Fluidic control apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination: first and second fluid manifolds; first and second chambers each having first and second connections for directed fluid flow therethrough; means continuously connecting said first manifold to said first connections for substantially free flow of fluid out of said chambers and for restricted flow of fluid into said chambers; first and second valve means connected between said second manifold and said second connections and severally having first conditions, providing flow paths from said second manifold to said second connections, and second conditions, interrupting said flow paths and substituting flow paths for free discharge of fluid from said second connection; and fluid actuated means connected to said valve means and to one of said manifolds for cyclically causing simultaneous opposite conditions of said valve means followed by reversed simultaneous opposite conditions of said valve means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the fluid-actuated means comprises hysteretic fluidic switching means, means normally biasing said switching means in a first position, and time element means for cyclically varying a fluid input to said switching means through a range greater than the hysteresis thereof.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the time element means comprises a fluidic capacitor and means connecting said capacitor alternately to a fluid source and to a fluid sink.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the last named means is connected to the switchinG means for triggering thereby to cause the alternate operation.

Claim 6

In combination: hysteretic fluidic control means for giving first and second outputs respectively according as a variable fluid input thereto is of greater or less than a predetermined magnitude; fluid energy storage means; means providing a flow path, having a first impedance, between said storage means and said first control means; a fluid source; a fluid sink; further fluid-actuated means having first, second, and third fluid connections and operable out of a normal first condition, in which a flow path is established between said first and third connections, and into a second condition, in which a flow path is established between said first and second connections, said second and third connections providing flow paths to said source and said sink respectively; means providing a further flow path having a second impedance, less than said first impedance, between said storage means and said first connection; and means interconnecting said control means so that said further control means is operated into said second condition by the first output of said first control means.

Claim 7

In combination: hysteretic fluidic control means for giving first and second outputs respectively according as a variable fluid input thereto is of greater or less than a predetermined magnitude; fluid energy storage means; means providing a flow path, having a first impedance, between said storage means and said first control means; a fluid source; a fluid sink; further fluid-actuated means having first, second, and third fluid connections and operable out of a normal first condition, in which a flow path is established between said first and third connections, and into a second condition, in which a flow path is established between said first and second connections, said second and third connections providing flow paths to said source and said sink respectively; means providing a further flow path having a second impedance, less than said first impedance, between said storage means and said first connection; and means interconnecting said control means so that said further control means is operated into said second condition by the first output of said first control means.

Claim 8

Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination: first and second fluid manifolds; first and second chambers each having first and second connections for directed fluid flow therethrough; means continuously connecting said first manifold to said first connections for substantially free flow of fluid out of said chambers and for restricted flow of fluid into said chambers; valve means connected between said second manifold and said second connections, and having a first condition, providing a flow path from said second manifold to a first of said second connections and a flow path for free discharge of fluid from a second of said second connections, and a second condition, providing a flow path from said second manifold to said second of said second connections and a flow path for free discharge of fluid from said first of said second connections; and fluid-actuated means connected to said valve means and to one of said manifolds for cyclically causing said valve means to alternate between said first and second conditions.

Claim 9

Apparatus of the class described comprising in combination: first and second fluid manifolds; first and second chambers each having first and second connections for directed fluid flow therethrough; means continuously connecting said first manifold to said first connections for substantially free flow of fluid out of said chambers and for restricted flow of fluid into said chambers; valve means connected between said second manifold and said second connections, and having a first condition, providing a flow path from said second manifold to a first of said second connections and a flow path for free discharge of fluid from a second of said second connections, and a second condition, providing a flow path from said second manifold to said second of said second connections and a flow path for free discharge of fluid from said first of said second connections; and fluid-actuated means connected to said valve means and to one of said manifolds for cyclically causing said valve means to alternate between said first and second conditions.