Patent ID: 7146997

Claim:
A flow-through pressure regulator, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet disposed along a longitudinal axis; a divider separating the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber, the divider including: a seat defining a passage between the first and second chambers, the passage having a flow area; a diaphragm extending between the housing and the seat; a retainer securing the diaphragm to the seat, the retainer including: a base portion proximate the seat; an intermediate portion extending along the longitudinal axis from the base portion toward the outlet; an end portion extending from the intermediate portion; and at least one aperture having a flow axis, the aperture having a flow area that is less than the passage flow area, the aperture permitting fluid communication between the passage and the second chamber; and a flow diffuser member including a plurality of segments forming a grid and including a portion disposed generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis between the passage and the outlet, the segments of the flow diffuser member defining a plurality of flow paths, each of the flow paths having a flow area that is less than the aperture flow area; and a closure member being arranged between first and second configurations relative to the seat, the first configuration substantially preventing fluid communication through the passage, and the second configuration permitting fluid communication through the passage.