High pressure regulator valve

Abstract

A pressure regulating valve for controlling pressure in high pressure hydraulic circuits includes a closure member with an integral control piston and a conical seating surface cooperable with a complementary surface on a seat member. The valve closure member is biased in the closed position by an actuating mechanism including a pressure gas piston and cylinder arrangement utilizing a flexible diaphragm for sealing the actuator pressure chamber. The effective cross-sectional area of the control piston is large enough to minimize the differences in cross-sectional areas on the closure member exposed to pressure fluid between the valve closed and valve open positions whereby a minimum variation between the valve opening pressure and the control pressure is experienced. The increase in pressure in the actuator pressure chamber resulting from movement of the valve from the closed to open positions substantially offsets the change in effective face areas of the closure member to further minimize the difference between the valve opening pressure and the steady state regulated pressure.