Patent ID: 7341075

Claim:
An inlet valve for a gas pressure regulator to couple the regulator to a high-pressure gas source, said valve comprising: housing having a passageway with gas inlet and gas outlet openings defined at opposite ends of said passageway, said housing having an upstream end arranged for engagement with said high-pressure gas source near said gas inlet opening, and an attachment member downstream of said inlet gas opening and adapted for engagement with said regulator; a retractable member connected to said housing that is capable of moving between a first position for blocking said gas inlet opening, and a second position for permitting gas to enter said gas inlet opening, said retractable member being biased toward said first position; and a gas filter element disposed in said passageway downstream from said gas inlet opening; wherein said retractable member is arranged to prevent liquids from entering said passageway through said inlet opening when said retractable member is in said first position.