Electropneumatic control system and circuit means and valve means therefor or the like

Claim 2

In a control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be interconnected to said source by a valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in a pilot chamber of said valve means that has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising electrical coil means arranged to utilize part of said flapper valve member as an armature therefor, and means for changing the electrical current flow through said coil means to move said flapper valve member relative to said leak port in relation to said current flow, said last-named means comprising an electrical bridge circuit having its output means interconnected to an amplifier, said coil means being load resistor means for said amplifier.

Claim 3

In a control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be interconnected to said source by a valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in a pilot chamber of said valve means that has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising electrical coil means arranged to utilize part of said flapper valve member as an armature therefor, and means for changing the electrical current flow through said coil meaNs to move said flapper valve member relative to said leak port in relation to said current flow, said last-named means comprising an electrical bridge circuit having its output means interconnected to an amplifier, said coil means being load resistor means for said amplifier, said coil means comprising two coils disposed on opposite sides of said armature part of said flapper valve member.

Claim 4

In a control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be interconnected to said source by a valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in a pilot chamber of said valve means that has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising electrical coil means arranged to utilize part of said flapper valve member as an armature therefor, and means for changing the electrical current flow through said coil meaNs to move said flapper valve member relative to said leak port in relation to said current flow, said last-named means comprising an electrical bridge circuit having its output means interconnected to an amplifier, said coil means being load resistor means for said amplifier, said coil means comprising two coils disposed on opposite sides of said armature part of said flapper valve member.

Claim 5

In a control system as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said amplifier is disposed across the input means of said electrical bridge.

Claim 6

In a control system as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said amplifier has transistor means therein, said output means of said electrical bridge being interconnected to the base of said transistor means.

Claim 7

In a control system as set forth in claim 4, the further improvement wherein said coil means provides collector resistor means for said transistor means of said amplifier.

Claim 8

In a control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be interconnected to said source by a valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in a pilot chamber of said valve means that has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising electrical coil means arranged to utilize part of said flapper valve member as an armature therefor, and means for changing the electrical current flow through said coil means to move said flapper valve member relative to said leak port in relation to said current flow, said last-named means comprising an electrical bridge circuit having its output means interconnected to an amplifier, said coil means being load resistor means for said amplifier, said coil means comprising two coils disposed on opposite sides of said armature part of said flapper valve member, said amplifier having two transistors therein respectively having their bases interconnected to the outlet means of said bridge, said coils respectively providing collector resistors for said transistors.

Claim 9

In a control system having a pneumatic source and a pneumatically operated device to be interconnected to said source by a valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in a pilot chamber of said valve means that has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising electrical coil means arranged to utilize part of said flapper valve member as an armature therefor, and means for changing the electrical current flow through said coil means to move said flapper valve member relative to said leak port in relation to said current flow, said last-named means comprising an electrical bridge circuit having its output means interconnected to an amplifier, said coil means being load resistor means for said amplifier, said coil means comprising two coils disposed on opposite sides of said armature part of said flapper valve member, said amplifier having two transistors therein respectively having their bases interconnected to the outlet means of said bridge, said coils respectively providing collector resistors for said transistors.

Claim 10

In a control system as set forth in claim 6, the further improvement wherein said amplifier is disposed across the input means of said bridge.

Claim 11

In a control system as set forth in claim 7, the further improvement wherein the emitters of said transistors are interconnected together by a gain control means to provide a throttling range control.

Claim 12

In a control system as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said flapper valve member is pivotally mounted to said valve means by a leaf spring.

Claim 13

In a control system as set forth in claim 9, the further improvement wherein said flapper valve member comprises two parts interconnected together in aligned relation with said leaf spring being disposed between said two parts.

Claim 14

In a control system as set forth in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said amplifier continuously supplies current flow through said coil means even when said bridge circuit is balanced whereby a force is continuously exerted on said flapper valve member by said coil means.

Claim 15

In a pneumatically operated valve means having a pilot chamber that controls said valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in said pilot chamber of said valve means which has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising a leaf spring carried by said valve means and being secured to said flapper valve member to pivotally mount said flapper valve member to said valve means intermediate opposed ends of said flapper valve member, one one of said opposed ends being aligned with said leak port for controlling the same and the other of said ends defining an armature for being influenced by electrical coil means to control the pivotal position of said flapper valve member relative to said leak port, said flapper valve member comprising two parts secured toGether in aligned relation with said leaf spring being disposed between said parts.

Claim 16

In a pneumatically operated valve means having a pilot chamber that controls said valve means in relation to a pneumatic condition in said pilot chamber of said valve means which has a leak port leading to said pilot chamber and a movable flapper valve member controlling the opening and closing of said leak port, the improvement comprising a leaf spring carried by said valve means and being secured to said flapper valve member to pivotally mount said flapper valve member to said valve means intermediate opposed ends of said flapper valve member, one one of said opposed ends being aligned with said leak port for controlling the same and the other of said ends defining an armature for being influenced by electrical coil means to control the pivotal position of said flapper valve member relative to said leak port, said flapper valve member comprising two parts secured toGether in aligned relation with said leaf spring being disposed between said parts.