Regulating device
First Claim
1. A regulating device, comprisinga housing providing a first chamber in which a first pressure is present and a second chamber in which a second pressure is present;
- a flow restriction valve positioned in the housing, wherein the flow restriction valve comprises a valve body acting together with a flow restriction seat, and wherein the flow restriction valve adjusts the flow from the first chamber into the second chamber;
a servo valve positioned in the housing, wherein the servo valve comprises a valve body attached to a membrane, wherein the membrane defines at least part of a servo chamber in which a servo pressure is present, wherein the servo chamber is connected to the first chamber through a fixed flow restriction element, and the servo chamber is connected to the second chamber through an adjustable flow restriction element with flow passing there;
a safety shut-off valve positioned in the housing upstream of the flow restriction valve; and
a stepper motor for moving the valve body of the servo valve, thereby adjusting the adjustable flow restriction element, wherein the adjustment of the adjustable flow restriction element causes a change of the servo pressure present in the servo chamber which is used to move the flow restriction valve to a position reflecting a defined flow resistance between the valve body of the flow restriction valve and the flow restriction seat; and
wherein the safety shut-off valve, the flow restriction valve, and the servo valve are all coaxially aligned.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A regulating device may include a housing that defines an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, with a flow restriction seat between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. A flow restriction valve is movable relative to the flow restriction seat to adjust the flow between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber of the regulating device. A servo valve having a servo chamber may be used to adjust the position of the flow restriction valve. The servo chamber may be fluidly coupled to the inlet chamber though a fixed flow restriction and to the outlet chamber though an adjustable flow restriction. A stepper motor may be used to adjust the servo valve to adjust the adjustable flow restriction between the servo chamber and the outlet chamber. This causes a change of the servo pressure, which moves the flow restriction valve and adjusts the flow of the regulating device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A regulating device, comprising
a housing providing a first chamber in which a first pressure is present and a second chamber in which a second pressure is present; -
a flow restriction valve positioned in the housing, wherein the flow restriction valve comprises a valve body acting together with a flow restriction seat, and wherein the flow restriction valve adjusts the flow from the first chamber into the second chamber; a servo valve positioned in the housing, wherein the servo valve comprises a valve body attached to a membrane, wherein the membrane defines at least part of a servo chamber in which a servo pressure is present, wherein the servo chamber is connected to the first chamber through a fixed flow restriction element, and the servo chamber is connected to the second chamber through an adjustable flow restriction element with flow passing there; a safety shut-off valve positioned in the housing upstream of the flow restriction valve; and a stepper motor for moving the valve body of the servo valve, thereby adjusting the adjustable flow restriction element, wherein the adjustment of the adjustable flow restriction element causes a change of the servo pressure present in the servo chamber which is used to move the flow restriction valve to a position reflecting a defined flow resistance between the valve body of the flow restriction valve and the flow restriction seat; and wherein the safety shut-off valve, the flow restriction valve, and the servo valve are all coaxially aligned. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19)
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11. A gas regulating device, comprising
a housing defining a gas inlet chamber having a gas inlet pressure and a gas outlet chamber having a gas outlet pressure, the housing further defining a flow restriction seat between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber; -
a flow restriction valve movable in an axial direction relative to the flow restriction seat of the housing to adjust a flow between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber, the flow traveling in the axial direction and engaging and providing a force on the flow restriction valve in the axial direction; a servo valve having a servo chamber in which a servo pressure is present, wherein the servo chamber is fluidly coupled to the gas inlet chamber through a fixed flow restriction and to the gas outlet chamber through an adjustable flow restriction; a safety shut-off valve positioned in the housing upstream of the flow restriction valve; and a stepper motor for adjusting the adjustable flow restriction between the servo chamber and the gas outlet chamber, which is configured to cause a change of the servo pressure present in the servo chamber, which is configured to move the flow restriction valve relative to the flow restriction seat in the axial direction to thereby adjust the flow between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber of the housing; wherein the safety shut-off valve, the flow restriction valve, and the servo valve are all coaxially aligned. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 20)
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16. A method for adjusting a position of a flow restriction valve in an axial direction between a gas inlet chamber and a gas outlet chamber in order to adjust the flow of gas between the gas inlet chamber and a gas outlet chamber, wherein the flow of gas impinges on the flow restriction value and provides a force on the flow restriction valve in the axial direction, the method comprising:
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using a stepper motor to adjust a position of a servo valve in a first direction, which decreases a size of an adjustable flow restriction between a servo chamber and the gas outlet chamber, wherein a fixed flow restriction is present between the servo chamber and the gas inlet chamber, wherein decreasing the size of the adjustable flow restriction changes a pressure in the servo chamber towards a gas inlet pressure in the gas inlet chamber and moves the flow restriction valve in a first axial direction thereby adjusting a flow of gas acting on the flow restriction valve in the axial direction between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber; using the stepper motor to adjust the position of the servo valve in a second direction, which increases the size of the adjustable flow restriction between the servo chamber and the gas outlet chamber, wherein increasing the size of the adjustable flow restriction changes the pressure in the servo chamber towards a gas outlet pressure in the gas outlet chamber and moves the flow restriction valve in a second axial direction thereby adjusting the flow of gas acting on the flow restriction valve in the axial direction between the gas inlet chamber and the gas outlet chamber; and using a safety shutoff valve positioned in the housing upstream of the flow restriction valve and axially aligned with the flow restriction valve and the servo valve. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification