Water pressure regulator and method for regulating pressure through a valve

An improved high volume, straight through, low turbulent flow pressure regulating valve is provided by utilizing a hallow cylindrical valve which is selectively and telescopically disposed over an aligned conforming biscuit around which biscuit and through which valve the fluid flows. The valve does not contact the biscuit so that valve chatter is impossible. Furthermore, the absence of a valve seat or other lip reduces the turbulence introduced into fluid flow within the valve body thereby also increasing flow volume capacity. Movement of the valve is controlled in response to pressure within the valve body by means of rolling diaphragm, which is fluidically communicated to the interior of the valve body. The diaphragm, which acts as a piston, is connected between the valve body and the valve member. Increased pressure within the valve acts against the diaphragm forcing the valve member over the biscuit to reduce flow and pressure. The diaphragm, acting as a piston, acts against a prebiased spring. The amount of bias on the spring is adjusted by a collar threadably connected on the exterior of the valve. The collar is manually accessible and adjusted by turning the collar on its threaded connection to the valve body and then compressing or relaxing the compression spring against which the diaphragm acts.

BACKGROUND 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to the field of pressure regulators and in particular 
to water pressure regulators used in irrigation systems and methods for 
regulating pressure within such systems. 
2. Description of the Prior Arts 
In-line water pressure regulators used in irrigation and other applications 
are well known in the art. An example is shown by Moskow, "Fluid Pressure 
Regulator," U.S. Pat. No. 3,890,999 (1975) which is an in-line pressure 
drop regulator with a tubular valve member that is externally adjustable, 
has a controllable response time, and is balanced so that the pressure 
effect of the input on a controlled outlet pressure is minimized. The 
valve has a body with two main parts, an inlet part 10 and an outlet part 
12 which are secured together through a lock wire 72 which allows the 
parts to rotate relative to each other. The valve member 100 shown in the 
cross sectional view of FIG. 2 is held away from seat 58 by spring 114 
with the operating pressure being adjustable by turning knurled edge of 
collar 120 through access slot 126 compressing the spring to increase the 
output pressure and expanding the spring to reduce it. Fluid at the output 
passes through a clearance space between tube 106 and bore 92 to act on 
piston valve 102 urging the valve closed against the biased force of 
spring 114. Clearance can be controlled during manufacture to set the 
operating speed. A tighter clearance provides more damping for the valve. 
In the diaphragm, the valve member uses an O-ring 112 with a relative 
large piston 102. 
Moskow shows the inlet flow making a right turn in order to flow through 
the valve instead of having a generally straight flow-through pattern. 
Furthermore, piston 102 has a fixed effective area upon which the 
controlling pressure is exerted. Although a small clearance is depicted 
between outlet port 106 and the body 12 of the valve, it is not clear that 
this provides the same type of resistance to leakage and hence dampening 
as the much smaller slip distance. Moskow states at column 3, line 27, 
that: 
"Pressure is able to pass through the clearance space between tube 106 and 
bore 92. The amount of this clearance determines the speed of response 
time of the regulator . . . Response sensitivity is adjustable by the 
amount of clearance between the end of tube 106 and bore 94 as described." 
Another example is shown by Rosenberg, "Pressure Regulator," U.S. Pat. No. 
4,474,207 (1984) which shows a pressure regulator for irrigation systems 
that has a low pressure drop, particularly at low input pressures. This 
feature is the result of the regulator member engaging an inner surface of 
the housing so as to reduce the effective area of the pressure sensitive 
area, thereby retaining the regulator in a full open position until the 
output pressure exceeds a predetermined regulated pressure. Once exceeded, 
the regulator moves and starts to maintain the predetermined pressure. The 
underlying embodiment has a housing 2 with a plug 4 holding seat ring 12 
as best illustrated in the cross sectional view of FIG. 1. Regulator 
cylinder 38 is biased up by spring 40 down by the outlet pressure bearing 
on the outer surface of cylinder 38. At low pressures, cylinder 38 is held 
against housing 2 so that the surface of cylinder 38 is reduced by the 
amount at end 42 and full flow is provided with the large opening between 
lower cylinder end 48 in ring 12. When the pressure exceeds the normal 
regulating pressure and urges cylinder 38 away from housing 2, then the 
full surface area of cylinder 38 comes into play and normal pressure 
regulation takes place. 
Rosenberg is thus relevant for showing a spring biased pressure regulator 
having a similar pressure regulating mechanism as shown in Moskow. 
However, Rosenberg fails to show a straight flow-through design which 
would be useful in low pressure applications. 
Davis, "Control of Liquid Distribution," U.S. Pat. No. 3,253,608 (1966) 
shows an in-line axial flow nonrestricted externally adjustable pressure 
controller having a sleeve valve controlled by a diaphragm. Housing 10 
holds a sleeve valve 18 that includes two diaphragms 72 and 74. Air 
pressure supplied through valve 79 acting as biasing spring on diaphragm 
72 to counterbalance the outward pressure that acts on diaphragm 74 in 
order to set the output pressure. In a no-flow condition, valve sleeve 18 
seals against flexible valve seat 82. 
Davis is relevant for showing a valve seating in which, when valve seat 18 
opens up, the full inner diameter of valve seat 18 is available because of 
the curved nipple-shape of the seating ports 80. Davis contemplates a 
substantial turn of flow through channel 60. Davis is also relevant for 
showing rolling diaphragms for use in a pressure regulating valve. 
Rogers, "Axial Flow Pressure Regulator," U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,465 (1985) 
shows an in-line axial flow, spring biased tubular valve regulator that 
has damping to prevent hunting. As depicted in FIG. 1, body 10 has a 
passage 12 with tubular valve 78 biased by spring 74. The output pressure 
acts on valve 58 because end 60 has a larger diameter than end 64. 
Therefore, the valve is urged by the output pressure to the right end of 
figure so that end 64 engages seat 54 and controls the output pressure. To 
prevent hunting, valve 58 is damped by dashpot. The dashpot includes a 
chamber 82 formed in the body 10 by cylindrical surface 84 and a valve 
mounted snap ring 86 mounted adjacent the valve end 64 which radially 
extends into chamber 82 whereby small clearance is provided between the 
periphery of ring 86 and surface 84. See specifically the cross sectional 
view of FIG. 2. This clearance defines a damping orifice, establishing 
communication between chamber 84 and the internal fluid pressure to dampen 
the valve movement to produce a smooth valve operation during pressure 
regulation. See this description beginning at column 4, line 4 through 
line 17. 
While Rogers is relevant for showing fluidic friction used as a damping 
mechanism to prevent hunting in a flow-through valve, the mechanism by 
which the fluidic resistance is created in the "dashpot chamber" is 
structurally distinguishable from a small clearance channel. Although the 
two mechanisms necessarily use the same physical law, they are different 
means for using fluidic resistance in pressure regulation. Rogers is 
further distinguished in that the fluidic resistance is provided as a 
direct retarding force on the motion of the regulating sleeve valve. 
Healy et al., "Pressure Regulator," U.S. Pat. No. 4,543,985 (1985) shows an 
irrigation sprinkler pressure regulator with an in-line axial 
construction, having a diaphragm supported, spring biased throttling stem. 
Pressure regulator 10 in FIG. 1 has an upper casing 11, lower casing 12, 
with passages 15 and 16 containing throttling stem 20 which is slidably 
mounted and biased away from seat 32 by spring 21 which rides on an 
adjusting washer 22. Attached to the throttling stem 20 is an annular 
diaphragm 27. Hunting is eliminated by pressure controller 41 which is 
closely fitted to allow a small flow through space 46 to chamber 47. A 
small flow of the output pressure fluid applies pressure against the top 
surface 35 of stem 20 and ring 30, thereby damping oscillations. See the 
description beginning at column 3, line 32 through line 63. 
Healy is thus relevant for showing a fluidic resistance passage 46 which is 
used to apply a pressure against a rolling diaphragm 27 to dampen the 
movement of a pressure regulating sleeve in a flow-through valve system. 
Therefore, what is needed is a water pressure regulator for use in 
irrigation systems which provides for a straight through high volume flow 
through the regulator, with quiet operation without chatter or oscillation 
which is characteristic of the in-line pressure regulators described 
above. Further, what is needed is a design which is reliable and rugged 
should be inexpensively manufactured without requiring complex machining, 
moldings or castings. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The invention is an improvement in a fluidic pressure regulator comprising 
a body having an in-line flow path defined therethrough for passage of 
fluid. The flow rate is regulated. The regulator includes a movable valve 
member. The valve member is tubular. A passage is defined through the 
valve member for flow of the fluid. The valve member has an end with an 
inner radial dimension. The valve body has a biscuit connected thereto 
within the flow of fluid through the valve body. The biscuit has an outer 
radial dimension. The improvement comprises a valve movement element for 
telescopically and selectively disposing the end of the valve member over 
and around the biscuit. The inner radial dimension of the valve member 
conforms with and is greater in each radial direction than the outer 
radial dimension of the biscuit over which the movable valve member is 
selectively disposed. A control element selectively disposes the valve 
member over the biscuit according to a selectively predetermined degree of 
pressure regulation of flow the fluid through the valve body. As a result, 
a straight through, high volume, flow through regulator is provided. 
At least a portion of the biscuit is adapted to being juxtaposed to the 
movable valve member and has a generally circular configuration and a 
single outer diameter. The end of the movable valve member has a generally 
circular opening defined therein which communicates with the passage for 
the fluid therethrough. The circular opening has a single fixed inner 
diameter. The inner diameter of the valve member freely slides over the 
outer diameter of the biscuit. 
The body is generally cylindrical in configuration and has a longitudinal 
axis. The flow of fluid of the valve body is straight and is generally 
directed along the longitudinal axis of the valve body. The biscuit has at 
least one spider arm, is connected to the valve body and is disposed by 
the spider arm in the flow of fluid through the valve body. 
In the preferred embodiment the biscuit is centrally disposed on the 
longitudinal axis of the valve body by at least two spider arms. 
The biscuit is provided with a facing surface on which flow of fluid within 
the valve body impinges. The facing surface is contoured to minimize 
creation of turbulence within the fluid as a result of presence of the 
biscuit within the flow. 
The biscuit is also provided with a trailing surface on a side of the 
biscuit opposing impingement of fluid flowing through the valve body and 
impinging upon the biscuit. The trailing surface has a shape which 
minimizes introduction of turbulent flow and the fluid flows past the 
biscuit through the valve body. 
The movable valve member is a cylindrical tube and the valve movement 
element for telescopically disposing the movable valve member over the 
biscuit comprises a diaphragm fluidically communicated with the fluid flow 
within the body and coupled between the valve member and the valve body. 
The diaphragm acts as a piston to force the valve member in a 
predetermined direction within the valve body over the biscuit. The valve 
member is supported by and longitudinally slidable within the valve body 
along the longitudinal axis of the valve member. The diaphragm is are 
fluidically communicated with the flow within the valve body by a fluidic 
resistance conduit for providing dampening between response of the 
diaphragm acting as a piston and pressure fluctuations of the fluid within 
the valve body. 
The diaphragm is a flexible rolling diaphragm having a folded contour to 
provide a sliding surface area of the diaphragm to permit substantially 
increased longitudinal movement of the movable valve member coupled 
thereto. 
The conduit for providing fluidic communication between the diaphragm and 
the flow within the valve body comprises a labyrinthine passage there 
between having a characteristic fluidic resistance tending to impede flow 
of fluid between the diaphragm and the flow within the valve body. 
The valve movement element for telescopically disposing the valve body over 
the biscuit further comprises a spring for biasing the movable valve 
member in a first configuration with respect to the biscuit. The first 
configuration is either an open or closed position of the valve member 
with respect to the biscuit. The diaphragm selectively disposes the 
movable valve member in a second configuration opposite of the first 
configuration. The second configuration is a closed or at least partially 
closed configuration of the valve member to the biscuit if the first 
configuration is an open configuration. The second configuration is an 
open configuration or partially open configuration if the first 
configuration is a closed configuration of the valve member and biscuit. 
In the preferred embodiment the control element comprises adjustment 
element for prebiasing the spring. The control element comprises an 
adjustment element for varying the degree of control applied to the valve 
movement element by the control element according to the magnitude of 
pressure communicated to the valve movement element from the flow within 
the valve body. The adjustment element is manually manipulated and 
accessible outside side valve body to permit arbitrarily variable control 
of pressure regulation by the valve movement element. The valve movement 
element comprises a prebiased spring for controlling in part movement of 
the valve member and wherein the adjustment element varies the amount of 
bias set into the prebiased spring. The prebiased spring is a compression 
spring and the adjustment element is a spring stop and a collar coupled to 
the spring stop beating against the prebiased spring. The collar is 
threaded to the valve body and bidirectionally movable along the threaded 
connection to the valve body to selectively compress and relax the 
prebiased spring. 
The invention is also characterized as an improvement in a method for 
regulating pressure in a fluid flowing through a pressure regulator 
comprising the steps of: flowing the fluid through a valve body and 
through a movable valve member slidably disposed in the valve body; and 
communicating pressure of the fluid flowing within the valve body to a 
piston element coupled to the valve member to selectively move the valve 
member from an open to at least a partially closed configuration within 
the valve body according to pressure of the fluid flowing within the valve 
body. In the step of at least partially closing the valve member, the 
improvement comprises the step of selectively moving the valve member 
telescopically over a biscuit. The valve member has an interior opening 
defined therein through which the fluid flows and the valve member is 
moved so that the biscuit is telescopically disposed within the opening 
without abutment of the valve member against the biscuit or valve seat. As 
a result, high volume straight through chatter-free flow of the fluid 
through the pressure regulator is provided. 
The improvement further comprising the step of varying the degree of 
control of the piston on the valve member by manually varying the bias 
applied to a spring coupled to the piston for moving the valve member. The 
step of varying is performed through an adjustment element positioned 
exterior to the valve body. The step of varying the adjustment element 
exterior to the valve body comprises the step of turning an exterior 
collar threaded on the valve body coupled to the spring for prebiasing the 
spring. 
The invention may be better visualized by now turning to the following 
drawings wherein like elements are referenced by like numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
An improved high volume, straight through, low turbulent flow pressure 
regulating valve is provided by utilizing a hallow cylindrical valve which 
is selectively and telescopically disposed over an aligned conforming 
biscuit around which biscuit and through which valve the fluid flows. The 
valve does not contact the biscuit so that valve chatter is impossible. 
Furthermore, the absence of a valve seat or other lip reduces the 
turbulence introduced into fluid flow within the valve body thereby also 
increasing flow volume capacity. Movement of the valve is controlled in 
response to pressure within the valve body by means of rolling diaphragm, 
which is fluidically communicated to the interior of the valve body. The 
diaphragm, which acts as a piston, is connected between the valve body and 
the valve member. Increased pressure within the valve acts against the 
diaphragm forcing the valve member over the biscuit to reduce flow and 
pressure. The diaphragm, acting as a piston, acts against a prebiased 
spring. The amount of bias on the spring is adjusted by a collar 
threadably connected on the exterior of the valve. The collar is manually 
accessible and adjusted by turning the collar on its threaded connection 
to the valve body and then compressing or relaxing the compression spring 
against which the diaphragm acts. 
The pressure regulator will be used in agricultural applications, and 
further because it is capable of also high flow and high pressure 
operation, in golf course, park or other sprinklered applications where 
higher pressure is required. 
As shown in the drawing, the pressure regulator 10 is comprised of a 
generally cylindrical body 12, having a fixed plug or "biscuit" 14 which 
is suspended in the center of body 12 by means of a plurality of spider 
arms 16, which are better depicted in the sectional view of FIG. 2 taken 
through section lines 2--2 of FIG. 1. Opposing biscuit 14 is a 
reciprocating generally cylindrical sleeve 18 which is spring-loaded by 
means of a compression spring 20 to the fully open position to the right 
in FIG. 1. 
Water flowing in the direction of the flow arrow from left to tight in FIG. 
1 through pipe 57 eventually builds up a back pressure in the line which 
is communicated through a fluidic resistance or duct 21 to a rolling 
diaphragm 22. Pipe 57 is coupled to valve 10 by means of a plurality of 
tension bolts 60 bearing on one end 59 against integral shoulder 61 of 
body 12 and on the opposing end 63 against a circular retaining washer 65 
abutting pipe shoulder 67. Pipe 57 is sealed to valve 10 by means of an 
O-ring 69 in O-ring groove 71. 
Rolling diaphragm 22 is fixed at its inner diameter between an outer rear 
shoulder 33 of sleeve 18 and collar 39 circumferentially fixed about 
sleeve 18. Diaphragm 22 is terminated at its outer diameter to integrally 
form an O-ring 37 which is seated in an O-ring groove 35. Diaphragm 22 
thus seals the end of valve 10 in combination with an end cap 41 which is 
a affixed to valve body 12 by means of a plurality of screws 43. Diaphragm 
22 acts as a rolling piston head against which the back pressure acts to 
move sleeve 18 to a closed position. This back pressure causes 
reciprocating sleeve 18 to move to the left in FIG. 1 thereby closing 
around biscuit 14. Sleeve 18 smoothly telescopes around the shoulder 32 of 
biscuit 14 without contacting biscuit 14. The downstream or trailing face 
15 of biscuit 14 is contoured to reduce turbulence in the water flow past 
biscuit 14 through valve 10. The upstream face 17 of biscuit 14 is 
similarly contoured as shown in dotted outline in the cross-sectional view 
of FIG. 1 to reduce turbulence in the impinging fluid flow through valve 
10. The outer diameter of sleeve 18 bears against an O-ring 45 set in 
O-ring groove 47 to provide a fluid tight seal between sleeve 18 and body 
12. In the illustrated embodiment O-ring groove 47 is defined between a 
lip 49 of body 12 and a retaining ring 58. Retaining ring 51 in turn is 
held in place against a shoulder 53 in body 12 by spider arms 16 which are 
threaded into body 12. The clearance between shoulder 32 of biscuit 14 and 
sleeve 18 when sleeve 18 is moved adjacent thereto is set at or below a 
predetermined value. This restricts the flow thereby causing the pressure 
to drop. A balance between flow and pressure is then achieved according to 
the force provided by the predetermined spring constant 20. 
The spring force provided against the backpressure exerted on diaphragm 22 
is fine-tuned by adjusting a rotatable collar 55 threaded to the outside 
of body 12. Collar 55 is on the outermost surface of valve 10 so that it 
is easily accessible, is provided with a knurled or ridged grasping 
surface 55, and is easily manually adjusted. Collar 55 is coupled to 
spring 20 by means of a toothed washer 24 extending through a slot 26 in 
body 12 and bearing against the left end of spring 20. 
The advantage of the pressure regulator of the invention is that it is a 
straight through, high volume, flow through regulator which operates 
quietly without chatter or oscillation which is characteristic of prior 
art pressure regulators. High volume is achieved through the straight flow 
through design. Other flow through designs exist but they are 
distinguished in that the end of reciprocating sleeve valve normally abuts 
the biscuit to form a sealing seat. Direct impulsive contact is common 
with the result that in some flow circumstances valve chatter arises and 
in the worst cases causes valve damage or accelerated wear. 
In the illustrated disclosure, the inner diameter of sleeve 18 is 1.300 
inch while the outer diameter of biscuit 14 is 1.280 inch. Therefore, 
there is a 0.0020 inch clearance between biscuit 14 and the inner diameter 
of reciprocating sleeve 18. Therefore, sleeve 18 extends over biscuit 14 
without contacting it. The result of this is that when sleeve 18 uncovers 
biscuit 14, the maximum amount of opening for flow through is created 
without interference or turbulence from a value seat or other flow 
direction changes or obstructions in the valve. 
In addition valve chatter is eliminated. Leftward movement of sleeve 18 is 
limited only by means of flange 33 contacting shoulder 39. Should 
mechanical contact occur, it does not occur at surfaces which are used to 
restrict fluid flow. These latter restricting surfaces thereby remain 
immune from physical insult and damage. Further, if a seating shoulder 32 
were defined around biscuit 14, the amount of flow through restriction 
through the valve regulator is then fixed by the outer diameter of biscuit 
14 which is greater than the inner diameter of reciprocating sleeve 18. 
This small difference can, in fact, amount to a large increase of the 
volume flow through the valve at a given pressure. 
A second feature of novelty is the fluidic resistance provided by passage 
21 to rolling diaphragm 22 from the downstream sign of the pressure 
regulator. This resistance provides fluidic dampening which in other 
pressure regulators is provided through more complex arrangements. Without 
such dampening, a resonance could be set up within the line which often 
causes chattering, which in turn can cause regulator damage or, more 
likely, damage to pipe fittings downstream due to the water hammer 
created. 
A third feature is the ability to provide an exterior fine adjustment to 
the spring force created by spring 20 in a straight flow through design by 
turning collar 55 on the threading provided on the outside of housing 12. 
A fourth feature is a large diaphragm size used in combination with a 
straight flow through device for large volume flows. In prior art devices, 
the diaphragms are proportionately much smaller in comparison to the Inner 
diameter of sleeve 18. The use of a very large diameter diaphragm as 
realized in rolling diaphragm 22 has the result of producing acurate 
response to changes in downstream pressure. 
Finally, the straight through flow path which is provided, such as 
elimination of a seating flange at position 32 and the use of machine 
tolerances to form a resistance feedback duct 20 results in a high flow, 
straight through valve which smoothly operates without chatter and which 
can be manufactured very inexpensively without complex machining. In other 
words, the effects that are achieved are achieved elegantly in mechanical 
terms using parts which can be machined or molded very easily and 
inexpensively. The result is not only a high volume flow regulator cheaper 
than any now existing in the market but one that is also extremely rugged 
and reliable. 
Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary 
skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated 
embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it 
should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following 
claims. The following claims are, therefore, to be read to include not 
only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all 
equivalent elements for performing substantially the same function in 
substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. The 
claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically 
illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, and 
also what essentially incorporates the germ of the invention.