Patent ID: 7819132

Claim:
A flow through pressure regulator comprising: a housing having a fuel inlet communicating with a fuel chamber wherein a flow of fuel through the fuel inlet and the fuel chamber communicates with a valve assembly; the valve assembly regulating the flow of fuel through the housing to a fuel outlet wherein a ceramic valve element rests on a valve seat in a closed position to prohibit the flow of fuel from the fuel chamber to the fuel outlet, the fuel outlet being on an axis different from an axis of the fuel inlet; a valve biasing member for biasing the ceramic valve element toward the valve seat in opposition to pressure exerted on the valve element by the fuel in the fuel chamber, wherein the valve biasing member includes at least three co-axial, concentric rings joined together by a plurality of bridges in a reticulated network fashion thereby defining a plurality of co-axial, concentric slot openings in the valve biasing member at a plurality of different radii from a center of the valve biasing member, and wherein at least two bridges connect adjacent rings, the valve biasing member having a central portion constructed and arranged to contact the valve element, and a continuous annular outer edge that is affixed with respect to the housing, the central portion of the valve biasing member being in non fixed relation with the valve element to be freely movable so as to engage and bias the valve element under certain pressure conditions in the pressure regulator; and a fuel cover, separate from the housing, the fuel cover including a chamber, in communication with and directly adjacent to the valve biasing member, constructed and arranged to contain fuel to as to submerge the valve biasing member in the fuel, the fuel cover being constructed and arranged to direct the flow of fuel by ensuring that the fuel turns in direction from the valve biasing member to the fuel outlet.