Pressure regulator incorporating a pressure balanced moving seat

Abstract

An adjustable pressure control valve includes a body having an inlet port and an outlet port and a handle assembly having a threaded portion and an adjustment knob. A seat assembly disposed within the body includes a seat holder in communication with the outlet port that is received on the threaded portion of the handle assembly, wherein the seat holder is translatable in first and second directions when the handle assembly is rotated in first and second directions. The seat assembly also includes a valve seat fluidly affixed to the seat holder, wherein fluid can pass through the valve seat and the seat holder. The valve includes a pin biased by a pin spring that is engageable with the valve seat, and a main spring engageable with the pin to urge the pin against the valve seat to accommodate the pressure and volume of the fluid in the valve.

1 . An adjustable pressure control valve for controlling fluid from a fluid supply, comprising:
 (a) a body having an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port adapted to be placed into communication with a fluid supply;   (b) a handle having a threaded portion disposed within the body and an adjustment knob positioned outside the body;   (c) a seat assembly disposed within the body, the seat assembly comprising:
 (i) a seat holder in fluid communication with the outlet port, the seat holder having first and second ends, the first end of the seat holder threadably received on the threaded portion of the handle, wherein the seat holder is moveable in a first direction when the handle is rotated in a first rotation direction and moveable in a second direction when the handle is rotated in a second rotation direction, wherein the seat holder allows a predetermined amount of fluid to pass therethrough when the seat holder is translated in the first and second directions; and 
 (ii) a valve seat affixed to the second end of the seat holder; 
   (d) a pin assembly at least partially disposed within the body, the pin assembly having a pin biased by a pin spring such that the pin is engageable with an opening in the valve seat; and   (e) a valve spring assembly having a spring housing coupled to the body and a main spring disposed within the spring housing, the main spring engageable with the pin assembly to urge the pin against the valve seat to accommodate the pressure and volume of fluid in the valve.