Patent ID: 7134447

Claim:
A gas pressure regulator comprising: a regulator body having an inlet for connection to an upstream gas line for flow of gas into the regulator body under pressure and an outlet for connection to a downstream gas line for flow of gas out of the regulator body at a reduced pressure, a pilot mechanism in the regulator body comprising a pilot passage communicating with said inlet, a pilot valve seat in the pilot passage, a pilot valve member in the pilot passage movable relative to the seat, and a pilot control device for positioning the pilot valve member and the pilot valve seat relative to one another to adjust the pressure of gas delivered past the pilot valve seat to a desired pilot gas pressure, a main valve mechanism in the regulator body for regulating the flow of gas under pressure from the inlet to the outlet, said main valve mechanism comprising a main flow passage connecting said inlet and outlet of the regulator body, a main valve seat in the main flow passage, and a main valve member in the main flow passage movable relative to the main valve seat, a piston chamber in the regulator body, and a piston operatively connected to the main valve member and movable in the piston chamber, said main valve member having a passageway therein providing pressure communication between said piston chamber and said pilot passage at a location downstream from the pilot valve seat whereby said pilot gas pressure is adapted to move the piston and thereby position the main valve member in relation to the main valve seat for regulating the pressure of the gas delivered from the inlet to the outlet of the regulator.