Regulator having removable first stage orifice body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11679849-B2
Application number	US-201615214151-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2016
Priority date	Aug 7, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

A first stage pressure regulator is provided. A valve body has an inlet and an outlet that define a pressure chamber therebetween. The valve body defines a pressure compensation chamber having an opening fluidly communicating the pressure compensation chamber with the surrounding water. The first stage pressure regulator comprises an inlet tubular union removably received into the inlet. A removable high pressure orifice body defines an orifice therethrough. The orifice body is carried by the valve body proximate the inlet. A valve seat is within the valve body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of assembling a first stage pressure regulator, the method comprising:
seating a removable high pressure orifice body defining an orifice in a passage of a valve body, wherein the valve body includes an inlet and an outlet, the passage defined between the inlet and the outlet;
securing an inlet tubular union into the inlet of the valve body;
wherein securing the inlet tubular union to the valve body limits axial motion of the orifice body within the inlet between the inlet tubular union and the valve body;
wherein the valve body defines a pressure chamber between the inlet and an outlet, the valve body defining a pressure compensation chamber having an opening fluidly communicating the pressure compensation chamber with the surrounding water;
a valve seat within the valve body;
a valve member slidably carried within the valve body pressure chamber having a valve end and an expansion head connected to the valve end, the valve member slidable between an open state in which the valve end carrying the valve seat is spaced from a downstream end of the removable high pressure orifice permitting fluid flow between the inlet and outlet and a closed state in which the valve end carrying the valve seat is sealingly seated against the downstream end of the removable high pressure orifice and that prevents fluid flow between the inlet and outlet, the expansion head being exposed to the pressure compensation chamber and being operably acted upon by the surrounding water within the pressure compensation chamber to bias the valve member toward the open state;
a biasing member carried within the compensation chamber to bias the valve member towards the open state.

2. A method of assembling a first stage pressure regulator, the method comprising:
seating a removable high pressure orifice body defining an orifice in an inlet of a valve body;
securing an inlet tubular union into the inlet of the valve body;
wherein securing the inlet tubular union to the valve body limits axial motion of the orifice body within the inlet between the inlet tubular union and the valve body;
wherein the valve body has an inlet and an outlet and defining a pressure chamber between the inlet and an outlet, the valve body defining a pressure compensation chamber having an opening fluidly communicating the pressure compensation chamber with the surrounding water;
a valve seat within the valve body;
a valve member slidably carried within the valve body pressure chamber having a valve end and an expansion head connected to the valve end, the valve member slidable between an open state in which the valve end carrying the valve seat is spaced from a downstream end of the removable high pressure orifice permitting fluid flow between the inlet and outlet and a closed state in which the valve end carrying the valve seat is sealingly seated against the downstream end of the removable high pressure orifice and that prevents fluid flow between the inlet and outlet, the expansion head being exposed to the pressure compensation chamber and being operably acted upon by the surrounding water within the pressure compensation chamber to bias the valve member toward the open state;
a biasing member carried within the compensation chamber to bias the valve member towards the open state; and
wherein the removable high pressure orifice body has:
a T-shaped head at an upstream end;
a conical protrusion at a downstream end;
a slot formed into a top surface of the T-shaped head;
a central passage through the valve body;
an annular groove formed into the valve body at approximately a longitudinal center of the orifice body.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of seating a bottom surface of the T-shaped head upon an outward facing surface of the inlet of the valve body and placing top surface of the T-shaped head in contact with the inlet tubular union such that the inlet tubular union secures the removable high pressure orifice body in the inlet.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the step of situating an O-ring in the annular groove, wherein the O-ring is in sealing contact with the walls of the inlet of the valve body.

5. A method of assembling a first stage pressure regulator, the method comprising:
seating a removable high pressure orifice body defining only a single orifice in a passage of a valve body, wherein the valve body includes an inlet and an outlet, the passage defined between the inlet and the outlet;
securing an inlet tubular union into the inlet of the valve body;
wherein securing the inlet tubular union to the valve body limits axial motion of the orifice body within the inlet between the inlet tubular union and the valve body;
wherein securing the inlet tubular union to the valve body situates a head of the removable high pressure orifice body inside a cavity formed in a distal end of the inlet tubular union.

6. A method of assembling a first stage pressure regulator, the method comprising:
seating a removable high pressure orifice body defining an orifice in an inlet of a valve body;
securing an inlet tubular union into the inlet of the valve body;
wherein securing the inlet tubular union to the valve body limits axial motion of the orifice body within the inlet between the inlet tubular union and the valve body;
wherein the valve body has an inlet and an outlet and defining a pressure chamber between the inlet and an outlet, the valve body defining a pressure compensation chamber having an opening fluidly communicating the pressure compensation chamber with the surrounding water;
a valve seat within the valve body;
a valve member slidably carried within the valve body pressure chamber having a valve end and an expansion head connected to the valve end, the valve member slidable between an open state in which the valve end carrying the valve seat is spaced from a downstream end of the removable high pressure orifice permitting fluid flow between the inlet and outlet and a closed state in which the valve end carrying the valve seat is sealingly seated against the downstream end of the removable high pressure orifice and that prevents fluid flow between the inlet and outlet, the expansion head being exposed to the pressure compensation chamber and being operably acted upon by the surrounding water within the pressure compensation chamber to bias the valve member toward the open state;
a biasing member carried within the compensation chamber to bias the valve member towards the open state; and

further comprising situating an insulating bushing, an insulating ring, and an insulating sleeve within the compensation chamber.

Assignees

• Cigolini Alessandro
• Solari Franco
• Cominetti Corrado
• Johnson Outdoors Inc

Inventors

• Cigolini Alessandro
• Solari Franco
• Cominetti Corrado

Classifications

• G05D16/10 Primary

  the sensing element being a piston or plunger · CPC title

• B63C11/2209

  First-stage regulators (B63C11/2245 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A62B9/022

  Breathing demand regulators (SCUBA diving regulators B63C11/22) · CPC title

• B63C11/2227 Primary

  Second-stage regulators (B63C11/2245 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T137/7811

  Also through reactor surface · CPC title