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 becomes too high. Regulators with pressure relief valves are described, for example, in US 3 488 685 A, DE 551 843 A, or GB 582,051 A. This overpressure is above the normal applied pressure. For certain applications, e.g., camping, leak tests are required 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 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 a passage between the control chamber and the discharge chamber is open when the diaphragm is in a position, and wherein a movable limiting element is present which limits movement of the diaphragm in one direction.

[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. This mobility serves to regulate the pressure during normal operation by changing the volume of the control chamber. When the diaphragm is in one position, a passage is opened between the control chamber and a discharge chamber. While in normal conditions the gas only flows within the control chamber, a transition to a discharge chamber can be created by positioning the diaphragm. The discharge chamber is preferably connected to the outside world around the gas pressure regulator.This allows the gas to escape from the control chamber into the atmosphere via the release chamber. This allows for a relatively simple reduction of the excess pressure. The passage and the release chamber thus function as a pressure relief valve. A limiting element is also present. The limiting element itself is movable. This serves the purpose of allowing it to be moved from one position to another. Since the purpose of the limiting element is only to block the pressure relief valve for a leak test, it is necessary that the limiting element is only active temporarily and, in particular, only during the test. Therefore, mobility is provided so that the limiting element can be moved again. The limiting element serves to limit movement of the diaphragm in one direction.Limiting the movement of the diaphragm 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.

[0006] One embodiment provides that the gas pressure regulator further comprises a control element, that the diaphragm and the control element are configured and arranged in the housing in such a way that the diaphragm and the control element are movable relative to one another, and that when the diaphragm and control element are in a relative discharge arrangement, the passage between the control chamber and the discharge chamber is open. In this embodiment, the position of the diaphragm for opening the passage is determined by the relative discharge arrangement between the diaphragm and the control element. In this embodiment, the control element, which in one embodiment is designed as a type of plunger, additionally serves to regulate the pressure.

[0007] One design provides for the limiting element to restrict the movement of the diaphragm away from the control chamber. This direction of movement is typically present when the diaphragm reacts to increased pressure in the control chamber. This is also the direction in which the diaphragm moves until the pressure relief valve is activated. By limiting the movement of the diaphragm in this direction, it is possible to prevent the passage between the control and discharge chambers from opening. Therefore, the dimensions and geometries must be selected and coordinated so that the passage cannot open.

[0008] One embodiment involves the control element protruding through the diaphragm, and the passage opening between the control element and the diaphragm. In this embodiment, the control element is located within the diaphragm, i.e., surrounded by the diaphragm—preferably radially. An opening is located between the diaphragm and the control element, which is normally closed by the relative position of the diaphragm and the control element. The passage opens only when the diaphragm moves into a certain position relative to the control element at its center, for example, due to an increase in pressure in the control chamber.

[0009] 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.

[0010] One embodiment provides that the limiting element is movable between an active and an inactive position, and that the limiting element limits the movement of the membrane only in the active position. In this embodiment, the limiting element can be moved between two positions. The limiting element limits the movement of the membrane only in an active position and not otherwise. One embodiment provides that the active position is clearly indicated to the user by a message.

[0011] One embodiment consists in that the limiting element is designed and arranged so as to be rotatable about the control element between the active and the inactive position. Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment provides that the limiting element is designed and arranged so as to be displaceable radially relative to the control element between the active and the inactive position. Alternatively or additionally, one embodiment consists in that the limiting element is designed and arranged so as to be rotatable and / or displaceable axially along the control element between the active and the inactive position. What the aforementioned embodiments have in common is that the limiting element is subjected to a mechanical movement by which it can be activated or deactivated.

[0012] One embodiment includes a lever and a sealing element being movably arranged in the housing, the sealing element being located between the inlet and the control chamber, and the lever being mechanically contacted with the control element. This type of gas pressure regulator is disclosed, for example, in the aforementioned documents DE 10 2019 103 201 A1 or WO 2020 / 030398 A1.

[0013] In detail, there are numerous possibilities for designing and developing the gas pressure regulator. Reference is made, on the one hand, to the patent 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 limiting element in a first phase, Fig. 3 shows the gas pressure regulator of the Fig. 2 with an active limiting element in a second phase, Fig. 4 a section through a second embodiment of a gas pressure regulator according to the invention with an inactive limiting element in a first phase and Fig. 5 the gas pressure regulator of the Fig. 4 with an active limiting element in a second phase.

[0014] 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 of the regulator 1. The control chamber 7 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 ability to change 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.

[0015] 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 at the upper end. 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] The essential difference is the variably usable limiting element 10, which is located here in the discharge chamber 8 above the membrane 5. In its activated phase, the limiting element 10 limits the movement of the membrane 5 in the direction perpendicular to the membrane 5 or along the control element 6 or away from the control chamber 7. This prevents the membrane 5 from moving away so far due to a pressure increase in the control chamber 7 that the passage (see Fig. 1 ). This allows the pressure required for a pressure test to be applied in the control chamber 7. In this embodiment, the limiting element 10 is a component that can be rotated around the control element 6 and is rotated into the active position (shown here) only for the pressure test. For this purpose, a geometry with recesses or elevations is provided, for example, which is only active for travel limitation in a certain arrangement relative to the other components or, for example, relative to the housing.

[0018] In the Fig. 2 In a first phase, the limiting element 10 is located in the discharge chamber 8 above the diaphragm 5 and below a neck area of ​​the housing 4. If the diaphragm 5 moves upward, it carries the limiting element 10 with it in this direction. It can be seen that the limiting element 10 is rotated around the control element 6 such that, during an upward movement, it fits into the neck of the housing 4 and therefore does not limit the movement of the diaphragm 5.

[0019] In the Fig. 3 a second phase is shown in which a higher pressure is present in the control chamber 7 than in the first phase of the Fig. 2 which deflects the diaphragm 5 further upward. Shown is the moment at which the limiting element 10, now activated by its rotation, strikes the housing 4 and thus prevents further movement of the diaphragm 5. This prevents the passage between the diaphragm 5 and the control element 6 from opening as a passage between the control chamber 7 and the discharge chamber 8. This, in turn, allows the pressure in the control chamber 7 to be further increased for the pressure test.

[0020] The limiting element 10 of the first embodiment of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 thus has a non-rotationally symmetrical design, so that a rotation activates the limiting element 10 or puts it into the inactive state.

[0021] The limiting element 10 of the second embodiment of the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is radially movable.

[0022] In the Fig. 4 The limiting element 10 is arranged so that it does not hit the neck of the housing during a pressure increase and therefore does not block further movement of the diaphragm toward the discharge chamber 8. This is therefore the inactive position of the limiting element 10 and also the normal operating state of the gas pressure regulator.

[0023] In the Fig. 5 the activated state of the limiting element 10 is shown, with one section radially further inward and another section radially further outward than in the inactivated state of the Fig. 4 As a result, when the pressure increases, the wave-like sections of the limiting element 10 come into contact with the housing and thus limit the axial movement of the diaphragm 5 along the control element 6.

[0024] In a further embodiment - not shown here - the limiting element itself is designed and arranged to be axially movable along the axis of movement of the membrane or along the control element. Bezugszeichenliste

[0025] 1Gas pressure regulator 2Inlet 3Outlet 4Housing 5Diaphragm 6Control element 7Control chamber 8Discharge chamber 9Passage 10Limiting element 20 lever 21 Sealing element

Claims

1. A gas pressure regulator (1), comprising an inlet (2), an outlet (3), a housing (4), a diaphragm (5), a control chamber (7) and a discharge chamber (8), 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 a passage (9) between the control chamber (7) and the discharge chamber (8) is open in one position of the diaphragm (5), and wherein a movable limiting element (10) is provided, characterized in that the limiting element (10) limits a movement of the diaphragm (5) away from the control chamber (7) so that the passage (9) does not open, in that the limiting element (10) is movable between an active and an inactive position, and in that the limiting element (10) limits the movement of the diaphragm (5) only in the active position.

2. The gas pressure regulator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the gas pressure regulator (1) further has a control element (6), wherein the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6) are of such a configuration and arranged within the housing (4) such that the diaphragm (5) and the control element (6) are movable relative to each other, wherein the 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 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 2, wherein the limiting element (10) is configured and arranged so as to be rotatable about the control element (6) between the active and the inactive position, wherein in the inactive position, the limiting element (10) fits into a neck area of the housing (4) when the diaphragm (5) moves away from the control chamber (7), and wherein in an active position, the limiting element (10) abuts against the housing (4) when the diaphragm (5) moves away from the control chamber (7).

4. The gas pressure regulator (1) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the limiting element (10) is configured and arranged so as to be radially displaceable with respect to the control element (6) between the active and the inactive position, wherein in the active position, the limiting element is located radially further inwards or outwards than in the inactive position, wherein in the inactive position, the limiting element (10) does not abut against a neck of the housing (4) when the diaphragm (5) moves away from the control chamber (7), and wherein in an active position, the limiting element (10) comes into contact with the housing (4) when the diaphragm (5) moves away from the control chamber (7).

5. The gas pressure regulator (1) according to any of claims 2 to 4, 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).