Control equipment for gas pressure regulators

Abstract

According to the present invention there is provided a pressure regulator assembly comprising a pressure regulator arranged to regulate the flow rate of a gas source from a gas tank. The pressure regulator includes: a housing having an inlet connectable to a gas source, an outlet, a conduit extending between the inlet and the outlet; and a restriction located in the conduit and positionable to restrict gas flow therethrough a biasing assembly to apply a predetermined bias to the restriction; a selection device operable to select the configuration of the biasing assembly and the restriction to provide a selected gas pressure at said outlet; and a rotatable handle that can Rotates about an axis of rotation and includes a central hub and grippable arms. The selection device includes a rotary control member arranged such that rotational movement of said rotatable handle about said rotational axis between maximum and minimum positions is operable to cause the control device to move along a substantially parallel axis between corresponding maximum and minimum linear positions. Move in the direction of axis rotation. The bias voltage from the biasing assembly is dependent on the linear position of the control device. In addition, a position angle difference between the maximum position and the minimum position of the rotatable handle is 180 degrees or less.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to a control device for a pressure regulator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a control device for a pressure regulator that is ergonomically better, safer and more efficient to use than conventional components. Background technique [0002] A compressed gas tank is a pressure vessel designed to contain gas at high pressure (ie, at a pressure significantly greater than atmospheric pressure). Compressed gas cylinders are used in a wide range of markets, from low cost general industrial to medical markets, to higher cost applications such as electronics manufacturing utilizing high purity corrosive, toxic or pyrophoric specialty gases. Typically, pressurized gas containers consist of steel, aluminum or composite materials and are capable of storing compressed liquefied or dissolved gases with a maximum fill pressure of up to 450 bar for most gases and a maximum Filling pressures up to 900 bar. [0003] figure...

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