GAS PRESSURE REGULATOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas pressure regulator.

[0002] Gas pressure regulators are described, for example, in DE 10 2019 103 201 A1 or WO 2020 / 030398 A1. The regulators reduce the gas pressure originating from a gas source to a gas pressure for downstream consumers. Some regulators have a pressure relief valve that releases the gas into the environment if the pressure is too high. This overpressure is above the normal applied pressure. Regulators with pressure relief valves are described, for example, in US 2012 / 111425 A1, DE 551 843 A, or GB 582,051 A. For certain applications, e.g., camping, leak tests must be performed on the gas pressure regulators and the downstream low-pressure system. However, the pressure applied during this process is usually above the pressure at which the pressure relief valve reacts.

[0003] Therefore, the object underlying the invention is to propose a gas pressure regulator which has a type of pressure relief valve and which at the same time enables an overpressure test.

[0004] The invention solves the problem by a gas pressure regulator having an inlet, an outlet, a housing, a diaphragm, a control element, a control chamber and a discharge chamber, wherein the inlet and the outlet each open onto the control chamber, wherein the diaphragm partially delimits the control chamber, wherein the diaphragm and the control element are designed and arranged in the housing in such a way that the diaphragm and the control element are movable relative to one another, wherein in a relative discharge arrangement of the diaphragm and the control element a passage is opened between the control chamber and the discharge chamber, and wherein an adjustable prestressing element is present which hinders relative movement between the diaphragm and the control element.

[0005] The gas pressure regulator according to the invention has an inlet and an outlet, each of which opens into a control chamber. In this control chamber, the applied gas pressure is reduced to the desired gas pressure. The diaphragm is provided for pressure regulation and partially delimits the control chamber, thus forming part of the wall surrounding the control chamber. The diaphragm is movably arranged in the housing of the gas pressure regulator. During normal operation, this mobility serves to regulate the pressure by changing the volume of the control chamber. When the diaphragm and control element are in a relative position (i.e., the vent arrangement), a passage is opened between the control chamber and a vent chamber. If, under normal conditions, the gas flows only within the control chamber, this creates a transition to a vent chamber. The vent chamber is preferably connected to the outside world around the gas pressure regulator.The passage and the discharge chamber thus function as a pressure relief valve. The control element is designed as a type of plunger, with one end face being arranged below the diaphragm in the control chamber so that the diaphragm practically rests on this end face. A preload element is also provided. The preload element itself is designed and arranged to be movable. This serves the purpose of being able to move it from one position to another. Insofar as the purpose of the preload element is only to block the pressure relief valve for a leak test, it is necessary that the preload element is only active temporarily and in particular only during the test. Mobility is therefore provided so that the preload element can be moved again. For this purpose, one design provides two fixed positions which the preload element assumes and between which it can - e.g.by user action. The preload element serves to restrict the relative movement between the diaphragm and the control element. This prevents the passage between the diaphragm and the control element from opening. This blocks the pressure relief valve, allowing the pressure test to be performed. Conversely, after the pressure test, the pressure relief valve can be reactivated for normal operation.

[0006] One embodiment provides that the preload element prevents the discharge arrangement from being reached. In this embodiment, the preload element ensures that the relative discharge arrangement between the diaphragm and the control element cannot be reached, so that the passage is not open.

[0007] One embodiment includes a gas pressure regulator further comprising a spring component, the relative movement between the diaphragm and the control element counteracting the spring force of the spring component, and the biasing element acting on the spring force. In this embodiment, a spring component ensures that the passage between the diaphragm and the control element remains closed. Opening the passage is therefore only possible if a force greater than the spring force is applied.

[0008] One embodiment provides that the preload element is designed and arranged to be movable relative to the control element, and that a closing force of the spring component depends on a position of the preload element relative to the control element. The closing force is the force with which the spring component closes the passage. In this embodiment, the preload element can be moved relative to the control element. In one embodiment, this occurs axially along a longitudinal axis of the control element. Depending on the position of the preload element, a different closing force results.

[0009] In one embodiment, the preload element is movably mounted on the control element and is pressed against a fixed bearing point at the end of the control element by the spring component (an alternative name is: PRV spring for Pressure Relief Valve). The preload element has at least two bearing levels at different heights along the control element. By rotation, the preload element can be moved from one position to another and can therefore be displaced along the axis of the control element. Insofar as the purpose of the preload element is to block the pressure relief valve for a leak test, it is necessary that the preload element is only active temporarily and in particular only during the test. Therefore, mobility is provided so that the moving element can be moved again. The preload element serves to increase the closing force of the drain valve.Increasing the closing force preferably ensures that the passage between the control chamber and the discharge chamber is not opened. This blocks the pressure relief valve and allows the pressure test to be performed.

[0010] One embodiment includes an eccentric component, which causes an axial movement of the preloading element along the control element. An eccentric is a known way of converting between translational and rotational movements. The eccentric component serves to axially displace the preloading element. In one embodiment, this causes the spring component to be compensated to a greater or lesser extent, thereby changing the setting of the closure force.

[0011] In one embodiment, the preload element is movably mounted on the control element and is pressed by the spring component against an eccentrically rotatable bearing point at the end of the control element. The horizontal rotation of the eccentric allows the preload element to be moved from one position to another, thereby displacing it along the axis of the control element.

[0012] One embodiment involves the control element protruding through the membrane, and the passage opening between the control element and the membrane. In this embodiment, the control element is located within the membrane, i.e., surrounded by the membrane – preferably radially. The passage is located between the membrane and the control element.

[0013] In one embodiment, the membrane and the control element have structures that overlap or complement each other in a relative arrangement such that the passage is closed. However, if the distance between the membrane and the control element increases sufficiently, the structures no longer engage or complement each other, and the passage between the two components is opened. This allows the gas to flow into the discharge chamber.

[0014] One embodiment includes a lever and a sealing element movably arranged in the housing, the sealing element being located between the inlet and the control chamber, and the lever being mechanically connected to the control element. This type of gas pressure regulator is disclosed, for example, in the documents DE 10 2019 103 201 A1 or WO 2020 / 030398 A1 mentioned above.

[0015] In detail, there are numerous possibilities for designing and developing the gas pressure regulator. Reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to the independent patent claim and, on the other hand, to the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 shows a section through an embodiment of a gas pressure regulator according to the prior art, Fig. 2 shows a section through a first embodiment of a gas pressure regulator according to the invention with an inactive prestressing element in a first phase, Fig. 3 shows the gas pressure regulator of the Fig. 2 with an active pre-tensioning element in a second phase, Fig. 4 a part of a section through a second embodiment of a gas pressure regulator, Fig. 5 a section through a third embodiment of a gas pressure regulator according to the invention with an inactive pre-tensioning element in a first phase and Fig. 6 the gas pressure regulator of the Fig. 5 with an active prestressing element in a second phase.

[0016] The Fig. 1 shows a section through a gas pressure regulator 1 according to the prior art. Between an inlet 2 and an outlet 3 for the gas, there is a control chamber 7 within the housing 4, which is delimited on the upper side by a movable diaphragm 5. The diaphragm 5 surrounds a stamp-shaped control element 6 that projects centrally through the diaphragm 5. The diaphragm 5 and the possibility of changing the volume of the control chamber 7 through it, as well as the control element 6, which is connected to a lever 20, serve to regulate the pressure. On the side of the discharge chamber 8, the diaphragm 5 is loaded with a spring that presses the diaphragm 5 towards the control chamber 7. The lever 20 is rotatably mounted in the housing 4 and, via a sealing element 21, closes the inlet 2 into the control chamber.

[0017] In the event – ​​as shown here – that the applied gas pressure becomes too high, a type of pressure relief valve is provided. If the pressure increases, the diaphragm 5 moves away from the control chamber 7. This creates a passage 9 between the diaphragm 5 and the control element 6 in its center. The gas can flow from the control chamber 7 into the release chamber 8 through this passage 9, or generally referred to as the opening between the central recess of the diaphragm 5 and the control element 6. The release chamber 8 is connected to the environment around the gas pressure regulator 1 via an opening located here at the upper end. However, the fact that the passage 9 opens above a certain pressure in the control chamber 7 means that a pressure test with a pressure above the value at which the pressure relief valve reacts is not possible.The closing force which has to be applied to open the passage 9 is determined by the spring component 11, which is supported on the control element 6 on the one hand and rests on the membrane 5 on the other hand.

[0018] The Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of the gas pressure regulator 1 according to the invention, wherein the same components have the same reference numerals as in the Fig. 1 To avoid repetition, only the differences are described here.

[0019] The key difference is the variably deployable pre-tensioning element 10, which is located here in the discharge chamber 8 above the diaphragm 5. The pre-tensioning element 10 affects the closing force of the spring component 11 by compressing the spring component 11 more or less. In the state shown here, the spring component 11 is only compressed to the extent that, due to the higher position of the pre-tensioning element 10, the passage for releasing the excess pressure opens in normal use (see Fig. 1 ).

[0020] The Fig. 3 shows the case where the preload element 10 is located axially along the control element 6 further toward the diaphragm 5, whereby the spring component 11 is compressed more strongly and a higher closing force is obtained. The pressure in the control chamber 7 can thus be increased significantly.

[0021] In the Fig. 4 is a section of a gas regulator similar to the variant of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 The pre-tensioning element 10 is mounted at the bottom near the membrane 5 and not - as in the variant of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 - in the direction of the end of the control element 6 facing away from the membrane 5.

[0022] The prestressing element 10 of the embodiments of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the control element 6. In the inactive state ( Fig. 2 ) a protrusion (for example, provided by a pin which is guided through the upper end) of the control element 6 rests in a recess of the plate-like pre-tensioning element 10. Due to the rotation of the pre-tensioning element 10, the protrusion no longer lies in the recess, so that the pre-tensioning element 10 assumes a lower axial position in the direction of the membrane 5 ( Fig. 3 ).

[0023] In the variant of the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 an eccentric component 12 is provided which moves the preloading element 10 axially along the longitudinal axis of the control element 6. In the Fig. 5 The inactive state is shown. The preload element 10 is located at an upper axial endpoint. The eccentric component 12 is also connected to the control element 6 and is located above the preload element 10. If the eccentric component 12 is rotated—as indicated here by the arrow—the preload element 10 is moved axially toward the diaphragm 5, increasing the closing force of the spring component 11 because it is compressed more strongly. As a result, a greater force must be applied to open the passage between the diaphragm 5 and the control element 6. Bezugszeichenliste

[0024] 1 Gas pressure regulator 2 inlet 3 Outlet 4 Housing 5 membrane 6 Control 7 Tax Chamber 8Drain chamber 9 passage 10 Preloading element 11 Spring component 12 Eccentric component 20 lever 21 Sealing element

Claims

1. A gas-pressure regulator (1), having an inlet (2), an outlet (3), a housing (4), a diaphragm (5), a control element (6), a control chamber (7), a discharge chamber (8), an adjustable biasing element (10) and a spring component (11), wherein the inlet (2) and the outlet (3) each open onto the control chamber (7), wherein the diaphragm (5) partially delimits the control chamber (7), wherein the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6) are configured and arranged within the housing (4) such that the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6) are movable relative to each other, wherein a passage (9) between the control chamber (7) and the discharge chamber (8) is open in a relative discharge arrangement of the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6), wherein the adjustable biasing element (10) impedes a relative movement between the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6), wherein the relative movement between the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6) takes place against a spring force of the spring component (11), wherein the biasing element (10) acts on the spring force, wherein the biasing element (10) is configured and arranged so as to be movable relative to the control element (6), and wherein a closing force of the spring component (11) depends on a position of the biasing element (10) relative to the control element (6), characterized in that the adjustable biasing element (10) can assume either of two fixed positions and is movable between the two fixed positions, in that the biasing element (10) prevents the discharge arrangement from being reached, and in that an eccentric component (12) is provided which causes an axial movement of the biasing element (10) along the control element (6), or, in an inactive state, a protrusion of the control element (6) rests in a recess of the plate-like biasing element (10) and, by a rotation of the biasing element (10) about a longitudinal axis of the control element (6), the protrusion is located outside the recess so that the biasing element (10) assumes a deeper axial position in the direction of the diaphragm (5).

2. The gas-pressure regulator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control element (6) projects through the diaphragm (5), and wherein the passage (9) opens between the control element (6) and the diaphragm (5).

3. The gas-pressure regulator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a lever (20) and a sealing element (21) are movably arranged within the housing (4), wherein the sealing element (21) is located between the inlet (2) and the control chamber (7), and wherein the lever (20) is in mechanical contact with the control element (6).