Fluid pressure regulating valve mechanism

Abstract

A fluid pressure regulating valve includes a diaphragm piston reciprocally movable within a valve housing, whereby undesirable diaphragm piston flutter is effectively dampened by use of a dampening member. The diaphragm piston separates a control chamber from an outlet chamber which is in communication with a fluid pressure receiving device. A selectively controllable solenoid valve controls the fluid pressure level in the control chamber. Differences in fluid pressure levels across the diaphragm piston result in the reciprocal movement, thereby, such movement being preconditioned to occur as a function of the fluid pressure level in the control chamber. An inlet valve and an outlet valve each communicate with the outlet chamber and are operated according to the position of the diaphragm piston. Furthermore, the inlet and outlet valves are connected by a connecting rod such that their operation is mutually dependent. A bias spring contacts a portion of the outlet valve to provide a preconditioning to a closed position. The output of the outlet valve exhausts to atmosphere through a hollow portion of the dampening member. The dampening member is resiliently connected on one end to a valve stem in which the outlet valve is formed and on the other end to a portion of the housing.