Patent ID: 7007714

Claim:
A transverse flow adjustable pressure regulator for controlling the flow of a gas from a high pressure source to a low pressure device, the gas being delivered from the regulator at a predetermined outlet pressure, comprising: a body defining an inlet port and a pressure chamber in flow communication with the inlet port; a bonnet engageable with the body to define a piston chamber and at least one transverse outlet port contiguous with the piston chamber; an end cap disposed at an end of the bonnet opposite the body; a regulating assembly disposed in the pressure chamber, the regulating assembly including a seat and a support for the seat to support the seat in a stationary manner in the pressure chamber, the regulating assembly further including a thrust element, a retaining element and a seal disposed in part between the thrust element and the retaining element, the seal having an inner periphery; a piston assembly having a power tube terminating at an open tubular regulating end, a piston portion having a pressure face and a piston stem, the open tubular regulating end defining a passage contiguous with a cross-bore formed in the piston stem, wherein the piston is movable in the piston chamber with the power tube traversing through the retaining element, with the seal being in engagement with the power tube to form a gas tight seal between the power tube and the retaining element, the piston assembly reciprocating between a closed state in which the open tubular regulating end is in engagement with the sealing element to isolate flow through the regulator and an open state in which the open tubular regulating end is out of engagement with the sealing element to establish flow though the regulator; and a biasing element operably connected to the piston assembly, the biasing element exerting a force on the piston assembly to urge the piston assembly to the open state, and wherein gas pressure exerting a force on the piston pressure face urges the piston assembly to the closed state, and wherein the force exerted by biasing element on the piston assembly is adjustable to vary the force of the gas pressure required to move the piston assembly from the open state to the closed state.