Externally adjustable pressure regulator
An externally adjustable pressure regulator includes a body having a shoulder, a longitudinal axis and a high pressure inlet. The body has an opening along a side. A bonnet has a regulated pressure outlet and is engaged with the body. A piston is positioned in part in the body and the bonnet. The piston has a shoulder, a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore at about the end thereof in flow communication with the longitudinal bore. A spring is disposed on the piston. A wedging element is positioned in the opening in the body side and is in contact with the spring. An adjusting ring engages the wedging element to move it into the spring to increase compression of the spring and off of the spring to decrease compression. Increasing compression of the spring increases a spring force of the spring on the piston and decreasing compression of the spring decreases the spring force on the piston.
1. An externally adjustable pressure regulator, comprising:
a body having a shoulder, a longitudinal axis and having a high pressure inlet, the body having an opening therein along a side thereof;
a bonnet engaged with the body, the bonnet having a regulated pressure outlet;
a piston positioned at least in part in the body and at least in part in the bonnet, the piston having a shoulder, the piston having a longitudinal bore and a transverse bore at about the end thereof, the transverse bore in flow communication with the longitudinal bore;
a spring disposed on the piston;
a wedging element, the wedging element positioned in the opening in the body side and in contact with the spring; and
an adjusting ring, the adjusting ring engaging the wedging element to move the wedging element into the spring to increase compression of the spring and to move the wedging element off of the spring to decrease compression of the spring,
wherein increasing compression of the spring increases a spring force of the spring on the piston and decreasing compression of the spring decreases the spring force of the spring on the piston.
2. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein the body and bonnet are threadedly engaged with one another.
3. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting ring is threadedly engaged with the body.
4. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , including a plurality of wedging elements.
5. The pressure regulator of claim 4 , wherein the wedging elements are balls.
6. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a seat and the piston includes a sealing element engageable with the seat.
7. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting ring includes an angled surface for engaging the wedging element.
8. The pressure regulator of claim 5 , wherein the adjusting ring includes an angled surface for engaging the balls.
9. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein the spring is disposed on the piston.
10. The pressure regulator of claim 1 , wherein the spring is coil spring.
11. The pressure regulator of claim 1 wherein the piston includes a shoulder and wherein the spring is positioned on the piston against the shoulder.