Chambered fluidic amplifier

Claim 1

In a known fluid logic device of the type comprising: first conduit means adapted to receive at one end a fluid under pressure and to project the fluid out from the other end in a narrow stream of laminar flow; second conduit means axially aligned with said first conduit means and spaced a substantial distance downstream from the outlet end thereof to receive said narrow stream of laminar flow; control means including means to direct against said narrow stream a control action to cause complete turbulence thereof without deflection of the stream; that improvement which includes: first and second opposed wall means positioned along the axis of fluid projection between said first and second conduit means and on opposite sides of the stream, each of said first and second wall means being close to but slightly spaced from the respective side of said stream when said stream is in laminar flow state so as not to interact therewith in laminar state, both said first and second wall means being sufficiently close to said axis to interact with the fluid when said stream is placed in said turbulent state by said control means; and third and fourth opposed wall means between said first and second wall means respectively to form a chamber therewith, said third and fourth wall means being spaced from said axis by a substantial amount greater than the spacing of said first and second wall means from said axis and sufficient to prevent interaction between said fluid and said third and fourth wall means when in said turbulent condition.

Claim 4

The method of producing a logic output which comprises the steps of: projecting a laminar stream of fluid towards a sensing element responsive to the pressure of said stream, said stream being free from interaction with any adjacent structure while in laminar state; directing a control effect laterally against said stream of fluid to cause turbulence thereof without deflection; and confining two opposite sides of said turbulent fluid while maintaining the intervening opposite sides of said turbulent fluid unconfined and free from interacting effects so as to develop a regenerative action producing maximum turbulence of the fluid with small control effect and wherein said first opposite sides of said turbulent stream are confined by presenting to those sides wall means extending along said stream, said wall means being presented at a distance from the stream in its laminar state of at least 0.005 inch and less than approximately 0.020 inch.

Claim 5

The method of producing a logic output which comprises the steps of: projecting a laminar stream of fluid towards a sensing element responsive to the pressure of said stream, said stream being free from interaction with any adjacent structure while in laminar state; directing a control effect laterally against said stream of fluid to cause turbulence thereof without deflection; and confining two opposite sides of said turbulent fluid while maintaining the intervening opposite sides of said turbulent fluid unconfined and free from interacting effects so as to develop a regenerative action producing maximum turbulence of the fluid with small control effect and wherein said first opposite sides of said turbulent stream are confined by presenting to those sides wall means extending along said stream, said wall means being presented at a distance from the stream in its laminar state of at least 0.005 inch and less than approximately 0.020 inch.