Anti-spike pressure management of pressure-regulated fluid storage and delivery vessels

Abstract

A fluid supply package comprising a pressure-regulated fluid storage and dispensing vessel, a valve head adapted for dispensing of fluid from the vessel, and an anti-pressure spike assembly adapted to combat pressure spiking in flow of fluid at inception of fluid dispensing.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A pressure regulator comprising:
 a housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the chamber including therein a pressure-sensing assembly with a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary and movable portions being interconnected by a bellows structure with diaphragm elements adapted to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber;   a damper assembly adapted to dampen oscillations and stabilize movement of the pressure-sensing assembly between open and closed positions, the damper assembly disposed within a sleeve formed on the movable portion; and   a poppet closure assembly operatively coupled to the pressure-sensing assembly and adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and outlet of the chamber, the poppet closure assembly including a poppet element and a seating structure located at the inlet of the chamber, the poppet element having an upper spherical shaped surface adapted to mate and contact the seating structure to thereby form a seal with the poppet element.   
     
     
         22 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the seating structure has a flat cylindrical shape defining the regulator inlet and wherein contact points between the poppet element and seating structure are at an obtuse angle so as minimize contact between the poppet element and the seating structure. 
     
     
         23 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the poppet closure assembly is comprised of a metal poppet element and a plastic seating structure. 
     
     
         24 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the poppet closure assembly is comprised of a metal poppet element and a plastic seating structure. 
     
     
         25 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the poppet closure assembly is further comprised of a material of construction having a low level of deformation while under pressure. 
     
     
         26 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the poppet seating structure of the poppet closure assembly is comprised of a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         27 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the poppet closure assembly further comprises a poppet stem and a retainer spring assembly that attaches the poppet element to a surface of the bellows of the pressure regulator, wherein a gap between the retainer spring and poppet stem has a defined gap dimension, wherein the poppet stem and retainer spring assembly are configured for regulating gas flow through the inlet of the regulator. 
     
     
         28 . The pressure regulator of  claim 21 , wherein the outlet of the chamber further comprises a flow restrictor orifice member selected from a group consisting of a restricted flow device that reduces the orifice of the outlet, and a filter member having reduced pore sizes configured to reduce gas flow. 
     
     
         29 . A fluid supply package including the pressure regulator of  claim 21  further comprising:
 a pressure-regulated fluid storage and dispensing vessel enclosing the pressure regulator; and 
 a valve head coupled to the dispensing vessel and adapted for dispensing of a fluid from the vessel through a discharge port, the pressure regulator being disposed upstream of the discharge port and coupled to the valve head, the valve head including a flow control valve that is operable to control fluid dispensing from the vessel. 
 
     
     
         30 . A pressure regulator comprising:
 a housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the chamber including therein a pressure-sensing assembly with a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary and movable portions being interconnected by a bellows structure with diaphragm elements adapted to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber;   a damper assembly adapted to dampen oscillations and stabilize movement of the pressure-sensing assembly between open and closed positions, the damper assembly disposed within a sleeve formed on the movable portion; and   a poppet closure assembly operatively coupled to the pressure-sensing assembly and adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and outlet of the chamber, the poppet closure assembly including a poppet element and a seating structure located at the inlet of the chamber, the poppet element having a blunt profile shape adapted to mate and contact the seating structure to form a seal.   
     
     
         31 . The pressure regulator of  claim 30 , wherein the seating structure has a flat cylindrical shape defining the regulator inlet and wherein contact points between the poppet element and seating structure are at an obtuse angle so as minimize contact between the poppet element and the seating structure. 
     
     
         32 . The pressure regulator of  claim 30 , wherein the poppet closure assembly is comprised of a metal poppet element and a plastic seating structure. 
     
     
         33 . The pressure regulator of  claim 31 , wherein the poppet closure assembly is further comprised of a material of construction having a low level of deformation while under pressure. 
     
     
         34 . The pressure regulator of  claim 31 , wherein the poppet seating structure of the poppet closure assembly is comprised of a non-metallic material. 
     
     
         35 . The pressure regulator of  claim 30 , wherein the poppet closure assembly further comprises a poppet stem and retainer spring assembly that attaches the poppet element to a surface of the bellows of the pressure regulator, wherein a gap between the retainer spring and poppet stem has a defined gap dimension, wherein the poppet stem and retainer spring assembly are configured for regulating gas flow through the inlet of the regulator. 
     
     
         36 . The pressure regulator of  claim 30 , wherein the outlet of the chamber further comprises a flow restrictor orifice member selected from a group consisting of a restricted flow device that reduces the orifice of the outlet, and a filter member having reduced pore sizes configured to reduce gas flow. 
     
     
         37 . A pressure regulator comprising:
 a housing having a chamber with an inlet and an outlet, the chamber including therein a pressure-sensing assembly with a stationary portion fixed relative to the housing and a movable portion, the stationary and movable portions being interconnected by a bellows structure with diaphragm elements adapted to expand and contract in response to pressure variations in the chamber, the outlet of the chamber including a restricted flow orifice member configured to reduce a pressure of an outgoing flow of the pressure regulator;   a damper assembly adapted to dampen oscillations and stabilize movement of the pressure-sensing assembly between open and closed positions, the damper assembly disposed within a sleeve formed on the movable portion; and   a poppet closure assembly operatively coupled to the pressure-sensing assembly and adapted to regulate fluid pressure between the inlet and outlet of the chamber, the poppet closure assembly including a poppet element and a seating structure located at the inlet of the chamber, the poppet element configured to contact the seating structure to form a seal.   
     
     
         38 . The pressure regulator of  claim 37 , wherein the restricted flow orifice member includes a filter member configured with a pore size that restricts high-end gas flow rates. 
     
     
         39 . The pressure regulator of  claim 37 , wherein the restricted flow orifice member includes a restricted flow device that reduces the orifice of the outlet of the chamber thereby reducing high-end gas flow rates.