Patent ID: 6536466
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure regulator apparatus comprising:a regulator body having an inlet, an outlet, and a passage communicating therebetween; a valve disposed within the passage having a valve seat and a valve stem with one end of the valve stem biased toward the valve seat; the valve stem including a base portion at an end opposite the valve seat; a plunger member connected to the valve stem at the base portion, the plunger member movable axially with respect to the valve seat, the plunger member further connected to a biasing member wherein the plunger member biases the valve stem toward the valve seat to control the pressure within the passage of the regulator body; the plunger member defining a recess with a first shoulder; a diaphragm cover adjacent to the regulator body; the diaphragm cover including an outer shoulder; a flexible and compressible diaphragm connected at an inner end between the valve stem and plunger member and connected at an outer end against the regulator body with the diaphragm flexing as the plunger member and valve stem move axially with respect to the valve seat; (i) the plunger member first shoulder receiving and engaging the valve stem base portion to provide a first predetermined amount of compression of the diaphragm at the diaphragm inner end between and against the valve stem and the plunger member; (ii) the diaphragm cover outer shoulder engaging the regulator body to provide a second predetermined amount of compression of the diaphragm at the diaphragm outer end between and against the diaphragm cover and the regulator body; and sealing members disposed within corresponding channels in the valve stem and regulator body for engagement with the diaphragm to seal the passage in the regulator body; wherein the cross-sectional area of the sealing members are less than the cross-sectional area of the channels in which the sealing members are disposed, such that a portion of the diaphragm may extend into the channel when the diaphragm is compressed to reduce movement of the diaphragm material into the area between the regulator body and valve.