The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 27, 1984
Filed:
Sep. 10, 1982
Merton R Fallon, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Thomas W Clements, Ambler, PA (US);
Draft Systems, Inc., Northridge, CA (US);
Abstract
A safety pressure reducing regulator for use in systems operable by pressurized gas incorporates multiple safety features which preclude excessive pressure buildup in the system and provide protection against catastrophic failures. The regulator includes primary and secondary regulator stages through which pressurized gas from a gas pressure source is supplied to a pressure control chamber which provides the operating pressure for the system. The primary regulator stage is designed to reduce the inlet gas pressure to an intermediate level. The secondary regulator stage is designed to automatically regulate the supply of the pressurized gas at the intermediate pressure to the pressure control chamber to maintain a desired operating pressure therein. A flexible diaphragm is normally disposed across the pressure control chamber which is adapted to function as a check valve to control communication between the secondary regulator stage and the pressure control chamber. A clamping piston provided with a central passage normally clamps the flexible diaphragm in place across the pressure control chamber. In the event of excess pressure buildup in the pressure control chamber, the piston unclamps the diaphragm which collapses into its central passage to permit the pressurized gas to escape through exhaust vents. One form of the apparatus of the invention includes a unique safety feature which precludes adjustment of the secondary regulator stage until the source pressure has either been removed or relieved. Another form of the apparatus of the invention comprises a novel gage assembly also embodying the collapsible diaphragm element.