Patent ID: 7401751

Claim:
A flow regulator comprising: a housing having a chamber into which an inlet opens and a passage with an outlet, the housing including a first aperture and a second aperture both extending between the chamber and the passage and further including a bypass orifice providing a secondary flow path between the inlet and the outlet; a valve member movably located in the chamber and selectively opening and closing the first and second apertures; and a spring biasing the valve member into a first position in which the valve member closes the first aperture and opens the second aperture; wherein fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet produces a pressure differential, when the pressure differential exceeds a first level the valve member moves away from the first position partially covering the second aperture, when the pressure differential increases above a greater second level the valve member moves into a second position at which both the first and second apertures are closed with the secondary flow path existing between the inlet and the outlet through the bypass orifice, further increase of the pressure differential significantly above the second level causes the valve member to move into a pressure relief position in which the first aperture is opened.