Patent ID: 6079434
Filing Date: 2000-06-27
Classification: G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
A pressure regulator for propane and liquefied petroleum comprising:an inlet port which receives one of propane and liquefied petroleum gas at a supply pressure;an outlet port through which the gas is discharged as an output pressure;a valve mechanism disposed between the inlet port and the outlet port to control the output pressure, said valve mechanism including:a supply seat, said supply seat located between said inlet port and said outlet port;a supply valve which selectively engages said supply seat;a pressure set point adjustment including:a handle assembly for extending and retracting a shaft under operator control to set a regulated pressure;a spring button engaged by the shaft;a range spring having a first end and a second end, said first end of said range spring engaging said spring button;a diaphragm assembly engaged by said second end of said range spring such that as said handle assembly advances the shaft and the spring button downward, said range spring is compressed creating an operator adjustable downward force on said diaphragm assembly;a pintle interconnecting said supply valve, a balance piston, and said diaphragm assembly such that said supply valve moves relative to said supply seat in response to changes in the force exerted on said diaphragm by the range spring altering a flow of the gas from the inlet port to said outlet port;an aspirator tube that communicates the outlet pressure from said outlet port to an opposite side of said diaphragm assembly counter balancing the force applied to the diaphragm assembly by the range spring;a balanced valve including:a balance piston, said balance piston movably mounted in a piston cylinder below said supply valve, the balance piston being connected to the pintle;a balanced diaphragm located on a top surface of said balance piston and below said supply valve;an o-ring positioned between said balance piston and the piston cylinder; and,a pressure equalization passage between the outlet port and the piston cylinder below the balance piston.