Like spool valve markers, there is a large array of methods that go into regulator design. Although there are two main types of regs out there (moving base or floating pooppet), there's a variety of methods when it comes to assembling them and how they are arranged. I've taken the time to come up with a few of my own designs.
Unfortunately, one of the constraints for a regulator is how large it ends up being when installed on a marker. Many of the smaller regulators out there require custom tools and/or fixtures to be made which allows them to be as small as they are. I don't want to make anything new for just one item (regulator) so it limits some of what I can do.
Shade Regulator: (formally called the BAR reg)
One of my favorite reg designs, called the Shade reg. It's a balanced piston-type regulator with an external adjustment. The features of this reg include the macroline input mounted right at the top of the regulator (right under the vertical ASA threads) and consists of two housing sections that screw onto each other and lock using a set screw for easy disassembly (no junky "everything screws onto everything else and is impossible to remove" designs). The other visual feature is that the entire bottom housing section is screwed in or out to adjust the reg pressure, instead of just a small allen wrench or nut. This is just a cosmeticcs issue but it's how I modeled it from the start so there it is.
This system is very small. It doesn't really matter from a performance standpoint, and some regulators are actually made larger so they make a better foregrip, but it's still a unique feature.
Serzone Regulator:
Another concept of mine is to integrate two regulators into one. This essentially eliminates the use of an LPR since it becomes physically part of the main reg. There's two ways to do this, either have both regs feed off the same input presure, or have the LPR feed off the output of the main reg. The latter is more traditional to how an LPR is arranged, but there's no real practical advantage to either type (it just depends on how the reg's internals are laid out). Seen below is one of the former types.
I had planned on fabricating one of these for use with a project of mine (Gnucleus) but decided against it since it would simple be easier to use a traditional LPR. I also wished to have this prototyped on my Axon concept marker, however I sided against it since the purpose of the reg become obsolete. Removing the LPR from the marker was possible, but didn't do anything worthy.
Umbrella Regulator:
This is the most traditional looking regulator I've made when it comes to the internals, but it also happens to be one of the more simple when it comes to the fabrication. This reg is a floating poppet type similar to the Shocker/Impulse Max-Flo once used by SP. The interesting thing about Umbrella regs is they are very easy to service and they use only standard o-rings. This is ultimately a requirement for just about anything I design, since it makes the parts MUCh easier to service years down the road.
I plan to sell this regulator as a bottomline accessory with a tank on/off knob. Coming soon!