Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080258095 | Adjustable Disc Mechanism for Gas Regulator - A gas regulator comprises an actuator and a valve body, wherein the actuator includes a valve disc with a cylindrical shroud that extends beyond the valve disc to direct the flow of fluid through the regulator toward the outlet of the valve and away from the actuator. This configuration advantageously reduces the amount of pressure drop experienced by the actuator during normal operation, thereby minimizing a phenomenon known as “droop.” At least in one embodiment, the shroud can be adjustable and/or removable to allow the regulator to be tuned for specific applications. | 10-23-2008 |
20090260697 | Valve Body with Dual Sense Mechanism - A gas regulator includes an actuator, a regulator valve, and a secondary device. Downstream pressure feedback is provided to the actuator and the secondary device via a Pitot tube disposed within an outlet of the regulator valve. The Pitot tube has a first branch having an end connected to the actuator to place the actuator control cavity and diaphragm in fluid communication with downstream pressure within the outlet for maintaining the outlet pressure at an actuator setpoint pressure. The Pitot tube also has a second branch having an end connected to the secondary device to place the interior of the secondary device in fluid communication with downstream pressure within the outlet for responding to changes in the downstream pressure when the outlet pressure diverges from a predetermined normal operating pressure range. | 10-22-2009 |
20090261281 | Balanced Port Housing with Integrated Flow Conditioning - A gas regulator includes an actuator, a valve, and a balanced port housing disposed within the valve for flow conditioning to convert turbulent flow within the valve to laminar flow when the fluid reaches the sensing point of a Pitot tube disposed within the outlet of the valve. The balancing port housing includes an opening through a sidewall and disposed between a valve port of the valve and the outlet. The opening may include a partial obstruction, such as baffles or a mesh screen over which the fluid flows to convert the turbulent flow to laminar flow. The regulator may further include balanced trim having a balancing diaphragm in fluid communication with the upstream pressure to apply a force to a valve disc of the valve in the opposite direction of the force applied to the valve disc by the upstream pressure so that the upstream pressure does not affect the regulator's control of the downstream pressure. | 10-22-2009 |
20100071786 | Pressure Loaded Service Regulator with Pressure Balanced Trim - A gas regulator includes an actuator, a regulator valve, and pressure loading device. The pressure loading device provides a pressure load to a surface of a diaphragm of the actuator to act against a downstream pressure being applied to the opposite surface of the diaphragm and being controlled by the regulator. As the downstream pressure varies and the diaphragm displaces to move a control element to regulate the downstream pressure, the pressure loading device maintains a specified load pressure. The regulator may further include a balanced trim applying a balancing force to offset a force of an upstream pressure on the control element. | 03-25-2010 |
20140084202 | SEAL DISK WITH A PLURALITY OF HARDNESSES - A seal disk for a fluid flow control valve, such as a fluid regulator, has a body formed of elastomeric material having a first hardness at a seal face and a second hardness spaced apart from the seal face along the thickness. The elastomeric material is softer at the seal face and harder spaced away from the seal face. | 03-27-2014 |
20140090717 | UPSTREAM SENSE FOR BALANCE PORT - A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having a valve body defining an inlet and an outlet and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. A housing assembly is disposed adjacent the valve port, and the housing assembly includes a first aperture adapted to receive a valve disc. A balancing diaphragm is secured to a portion of the valve disc and a portion of the housing assembly, and a portion of a balancing cavity is defined by a top surface of the balancing diaphragm and an interior surface of the housing assembly. A sensing passage extends from the inlet of the regulator valve to the balancing cavity such that the inlet of the regulator valve is in fluid communication with the balancing cavity. | 04-03-2014 |
20140090719 | SELF ALIGNING VALVE PLUG - A balanced pressure regulator includes a valve body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet connected by a fluid passageway. A valve seat is disposed within the fluid passageway. A self-aligning valve plug is at least partially disposed within the fluid passageway, the self-aligning valve plug interacting with the valve seat to selectively open or close the fluid passageway. A retainer is partially disposed within a bore of the self-aligning valve plug and operatively connects the self-aligning valve plug to a valve stem having a ball portion. More specifically, the retainer includes a recess adapted to receive the ball portion of the valve stem, such that the self-aligning valve plug automatically rotates around the ball portion of the valve stem to achieve alignment and sealing engagement between a valve disc of the self-aligning valve plug and the valve seat. | 04-03-2014 |
20140261724 | Balanced Port Sense Profile for Improved Capacity Performance - A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. An actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and includes a valve disc that displaces along a longitudinal axis to open and close the fluid regulating device. The valve disc includes a sealing surface disposed adjacent to an outer radial end of the valve disc, and the sealing surface is adapted to sealingly engage the valve port in the closed position. The valve disc also includes an intermediate surface disposed inward of the sealing surface, and a groove is formed in the intermediate surface. The groove extends along a groove axis extending along the intermediate surface normal to the longitudinal axis, and the groove axis is at least partially curved when viewed along the longitudinal axis. | 09-18-2014 |