Pressure regulator
First Claim
1. A pressure regulator comprising:
- a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, said lower housing portion defining an annular and U-shaped cross-section recess and an annular first shoulder spaced radially from said annular recess, said upper housing portion having a bottom surface and an annular protrusion extending from said bottom surface and an annular second shoulder spaced radially from said annular protrusion and aligned with said annular first shoulder;
a diaphragm disposed between said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion and including an outer lip having a first thickness, a flexible connecting section connected to said outer lip and having a second thickness smaller than said first thickness, and an annular inner section connected to said flexible connecting section; and
wherein said outer lip is rectangular in shape and has a bottom surface disposed in said annular recess and a top surface, said protrusion being pressed into said top surface so that said outer lip seals between said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion and said annular second shoulder of said upper housing portion and said annular first shoulder of said lower housing portion directly contact each other adjacent said outer lip.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pressure regulator includes a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, the lower housing portion defining an annular recess and the upper housing portion having a bottom surface, an annular protrusion extending from the bottom surface, a diaphragm disposed between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion, the diaphragm including an outer lip having a first thickness, a flexible connecting section connected to the outer lip and having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness, and an annular inner section connected to the flexible connecting section, the outer lip having a bottom surface disposed in the annular recess and a top surface, and the protrusion being pressed into the top surface so that the outer lip seals between the upper housing portion and the lower housing portion.
129 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A pressure regulator comprising:
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a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion, said lower housing portion defining an annular and U-shaped cross-section recess and an annular first shoulder spaced radially from said annular recess, said upper housing portion having a bottom surface and an annular protrusion extending from said bottom surface and an annular second shoulder spaced radially from said annular protrusion and aligned with said annular first shoulder; a diaphragm disposed between said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion and including an outer lip having a first thickness, a flexible connecting section connected to said outer lip and having a second thickness smaller than said first thickness, and an annular inner section connected to said flexible connecting section; and wherein said outer lip is rectangular in shape and has a bottom surface disposed in said annular recess and a top surface, said protrusion being pressed into said top surface so that said outer lip seals between said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion and said annular second shoulder of said upper housing portion and said annular first shoulder of said lower housing portion directly contact each other adjacent said outer lip. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A pressure regulator comprising:
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a housing having upper and lower housing portions; a diaphragm including an outer lip captured between said upper and lower housing portions, a flexible connecting section connected to said outer lip, and an annular inner section connected to said flexible connecting section, said annular inner section having a first locating feature including a plurality of first alternating ridges and grooves spaced radially; a diaphragm plate having a second locating feature including a plurality of second alternating ridges and grooves spaced radially and shaped to interface with said first alternating ridges and grooves of said first locating feature to radially secure said diaphragm plate to said annular inner section of said diaphragm; a relief valve having a shaft extending through said diaphragm and a head disposed on one side of said diaphragm; and a spring retainer disposed on an opposed side of said diaphragm from said head and about said shaft and having a bottom surface to contact said diaphragm plate and a portion extending from said bottom surface to contact said diaphragm between said first locating feature and said second locating feature. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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6. A pressure regulator comprising:
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a housing having an upper housing portion and a lower housing portion and defining an inlet and an outlet, said lower housing portion including a plurality of protrusions and a lower chamber surface; a diaphragm having an annular inner section, a flexible connecting section connected to said annular inner section, and an outer lip connected to said flexible connecting section and captured between said upper housing portion and said lower housing portion, said diaphragm defining a central bore and including a plurality of first alternating ridges and grooves spaced radially; a diaphragm plate disposed adjacent said diaphragm including a plurality of second alternating ridges and grooves spaced radially and shaped to interface with said first alternating ridges and grooves; and a relief valve having a shaft disposed through said central bore and a head disposed vertically between said diaphragm and said protrusions, said head extending radially from said shaft and having an outer periphery sized to extend beyond a diameter of said central bore and overlapping said protrusions and contact a bottom surface of said annular inner section opposite said diaphragm plate with a portion of said diagram disposed between said head and said diaphragm plate and configured to suspend said annular inner section of said diaphragm in said housing above said lower chamber surface when no pressurized fluid is present at said inlet. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A pressure regulator comprising:
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a housing having upper and lower housing portions defining an inlet and an outlet, said housing defining a valve seat surrounding a passageway in communication with said inlet; a diaphragm captured between said upper and lower portions to define upper and lower pressure chambers; a relief valve extending through said diaphragm; a valve body disposed in said passageway and movable between a plurality of operational positions including an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position in contact with said valve seat; said valve body including a pocket and a spring disposed in said pocket; a lever coupled to said relief valve for operatively coupling said diaphragm to said valve body; and a driving pin being non-fixedly located in a recess of said valve body and said valve body being pivoted about said driving pin by said spring to provide an off-axis force against said valve body. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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9. A pressure regulator comprising:
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a housing having upper and lower housing portions defining an inlet and an outlet, said housing defining a valve seat surrounding a passageway in communication with said inlet; a diaphragm captured between said upper and lower portions to define upper and lower pressure chambers; a valve body disposed in said passageway and movable between a plurality of operational positions including an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position in contact with said valve seat; said valve body including a pocket and a spring disposed in said pocket; a lever operatively coupling said diaphragm to said valve body; a driving pin being non-fixedly located in a recess of said valve body and said valve body being pivoted about said driving pin by said spring to provide an off-axis force against said valve body; and wherein said spring has one end that abuts said valve body and an opposing end engaged by said lever.
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10. A pressure regulator comprising:
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a housing having upper and lower housing portions defining an inlet and an outlet, said housing defining a valve seat surrounding a passageway in communication with said inlet; a diaphragm captured between said upper and lower portions to define upper and lower pressue chambers; a valve body disposed in said passageway and movable between a plurality of operational positions including an open position spaced from said valve seat and a closed position in contact with said valve seat; said valve body including a pocket and a spring disposed in said pocket; a lever operatively coupling said diaphragm to said valve body; a driving pin being non-fixedly located in a recess of said valve body and said valve body being pivoted about said driving pin by said spring to provide an off-axis force against said valve body; and wherein said pocket is offset from a central axis of said valve body.
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Specification