Patent ID: 7445021

Claim:
A regulating valve for receiving fluid at a variable pressure from a fluid source and for delivering said fluid at a substantially constant pressure and flow rate to a fluid applicator or the like, said valve comprising: a cup-shaped base having a cylindrical wall segment terminating in an upper rim, and an externally projecting first flange; a cap having an inwardly projecting ledge and an externally projecting second flange, said cup-shaped base and said cap being configured and dimensioned for assembly as a unitary housing, with the cylindrical wall segment of said cup-shaped base inserted into said cap, and with the extent of such insertion being limited by the abutment of said first flange with said second flange to thereby provide a space between the upper rim of said cup-shaped base and the inwardly projecting ledge of said cap; a barrier wall subdividing the interior of said housing into a head section and a base section; a modulating assembly subdividing said base section into a fluid chamber and a spring chamber; an inlet in said cap for connecting said head section to said fluid source; a port in said barrier wall connecting said head section to said fluid chamber, said port being aligned with a central first axis of said valve; an outlet in said cap communicating with said fluid chamber, said outlet being aligned on a second axis transverse to said first axis; a stem projecting from said modulating assembly along said first axis through said port into said head section; a flexible diaphragm supporting said modulating assembly within said housing for movement in opposite directions along said first axis, said diaphragm having an outer periphery captured in the space between the inwardly projecting ledge of said cap and a rim of the cylindrical wall segment of said cup-shaped base; a spring in said spring chamber, said spring being arranged to resiliently urge said modulating assembly into a closed position at which said diaphragm is in sealing contact with said barrier wall to thereby prevent fluid flow from said head section via said port and fluid chamber to said outlet, said spring acting in concert with said modulating assembly and the stem projecting therefrom to modulate the size of said port as an inverse function of the variable fluid pressure in said input sections whereby the pressure and flow rate of the fluid delivered to said outlet is maintained substantially constant, said valve being automatically actuated when the pressure of the fluid acting on said modulating assembly exceeds a threshold level, and being automatically closed when said pressure drops below said threshold level.