Dual pressure regulator

Claim 2

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control element exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber; resilient means between said main movable element and said control element whereby variation in the fluid pressure in said control chamber varies the bias on said main movable element; and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said control element when said control chamber is pressurized.

Claim 3

The apparatus defined in claim 1 that includes means responsive to movement of said main movable element for rapidly releasing fluid from said regulator to the environment.

Claim 4

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said housing means include vent passage means normally closed by said main movable element and connectable to said main chamber responsive to movement of said main movable element to a fast dump position.

Claim 5

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said movable control element is interposed between said resilient means and said control chamber.

Claim 6

The apparatus defined in claim 1 that includes a pilot chamber means, said movable control element including a surface exposed to pressurized fluid in said pilot chamber means.

Claim 7

The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said movable control element includes a first side exposed to pressure in said control chamber and a second side biased by a fixed fluid pressure.

Claim 8

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet, said valve means including a valve member and a valve seat; a valve spring normally biasing said valve member against said seat; a main movable element exposed to the pressure of said regulated flow in said main chamber; a valve actuating rod connecting said valve member with said main movable element; a movable control element exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber; resilient means between said main movable element and said control element whereby variation in the fluid pressure in said control chamber varies the bias on said main movable element; and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said control element when said control chamber is pressurized.

Claim 9

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet, said valve means including a valve member and a valve seat; a valve spring normally biasing said valve member against said seat; a main movable element exposed to the pressure of said regulated flow in said main chamber; a valve actuating rod connecting said valve member with said main movable element; a movable control element exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber; resilient means between said main movable element and said control element whereby variation in the fluid pressure in said control chamber varies the bias on said main movable element; and adjustable means for limiting the movement of said control element when said control chamber is pressurized.

Claim 10

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control piston in sAid control chamber and including a first piston end facing said main movable element and a second piston end confronting a bore through a wall of said housing means, said control port communicating with said second piston end of said movable control piston; spring means between said first piston end and said main movable element; a piston movement control rod including an inner rod end connected to said second piston end and an outer rod end extended through said bore; and an adjustable stop on said outer rod end.

Claim 11

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control piston in sAid control chamber and including a first piston end facing said main movable element and a second piston end confronting a bore through a wall of said housing means, said control port communicating with said second piston end of said movable control piston; spring means between said first piston end and said main movable element; a piston movement control rod including an inner rod end connected to said second piston end and an outer rod end extended through said bore; and an adjustable stop on said outer rod end.

Claim 12

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet, said valve means including a valve member and a valve seat; a valve spring normally biasing said valve member against said seat; a main movable element exposed to the pressure of said regulated flow in said main chamber; a valve actuating rod connecting said valve member with said main movable element; a movable control piston in said control chamber and including a first piston end facing said main movable element and a second piston end confronting a bore through a wall of said housing means, said control port communicating with said second piston end of said movable control piston; spring means between said first piston end and said main movable element; a piston movement control rod including an inner rod end connected to said second piston end and an outer rod end extended through said bore; and an adjustable stop on said outer rod end.

Claim 13

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber including a control port connecting to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet, said valve means including a valve member and a valve seat; a valve spring normally biasing said valve member against said seat; a main movable element exposed to the pressure of said regulated flow in said main chamber; a valve actuating rod connecting said valve member with said main movable element; a movable control piston in said control chamber and including a first piston end facing said main movable element and a second piston end confronting a bore through a wall of said housing means, said control port communicating with said second piston end of said movable control piston; spring means between said first piston end and said main movable element; a piston movement control rod including an inner rod end connected to said second piston end and an outer rod end extended through said bore; and an adjustable stop on said outer rod end.

Claim 14

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber connected to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control element exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber; resilient means between said main movable element and said control element whereby variation in the fluid pressure in said control chamber varies the bias on said main movable element; and a pilot chamber connected to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber, said movable control element being exposed to pilot fluid pressure in said pilot chamber whereby variation of said pilot fluid pressure shifts said movable control element between high and low operating pressure positions.

Claim 15

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, and a control chamber connected to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control element exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber; resilient means between said main movable element and said control element whereby variation in the fluid pressure in said control chamber varies the bias on said main movable element; and a pilot chamber connected to a source of fluid independent of the flow path through said main chamber, said movable control element being exposed to pilot fluid pressure in said pilot chamber whereby variation of said pilot fluid pressure shifts said movable control element between high and low operating pressure positions.

Claim 16

The apparatus defined in claim 10 that includes an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said control element when said control chamber is pressurized.

Claim 17

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, a control chamber including a control port, and a pilot chamber including a pilot chamber port; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control piston including a first piston and exposed to pilot fluid pressure in said pilot chamber and a second piston end exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber, the source of fluid for said control port and the source of fluid for said pilot chamber port being independent of flow path through said main chamber; spring means betwEen said first piston end and said main movable element, the variation of the pilot fluid pressure in said pilot chamber serving to shift said movable control piston between high and low operating pressure positions.

Claim 18

A pressure regulator comprising, in combination, housing means including a main chamber provided with a main inlet and a main outlet and a flow path therebetween, a control chamber including a control port, and a pilot chamber including a pilot chamber port; valve means in said housing means for controlling a regulated flow of pressurized fluid between said main inlet and main outlet; a main movable element exposed to said regulated flow of pressurized fluid in said main chamber, said valve means being operated by said main movable element; a movable control piston including a first piston and exposed to pilot fluid pressure in said pilot chamber and a second piston end exposed to control fluid pressure in said control chamber, the source of fluid for said control port and the source of fluid for said pilot chamber port being independent of flow path through said main chamber; spring means betwEen said first piston end and said main movable element, the variation of the pilot fluid pressure in said pilot chamber serving to shift said movable control piston between high and low operating pressure positions.

Claim 19

The apparatus defined in claim 12 that includes an adjustable means for limiting the movement of said control piston when said control chamber is pressurized.