Abstract:
Pressure regulators find uses in a variety of applications such as, for example, pneumatic tools, water systems, and paintball markers. Pressure regulators may substantially benefit from a separate seal carrier adapted to facilitate maintenance, improve performance, and open independent of piston movement; poppet bypass bores to increase regulated fluid flow; and, an outlet poppet adapted to operate independent of the piston.

Description:
NOTICE OF MATERIAL SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION  
       [0001]     A portion of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and of other countries. The owner of the copyright rights has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office publicly available file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The copyright owner does not hereby waive any of its rights to have this patent document maintained in secrecy, including without limitation its rights pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.14.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention pertains generally to pressure regulators and in particular to pressure regulators for pressurized bottles adapted for paintball markers.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0005]     Pressure regulators find uses in a variety of applications such as, for example, pneumatic tools, water systems, and paintball markers. Pressure regulators may substantially benefit from a separate seal carrier adapted to facilitate maintenance, improve performance, and open independent of piston movement; poppet bypass bores to increase regulated fluid flow; and, an outlet poppet adapted to operate independent of the piston.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Methods and apparatus according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprise a body; an insert; a piston; a seal carrier adapted to seal the inlet and to move from a closed position to an open position independent of the piston; a poppet adapted to control regulated fluid flow, disposed in an outlet bore, and adapted to move independent of said piston; and, a poppet bypass bore adapted to provide increased regulated fluid flow. In an exemplary embodiment, the seal carrier is physically separate from the piston. Increased fluid pressure on the piston urges the piston into a piston closed position. The piston in turn contacts the seal carrier and urges the seal carrier into a seal carrier closed position. As fluid pressure decreases on the piston, the piston moves towards a piston open position and ceases to urge the seal carrier into a seal carrier closed position. Movement of the piston from the piston closed position towards the piston open position does not urge the seal carrier into the seal carrier open position. Pressure from high-pressure fluid at the inlet urges the seal carrier to move from the seal carrier closed position to the seal carrier open position independent of the piston. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the figures, wherein like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures, and:  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side view diagram of an exemplary pressure regulator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an alternate side view diagram of an exemplary pressure regulator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section diagram of an exemplary pressure regulator, taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , showing the piston in the piston open position, the seal carrier in the seal carrier open position, and the poppet in the poppet closed position in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section diagram of an exemplary pressure regulator, taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 , showing the piston in the piston open position, the seal carrier in the seal carrier closed position, and the poppet in the poppet open position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of an exemplary pressure regulator having its inlet connected to a high-pressure bottle and its outlet to a paintball marker in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view diagram of an exemplary insert in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section diagram of an exemplary seal carrier from  FIG. 4  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of an exemplary seal carrier disposed in the regulated-pressure chamber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a diagram of an exemplary poppet in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a diagram of an alternate embodiment of a poppet in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     The accompanying drawings show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described, other embodiments may be realized and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the detailed description is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any suitable order and are not limited to the order presented.  
         [0019]     For the sake of brevity, conventional mechanical techniques, manufacturing methods, mechanical connections, techniques for urging movement, seals, sealing materials, and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. The present invention may be embodied as a customization of an existing system, an add-on product, or a distributed system.  
         [0020]     The present invention is described partly in terms of functional components and various methods. Such functional components may be realized by any number of components configured to perform the specified functions and achieve the various results. In addition, the present invention may be practiced in conjunction with any number of applications and environments, and the systems described are merely exemplary applications of the invention. Further, the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for manufacture, testing, assembly, and the like.  
         [0021]     Methods and apparatus according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, pressure regulator  10 , referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , comprise a body  12 , an insert  14 , a piston  16 , a seal carrier  18 , a poppet  20 , and a poppet bypass bore  22 . In an exemplary embodiment, a body cavity is separated into a regulated-pressure chamber  24  and a high-pressure chamber  26  by seal carrier  18 . Seal carrier  18  is adapted to seal inlet  30  to stop the incoming flow of high-pressure fluid or to unseal inlet  30  to allow the flow of high-pressure fluid. Piston  16  is positioned in the regulated-pressure chamber  24 . A portion of piston stem  34  passes through insert bore  28 . Piston  16  is biased in a piston open position by piston spring  32  and moves to a piston closed position as fluid pressure increases in the regulated-pressure chamber. In the piston closed position, piston stem  34  contacts seal carrier  18  urging seal carrier  18  into the seal carrier closed position thereby sealing inlet  30 . When fluid pressure in regulated-pressure chamber  24  decreases, piston  16  moves from the piston closed position to the piston open position. Movement of piston  16  from the piston closed position towards the piston open position does not urge seal carrier  18  to move. The pressure of the high-pressure fluid at inlet  30  urges seal carrier  18  to move from the seal carrier closed position to the seal carrier open position and not movement and/or force from piston  16 . When piston  16  and seal carrier  18  are in their respective open positions, high-pressure fluid enters inlet  30  into the seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 , passes through piston passage  36  into the piston portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 . As the pressure in regulated-pressure chamber  24  increases to the predetermined regulated pressure, piston  16 , and in turn seal carrier  18 , are urged into their respective closed positions. The exit of fluid from regulated-pressure chamber  24  is controlled by poppet  20 . Poppet  20  is disposed in outlet bore  38  and is adapted to control the flow of fluid from regulated-pressure chamber  24 . Outlet bore  38  is adapted to guide the movement of poppet  20  between a poppet open position and a poppet closed position. Poppet  20  does not contact piston  16 . Movement of poppet  20  is guided by outlet bore  38  independent of piston passage  36 . A spring, not shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , may extend from the head of piston  16  to poppet  20  to urge poppet  20  in a poppet closed position; however, the spring length and tension is selected such that movement in piston  16  does not affect the position of poppet  20  or induce movement in poppet  20 . When poppet  20  is in the poppet open position, fluid flows from the exit of regulated-pressure chamber  24  out through outlet bore  38  and poppet bypass bore  22  to the device that uses regulated fluid. Poppet  20  is urged into a poppet open position by a force external to body  12  that acts on poppet  20 .  
         [0022]     Body  12  may be formed in any manner, of any material, or any combination of materials. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 4 , body  12  is formed by threadedly connecting body top  42  to body base  40  using threads  44 . Body top  42  is additionally secured to body base  40  using nut  46 . Body  12  may have any number of openings. In an exemplary embodiment, body  12  has openings inlet  30 , tank blow-off  48 , fill nipple  50 , pressure gauge  52 , burst disk  54  (referring to  FIG. 3 ), piston release  56 , outlet bore  38 , and poppet bypass bore  22 . The body cavity may be of any size and/or shape and be divided into any number of pressure zones. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 1 , seal carrier  18  divides the body cavity into regulated-pressure chamber  24  and high-pressure chamber  26 . In another embodiment, body cavity is divided into a high-pressure, medium-pressure, and regulated-pressure chambers. Pressure regulator  10  may interface with a fluid source and/or a device that uses regulated-pressure fluid in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3  and  5 , body  12  of pressure regulator  10  threadedly connects to pressurized bottle  58  using male threads  62  and to paintball marker  60  using male threads  64 . The connection between pressure regulator  10  and pressurized bottle  58  hermetically seals. In the event that the hermetic seal between body  12  and pressurized bottle  58  breaks, the fluid from pressurized bottle  58  exists through tank blow-off opening  48 . In an exemplary embodiment, the connection between pressure regulator  10  and paintball marker  60  hermetically seals. Depressing poppet  20  allows regulated-pressure fluid to exit pressure regulator  10  into paintball marker  60 . During disconnect of pressure regulator  10  from paintball marker  60 , poppet  20  enters the poppet closed position and seals the exit from regulated-pressure chamber  24  before the hermetical seal with paintball marker  60  is broken.  
         [0023]     Insert  14  be formed in any manner and of any material. It may be positioned in the body cavity at any location. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , insert  14  is positioned in the body cavity and divides regulated-pressure chamber  24  into a seal carrier portion and a piston portion. Seal carrier  18  is disposed in seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24  while piston  16  is disposed in piston portion of regulated pressure chamber  24 . Insert  14  limits the maximum possible movement of seal carrier  18  from the seal carrier closed position to the seal carrier open position. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , insert  14  has insert bore  28  therethrough adapted to slidably accept piston stem  34 . Insert bore  28  facilitates the movement of piston stem  34  into the seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 . When moving from the piston open position to the piston closed position, piston stem  34  passes through insert bore  28 , contacts seal carrier  18 , and urges seal carrier  18  into the seal carrier closed position. When piston  16  moves from the piston closed position towards the piston open position, piston stem  34  retracts at least to some extent from the seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 , thereby releasing any force urging seal carrier  18  into the seal carrier closed position.  
         [0024]     Insert  14  also has, referring to  FIGS. 3 and 6 , insert pressure release groove  62  to facilitate the escape of fluid from the portion of the body cavity occupied by spring  32  through piston release opening  56 , referring to  FIG. 4 , during manufacture and/or assembly. Insert  14  may sealably contact the sides of the body cavity in any manner and/or piston stem  34  in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3-4 , insert  14  sealably contacts the body cavity and piston stem  34  using o-rings. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 3-4 , insert  14  provides a floor to support spring  32 . The force provided by spring  32  may be adjusted by adjusting the size of insert  14 , for example, increasing the thickness of insert  14  increases the tension of spring  32  and results in a higher regulated fluid pressure. Conversely, decreasing the thickness of insert  14  decreases the tension of spring  32 , thereby reducing the regulated fluid pressure. The size of insert  14  may also be adjusted to reduce or increase the size of the seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24  and thereby increasing or decreasing the travel distance from the seal carrier closed position to the maximum limit of the seal carrier open position. During assembly and/or repair, insert  14  may be removed to provide access to seal carrier  18 .  
         [0025]     Seal carrier  18  may be of any shape, size, or configuration to provide the desired results. Seal carrier  18  may be made of any material and/or combination of materials. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4  and  7 , seal carrier  18  comprises piston contact end  64 , seal end  66 , end bore  68 , and side bore  70 . Seal end  66  is adapted to seal inlet  30 . In an exemplary embodiment, seal end  66  includes inlet seal  72 . Inlet seal  72  may be made of any material adapted to seal high-pressure fluid flow. In an exemplary embodiment, inlet seal  72  is urethane. Inlet seal may be attached to seal end  66  in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, a cavity in seal end  66  is filled with liquid urethane and cured. In another embodiment, a disk of urethane is attached to seal end  66 . In the seal carrier closed position, inlet seal  72  seals inlet  30 , thereby stopping the flow of high-pressure fluid into regulated-pressure chamber  24 . In the seal carrier open position, seal carrier  18  enables fluid communication between regulated-pressure chamber  24  and high-pressure chamber  26 . In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4 ,  7 - 8 , seal carrier  18  is generally cylindrical in shape with at least one flat side. Side bore  70  enters the flat side and establishes fluid communication with end bore  68 . End bore  68  enters piston contact end  64 , partially penetrates seal carrier  18 , and establishes fluid communication with side bore  70 . In an exemplary embodiment, when seal carrier  18  leaves the seal carrier closed position, high-pressure fluid enters inlet  30 , passes between the flat side of seal carrier  18  and the inner wall of the seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 , enters side bore  70 , exits end bore  68 , enters the stem end of piston  16 , passes through piston passage  36 , and exists into the piston portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 .  
         [0026]     Seal carrier  18  is physically separate from piston  16 . Piston contact end  64  is adapted to interface with piston stem  34 , but is physically separate from piston stem  34 . Piston stem  34  contacts piston contact end  64  as piston  16  moves from the piston open position towards the piston closed position and urges seal carrier  18  into the seal carrier closed position. When piston  16  moves from the piston closed position towards the piston open position, high-pressure fluid at inlet  30  urges seal carrier  18  from the seal carrier closed position towards the seal carrier open position independent of piston  16 . In an embodiment where piston  16  moves away from the piston closed position at a rate slower than seal carrier  18  moves away from the seal carrier closed position, the position of piston stem  34  may limit the rate of movement of seal carrier  16  as it moves from the seal carrier closed position towards the seal carrier open position. However, piston  16  does not provide the force that urges seal carrier  18  movement from seal carrier closed position to seal carrier open position. High-pressure fluid at inlet  30  provides the force necessary to urge seal carrier  18  from seal carrier closed position towards seal carrier open position. In an embodiment where piston  16  moves away from the piston closed position at a rate faster than seal carrier  18  moves away from the seal carrier closed position, the movement of piston  16  exerts no influence on the movement of seal carrier  18  from the seal carrier closed position to the seal carrier open position. In a situation where the fluid pressure at inlet  30  decreases to a point insufficient to move seal carrier  18  out of the seal carrier closed position, movement of piston  16  out of the piston closed position leaves seal carrier  18  undisturbed.  
         [0027]     Maintaining seal carrier  18  separate from piston  16  facilitates pressure regulator  10  maintenance and reduces cost because inlet seal  72 , the part most prone to failure, may be replaced simply by replacing seal carrier  18  and not piston  16 . Additionally, separating seal carrier  18  from piston  16  results in a smaller, lighter-weight piston  16  that reacts more quickly to changes in pressure, thereby making the regulator more responsive. Furthermore, the size and weight of seal carrier  18  may be determined independent of the characteristics of piston  16 . Seal carrier  18  may be made larger to better seal inlet  30  while piston  16  remains lighter weight and more responsive. Seal carrier  18  may be formed of a durable material to withstand repeated contact with piston stem  34  when piston  16  urges seal carrier into the seal carrier closed position. In an exemplary embodiment, seal carrier  18  is stainless steel. The contact between piston stem  34  and piston contact end  64  may or may not be hermetic. In an exemplary embodiment, piston stem  34  is made of aluminum, piston contact end  64  is stainless steel, and contact between piston stem  34  and piston contact end  64  is not hermetic.  
         [0028]     Piston  16  may be of any shape, size, or configuration to provide the desired results. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the head of piston  16  is a concave conical shape to provide additional surface area to react with fluid pressure. Piston passage  36  passes through piston  16  and is open at both ends. Spring  32  urges piston  16  into a piston open position. Gas pressure in regulated-pressure chamber  24  urges piston  16  into the piston closed position. When the fluid force in regulated-pressure chamber  24  is greater than the force exerted by spring  32 , the piston moves into the piston closed position and urges seal carrier  18  into the seal carrier closed position. Piston stem  34  may be of any shape or thickness. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , the diameter of piston stem  34  nearer insert  14  decreases to reduce piston  16  weight and to reduce the area exposed to high-pressure fluid entering the seal carrier portion of regulated-pressure chamber  24 . Reducing the piston stem  34  area exposed to high-pressure fluid improves pressure regulator  10  operation at lower pressures and decreases fluctuations in the regulated pressure due to the fluctuations in the high-pressure fluid pressure. Piston  16  may be made of any material and in any manner suitable to the application. The pressure of the regulated fluid may be adjusted by modifying the length of piston stem  34 . In an exemplary embodiment, increasing the length of piston stem  34  decreases the pressure of the regulated fluid while decreasing the length of piston stem  34  increases the pressure of the regulated fluid. Any force may be used to urge piston  16  into the piston open position. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , spring  32  urges piston  16  into the piston open position.  
         [0029]     Poppet  20  may be of any shape, size, or configuration to provide the desired results. In one embodiment, referring to  FIG. 9 , poppet  20  comprises poppet pin  74 , poppet seal  76 , and poppet spring  78 . Poppet pin  74  is slidably disposed in outlet bore  38 . The length and diameter of outlet bore  38  is configured to guide the movement of poppet pin  74  such that poppet seal  76  seals regulated-pressure chamber  24 . Poppet seal  76  may be of any material suitable for the application. In an exemplary embodiment, poppet seal  76  is nylar. In another embodiment, poppet seal  76  is an o-ring. Making the diameter of outlet bore  38  larger than the diameter of poppet pin  74  increases the amount of regulated air that may pass between the poppet pin  74  and the outlet bore  38  thereby providing increased flow of regulated fluid; however, increasing the diameter of outlet bore  38  as compared to the diameter of poppet pin  74  increases the likelihood of poppet pin  74  moving angularly in outlet bore  38  instead of primarily axially thereby jamming the movement of poppet  20  and/or requiring the sealing surface of poppet seal  76  to be increased in size to seal regardless of the position of poppet pin  74 . Increasing the length of outlet bore  38  increases the length over which outlet bore  38  may direct the movement of poppet pin  74 , thereby increasing repeatability of motion and sealing. When the diameter of outlet bore  38  is made to be only slightly larger than the diameter of poppet pin  74 , poppet pin moves axially, its movement guided by outlet bore  38 , and poppet seal  76  consistently seals, but the amount of regulated fluid that passes between outlet bore  38  and poppet pin  74  is reduced possibly to a rate of flow that is not desirable. Poppet bypass bore  22 , as discussed below, provides increased regulated fluid flow when outlet bore  38  is configured to guide poppet pin  74  as opposed to provide a high level of regulated fluid flow. In an exemplary embodiment, outlet bore  38  is configured to primarily guide the movement of poppet  20  and not to provide substantial regulated fluid flow. In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of outlet bore  38  is 94/1000 inches and the diameter of poppet pin  74  is 91/1000 inches. In an exemplary embodiment, poppet  20  moves free from contact with and/or guidance from piston  16  and/or piston passage  36 . The movement of poppet  20  is guided by outlet bore  22  and not by piston  16  and/or piston passage  36 . Configuring poppet  20  to move independent of piston  16  increases reliability of operation by reducing interactions between moving parts. Additionally, using an embodiment where outlet seal  38  guides the movement of poppet  20 , as opposed to, for example, piston passage  36 , reduces the design requirements of piston  16 , thereby allowing piston  16  to be configured for speed of movement and lightness of weight.  
         [0030]     Poppet  20  may be configured to seal regulated chamber  24  in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIGS. 3-4  and  10 , poppet seal  76  is configured to seal the exit from regulated-pressure chamber  24  that leads to outlet bore  38  and poppet bypass bore  22 . Poppet  20  may be urged into the poppet closed position in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 9 , poppet spring  78  applies force against poppet  20  urging poppet  20  into the poppet closed position. In the poppet closed position, poppet seal  76  seals the exit to regulated-pressure chamber  24 . Poppet spring  78  may provide force to poppet  20  by pressing against any part of pressure regulator  10 . In an exemplary embodiment, poppet spring  78  extends between poppet  20  and piston  16 . In another embodiment, referring to  FIG. 10 , poppet spring  78  presses against the outlet bore  38 . Poppet  20  may be urged into the poppet open position in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, pressure regulator  10  connects to the air source adapter (“ASA”)  80  of paintball marker  60 . ASA  80  is configured with a pin that presses against poppet  20  and holds poppet  20  in the poppet open position while pressure regulator  10  is connected to ASA  80 . As pressure regulator  10  is disconnected from ASA  80 , the ASA pin moves away from pressure regulator  10 , thereby enabling poppet  20  to move into the poppet closed position. The movement of poppet  20  between the poppet closed position and the poppet open position may be dynamic. The device that uses regulated-pressure fluid may force poppet  20  into the poppet open position at any time and may release poppet  20  thereby allowing poppet  20  to return to the poppet closed position at any time.  
         [0031]     Regarding poppet bypass bore  22 . For some applications, a high level of flow of regulated fluid is desirable. For example, the operation of a paintball marker may benefit from an increased volume of regulated fluid flow. Regulated fluid flow may be increased by configuring pressure regulator  10  with at least one poppet bypass bore  22 . Poppet bypass bore  22  may be any size and configured in any manner. In an exemplary embodiment, referring to  FIG. 1 , poppet bypass bore  22  provides a conduit for regulated fluid flow from the exit of regulated-pressure chamber  24  around poppet  20  to the device that uses regulated fluid. In the poppet closed position, no fluid exits regulated-pressure chamber  24 . In the poppet open position, regulated fluid exits regulated-pressure chamber  24 , enters both outlet bore  38  and poppet bypass bore  22 , and exits both outlet bore  38  and poppet bypass bore  22  to the device that uses regulated fluid. Poppet bypass bore  22  may be configured to be significantly larger than the fluid passage between the sides of outlet bore  38  and poppet pin  74 . Poppet bypass bore  22  may be configured to provide a lower resistance and/or higher volume path for fluid flow as compared to the path between the sides of outlet bore  38  and poppet pin  74 . In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of poppet bypass bore  22  is at least as large as the diameter of outlet bore  38  and is free from any obstructions that may decrease the effective diameter or restrict flow. In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the exit from regulated-pressure chamber  24  is 209/1000 inches, the diameter of the poppet bypass bore  22  is 94/1000 inches, the diameter of the outlet bore  38  is 94/1000 inches, and the diameter of poppet pin  74  that is disposed in outlet bore  38  is 91/1000 inches. The area of the exit opening, poppet bypass bore  22  opening, outlet bore  38  opening, and poppet pin  74  are 34.31×10 −3  inches 2 , 6.94×10 −3  inches 2 , 6.94×10 −3  inches 2 , and 6.50×10 −3  inches 2  respectively. Disposing poppet pin  74  into outlet bore  38  leaves a remaining area of only 0.44×10 −3  inches 2  for regulated fluid flow between the sides of outlet bore  38  and poppet pin  74  as compared to the 6.94×10 −3  inches 2  available for fluid flow through poppet bypass bore  22 . In another embodiment, fluid regulator comprises four poppet bypass bores  22 , thus the area available through poppet bypass bores  22  for regulated fluid flow is 27.76×10 −3  inches 2  as compared to 0.44×10 −3  inches 2  through outlet bore  38  past poppet pin  74 . Poppet bypass bore  22  may be configured to provide significantly more area for regulated fluid flow than between the sides of outlet bore  38  and poppet pin  74 ; thus, outlet bore  38  may be configured to guide and control the movement of poppet  20  for reliable operation even though regulated air flow through outlet bore  38  may be significantly reduced and/or completely restricted because poppet bypass bore  22  provides a large, unobstructed path for regulated fluid flow. In another embodiment, the area provided by poppet bypass bore  22  for regulated fluid flow is at least as great as the area of the exit from regulated-pressure chamber  24 .  
         [0032]     Although the description above contains many details, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the exemplary embodiments of this invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments, and is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” All structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described exemplary embodiments are expressly incorporated by reference and are intended, unless otherwise specified, to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention for it to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.