Patent ID: 6358414
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B01D,B01J,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure regulator assembly usable in a high throughput fluid system having a fluid channel for carrying a fluid flow therethrough, comprising:an inlet line and an outlet line connectable to the fluid channel; a regulator body having a regulator inlet and outlet, the regulator inlet connected to the inlet line and the regulator outlet connected to the outlet line, the regulator body having a chamber therein in fluid communication with the regulator inlet and outlet; a nozzle in fluid communication with the regulator inlet, the nozzle having a nozzle outlet adjacent to the chamber; a stem axially aligned with the nozzle outlet, the stem having one end forming a regulating surface and another end forming a mounting portion, the regulating surface being positioned adjacent to the nozzle outlet and being positioned to restrict the fluid flow through the chamber to the regulator outlet; a mounting rod attached to the stem's mounting portion, the mounting rod and stem being axially moveable in the regulator body relative to the nozzle outlet; an adjustment member connected to the mounting rod and being axially moveable to adjust the position of the stem relative to the nozzle outlet, the adjustment member having a dual concentric thread arrangement with first and second threads, the first threads engaging the mounting rod and being configured to move the mounting rod and stem as a unit in a first direction and at a first rate relative to the nozzle outlet and the second threads being configured to move the adjustment member, the mounting rod, and the stem as a unit in a second direction and at a second rate relative to the nozzle outlet, the second direction being opposite the first direction, and the first rate being different than the second rate to provide an attenuated movement of the stem's regulating surface relative to the nozzle outlet to selectively adjust a pressure of the fluid flow in the chamber; and a drive mechanism connected to the adjustment member and positioned to rotate the adjustment member for axial adjustment of the stem.