Gas conserving regulator

Abstract

A gas regulator includes a delivery valve assembly having a delivery outlet and a delivery valve member engageable with the delivery outlet for controlling flow of a gas from a gas source. A timing gas chamber receives gas from the gas source. Gas pressure within the timing gas chamber controls the operation of the delivery valve member. An adjustment system controls the amount of time required for the gas to fill the timing gas chamber so as to control the length of time that the delivery valve assembly is opened to conserve gas. In other embodiments, a capacity adjustment system can adjust the capacity of a gas reservoir system.

1 . A gas regulator comprising:
 a delivery valve assembly comprising a delivery outlet and a delivery valve member movable within the delivery valve assembly between a closed position and an open position for controlling flow of a gas through the delivery outlet;   a timing gas chamber in gas communication with the delivery valve member for receiving gas, movement of the delivery valve member responsive to gas pressure within the timing gas chamber; and   an adjustment system for controlling the amount of time required for the gas to sufficiently fill the timing gas chamber to control the length of time that the delivery valve member is in the open position, the adjustment system including a volume adjustment device for selectively adjusting the volume of the timing gas chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The gas regulator of  claim 1  in which the volume adjustment device includes an adjustable piston. 
   
   
       3 . The gas regulator of  claim 1  wherein the volume adjustment device includes an adjustment member that can be selectively positioned by a user. 
   
   
       4 . The gas regulator of  claim 1  in which the adjustment system includes an orifice member having more than one orifice, each of a different size, which can be selectively positioned for selecting the flow rate of the gas into the timing gas chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The gas regulator of  claim 1  wherein the delivery valve member is a flexible membrane. 
   
   
       6 . A gas regulator comprising:
 a gas reservoir system for storing deliverable gas, the gas reservoir system having a gas containing capacity;   a capacity adjustment system for adjusting the capacity of the gas reservoir system; and   a delivery valve assembly comprising a delivery outlet and a delivery valve member engageable with the delivery outlet for controlling the flow of gas from the gas reservoir system.   
   
   
       7 . The gas regulator of  claim 6  in which the gas reservoir system includes a plurality of reservoirs. 
   
   
       8 . The gas regulator of  claim 7  in which the capacity adjustment system allows selected reservoirs to be connectable in communication with each other for selecting the capacity of the gas reservoir system. 
   
   
       9 . The gas regulator of  claim 8  in which the capacity adjustment system includes a movable plate having a series of orifices therethrough, whereby the capacity of the gas reservoir system can be selected by selecting the position of the movable plate. 
   
   
       10 . The gas regulator of  claim 8  in which a tail flow passes through the selected reservoirs. 
   
   
       11 . The gas regulator of  claim 10  further comprising a continuous flow circuit that can be selected to provide additional flow to the tail flow. 
   
   
       12 . A method of regulating gas with a gas regulator comprising:
 providing a delivery valve assembly comprising a delivery outlet and a delivery valve member movable within the delivery valve assembly between a closed position and an open position for controlling flow of a gas through the delivery outlet;   receiving gas in a timing gas chamber that is in gas communication with the delivery valve member, movement of the delivery valve member responsive to gas pressure within the timing gas chamber; and   controlling the amount of time required for the gas to sufficiently fill the timing gas chamber with an adjustment system to control the length of time that the delivery valve member is in the open position, the adjustment system including a volume adjustment device for selectively adjusting the volume of the timing gas chamber.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising providing the volume adjustment device with an adjustable piston. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the volume adjustment device includes an adjustment member that can be selectively positioned by a user. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12  in which the adjustment system includes an orifice member having more than one orifice, each of a different size, which can be selectively positioned for selecting the flow rate of the gas into the timing gas chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the delivery valve member is a flexible membrane. 
   
   
       17 . A method of regulating gas with a gas regulator comprising:
 storing deliverable gas in a gas reservoir system, the gas reservoir system having a gas containing capacity;   adjusting the capacity of the gas reservoir system with a capacity adjustment system; and   controlling the flow of gas from the gas reservoir system with a delivery valve assembly comprising a delivery outlet and a delivery valve member engageable with the delivery outlet.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising providing the gas reservoir system with a plurality of reservoirs. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising selecting the capacity of the gas reservoir system with the capacity adjustment system which allows selected reservoirs to be connectable in communication with each other. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  in which the capacity adjustment system includes a movable plate having a series of orifices therethrough, the method further comprising selecting the capacity of the gas reservoir system by selecting the position of the movable plate. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising providing a tail flow that passes through the selected reservoirs. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising selecting a continuous flow circuit for providing additional flow to the tail flow.