Pressure device having layered construction and pivoting seal with operator

Claim 2

A pressure device having a layered construction and comprising: an operator forming at least part of one layer thereof; said layered construction including wall means cooperating with one portion of said operator to define therewith a fluid pressure chamber; and said layered construction further including fulcrum means for said operator adjacent a region thereof between said one portion and a second portion thereof extending away from said fluid pressure chamber, said fulcrum means sealingly supporting said operator for pivotal motion with respect to said wall means at said region.

Claim 3

A pressure-responsive device comprising: a pivotable operator; wall means cooperating with one portion of said operator to form a fluid pressure chamber; fulcrum means for said operator adjacent a region thereof between said one portion and another portion thereof remote from said fluid pressure chamber; said fulcrum means sealingly supporting said operator for pivotal movement with respect to said wall means at said region.

Claim 4

A pressure-responsive device comprising: a pivotable operator; wall means cooperating with one portion of said operator to form a fluid pressure chamber; fulcrum means for said operator adjacent a region thereof between said one portion and another portion thereof remote from said fluid pressure chamber; said fulcrum means sealingly supporting said operator for pivotal movement with respect to said wall means at said region.

Claim 5

The device of claim 2, wherein said pivotable operator is a relatively thin, flat element having a substantial area.

Claim 6

The device of claim 3, including a resilient sealing member along one side surface of said operator to isolate the two sides of said operator while permitting pivotal movement thereof.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4, including second wall means cooperating with said one portion of said operator to form a second fluid pressure chamber on the side of said operator opposite to said first chamber.

Claim 8

The device of claim 5, including third wall means cooperating with said other portion of said operator to form a third fluid pressure chamber.

Claim 9

The device of claim 2, including a pneumatic means in said fluid pressure chamber cooperable with said operator to produce a desired effect.

Claim 10

The device of claim 7, wherein said pneumatic means comprises a pneumatic nozzle the air flow through which is determined by the positioning of said operator.

Claim 11

A pressure device having a layered construction and comprising: a pivotable operator in a first layer; means pivotally supporting and sealing said operator at a region between two adjacent portions thereof to provide for pivotal movement of said operator about an axis in said region; and means serving with one of said operator portions to form a sealed pressure chamber; whereby said operator can by its pivotal movement transmit motion between said pressure chamber and a region outside of said pressure chamber without disturbing the pressure integrity of said chamber.

Claim 12

A pressure device having a layered construction and comprising: a pivotable operator in a first layer; means pivotally supporting and sealing said operator at a region between two adjacent portions thereof to provide for pivotal movement of said operator about an axis in said region; and means serving with one of said operator portions to form a sealed pressure chamber; whereby said operator can by its pivotal movement transmit motion between said pressure chamber and a region outside of said pressure chamber without disturbing the pressure integrity of said chamber.

Claim 13

In a pressure device, a layered construction comprising: a pivotable operator forming at least part of a first layer; a resilient sealing layer adjacent said operator to prevent fluid flow from one side of said operator to the other side while permitting pivotal motion of said operator transversely with respect to said seaLing layer; wall means defining a recess and cooperating with a portion of said operator and said sealing layer to form a pressure chamber; and means mounting said operator for pivotal motion at a sealing region between said one operator portion and a second portion thereof outside of said pressure chamber.

Claim 14

In a pressure device, a layered construction comprising: a pivotable operator forming at least part of a first layer; a resilient sealing layer adjacent said operator to prevent fluid flow from one side of said operator to the other side while permitting pivotal motion of said operator transversely with respect to said seaLing layer; wall means defining a recess and cooperating with a portion of said operator and said sealing layer to form a pressure chamber; and means mounting said operator for pivotal motion at a sealing region between said one operator portion and a second portion thereof outside of said pressure chamber.

Claim 15

In a pressure device, a sealing configuration for pivoting an operator, comprising: first and second resilient sealing gaskets disposed against opposing surfaces of said operator in a region thereof intermediate two opposite ends of the operator; relatively rigid clamping means pressed against said resilient gaskets, the combination of said rigid clamping means and said resilient sealing gaskets forming a resilient pivoting seal for said operator and isolating pressures either side of said operator region whereby movement imparted to said operator on one side of said resilient pivoting seal is pivotally transferred to the other side thereof.

Claim 16

In a pressure device, a sealing configuration for pivoting an operator, comprising: first and second resilient sealing gaskets disposed against opposing surfaces of said operator in a region thereof intermediate two opposite ends of the operator; relatively rigid clamping means pressed against said resilient gaskets, the combination of said rigid clamping means and said resilient sealing gaskets forming a resilient pivoting seal for said operator and isolating pressures either side of said operator region whereby movement imparted to said operator on one side of said resilient pivoting seal is pivotally transferred to the other side thereof.

Claim 17

In a pressure device, a layered construction comprising: a first layer formed to provide an outer section and an interior operator element attached to the outer section at opposite points defining a pivot axis; a second layer comprising resilient material next to said operator to seal the spaces between said operator and said outer section while permitting pivotal movement of said operator about said axis; sealing layers disposed adjacent the opposite surfaces of the composite member represented by said operator layer and said resilient layer associated therewith; support means adjacent said sealing layers to hold said operator for pivoting movement in a region intermediate two portions thereof; and wall means disposed adjacent said sealing layers respectively and forming recesses on opposite sides of said pivoting region, said wall means serving in combination with a portion of said pivotable operator to form pressure chambers on opposite sides of said operator, said sealed pivoting region serving to isolate said pressure chambers from other portions of said pivotable operator remote from said pressure chambers.

Claim 18

In a pressure device, a layered construction comprising: a first layer formed to provide an outer section and an interior operator element attached to the outer section at opposite points defining a pivot axis; a second layer comprising resilient material next to said operator to seal the spaces between said operator and said outer section while permitting pivotal movement of said operator about said axis; sealing layers disposed adjacent the opposite surfaces of the composite member represented by said operator layer and said resilient layer associated therewith; support means adjacent said sealing layers to hold said operator for pivoting movement in a region intermediate two portions thereof; and wall means disposed adjacent said sealing layers respectively and forming recesses on opposite sides of said pivoting region, said wall means serving in combination with a portion of said pivotable operator to form pressure chambers on opposite sides of said operator, said sealed pivoting region serving to isolate said pressure chambers from other portions of said pivotable operator remote from said pressure chambers.

Claim 19

A pressure device having a layered construction and comprising: a pivotable operator forming at least part of a first layer; a second layer adjacent said first layer and formed with at least one recess alongside of one portion of said operator to permit transverse movement of said one portion in the space of said recess; support means gripping said two layers in a region of said operator between said one portion and an adjoining second portion thereof while providing for pivotal movement of said operator about an axis in said region; and means forming part of said support means to seal said operator region to isolate said one portion from said second portion to permit said operator to transmit movement through said region while maintaining the pressure integrity of said recess.

Claim 20

A pressure device having a layered construction and comprising: a pivotable operator forming at least part of a first layer; a second layer adjacent said first layer and formed with at least one recess alongside of one portion of said operator to permit transverse movement of said one portion in the space of said recess; support means gripping said two layers in a region of said operator between said one portion and an adjoining second portion thereof while providing for pivotal movement of said operator about an axis in said region; and means forming part of said support means to seal said operator region to isolate said one portion from said second portion to permit said operator to transmit movement through said region while maintaining the pressure integrity of said recess.

Claim 21

A pressure device comprising: a thin sheet of relatively stiff, springy material formed with openings defining an outer section and an interior operator section pivotally attached to said outer section at a region between two portions of said operator section; resilient sealing means adjacent said region to provide sealing between said two operator portions while permitting pivotal movement of said operator about the pivot axis in said region; and means cooperating with one portion of said operator to define a pressure chamber one wall of which is said one operator portion.

Claim 22

A pressure device comprising: a thin sheet of relatively stiff, springy material formed with openings defining an outer section and an interior operator section pivotally attached to said outer section at a region between two portions of said operator section; resilient sealing means adjacent said region to provide sealing between said two operator portions while permitting pivotal movement of said operator about the pivot axis in said region; and means cooperating with one portion of said operator to define a pressure chamber one wall of which is said one operator portion.

Claim 23

The pressure device of claim 14, wherein said openings are approximately horseshoe shaped and located opposite one another to define a generally tongue-shaped operator section pivotally connected to said outer section at two opposite points intermediate the ends of said operator section.

Claim 24

The pressure device of claim 14, including a thin sheet of resilient material lying next to said sheet of springy material and overlying the openings to isolate the two sides of the operator.

Claim 25

The pressure device of claim 30, including additional means cooperating with said one operator portion to define a second pressure chamber opposite said first pressure chamber and having said one operator portion as a common wall therebetween.

Claim 26

A pressure device comprising: a pivotable operator having two adjacent portions at least one of which presents along one side thereof a pressure-receiving surface; means at a region between said two adjacent portions for pivotally supporting and for sealing said operator to provide for sealed pivotal movement of said operator about an axis between said two adjacent portions; and means cooperating with said pressure-receiving surface of said one operator portion to define a pressure chamber the pressure of which is applied to said surface to develop a force thereon tending to pivot said operator about said axis; whereby said operator can transmit mechanical force through said sealed region without disturbing the pressure integrity of said chamber.

Claim 27

A pressure device comprising: a pivotable operator having two adjacent portions at least one of which presents along one side thereof a pressure-receiving surface; means at a region between said two adjacent portions for pivotally supporting and for sealing said operator to provide for sealed pivotal movement of said operator about an axis between said two adjacent portions; and means cooperating with said pressure-receiving surface of said one operator portion to define a pressure chamber the pressure of which is applied to said surface to develop a force thereon tending to pivot said operator about said axis; whereby said operator can transmit mechanical force through said sealed region without disturbing the pressure integrity of said chamber.

Claim 28

A pressure device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said cooperating means includes wall means extending along the peripheral edge of said one operator portion and spaced a small distance therefrom to accommodate movement of said one operator portion.

Claim 29

A pressure device as claimed in claim 19, including a layer of resilient material overlying the gap between said wall means and said peripheral edge to effect a fluid seal while accommodating movement of said one operator portion.

Claim 30

A pressure device as claimed in claim 18, including means to apply a second pressure to a second pressure-receiving surface on the side of said one operator portion which is opposite said one side, whereby said operator transmits through said sealed region a force responsive to the comparative pressure differential between said two sides; and means adjacent said other operator portion to sense any movement of the other operator portion and to produce a signal responsive to said pressure differential.

Claim 31

A pressure device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said two pressure-receiving surfaces are of equal effective area.

Claim 32

A pressure device as claimed in claim 21, including feedback means under the control of said sensing means for applying a feedback force to said operator to maintain the position thereof substantially constant.

Claim 33

A pressure device as claimed in claim 18, including sensing means for developing a signal responsive to movement of said operator about said axis.

Claim 34

A pressure device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the other operator portion presents along one side thereof a second pressure-receiving surface; and means cooperating with said second pressure-receiving surface to define a second pressure chamber the pressure of which is applied to said second surface to develop a force thereon tending to pivot said operator about said axis and opposing the effect of the force developed by the pressure in said first chamber.

Claim 35

A pressure device as claimed in claim 25, including means for applying to said second chamber a pressure controlled by said sensing means to develop negative feedback action and to provide for amplification of a pressure signal applied to said first chamber.

Claim 36

A pressure device as claimed in claim 26, including means to apply to said first chamber a pressure corresponding to the value of a process condition to be regulated; and means for developing for a process control element a control signal responsive to the output signal of said sensing means, whereby said pressure device serves as a process controller.

Claim 37

A pressure device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said pivotable operator is formed from a thin sheet of relatively stiff material with each of said two adjacent portions presenting a pair of opposing equal-area pressure-receiving surfaces; said cooperating means comprising first and second rigid plates cooperating with all of the pressure-receiving surfAces of said operator individually to form four respective separate and pressure-isolated chambers.

Claim 38

A pressure device as claimed in claim 28, including means for applying to two of said chambers respective pressure signals corresponding to measurement and set values for a process condition to be controlled; and sensing means responsive to movement of said operator for developing a control signal for a process control element influencing the magnitude of the controlled process condition.

Claim 39

A pressure device as claimed in claim 29, including means under the control of said sensing means for applying to at least one of the remaining two chambers a pressure signal providing feedback action.

Claim 40

A pressure device as claimed in claim 30, wherein said sensing means includes a pneumatic nozzle in one of said remaining two chambers.