Patent ID: 7556057

Claim:
A pressure regulator, comprising a body comprising a valve housing comprising an inlet in communication with at least one outlet through a valve chamber, and a diaphragm housing sealed from the valve housing, containing a flexible diaphragm and an actuator for applying a force to the diaphragm to move the diaphragm between a closed position and a plurality of open positions, a valve assembly disposed in the valve chamber and movable between the closed position, blocking communication between the inlet and the outlet, and the plurality of open positions allowing communication between the inlet and the outlet, and a plunger for actuating the valve assembly, mounted in the valve housing for axial movement between the open and closed positions responsive to movement of the diaphragm by the actuator, the plunger being interposed between the valve chamber and the outlet and being provided with a plurality of generally evenly-spaced orifices for allowing gas to flow through the plunger, a body portion of the plunger comprising radially-extending protrusions generally evenly spaced about the body and defining peripheral spaces for allowing gas to flow around a periphery of the plunger, whereby when the regulator is in the open position gas must flow through the valve chamber, through the plunger, around the plunger and through the outlet before egressing from the regulator.