancing chamber.

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

5. A discrete gas regulator for distributing highly pressurized gas at a desired pressure, said regulator comprising:

a cartridge defining a high-pressure gas reservoir and a gas outlet for dispersing gas at a desired pressure;

a gas regulating assembly positioned within said cartridge between said gas reservoir and said gas outlet, said gas regulating assembly controlling the pressure of the gas dispersed through said gas outlet from said gas reservoir;

a piston chamber defined in said cartridge having an uppermost surface, a seat opposing said uppermost surface, and a chamber wall between said uppermost surface and said seat;

a piston slidably positioned in said piston chamber; and

a spring between said piston and said seat, where said spring urges said piston away from said seat.

6. A gas regulator for distributing highly pressurized gas from a gas reservoir at a desired pressure, said gas regulator comprising:

a housing having a gas input and a gas output;

a piston chamber positioned between said gas input and sad gas output in said housing, said piston chamber having a first surface proximate said gas input and a second surface proximate said gas output;

a secondary chamber proximate said second surface of said piston chamber, said secondary chamber in communication with the gas reservoir;

a piston positioned in said piston chamber, said piston having a channel therethrough, and

a spring positioned between said piston and said first surface of said piston chamber.

7. The regulated gas supply system of claim 6 further comprising a vent aperture through said body, said vent aperture proximate said spring.

8. The regulated gas supply system as described in claim 6 wherein said piston chamber comprises:

a seat opposing said second surface; and

a chamber wall between said second surface with said seat.

9. The regulated gas supply system as described in claim 8 wherein said piston comprises:

a piston body;

a piston flange abutting said piston body, said piston flange engaging said chamber wall; and

a piston augmentation extending from said piston body into the secondary chamber.

10. The gas regulating assembly of claim 9, wherein said spring is positioned between said piston flange and said seat to urge said piston flange away from said seat.

11. 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;

a secondary chamber defined in said housing proximate said piston chamber, said secondary chamber connected with the gas source;

a piston slidably positioned in said piston chamber to engage said secondary chamber; and

biasing means for urging said piston flange away from said seat to regulate the pressure of the gas distributed through said gas outlet.

12. The gas regulator as described in claim 11, wherein said piston chamber comprises:

an uppermost surface,

a seat opposing said uppermost surface, and

a chamber wall connecting said uppermost surface with said seat.

13. The gas regulator as described in claim 12, said piston comprising:

a piston body;

a flange abutting said piston body and engaging said chamber wall; and

a piston extension extending from said piston body to engage said secondary chamber.

14. The regulator as described in claim 11, wherein said biasing means comprises a spring.