Patent ID: 7182857

Claim:
Apparatus comprising a valve, the valve comprising: means for regulating flow of a fluid through said apparatus and to downstream components; a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said chamber in fluid communication with said means for regulating flow when said valve is in an open position; means for sensing pressure located downstream from the inlet of said chamber; and means for preventing transmission of elevated pressure to said downstream components of said apparatus, said means for preventing transmission of elevated pressure in mechanical communication with said means for sensing pressure, wherein upon exposure to a pressure greater than a target pressure range said means for sensing pressure triggers said means for preventing transmission of elevated pressure to block the inlet to the chamber, and wherein upon subsequent exposure to a pressure lower than the target pressure range, said means for sensing pressure triggers said means for preventing transmission of elevated pressure to open the inlet to the chamber; and wherein said means for preventing transmission of elevated pressure to downstream components and said means for sensing pressure comprises a pressure actuated piston located within said chamber, wherein said pressure actuated piston comprises: a shut off tip to reversibly block the inlet to said chamber to terminate further pressure increases inside said chamber; a shaft extending from the shut off tip, the shaft in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet to said chamber unless the shut off tip is engaged blocking the inlet to said chamber; and a pressure actuating surface responsive to pressure entering said apparatus, distal from the shut off tip, upon which a pressure greater than the target pressure range of said apparatus causes movement of said pressure actuated piston causing the shut off tip to block the inlet to said chamber.