US 12,270,585 B2
Dome-loaded back pressure regulator with setpoint pressure energized by process fluid
Ryan Matthew Heffner, Asheville, NC (US); Eugene Charles Jansen, Stafford, VA (US); and Jeffrey Dean Jennings, Hendersonville, NC (US)
Assigned to Equilibar, LLC, Fletcher, NC (US)
Filed by Equilibar, LLC, Fletcher, NC (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/486,075.
Application 17/486,075 is a division of application No. 15/976,495, filed on May 10, 2018, granted, now 11,193,703.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/648,624, filed on Mar. 27, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/504,274, filed on May 10, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0011030 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F16K 7/12 (2006.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01)
CPC F25B 49/02 (2013.01) [F16K 7/12 (2013.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 2500/07 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A diaphragm pressure regulator, comprising:
a body defining a process surface and including:
an exhaust port having a discharge opening communicating with an exterior of the body, and at least one vent void in the process surface communicating with the exhaust port; and
an inlet port having an inlet opening communicating with an exterior of the body, and at least one process void in the process surface communicating with the inlet port;
a reference housing including a cavity defining a reference surface and a reference port in fluid communication with the cavity and an exterior of the reference housing; and
a diaphragm having opposed reference and process sides disposed between the body and the reference housing such that the process side contacts the process surface, the diaphragm movable between a first position engaged with the at least one vent void, and a second position wherein the diaphragm is not engaged with the at least one vent void, wherein a dome is defined between the cavity and the reference side of the diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm pressure regulator is oriented such that the diaphragm extends in a vertical direction; and
wherein the reference housing includes a sump configured to segregate liquid from the reference side of the diaphragm, wherein the sump is located asymmetrically with respect to the diaphragm.