Pneumatic control system and pneumatic relay for the same or the like

Claim 2

A pneumatic control device comprising a housing means carrying two diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber in stacked relation, said housing means having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said first chamber and said second chamber together, one of said diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, the other of said diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said second chamber and said third chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said second chamber and having opposed ends, said movable valve member being separate from said two diaphragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said two diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said second chamber and said third chamber when said valve member is engaged by both of said diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said second chamber and said third chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said diaphragm means.

Claim 3

A pneumatic control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve member has a pair of valve seat means respectively at said opposed ends thereof for respectively seating against said diaphragm means when engaged thereby.

Claim 4

A pneumatic control device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said valve seat means of said valve member are fluidly interconnected together by a passage means in said valve member, one of said valve seat means when seating against said other diaphragm means fluidly interconnects said opening means thereof only to said passage means of said valve member by said one valve seat means.

Claim 5

A pneumatic control device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stationary valve seat is disposed between said diaphragm means, said one diaphragm means dividing said first chamber into two sections and having aperture means passing therethrough to fluidly interconnect said two sections together, said one diaphragm means having a larger effective area on the side thereof opposite to said valve seat then the effective area on the side thereof facing said valve seat when said one diaphragm means is closing said valve seat whereby any fluid pressure in said one chamber will tend to maintain said one diaphragm means in its closed position against said valve seat.

Claim 6

A pneumatic control device as set forth in claim 4 wherein a spring means is disposed in one of said sections of said first chamber to tend to maintain said one diaphragm means closed against said valve seat.

Claim 7

In a pneumatic control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be controlled, the improvement comprising a pneumatic control device having a housing means carrying two diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber in stacked relation, said housing means having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said first chamber and said second chamber together, means fluidly interconnecting said first chamber to said pneumatic source and said second chamber to said pneumatically operated device while interconnecting said third chamber to the atmosphere, one of said diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, the other of said diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said second chamber and said third chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said second chamber and having opposed ends, said movable valve member being separate from said two diaphragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said two diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said second chamber and said third chamber when said member is engaged by both of said diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said second chamber and said third chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said diaphragm means.

Claim 8

In a pneumatic control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be controlled, the improvement comprising a pneumatic control device having a housing means carrying two diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber in stacked relation, said housing means having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said first chamber and said second chamber together, means fluidly interconnecting said first chamber to said pneumatic source and said second chamber to said pneumatically operated device while interconnecting said third chamber to the atmosphere, one of said diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, the other of said diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said second chamber and said third chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said second chamber and having opposed ends, said movable valve member being separate from said two diaphragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said two diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said second chamber and said third chamber when said member is engaged by both of said diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said second chamber and said third chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said diaphragm means.

Claim 9

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 6, the further improvement wherein said valve member has a pair of valve seat means respectively at said opposed ends thereof for respectively seating against said diaphragm means when engaged thereby.

Claim 10

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 7, the further improvement wherein said valve seat means of said valve member are fluidly interconnected together by a passage means in said valve member, one of said valve seat means when seating against said other diaphragm means fluidly interconnects said opening means thereof only to said passage means of said valve member by said one valve seat means.

Claim 11

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 6, the further improvement wherein said stationary valve seat is disposed between said diaphragm means, said one diaphragm means, said one diaphragm means dividing said first chamber into two sections and having aperture means passing therethrough to fluidly interconnect said two sections together, said one diaphragm means having a larger effective area on the side thereof opposite to said valve seat than the effective area on the side thereof facing said valve seat when said one diaphragm means is closing said valve seat whereby any fluid pressure in said one chamber will tend to maintain said one diaphragm means in its closed position against said valve seat.

Claim 12

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein a spring means is disposed in one of said sections of said first chamber to tend to maintain said one diaphragm means closed against said valve seat.

Claim 13

A pneumatic relay comprising a housing means carrying three diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a main pressure chamber, a branch pressure chamber, an exhaust chamber and a pilot pressure chamber in stacked relation, said housing meaNs having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said main chamber and said branch chamber together, one of the outboard diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, the intermediate diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said branch chamber and having opposed ends, said movable member being separate from said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is engaged by both said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said one outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means, and motion transmitting means disposed in said exhaust chamber to translate motion of one of the other outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means to the other thereof.

Claim 14

A pneumatic relay comprising a housing means carrying three diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a main pressure chamber, a branch pressure chamber, an exhaust chamber and a pilot pressure chamber in stacked relation, said housing meaNs having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said main chamber and said branch chamber together, one of the outboard diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, the intermediate diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said branch chamber and having opposed ends, said movable member being separate from said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is engaged by both said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said one outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means, and motion transmitting means disposed in said exhaust chamber to translate motion of one of the other outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means to the other thereof.

Claim 15

A pneumatic relay as set forth in claim 11 wherein said motion transmitting means comprises a single member having passage means passing therethrough and being aligned with said opening means in said intermediate diaphragm means so as to fluidly interconnect said opening means with said exhaust chamber.

Claim 16

A pneumatic relay as set forth in claim 12 wherein said motion transmitting member has guide means disposed closely adjacent said housing means to guide movement of said motion transmitting member relative to said housing means while maintaining alignment of said passage means thereof with said opening means of said intermediate diaphragm means.

Claim 17

A pneumatic relay as set forth in claim 11 wherein said valve member has a pair of valve seat means respectively at said opposed ends thereof for respectively seating against said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means when engaged thereby.

Claim 18

A pneumatic relay as set forth in claim 14 wherein said valve seat means of said valve member are fluidly interconnected together by a passage means in said valve member, one of said valve seat means when seating against said intermediate diaphragm means fluidly interconnects said opening means thereof only to said passage means of said valve member by said one valve seat means.

Claim 19

In a pneumatic control system having a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device to be controlled, and signal means for directing a pilot pneumatic signal in relation to a desired output of said device, the improvement comprising a pneumatic relay having a housing means carrying three diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a main pressure chamber, a branch pressure chamber, an exhaust chamber and a pilot pressure chamber in stacked relation, means fluidly interconnecting said main pressure chamber to said pneumatic source, means fluidly interconnecting said branch pressure chamber to said device, means fluidly interconnecting said signal means to said pilot pressure chamber, means fluidly interconnecting said exhaust chamber to the atmosphere, said housing means having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said main chamber and said branch chamber together, one of the outboard diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, said intermediate diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said branch chamber and having opposed ends, said movable valve member being separate from said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diapHragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is engaged by both said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said one outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means and motion transmitting means disposed in said exhaust chamber to translate motion of one of the other outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means to the other thereof.

Claim 20

In a pneumatic control system having a pneumatic source, a pneumatically operated device to be controlled, and signal means for directing a pilot pneumatic signal in relation to a desired output of said device, the improvement comprising a pneumatic relay having a housing means carrying three diaphragm means in stacked relation that cooperate therewith to define a main pressure chamber, a branch pressure chamber, an exhaust chamber and a pilot pressure chamber in stacked relation, means fluidly interconnecting said main pressure chamber to said pneumatic source, means fluidly interconnecting said branch pressure chamber to said device, means fluidly interconnecting said signal means to said pilot pressure chamber, means fluidly interconnecting said exhaust chamber to the atmosphere, said housing means having a stationary valve seat for interconnecting said main chamber and said branch chamber together, one of the outboard diaphragm means being adapted to open and close said valve seat, said intermediate diaphragm means having opening means therethrough for interconnecting said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber together, a movable valve member disposed in said branch chamber and having opposed ends, said movable valve member being separate from said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diapHragm means while having said opposed ends respectively disposed inboard of said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means, said movable valve member having one of said ends projecting into said valve seat for controlling said opening means by preventing fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is engaged by both said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means and by permitting fluid communication between said branch chamber and said exhaust chamber when said valve member is not engaged by one of said one outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means and motion transmitting means disposed in said exhaust chamber to translate motion of one of the other outboard diaphragm means and said intermediate diaphragm means to the other thereof.

Claim 21

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 16, the further improvement wherein said motion transmitting means comprises a single member having passage means passing therethrough and being aligned with said opening means in said intermediate diaphragm means so as to fluidly interconnect said opening means with said exhaust chamber.

Claim 22

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 17, the further improvement wherein said motion transmitting member has guide means disposed closely adjacent said housing means to guide movement of said motion transmitting member relative to said housing means while maintaining alignment of said passage means thereof with said opening means of said intermediate diaphragm means.

Claim 23

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 16, the further improvement wherein said valve member has a pair of valve seat means respectively at said opposed ends thereof for respectively seating against said intermediate diaphragm means and said one outboard diaphragm means when engaged thereby.

Claim 24

In a pneumatic control system as set forth in claim 19, the further improvement wherein said valve seat means of said valve member are fluidly interconnected together by a passage means in said valve member, one of said valve seat means when seating against said intermediate diaphragm means fluidly interconnects said opening means thereof only to said passage means of said valve member by said one valve seat means.