US2380956A - Throwover regulator - Google Patents

Description

1945. R. E. EVARTS 2,380,956

THROWOVER REGULATOR V Filed June 4, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Ra/p/IE. Eva is mvsmol HIS ATTORNEY Aug. 7,1945. R. E. EVARTS THROWOVER REGULATOR Filed June 4, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ralph EEYUIIS INVENTQR! V HIS ORNEY v R. E. EVARTS 2,380,956

IHROWOVER REGULATOR Filed June 4, 1941 4 Sheet-Sheet s Raj E. Evans ms ATTORNEY;

Aug. 7, 1945. R. E. EVARTS THROWOVER REGULATOR Filed June 4, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 7- .72

Ralph E Evan:

1 VENTOR.

Patented Aug. 7, 1945 UNITED STATES {PAT T O E 5 j zsusss manna-6.4mm

thnBle-ing I rationotlllinois 111., amlgnorto'lfhehas- Comp C m a c l- Application June 4, 1941, Serhl No. sauce This invention is a continuation in part 01' In! application for IettersPatent, Serial No. 249.997, filed January 9, 1939-ior improvements in Throwover regulator'and relates to portable liquefied p troleumv gas systems and more articularlyto an improved unit for. dispensing and r gulating the pressure of fuel gas supplied for household m l Ili'Oldl to supply fuel gas to individual homes which do not have availableto them'the' municipal or community supply oi fuel, a system came into use wherein propane or the like can be supplied by individual outfits for each house includi 1': Claims. (01.222-4) petroleum gases to supply sjame at a'substantially unii'orm predetermined pressure.

Another object isto provide animproved con trolling'means-relating to fluid control applicable for use in connection with a plurality oi fluid supply tanks, and to provide an improved means by which the connection from a plurality of tanks or containers to a system may be controlled from disconnection of any ,A i'urthenobiect oi the invention is to provide, in one simple unitary assembly, an automatic the outside, the changeover taking place without throwover, manifold regulator including an ining Portable containers. .These containers have outlet connections by which a. service line running to an appliance in the house is detachable In order to insure safe handling by inexperienced persons oi such a iuel which provides many hazards other'tha'nhigh pressures which are not appreciated, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a construction wherein fleld connections between the assembled parts are reduced to a minimum and a factory assembly unit, which can be fully tested before being placed in sures to service pressure.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a unitary pressurccontrol means i'orasystem 0i the class'describedwhich automatically changes the fuel supply irom one to the other of two containcrsinaflrs'tprcssurereductionstageand automatically sure.

- Another object of the invention 'is'to provide it supplies the 'gas at service prescompact unitary -two-stage pressure regulatorwhich can be readily assembled with two con- -t tainers in a, small space. an selectively receives a supply of fuel from one of the tanks automatically while indicating the status or the systemat any time during the operation. v

' Another object of the invention is to provide automatic means for, reducing the pressure of compressed fluids and, particularly. of liquefied tegral two-stage regulator for systems oi. the class described. which is simple in construction and operation, easy to maintain and service, and capable of being produced as an assembly line unit which will operate within the manufacturing tolerances permitted without need for special assembiy adjustments.

These being among the objects or the invention. other, and iurther objects will become apparent from the drawings, the description relatservice, is provided-tor reducing the high pres= ingthereioandtheappended.

Reierrin nowtothedrawlnus:

Fig.1isatopplan-vlewpartlyinscctionillustratlng the improved embodiment oi a dissystem forming-a 'part oi the invention.

pensing I Fig.2isasideelevationpartlyinsectiono! the top part oi the upper portion of the embodiment illustrated in 1."

Fig. 8 is. a side elevation of an improved dispensini; regulator forming a part 01 the inveni-unrigs.

Fig.5isaverticalsectiontakenupon lam-3. -Flg.6isanenlargedsectiontakenuponthe inFlg.4.-. Big. is.

in .8, e

.B i Ea rlstmtalsectiontakenontheline in s- Land Fig. his a plan view of an improved valve disc .theline the top thereof are supported by a wall-bracket Ii having a crooked holder II. one of the container handles in'a manner whereby the may be forced rearwardly at the top a slight distance'and then littodout and over I 55 .the crooked holder whlil'vcs it is desiredto re!- Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken at sienna vertical section taken upon line The wall bracket I! has a crooked holder l3 for each container between which an upwardly extending portion is is provided for mounting the dispensing pressure regulator 2| between the caps Ii whereforwardly diverging bosses 22 receive flexible pigtails 23 which extend through slots 24 in the caps II to a point where the connectors 25 upon the end of the hose may be attached to fittings as in the top of the tank by means of awing nut 11, as more specifically described in the co-pending application-Serial No. 20

345,654 filed July 15, 1940, by William C. Buttner,

= reference to which is hereby made.

The dispensing regulator 2i comprises three main parts preferably made of diecast materials including a main body portion ii, a regulator 2:)

bonnet 32 and a throwover bonnet portion 13.- As more particularly shown in Fig. 8 these parts carry in assembly relationship the interiorly mounted operating parts which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The bonnet 3: is more or less bell shaped, being provided. with a lateral flange 34 which is secured to the body portion II by means of screws 85. The bell portion 32 defines 'one wall of an enclosed space it. Extending outwardly or 35 downwardly from the bonnet 32 is a hollow integrai extension 31 internally threaded as at ii to receive and be partially closed by a correspond lngly threaded plug 39 enlarged as-at ll in the form of a hexagonal head readil engageable by a tool.

\ The plug a may or may not have an opening tberethrough tomaintain the pressure in the space It at atmospheric pressure. It is preferred for purpose of economy to provide an opening ll -.vided with a cylindrical depression or hollow II,

in the bonnet portion for that pu po A spring retainer 44 is threaded into the bonnet 82 for adjustment to receive upon a shoulder 46 one end of a spring, as described below. to vary the tension thereon as adjusted by a tool received in a notch 48 in the retainer 44. Y

A diaphragm 41 form another wall of the chamber I! and is clamped by its edges between the hinge 34 and the corresponding face of the body member Ii. A plate 48 is positioned. within the pace It and normally bears against the diaphragm 41. Its outer edge may be curled or curved away fromthe diaphragm net 4!. The spring Bl, mentioned heretofore as supported at one end by the adjustable nut 44. bears at its other end against the plate II. A diaphragm stem II is positioned mainly within the bonnet 32 and is surrounded by the spring II. The stem Ii is threaded as at 52 to receive anut' 3 against which one end of a spring ll is supported. The "opposite end of the spring I also contacts-the plate ll.

Thediaphragm stem Il may be enlarged'as at I! and may be longitudinally siotted'or grooved as at Ii, The stem extendsthrough a suitable perforation in the diaphragm 41 and in the plate It beyond which it is threaded as at I! to receive an actuating member 58. The actuating member may be provided with an enlarged. downwardly. 7

facing flange"- which contacts the upper or inner surface of the diaphragm ll.

The member I is provided with an upwardly disposed extension I which is drilled to receive a pin 6i which pivotally supports-a valve operating lever 64. Adjacent its opposite end, the lever 64, as better shown in Fig. 7, is provided with a hollow or depression 6 within which a disc II is receive in supported relationship which disc may be made of suitable material. for engaging a seat 61 cast and machined in the body II.

A bearing pin OI. projects through the lever 84 and is supported at its outer end in grooves it formed in bosses I0 and held in place by screws 'H. The pin may be rigidly-supported with respect to the body II or the lever- 64, whichever maybe-desired. so that-the one is rotatable with respect to the other.

inlet ports H and 94 are provided in bosses II as more particularly shown in'Fiig. 3, which bosses,

a indicated in phantom in Fig. 4, extend dlvergingly outwardly to dispose the. conduits 23 in a convenient position to handle for the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

As shown, the threaded inlets I4 and I4 receive correspondingly threaded connectors l6 mounted on the ends of the flexible conduits 23. A passage 85 leads from the port 14 and is provided with a downwardly turned portion 86 which terminates in a seat ll. ,The conduits I! and II are formed in part in a bridge-like member 88 formed integrally, in part at least, with the parti-' tion II. A hollow enlargement II is formed integrally with the partition 13 and is threaded as at I. to receive a sealing plug 9| which is prothe plug is hexed as at N to receive a tool by which it may be fastened in place. On opposite sides of the bridge II the partition 13 is apertured as at I! to provide clearance around the bridge ll.

' As a means for communicating with alternate sources of supply, there is provided an internally is internally threaded as at ill to receive the plug lllsiimlar in all respects to the plug I, having a cylindrical depression I therein and a hexed head llltoreceiveawrench.

The throwover bonnet ll is-provided with a lateral flange III secured in place upon the body 3! by screws I". A diaphragm I" is positioned between adjoining edges of the body Ii and the throwover bonnet I3. The throwover'b'onnet, as

shown particularly in Fig. 6, corresponds in plan and generally to the side wall I! of the body ii. The bonnet 33 is enlarged upwardly as at Ill-to provide a bonnet space or well I".

Thsthrowover bonnet I3 is also provided witha internally threaded depending skirt I20 which hollow socket portion IIO'within which a stem III is mounted to reciprocate. The lower end of the stem is enlarged at I I2 and carries a radial supports a yoke member I2I therein.

The yoke member is correspondingly threaded and is cut away along opposite sides asshown more particularly in Fig. 8 to straddle the bridge 99 and carry a valve seat member I22, more particularly shown in Fig. 9. The yoke is undercut as at I23 to receive the nibs I24 of the seat memher and is apertured as at I26 to prevent the building up of pressure beneath the seat member I22.

The construction of the seat member I22 is signiflcant, the construction shown being illustrative of an arrangement in which any swelling of a Y enlargement I is in service.

seat, due to the presence of deleterious chemicals in the fuel, is accommodated in the undercut portion without materially affecting the valve relationship between the seat member I22 and the seat 66.

vided at the factory for different customers upon I request. The cam as shown is provided with a camming portion I68 that rides upon the top of the flanges H3 and I30 as disposed between them and the body portion of the throwover cap 33, Detents I59 areprovided to engage a prick-punch offset I60 upon the cam body to locate the cam in any one of a plurality of selective positions, the detents thereby providing one or more points of adjustment for the cam. Thecams is held upon the shaft I6I by a cotter pin I6 I.

The passage I62 (Fi 7) leads from the compartment below the diaphragm I01 to a Passage I63 terminating in the valve port 61 as controlled by the valve seat member 66 actuated by the diaphragm 41. Connected to the passage I62 is a pressure gauge I64 which, as seen in Fig. 1, hastwo indices I65 and I66 thereon indicating respectively the presence of a high or low pressure in the passage I62. The low pressure compartment above the diaphragm 41 is connected to a service line '(not shown) by a passageway I61 which terminates in a downwardly presenting threaded opening I68 to receive the conventional connector.

A safety relief valve is provided for the service pressure stage. The diaphragm 41 and diaphragm plate are slidable with respect to the stem 6|.

Whenever the pressure in the compartment above Care should be taken in selecting thematerial Q of which the seat member I22 is constructed so that deleterious effects are minimized. In the particular embodiment illustrated, Paraprene P-109 has been found to be quite successful, it having very stable characteristics whereby close tolerances may be maintained in the design and assembly of the parts described.

At its bottom, the yoke I2I is provided with a projection received in the cylindrical opening I03 to guide the yoke in operation.

The throwover bonnet is symmetrically provided with a second hollow Or cylindrical portion I36 which corresponds to the member IIO. Within it, a stem I36 is positioned and the stem has an against an enlargement I40 of a diaphragm plate I which rests on its under-face against the diaphragm I01 as threaded to a diaphragm stem I42. This stem is enlarged asat I43 and provided with a land I44 bearing against the under side of the diaphragm I01 in opposition .to the member I40. Likewise the enlarged portion I43 is provided with an internally threaded skirt I46 which supports a yoke and valve assembly similarto that supported by the enlarged portion I20 of the stem II1.

As a means for-establishing the desired tension upon each of the springs I I4 and I30, selectively and alternatively, there is provided a shaft I6I which is Journalled in a bearing enlargement I 62 formed integrally with the diaphragm bonnet 33 between the cylindrical socket portions H0 and I36. The member I II is provided with a handle I63 having a wingJM thereon provided be seen hereinafter, points'to I31 and a radially extending flangethe diaphragm 41 becomes excessive it forces the diaphragm away from the flange 50 (Fig. '7 against the action of the springs and 54 to permit gas to escape along the grooves 56 in the stem and out the vent 4|. 1

In operation it will be observed, as already described; that the dispensing regulator is connected 1 to two containers mounted upon the bracket. I2

by pigtails 23.

With the present invention one of the containers supplies fuelfito the servicelin'e while the other stands by as a reserve, the present device providing an automatic means for bringing the reserve container into operation when the service container is empty or below a predetermined pressure.

Immediately after installation of the system described herein, both container'swill be full. The handle I54 will be turned in the direction of whichever container is to serve as the service container. The cam I6'I will depress the. sprin H4 or I30, depending upon which direction the handle I64 is turned, and fuel from the container selected will flow through the respective port 91 or 66 until the pressure below the diaphragm .l0l is sumcient to overcome the tension of the depressed spring and close the port controlled thereby, such pressure being suflicient to maintain the other port closed at all times. From the high pressure chamber the fuel flows through the passage I62 to the port I63 which will be normally open, until the pressure above the diaphragm 41 reaches the preferred pressure 'of 11" water Y column.

whichever container The shaft I6] is squared as at I66to'r'eceive a cam I61 thereon, which cam may be one of any number or interchangeable cams that may be prothere is liquefied vaporized in the Flow from the service container will continue as long as the-pressure therein egceeds the pressure for which the depressed spring and diaphragm are set to operate. By way of example, the depressed springs may be so constructed and arranged with respect to the cam I61 as to provide a pressure of l0# in the compartment below the diaphragm I017. As a general rule. th Pr sure n the service container will exceed 10# as long as porlzed. When all the liquefied gas has been service container, the pressure gas remaining thereinto be va-' reserve valve will come into operation, which in the particular embodiment illustrated, is preferably 6#. With this drop in pressure, the hand of the gauge I6 will move from the service index I65 to the reserve index I66 to indicate that the system is continuing its operation upon the reserve container so that the next time the user passes or inspects the system he will know that it is time to replace the empty tank.

When the empty tank is replaced with a full one the handle 154 is then reversed to place on service the container which had been serving as a reserve, and to indicate that fact, the cam I51 then depressing the other spring to establish a 10# first stage pressure there and release the depressed spring to serve as a reserve control preferably at 6#, the two springs H4 and I3! otherwise being identical.

Having thus described the embodiment of-the invention and the particular arrangement and operation of the parts, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an invention is provided within the purposes and objects stated at the beginning of the description and that various changes and alterations may be made therein without departing from the essential features of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a pressure regulator, a

unitary hollow housing, a partition formed therein dividing the housing into two chambersa plurality of diaphragms, one forming a part of each of said chambers, a closing bonnet positioned outwardly with-respect to each of said diaphragms,

a plurality of passages leading from the outside into one of said chambers formed partially in said partition, another passageway interconnecting the chambers, a plurality of valves one for each of said plurality of passages, a valve operating means for each of said valves having rectilineal fricwill drop rapidly below the 10# in which case the the chambers, a closing bonnet positioned outwardly with respect to each of said diaphragms, means carried by one of the diaphragms for controlling the flow of fluid under pressure through said passage, a plurality of passages leading from the outside into one of said chambers, a plurality of valves one for each of said passages, a valve operating means for each of said valves, said valve operating means joined to one of said diaphragms, springs effective upon each said valve operating means and tending to open them, and selective means positioned within one of the bonnets eiIective to increase the compression of one 01' said springs at a time, and operating means extending outside of said bonnet for moving said spring compressor to efiect compression of one or another of said springs.

4. In combination in a pressure regulator, a unitary hollow housing, a partition formed therein dividing the housing into two chambers, a high pressure and a low pressure diaphragm, one forming a part of each of said chambers, a closing bonnet positioned outwardly with respect to each of said diaphragms, a plurality of passages leading from the outside into one of said chambers means for maintaining a pressure differential between the chamber including a passageway and a valve controlled by one of said diaphragms, a plurality of valves one for each of said passages, a valve operating means for each of said valves, said valve operating means Joined to said high pressure diaphragm and interconntected by an intermediate portion of said diaphragm which is free to move under pressure in said high pressure chamber, springs effective upon each said valve operating means and tending to open them, and selective means effective to increase the compression of one of said springs at a time.

tional contact with a portion of the partition, said valve operating means joined to one of said diaphragms, springs effective upon each of said valve operating means and tending to open them, and selective means effective to increase the compression of one of said springs above the others at a time, and valve means joined to another of said diaphragms for controlling the flow of fluid through said other passageway.

2. In combination in a pressure regulator, a unitary hollow housing, a wall forming a chamher in the housing, a diaphragm forming a part of the chamber, a closing bonnet positioned outwardly with respect to said diaphragm, a pinrality of passages leading from the outside into said chamber, a plurality of valves one for each of said passages, a valve operating means for each of said valves, said valve operating means functioning independently of each other and joined to one of said diaphragms at spaced points exclusive of the intermediate support points for the diaphragm, springs effective upon each of said valve operating means and tending to open them, and selective means positioned within one of the bonnets effective to increase the compression of one .of said springs at a. time'to establish difierent operating characteristics between the valve operating means.

3. In combination in a pressure regulator, a unitary hollow housing, a partition formed therein, dividing the housing into two chambers, a

plurality of diaphragms, one forming a part of each of said chambers, a passage interconnecting 5. In combination in a pressure regulator, a unitary hollow housing, a partition formed therein dividing the housing into two chambers and having a passageway interconnecting the chambers, a high pressure and a low pressure diaphragm, one forming a part of each of said chambers, a closing bonnet positioned outwardly with respect to each of said diaphragms means carried by said low pressure diaphragm forcontrolling the flow of fluid through said passageway, a plurality of passages leading from one of said chambers, partition, a plurality of valves one for each of said passages, a valve operating means for each of said valves, said valve operating means Joined to said high pressure diaphragm, springs eifective upon each said valve operating means and tending to open them; and selective means positioned within one of the bonnets effective to increase the compression of one of said springs at a time above the compression of another, and operating means extending outside of said bonnet for moving said spring compressor to effect increased compression of one or another or said springs.

6. In combination in a pressure regulator, a hollow housing, a plurality of inlets into said housing and a single service-outlet therefrom, an entrance pressure responsive member including a diaphragm and a final pressure regulator the outsideinto formed partially in said sions, valves and operating means for each of said inlets, yielding means tending normally to ing and an outlet pressure regulating means including a diaphragm positioned within said housing, a valve for each of said inlets secured to said entrance pressure responsive means, means effective upon each of said valves tending to open it, selective means positioned in part within said housing and adapted to be moved to eflect selectively said valve opening means to increase the opening effect upon a selected valve.

8. In combination in a pressure regulator means for combustible gases, a hollow housing, two inlets thereto, a single service outlet therefrom, an entrance pressure responsive means including a diaphragm positioned within said housing and an outlet pressure regulating means including a diaphragm positioned within saidv housing, a valve for each of said inlets secured to said entrance pressure responsive means, means efl'ective upon each oi said valves tending to open it, selective means positioned in part within said housing and adapted to be moved to effect selectively said yalve opening means to in crease the opening efiect upon a selected valve and a pressure relief formed in said entrance pressure responsive means adapted upon the occurrence oi excess pressure to yield to cause discharge through said responsive means and away from said service outlet.

9. In combination in a pressure regulator, a

- both systems including an interconnecting intermediate portion free to move the systems under any pressure present in the chamber, said systems being secured to the diaphragm means as units movable therewith and independent guide means for each system providing separate sliding relationships for the valve systems.

11. In combination in a pressure regulator a unitary hollow housing, a partition formed therein dividing the housing into two chambers,"

a diaphragm for each chamber forming a wall for each chamber, a closing bonnet positioned outwardly with respect to each of said diaphragms, a plurality of passages leading from' the outside into one of said chambers, a plurality of valves one for each of said passages, a

valve operating means for each of said valves,

said valve operating means being joined to one unitary housing having concavlties upon opposite sides divided by a partition, said partition having two hollow enlargements forming wells and a portion of the body structure bridging each well, diaphragms on opposite sides of the housing closing said concavities to provide pressure chambers, a bonnet on opposite sides of the housing securing the diaphragms in place, the bonnet opposite said wells having therein a well with recesses corresponding to said wells in the hollow enlargements, a plurality oi passages leading from different sources outside the body and terminating in valve ports on said bridging portions, a passageway leading from the chamber having the wells therein to the other chamber and terminating in a valve port, springs in the bonnet recesses, cam means journalled in the bonnet between said bonnet recesses for establishing a difierential spring tension upon said springs,

valve means cooperating with the valve ports on the bridge portions; said valve means being connected to the diaphragms and springs and urged to their open position by said springs and to their closed position by the pressure in the compartment actingupon the diaphragm, and valvernieans disposed between said wells upon the oppesite sides of the partition for controlling the.

flew of fluid from one compartment to the other through the connecting passageway.

iii. combination in a pressure regulator,

having two ports opening into the same pressure chamber, two valve systems controlling the oi'fluid through said ports, means for imposing upon the two systems diflerent working characteristics, diaphragm means common to of said diaphragms with a freely moving portion of the diaphragm between the valve operating means, springs effective upon each of said valve operating means and tending to open them, se-- lective means effective to increase thecompression of only one of said springs at a time, said housing having a passage interconnecting said chambers, a valve controlling the flow of gas through said passage, a valve operating means connected to the last mentioned valve and joined to the other of said diaphragms to control the pressure of fluid delivered to the other of said chambers through the last mentioned passage.

. 12. A throw'over regulator including a housing having a pressure chamber and two inlet passages terminating in ports opening into the chamber at spaced points with the planes of their respective openings coinciding, two valve systems movable to normally open. position in a direction transversely to said coinciding planes for controlling the fiow of fluid through said ports, means disposed between said valve systems for" imposing upon the two systems different working characteristics including a bonnet spring for each system and a handle movable between limits for establishing a differential in pressures exertible by the springs in the respective systems,

diaphragm means disposed ina plane parallel to said coinciding planes and common to both systems, said systems being secured to the dia bonnet secured to the housing and holding the diaphragm in. place; a plurality of'valve members one for each of said ports, spring means in said bonnet urging the diaphragm inwardly, means interconnecting the valve members and diaphragm for urging the valve members away from the ports and maintaining them in a predetermined relative adjustment with respect to their respective ports, means for establishing a I differential pressure on said valve members including said spring means, and means extending outside of the housing for operating'said differential'pressure establishing means, said valve "members including elements having undercut portions and valve :seats having retainer nibs thereon engaging in said undercut portions whereby any swelling oi the seats i's had in a.

,inembers and the ports.

14. In a pressure regulator having a housing provided with a chamber and a. plurality of pasf'sages leading from the outside and terminating in the chambers in valve ports, means for controlling the flow of fluid through said ports including valve members and a device for establishing differential operating conditions under which fluid is admitted through said ports, said device supporting the members and ports with respect to each other in predetermined adjusted positions, and means for maintaining the adjusted positions including valve seats and undercut portions on the valve members which allow for lateral expansion of the seats to control the thickness of 'the seats, and means for retaining the seats on said members.

15. In combination in a pressure regulator having two ports opening into the same pressure chamber, diaphragm means, two valve systems controlling the flow of fluid through said ports and secured to the diaphragm means as units movable therewith, means for imposing upon the two systems different working characteristics including a manually controlled element and springs constituting the sole connection between the manually controlled element and the systems secured to the diaphragms, and means for guiding eachsystem separately for independent movement.

16. A throwover regulator for handling liquefied petroleum gas comprising a hollow housing, two inlets thereto adapted to be connected to separate sources of gas under pressure, a valve mounted in guided relationship in the housing for each inlet and cooperating therewith to control the admission of gas therethrough, pressure responsive means in said housing subjected to atmospheric pressure upon one side and to the pressure of the gas admitted through the inlets by the valves upon'the otherside for controlling the operation of the valves independently of each other, means effective upon each of said valves tending to open it, stem means reciprocably mounted in axail alignment with each valve in the housing for movement between two alternative positions. with respect to the pressure responsive means, and selective means in said housing upon said atmospheric side of the pressure responsive means including a pivotally mounted element movable between two positions for disposing one of said stem means in one of its said alternative positions with respect to the diaphragm to increase the opening effort or said effective means upon one of the valves by which said one of the valves will operate to admit gas to the housing at a higher pressure than the other valve, and a single outlet from said housing for conducting gas to the valve of a service stage pressure regulator.

17, A throwover regulator for handling liquefied petroleum gas comprising a hollow housing, two inlets thereto adapted to be connected to separate sources of gas under pressure, a valve mounted in guided relationship in the housing for each inlet cooperating therewith to control the admission of gas therethrough, pressure responsive means in said housing subjected to atmospheric pressure upon one side and to the pressure of the gas admitted through the inlets by the valves upon the other side for controlling the operation of the valves independently of each other, means eiiective upon each of said valves tending to open it including a spring, stem means for each valve reciprocably mounted in alignment with each valve in the housing and movable between two alternative positions with respect to said pressure responsive means, said stem means supporting one end 01' the spring, and selective means in said housing upon said atmospheric side of the pressure responsive means including a pivotally mounted element for disposing either of said stem means alternatively with the other of said stem means in one of its said alternative positions to increase the opening efl'ort upon one of the valves by which said one of the valves will operate to admit gas to the housing at a higher pressure than the other valve, and a single outlet from said housing for conducting gas to the valve of a service stage pressure regulator.

' RALPH E. EVARTS.

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