Pressure regulator with selector control

• US 6,202,682 B1
• Filed: 01/04/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CTB Incorporated (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Family Trust
• Inventors: Johnson, Dwight N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen M.
• Application Number:
  US09/225,104
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 137/505, 137/495, 137/505.44, 137/505.46, 137/505.38, 137/505.41, 137/510, 137/906, 251/85
• US Class Current: 137/495
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 16/0669 characterised by the loading mechanisms of the membrane
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7782 With manual or external control for line valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7793 With opening bias [e.g., pressure regulator]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7828 Valve head on yoke

Abstract

A pressure regulator for supplying water to a poultry watering system or the like includes a control assembly for operating the pressure regulator in a normal or “on” mode, an off mode or a flush or bypass mode. A desired operating pressure is set by loading a diaphragm responsive to output pressure changes. Diaphragm movement is transferred by the control system to a valve member cooperating with an inlet orifice. The control system includes a spring captured in a preloaded state between first and second end members, one connected to the valve member and the other connected to the diaphragm. A knob is rotated from a normal “on” position to an off position and a collar pushes the end members together and pushes the valve member against the orifice. The knob is rotated to a flush or bypass position and the collar pulls the end members together and pulls the valve member away from the orifice. The inlet orifice and an inlet port are parts of a removeably mounted inlet member.

Claims

1. A pressure regulator for providing a reduced output pressure from an elevated fluid supply pressure, said pressure regulator comprising:

a body having an inlet adapted to be connected to the fluid supply pressure, an outlet chamber and an outlet communicating with said outlet chamber;

a valve orifice separating said inlet and outlet chamber;

a valve member in said outlet chamber movable relative to said valve orifice for controlling flow through said valve orifice from said inlet to said outlet; and

a pressure responsive member in said outlet chamber movable in response to output pressure variations;

said pressure regulator being characterized by;

an overtravel cartridge connected between said pressure responsive member and said valve member for moving said valve member toward said valve orifice in response to an increase in output pressure;

said overtravel cartridge including first and second relatively movable, spaced apart end members and a spring captured between said end members;

said valve member being connected to said first end member and said pressure responsive member being coupled to said second end member;

said end members being interlocked to compress said spring with a preload force greater than required to hold said valve member against said valve orifice in opposition to fluid supply pressure; and

a selector assembly movable between a normal position and a flush position, said selector assembly including an actuator spaced from said end members in said normal position and said actuator engaging said first end member and further compressing said spring to move said valve member away from said valve orifice in said flush position.

2. The pressure regulator of claim 1, said selector assembly being movable to an off position and said actuator engaging said second end member and further compressing said spring to move said valve member firmly against said valve orifice in said off position.

3. The pressure regulator of claim 1, said spring further compressing to permit said second end member to overtravel toward said first end member in response to high output pressure.

4. The pressure regulator of claim 1, said pressure responsive member comprising a flexible diaphragm.

5. The pressure regulator of claim 1, said selector assembly including a rotatable knob coupled to said actuator, said body and said actuator including mating threads.

6. The pressure regulator of claim 1, said body including a removable inlet section defining said inlet and said valve orifice.

7. A method for controlling a pressure regulator having a valving orifice, a valve member movable relative to the orifice and a movable member responsive to output pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting movement of the pressure responsive member to the valve member during normal operation through an overtravel cartridge having a first end member connected to the valve member, a second end member connected to the movable member and a spring compressed in preload between the first and second end members;

selecting a flush condition by forcing the valve member away from the orifice with sufficient force to further compress the spring; and

selecting an off condition by forcing the overtravel cartridge toward the orifice with sufficient force to further compress the spring.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said step of selecting a flush condition includes pulling the first end member away from the orifice.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein said step of selecting an off condition includes pushing the second end member toward the orifice.

10. A pressure regulator comprising:

an inlet orifice exposed to a range of inlet pressures;

a valve member movable relative to said orifice to control flow through said orifice;

a pressure responsive member movable in response to reduced pressure downstream form said orifice; and

a control system for translating movement of said pressure responsive member to said valve member and for selecting operating modes of the pressure regulator;

said control system including first and second interfacing end members;

a spring captured in compression between said end members;

said valve member being connected to said first end member and said pressure responsive member being connected to said second end member;

a retainer connected to said first end member and slidable relative to said second end member, said retainer extending from said first end member beyond said second end member;

said retainer including a reaction portion normally abutting said second end member to limit the distance between said first and second end members and preload said spring with a compression providing a preload force greater than the force required to close said valve member against said orifice throughout a range of inlet pressures;

an operating mode selector movable to normal, off and flush positions;

said selector in said off position contacting said second end member and pushing it to overtravel toward said first end member in order to compress said spring beyond said preload and hold said valve member forcibly against said orifice;

said selector in said flush position contacting said reaction portion of said retainer and pulling said first end member toward said second end member to overtravel toward said second end member in order to compress said spring beyond said preload and hold said valve member away from said orifice;

said selector in said normal position being spaced from said reaction portion of said retainer and from said second end member permitting said end members and preloaded spring to move said valve member in response to movement of said pressure responsive member.

11. The pressure regulator of claim 10, said selector comprising a collar mounted for axial motion relative to said second end cap and said retainer, and a knob rotatable to normal, off and flush positions, and a thread system for translating rotation of said knob to axial motion of said collar.