Patent ID: 8424561

Claim:
A pressure regulator, comprising: (a) an inlet comprising an inlet opening; (b) a valve configured to seat against said inlet opening and thereby close said inlet; (c) an annular piston circumscribing said inlet and axially movable with respect to said inlet, wherein said annular piston comprises a piston surface, and wherein the area of said piston surface is greater than the area of said inlet opening; (d) at least one connecting link connecting said valve to said piston whereby axial movement of said piston causes a corresponding axial movement of said valve whereby said valve may open and close; and (e) an annular guide plate circumscribing said inlet and positioned between said valve and said piston, wherein said guide plate comprises at least one guide hole sized to receive the connecting link therethrough whereby the connecting link may freely move forward and rearward with respect to the annular guide plate along a longitudinal axis of the inlet, and further wherein the guide plate comprises at least one liquid passage whereby liquid may freely move through the guide plate.