Patent ID: 7341074
Filing Date: 2008-03-11
Classification: G05D,H01M,Y02E,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A flow control pressure regulator for controlling a gas flow, said pressure regulator comprising: a body defining a first valve seat, a second valve seat, a first closable orifice and a second closable orifice; a membrane assembly positioned within a membrane chamber in the body, said membrane assembly including at least one membrane defining a first side of the membrane chamber and a second side of the membrane chamber; an inlet port formed in the body in fluid communication with the first side of the membrane chamber through the first and second orifices; an outlet port formed in the body in fluid communication with the first side of the membrane chamber; a first valve rigidly coupled to the membrane assembly, said first valve being positionable relative to the first valve seat upon movement of the membrane assembly so as to provide flow control between the inlet port and the outlet port through the first orifice; and a second valve slidably coupled to the membrane assembly, said second valve being positionable relative to the second valve seat upon movement of the membrane assembly so as to further provide flow control between the inlet port and the outlet port through the second orifice, wherein the first valve is smaller than the second valve and the first closable orifice has a smaller diameter than the second closable orifice, and wherein the first valve provides flow control at low flow rates and the combination of the first valve and the second valve provides flow control at high flow rates, wherein the second valve is seated against the valve seat to close the second closable orifice at low flow rates.