Fluid handling – Line condition change responsive valves – With separate connected fluid reactor surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-04
2001-03-20
Hepperle, Stephen M. (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Line condition change responsive valves
With separate connected fluid reactor surface
C137S505000, C137S505440, C251S085000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202682
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to pressure regulators for water drinking systems and the like, and more particularly to an improved pressure regulator having a selector control for operating the regulator in different modes of operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
A pressure regulator may be used for regulating the supply of drinking water to cup or nipple drinkers of a poultry watering system. A pressure regulator for this application is required to reduce inlet water pressures in the range of three to sixty pounds per square inch (psi) to a low water column (wc) pressure of four to twenty-one inches of water. A typical regulator includes a flexible diaphragm exposed to output pressure in a pressure chamber into which water is admitted by a valve member cooperating with an inlet orifice. Output pressure changes cause diaphragm movement which is transferred to movement of the valve member for maintaining a selected output pressure.
A pressure regulator for poultry watering systems is preferably able to operate in different modes of operation. In the normal or “on” mode, the regulator reduces inlet pressure to maintain a selected low water column pressure for supplying drinker cups or nipples in the system. In an off mode, flow of water through the regulator is prevented in order to terminate operation of the system. In a flush or bypass mode, water flows through the regulator continuously at an increased pressure to flush out contaminated or stale water or water containing residual medications or nutrients. Known regulators have not provided simple and reliable controls for selecting normal, off and flush modes of operation. It has been a long standing problem to provide a simple, reliable pressure regulator with a single control system for selecting and controlling normal, off and flush operating modes with few parts and minimum complexity
U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,921 discloses a pressure regulator for poultry watering systems. The regulator disclosed in that patent includes an adjustment knob that can be moved within a range of normal or on positions to set a desired outlet pressure by varying the compression of a reference spring and, as a result, the force applied to the diaphragm of the regulator. In addition the adjustment knob can be rotated to an off position to take the regulator off line. The off position in this regulator removes loading force from the diaphragm of the regulator so that a separate return spring prevents flow through the regulator. To achieve a flush mode of operation, a separate override control is operated to relieve pressure in an outlet chamber to cause increased flow through the regulator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved pressure regulator including a simple and reliable control system for selecting different modes of operation; to provide a pressure regulator in which movement of a single knob to different positions selects a normal, off or flush mode of operation; to provide a pressure regulator including a novel control system for operating in normal, off and flush modes, and for preventing valve damage in the event of abnormally high system back pressure; to provide a pressure regulator in which an inlet section is easily removable, thus providing the capability of quickly changing the flow characteristics of the regulator; to provide a pressure regulator in which various modes of operation are selected and controlled by an easily manufactured and assembled control assembly having few parts; and to provide a pressure regulator overcoming problems and providing an improvement over pressure regulators used in the past.
In brief, in accordance with the invention there is provided a pressure regulator having an inlet orifice exposed to a range of inlet pressures and a valve member movable relative to the orifice to control flow through the orifice. A pressure responsive member moves in response to reduced pressure downstream from the orifice and a control system translates movement of the pressure responsive member to the valve member and selects operating modes of the pressure regulator. The control system includes first and second interfacing end members and a spring captured in compression between the end members. The valve member is connected to the first end member and the pressure responsive member is connected to the second end member. A retainer is connected to the first end member and the assembly is slidable relative to the second end member, with the retainer extending from the first end member beyond the second end member. The retainer includes a reaction portion normally abutting the second end member to limit the distance between the first and second end members and preload the spring in compression providing a preload force greater than the force required to close the valve member against the orifice throughout a range of inlet pressures. An operating mode selector is movable to normal, off and flush positions. The selector in the off position contacts the second end member and pushes it to overtravel toward the first end member in order to compress the spring beyond the preload and hold the valve member forcibly against the orifice. The selector in the flush position contacts the reaction portion of the retainer and pulls the first end member toward the second end member to overtravel toward the second end member in order to compress the spring beyond the preload and hold the valve member away from the orifice. The selector in the normal position is spaced from the reaction portion of the retainer and from the second end member, permitting the end members and preloaded spring assembly to move the valve member in response to movement of the pressure responsive member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1773604 (1930-08-01), Scovel et al.
patent: 2198070 (1940-04-01), Wile
patent: 2261364 (1941-11-01), Grove
patent: 3117591 (1964-01-01), Schutmaat
patent: 4481971 (1984-11-01), Farrell et al.
patent: 5275203 (1994-01-01), Robinson
patent: 5771921 (1998-06-01), Johnson
Hepperle Stephen M.
Kolehmainen Philip M.
Mason, Kolehmainen Rathburn & Wyss
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