Patent ID: 7673650

Claim:
A pressure regulating valve comprising: a body including: a wall with a first side which defines a process surface, at least one process void disposed in the process surface and adapted to be disposed in fluid communication with a fluid at a process pressure, and at least one vent void disposed in the wall separate from the process void and disposed in parallel flow communication with the membrane; an inlet port disposed in fluid communication with the at least one process void; an exhaust chamber disposed in fluid communication with the at least one vent void; an outlet port disposed in fluid communication with the exhaust chamber; a reference housing adapted to be disposed in fluid communication with a fluid at a predetermined reference pressure; a first membrane having opposed reference and process surfaces, the first membrane constrained in a predetermined plane between the body and the reference housing, and arranged such that, when the reference pressure is higher than the process pressure the first membrane is engaged with the vent void, and when the process pressure is higher than the reference pressure, the first membrane is not engaged with the vent void; a bottom cap secured to the body; a flexible second membrane constrained between the body and the bottom cap, in sealing relationship with the exhaust chamber, with a first surface thereof disposed in communication with the exhaust chamber; and a compressible member disposed in contact with a surface of the second membrane opposite the first surface thereof, so as to absorb pulsation energy during the operation of the pressure regulating valve.