Two-Stage Gas Pressure Regulator With Integrated Expansion Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pressure regulation devices for compressed gases often require multiple stages and complex mechanisms to achieve precise pressure adjustment, which can be cumbersome and inefficient, especially when dealing with high-pressure sources exceeding the needed application pressure.
Innovation Solution
A two-stage pressure-regulating device with a first stage regulator for coarse adjustment and a second stage regulator for fine-tuning, utilizing a combination of pistons, valves, and biasing members to adjust pressure ratios efficiently, and an expansion chamber to reduce pressure, allowing for precise control of gas pressure output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single-stage pressure regulator is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the pressure adjustment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulation function is divided into two independent stages: a first stage regulator for coarse pressure reduction and a second stage regulator for fine pressure adjustment. This segmentation allows each stage to specialize in a specific adjustment range, achieving high precision without requiring a single complex regulator
2Measurement precision
If a two-stage pressure regulator is used, then the pressure adjustment precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first and second stage regulators are merged into a single integrated device with shared components including a common body, integrated sealing systems, and unified adjustment mechanisms. This merging reduces the overall device complexity compared to using two separate regulators while maintaining the precision benefits of two-stage regulation
3Stress or pressure
If the distance between expansion body and intermediate regulator body is increased, then the pressure decrease amount is increased, but the device length is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate regulator body is nested within the expansion body structure, with the first stage regulator positioned inside the expansion chamber. This nesting arrangement allows the pressure regulation components to be compactly integrated, achieving the required pressure decrease without proportionally increasing the overall device length
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and precise reduction of high-pressure gas to a selected lower pressure, facilitating convenient storage and use in applications such as pneumatic systems and medical devices, with adjustable mechanisms for calibrated output.
Implementation Method 1
a first piston movable in an upstream and downstream directions relative to the gas inlet and configured to move the sealing member in the manner that opens the first valve
Implementation Method 2
a first biasing member positioned to apply a force the first piston in the upstream direction
Implementation Method 3
an expansion body defining an expansion chamber that is in fluid communication with the gas inlet
Implementation Method 4
a second stage pressure regulator positioned downstream from first stage pressure regulator and in fluid communication therewith, the second stage pressure regulator being configured to decrease gas pressure of a gas flowing therethrough
Implementation Method 5
an intermediate regulator body threadedly connected to the expansion body and securing at least a portion of the first stage pressure regulator therebetween in a manner that changing distance between the expansion body and the intermediate regulator body changes an amount of pressure decrease produced by the first stage regulator
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments described herein relate to a pressure-regulating device, systems that include the device, and related methods. For example, the pressure-regulating device may receive gas from a gas supply at a first pressure (e.g., on a supply side of the pressure-regulating device) and may regulate or reduce the pressure of the received gas to a selected or suitable second, different pressure.