Patent ID: 8256453
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: A61M,F04B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A vacuum regulator comprising: a manifold having an inlet opening, a vacuum source connection and a bleed orifice; a regulator stem having a metering tip, a stem body and an adjustment rod, the metering tip being selectively positioned against the bleed orifice, said stem body having a necked-down portion adjacent said metering tip which extends through said bleed orifice; a resilient member stop defined on said regulator stem; a stationary helix seat; a vacuum adjuster having a helix defined at one end thereof engaging said helix seat and an adjustment collar defined in the opposite end thereof, the vacuum adjuster being coaxially disposed on a portion of the regulator stem; a resilient member engaging said resilient member stop defined on said regulator stem and said adjustment collar defined on said vacuum adjuster; and an adjustment knob engaging the adjustment rod for concurrent rotational movement therewith; wherein said stem body defines a torque-transmitting outer profile and further wherein said vacuum adjuster defines a mating bore such that rotational movement of said stem body causes concurrent rotational motion of said vacuum adjuster and linear motion of said vacuum adjuster relative to said stem body as said helix rotates against said stationary helix seat; and further wherein said linear motion of said vacuum adjuster relative to said stem body varies the compression of said resilient member, thereby varying the vacuum force required to move said metering tip away from said bleed orifice.