US3568698A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid level control system employing fluidic devices
Assignee: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co
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Filing: 1966-12-09
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1986-12-09
Abstract
Abstract A control system is provided for maintaining the liquid level in a container within an upper and a lower limit. Upper and lower sensing devices are connected in the system for controlling the pressure applied to certain fluidic devices in the system. In the first modification, a pair of proportional amplifier fluidic devices are provided, one of the sensing means being operatively connected with each of these devices. The outputs of the two fluidic devices are connected with a bistable fluidic device, the output of which is connected with a liquid level control mechanism such as a pump or valve for adjusting the liquid level in the tank. In a second modification, a proportional amplifier fluidic device is provided which is connected with both of said sensing means. The output of this fluidic device is in turn connected with a bistable fluidic device the output of which is connected with a suitable liquid level control mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 William R Bodwell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; G01F23/161; F; F15; F15C; F15C1/00; F15C1/003; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/2065; Y10T137/2071; Y10T137/212; Y10T137/2125; Y10T137/2147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
369 words
A liquid level control system for a tank containing liquid comprising liquid level sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing means to be positioned in said tank, first fluidic means operatively connected with said sensing means, said first fluidic means including output means, second fluidic means, said second fluidic means being operatively connected with said first fluidic means, said second fluidic means including an output, and a liquid level control mechanism operatively connected to the output of said second fluidic means, a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with each of said fluidic means, and first fluidic means comprising first and second proportional amplifier fluidic devices each of which includes a power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, said second fluidic means comprising a bistable fluidic device including power stream input channel means and first and second output channel means, said source of fluid under pressure comprising means for providing fluid under pressure to the power stream input channel means of each of said fluidic devices, one of said spaced sensing means being operatively connected with the first control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device, another of said liquid level sensing means being operatively connected with the second control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device, the second output channel means of said first fluidic device being connected with the first control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, the second output channel means of said second fluidic device being connected with the second control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device and valve means for controlling the first fluidic means such that when the liquid level in the tank is intermediate said spaced sensing means the pressure in said second control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device will be greater than the pressure in said first control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device, and the pressure in the second control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device will be greater than the pressure in the first control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
369 words
A liquid level control system for a tank containing liquid comprising liquid level sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing means to be positioned in said tank, first fluidic means operatively connected with said sensing means, said first fluidic means including output means, second fluidic means, said second fluidic means being operatively connected with said first fluidic means, said second fluidic means including an output, and a liquid level control mechanism operatively connected to the output of said second fluidic means, a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with each of said fluidic means, and first fluidic means comprising first and second proportional amplifier fluidic devices each of which includes a power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, said second fluidic means comprising a bistable fluidic device including power stream input channel means and first and second output channel means, said source of fluid under pressure comprising means for providing fluid under pressure to the power stream input channel means of each of said fluidic devices, one of said spaced sensing means being operatively connected with the first control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device, another of said liquid level sensing means being operatively connected with the second control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device, the second output channel means of said first fluidic device being connected with the first control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, the second output channel means of said second fluidic device being connected with the second control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device and valve means for controlling the first fluidic means such that when the liquid level in the tank is intermediate said spaced sensing means the pressure in said second control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device will be greater than the pressure in said first control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device, and the pressure in the second control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device will be greater than the pressure in the first control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the first output channel means of said bistable fluidic device is vented, the second output channel means of said fluidic device being connected with said liquid level control mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the second control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device is operatively connected with the first control signal input channel means of said second fluidic device, and said valve means including valve means for controlling the fluid pressure in said last-mentioned two control signal input channel means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first output channel means of said first fluidic device is interconnected with said first control signal input channel means of said first fluidic device said valve means including valve means in said interconnection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first output channel means of said second fluid device is vented.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
299 words
A liquid level control system for a tank containing liquid comprising liquid level sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing means to be positioned in said tank, first fluidic means operatively connected with said sensing means, said first fluidic means including output means, second fluidic means, said second fluidic means being operatively connected with the output of said first fluidic means, said second fluidic means including an output and a liquid level control mechanism operatively connected to the output of said second fluidic means, and a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with each of said fluidic means, said first fluidic means comprising a proportional amplifier fluidic device including power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, said second fluidic means comprising a bistable fluidic device including power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, said source of fluid under pressure including means for supplying fluid under pressure to the power stream input channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device and said bistable fluidic devices, said first control signal input channel means of the proportional amplifier fluidic device being operatively connected with said pair of spaced sensing means, the second output channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device being operatively connected with the second control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, the first output channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device being operatively connected with the first control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, said first output channel means of said bistable fluidic device being connected with said liquid level control mechanism, said second output channel means of said bistable fluidic device being vented.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
299 words
A liquid level control system for a tank containing liquid comprising liquid level sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing means to be positioned in said tank, first fluidic means operatively connected with said sensing means, said first fluidic means including output means, second fluidic means, said second fluidic means being operatively connected with the output of said first fluidic means, said second fluidic means including an output and a liquid level control mechanism operatively connected to the output of said second fluidic means, and a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with each of said fluidic means, said first fluidic means comprising a proportional amplifier fluidic device including power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, said second fluidic means comprising a bistable fluidic device including power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, said source of fluid under pressure including means for supplying fluid under pressure to the power stream input channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device and said bistable fluidic devices, said first control signal input channel means of the proportional amplifier fluidic device being operatively connected with said pair of spaced sensing means, the second output channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device being operatively connected with the second control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, the first output channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device being operatively connected with the first control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, said first output channel means of said bistable fluidic device being connected with said liquid level control mechanism, said second output channel means of said bistable fluidic device being vented.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said first output channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device is also connected through valve means with said first control signal input channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein one of said liquid level sensing means is connected through valve means with said first control signal input channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device, and additional valve means for controlling the fluid pressure in said second control signal input channel means of the proportional amplifier fluidic device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said first output channel means of said bistable fluidic device is also connected with said first control signal input channel means of said proportional amplifier fluidic device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 9 including valve means operatively connected in the connection between the first output channel means of said bistable fluidic device and the first control signal input channel means of the proportional amplifier fluidic device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
226 words
A liquid level control system for a tank containing liquid comprising liquid level sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing means to be positioned in said tank, first fluidic means including at least one proportional amplifier fluidic device operatively connected with said sensing means and including a power stream input channel means, first and second control input channel means and first and second output channel means, all of said channel means being interconnected with one another in said one proportional amplifier fluidic device, second fluidic means comprising a bistable fluidic device including power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, one of said last mentioned output channel means being connected with a liquid level control mechanism, a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with each of said fluidic means, one of said output channel means of said first fluidic means being operatively connected with one of the control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, and selectively operable valve means for controlling the pressure in both the first and second control signal input channel means of said first fluidic means to produce a higher pressure in one of said control signal input channel means than in the other of the control signal input channel means of said first fluidic means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
226 words
A liquid level control system for a tank containing liquid comprising liquid level sensing means including a pair of spaced sensing means to be positioned in said tank, first fluidic means including at least one proportional amplifier fluidic device operatively connected with said sensing means and including a power stream input channel means, first and second control input channel means and first and second output channel means, all of said channel means being interconnected with one another in said one proportional amplifier fluidic device, second fluidic means comprising a bistable fluidic device including power stream input channel means, first and second control signal input channel means and first and second output channel means, one of said last mentioned output channel means being connected with a liquid level control mechanism, a source of fluid under pressure operatively connected with each of said fluidic means, one of said output channel means of said first fluidic means being operatively connected with one of the control signal input channel means of said bistable fluidic device, and selectively operable valve means for controlling the pressure in both the first and second control signal input channel means of said first fluidic means to produce a higher pressure in one of said control signal input channel means than in the other of the control signal input channel means of said first fluidic means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |