Photovoltaic cell powered mangetic coil for operation of fluidic circuit flapper

Claim 2

A photofluidic eye assembly having utility for interfacing with a fluidic control circuit whose operation it is desired to control in accordance with a light condition, said assembly comprising in combination: a photovoltaic cell for sensing said light condition and for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated; a valve assembly, said valve assembly including an electromagnetic coil means and a valve means, said valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means; closed electrical circuit means directly connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized by the current generated by said cell upon illumination thereof; mounting means for electrically isolating said cell, said coil means and said circuit; and means defining at least one orifice, said valve means being arranged to alternately close and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions, and said orifice being adapted to be placed in fluid communication with an element of said fluidic control circuit, such that the opening and closing of said orifice to atmosphere as determined by the light condition sensed by said cell controls operation of said fluidic circuit.

Claim 3

A photofluidic eye assembly having utility for interfacing with a fluidic control circuit whose operation it is desired to control in accordance with a light condition, said assembly comprising in combination: a photovoltaic cell for sensing said light condition and for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated; a valve assembly, said valve assembly including electromagnetic coil means and a valve means, sad valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means; closed electrical circuit means connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized only when said cell is illuminated; means defining at least one orifice, said valve means being arranged to alternately close and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions, said orifice being adapted to be placed in fluid communication with an element of said fluidic control circuit, such that the opening and closing of said orifice to atmosphere as determined by the light condition sensed by said cell controls operation of said fluidic circuit; a framework, said framework including a front plate forming a font outward wall of said assembly, a rear plate and means to maintain said plates in a spaced relationship, said front plate having an aperture therethrough, said rear plate mounting said cell adjacent a front surface thereof in facing relationship to said front plate so as to permit illumination thereof by light passing through said aperture; and an assembly cover, said cover being of generally cup-shaped configuration and having the rim portion thereof supportingly engaged by said front plate so as to enclose said rear plate therein.

Claim 4

A photofluidic eye assembly having utility for interfacing with a fluidic control circuit whose operation it is desired to control in accordance with a light condition, said assembly comprising in combination: a photovoltaic cell for sensing said light condition and for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated; a valve assembly, said valve assembly including electromagnetic coil means and a valve means, sad valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means; closed electrical circuit means connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized only when said cell is illuminated; means defining at least one orifice, said valve means being arranged to alternately close and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions, said orifice being adapted to be placed in fluid communication with an element of said fluidic control circuit, such that the opening and closing of said orifice to atmosphere as determined by the light condition sensed by said cell controls operation of said fluidic circuit; a framework, said framework including a front plate forming a font outward wall of said assembly, a rear plate and means to maintain said plates in a spaced relationship, said front plate having an aperture therethrough, said rear plate mounting said cell adjacent a front surface thereof in facing relationship to said front plate so as to permit illumination thereof by light passing through said aperture; and an assembly cover, said cover being of generally cup-shaped configuration and having the rim portion thereof supportingly engaged by said front plate so as to enclose said rear plate therein.

Claim 5

A photofluidic eye assembly according to claim 2, wherein said rear plate is formed of an electrically insulating material, said rear plate additionally mounting said valve assembly and said circuit means, whereby said cell, said coil means and said circuit means are electrically insulated from said front plate and said cover.

Claim 6

A photofluidic eye assembly according to claim 2, wherein said orifice defining means includes at least one tube, said tube being mounted adjacent a rear surface of said rear plate and having a first end portion defining said orifice and a second end portion connectable to said fluidic circuit element, said cover having an aperture therethrough, said tube being freely received within said cover aperture when said cover is supportingly engaged as aforesaid so as to position said second tube end portion outwardly of said cover.

Claim 7

A photofluidic eye assembly having utility for Interfacing with a fluidic circuit whose operation it is desired to control in accordance with a light condition, said assembly comprising in combination: a photovoltaic cell for sensing said light condition and for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated; a valve assembly, said valve assembly including electromagnetic coil means and a valve means, said valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means; closed electrical circuit means connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized only when said cell is illuminated; means defining at least one orifice, said valve means being arranged to alternately closed and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions, said orifice being adapted to be placed in fluid communication with an element of said fluidic control circuit, such that the opening and closing of said orifice to atmosphere as determined by the light condition sensed by said cell controls operation of said fluidic circuit; and a framework, said framework including a front plate forming a front outer wall of said assembly, a rear plate formed of an electrically insulating material and means to maintain said plates in a spaced relationship, said front plate having an opening therethrough, said rear plate mounting said cell adjacent a front surface thereof in facing relationship to said front plate and in alignment with said plate opening, and said rear plate mounting said valve assembly and said circuit means, a lens, said lens being mounted on said front plate in juxtaposition to said plate opening, said cell being adapted to be illuminated by light passing through said lens; and an assembly cover, said cover being of a generally cup-shaped configuration and having a rim portion adapted to be supportingly engaged by said front plate such that said rear plate is enclosed within said cover, said cover having at least one through aperture through a base portion thereof, said orifice defining means includes at least one tube, said tube being mounted on said rear plate and having a first end portion defining said orifice and a second end portion extending rearwardly of the rear surface of said rear plate and being connectable to said fluidic circuit element, said second tube end portion being freely received within said cover aperture when said cover rim is supportingly engaged as aforesaid, so as to position said second tube end portion outwardly of said cover.

Claim 8

A photofluidic eye assembly having utility for Interfacing with a fluidic circuit whose operation it is desired to control in accordance with a light condition, said assembly comprising in combination: a photovoltaic cell for sensing said light condition and for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated; a valve assembly, said valve assembly including electromagnetic coil means and a valve means, said valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means; closed electrical circuit means connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized only when said cell is illuminated; means defining at least one orifice, said valve means being arranged to alternately closed and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions, said orifice being adapted to be placed in fluid communication with an element of said fluidic control circuit, such that the opening and closing of said orifice to atmosphere as determined by the light condition sensed by said cell controls operation of said fluidic circuit; and a framework, said framework including a front plate forming a front outer wall of said assembly, a rear plate formed of an electrically insulating material and means to maintain said plates in a spaced relationship, said front plate having an opening therethrough, said rear plate mounting said cell adjacent a front surface thereof in facing relationship to said front plate and in alignment with said plate opening, and said rear plate mounting said valve assembly and said circuit means, a lens, said lens being mounted on said front plate in juxtaposition to said plate opening, said cell being adapted to be illuminated by light passing through said lens; and an assembly cover, said cover being of a generally cup-shaped configuration and having a rim portion adapted to be supportingly engaged by said front plate such that said rear plate is enclosed within said cover, said cover having at least one through aperture through a base portion thereof, said orifice defining means includes at least one tube, said tube being mounted on said rear plate and having a first end portion defining said orifice and a second end portion extending rearwardly of the rear surface of said rear plate and being connectable to said fluidic circuit element, said second tube end portion being freely received within said cover aperture when said cover rim is supportingly engaged as aforesaid, so as to position said second tube end portion outwardly of said cover.

Claim 9

A photofluidic eye assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said tubes are provided and are mounted on said rear plate so as to define at least two orifices disposed in space facing relationship, said valve means includes a flapper valve disposed intermediate said orifices, said flapper valve being adapted to alternatively open and close said orifices in each of said positions.

Claim 10

A photofluidic eye assembly according to claim 6, wherein said flapper valve is a generally rectangular, ferrous, valve plate hingeably supported adjacent one side edge thereof for pivotal movement between said positions and includes spring means adapted to normally bias said valve plate into said first position, said orifice defining first end portions of said tubes being engageable by oppositely facing surfaces of said valve plate substantially centrally of the end edges thereof, and said coil means includes a pair of coils arranged adjacent one of said valve plate surfaces and being disposed on opposite sides of the first tube end portion engageable with said one surface of said valve plate.

Claim 11

A photooperated control for determining the presence of an article in an environment containing explosive materials subject to detonation by an electrical spark and controlling an operation in response to the presence of said article, which includes in combination: a fluidic control circuit for controlling said operation, the operation oF said control circuit being determined by the condition of at least one back pressure switch; a source of illumination; a photofluidic eye assembly arranged to scan said source of illumination and to change the condition of said back pressure switch whenever said source of illumination is blocked by an article, said assembly including a photovoltaic cell arranged to face said source of illumination for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated thereby, a valve assembly including an electromagnetic coil means and valve means, said valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means, a closed electrical circuit means directly connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized by the current generated by said cell upon illumination thereof, means defining at least one orifice arranged in communication with said back pressure switch, said valve means being arranged to alternately close and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions to change the condition of said back pressure switch, and common mounting means for electrically isolating said cell, said coil means and said electrical circuit.

Claim 12

A photooperated control for determining the presence of an article in an environment containing explosive materials subject to detonation by an electrical spark and controlling an operation in response to the presence of said article, which includes in combination: a fluidic control circuit for controlling said operation, the operation oF said control circuit being determined by the condition of at least one back pressure switch; a source of illumination; a photofluidic eye assembly arranged to scan said source of illumination and to change the condition of said back pressure switch whenever said source of illumination is blocked by an article, said assembly including a photovoltaic cell arranged to face said source of illumination for generating an electrical current when said cell is illuminated thereby, a valve assembly including an electromagnetic coil means and valve means, said valve means being normally disposed in a first position but being movable into a second position upon energization of said coil means, a closed electrical circuit means directly connecting said cell and said coil means such that said coil means is energized by the current generated by said cell upon illumination thereof, means defining at least one orifice arranged in communication with said back pressure switch, said valve means being arranged to alternately close and open said orifice to atmosphere when moved into said positions to change the condition of said back pressure switch, and common mounting means for electrically isolating said cell, said coil means and said electrical circuit.