US3592383A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluidic reset integrator circuit
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-04-29
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1990-04-29
Abstract
Abstract The gain of a fluidic proportional integrator circuit is alternately reduced to zero to obtain a fluidic reset integrator having no moving mechanical parts. A rapid reduction to zero gain is achieved by alternately switching the output of a digital fluid amplifier from the power fluid inlet of a proportional fluid amplifier in the integrator circuit in accordance with the pressure magnitude at the output of the integrator circuit.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl G Ringwall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:54
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15C; F15C1/00; F15C1/14; F15C1/146; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/212; Y10T137/2125; Y10T137/2142; Y10T137/2278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
A fluidic reset integrator circuit having no moving mechanical parts and comprising a plurality of serially connected proportional type fluid amplifier stages, each proportional amplifier comprising a power fluid inlet, a pair of opposed control fluid inlets, and a pair of spaced fluid receivers, the fluid receivers of each amplifier stage except the last being connected to the control fluid inlets of the immediately succeeding amplifier stage, a first pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers of the last stage amplifier to the control fluid inlets of the first stage amplifier in negative feedback relationship, and a first pair of fluid flow restrictors connected in said first pair of passages for converting the serially connected fluid amplifiers into a fluidic operational amplifier, a second pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers of the last stage amplifier to the control fluid inlets of the first stage amplifier in positive feedback relationship, and a pair of fluid flow restrictor-reactor networks connected in said second pair of passages for converting the fluidic operational amplifier into a fluidic integrator whereby the output pressure at the receivers of the last stage amplifier varies as the time integral of an input pressure signal supplied from an external source to the control fluid inlets of the first stage amplifier, and means for momentarily reducing the gain of the fluidic integrator to zero upon the last stage amplifier attaining a predetermined output pressure below its saturation level to thereby rapidly reduce the output pressure of each stage amplifier to zero at which time the gain of the fluidic integrator returns to its original value and the integration resumes, the output pressure waveform of the last stage amplifier being a repetitive sawtooth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
A fluidic reset integrator circuit having no moving mechanical parts and comprising a plurality of serially connected proportional type fluid amplifier stages, each proportional amplifier comprising a power fluid inlet, a pair of opposed control fluid inlets, and a pair of spaced fluid receivers, the fluid receivers of each amplifier stage except the last being connected to the control fluid inlets of the immediately succeeding amplifier stage, a first pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers of the last stage amplifier to the control fluid inlets of the first stage amplifier in negative feedback relationship, and a first pair of fluid flow restrictors connected in said first pair of passages for converting the serially connected fluid amplifiers into a fluidic operational amplifier, a second pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers of the last stage amplifier to the control fluid inlets of the first stage amplifier in positive feedback relationship, and a pair of fluid flow restrictor-reactor networks connected in said second pair of passages for converting the fluidic operational amplifier into a fluidic integrator whereby the output pressure at the receivers of the last stage amplifier varies as the time integral of an input pressure signal supplied from an external source to the control fluid inlets of the first stage amplifier, and means for momentarily reducing the gain of the fluidic integrator to zero upon the last stage amplifier attaining a predetermined output pressure below its saturation level to thereby rapidly reduce the output pressure of each stage amplifier to zero at which time the gain of the fluidic integrator returns to its original value and the integration resumes, the output pressure waveform of the last stage amplifier being a repetitive sawtooth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
A The fluidic reset integrator circuit set forth in claim 1 wherein the power fluid inlets of all but one of the plurality of serially connected proportional fluid amplifiers being constantly supplied from a source of relatively constant pressurized fluid, and said gain-reducing means comprising a means for alternately supplying and removing pressurized fluid from the power fluid inlet of the remaining fluid amplifier whereby during the time interval wherein the pressurized fluid is removed from the power fluid inlet of the remaining amplifier, the gain of the fluid integrator circuit is zero and the output pressure of the last stage amplifier thereby reduces to zero.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
The fluidic reset integrator circuit set forth in claim 2 wherein said alternately supplying and removing pressurized power fluid means coMprises a digital-type fluid amplifier comprising a power fluid inlet, a pair of opposed control fluid inlets, a pair of fluid receivers, and an interaction chamber including a pair of opposed sidewalls disposed between the control fluid inlets and receivers, said sidewalls adapted to cause a lock-on condition of a power fluid jet issuing from an output end of the power fluid inlet whereby the power fluid jet is directed to only one receiver at any one time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
134 words
The fluidic reset integrator circuit set forth in claim 3 wherein a first of the pair of control fluid inlets of said digital-type fluid amplifier connected to a first of the pair of receivers of the last stage analog amplifier, a second of the control fluid inlets of said digital amplifier connected to a source of constant pressure for providing a bias pressure to determine the switching point of the output of said digital amplifier, and a first of the pair of receivers of said digital amplifier connected to the input end of the power fluid inlet of the first stage analog amplifier for supplying the power fluid thereto in the condition wherein the bias pressure exceeds the output pressure at the first of the pair of receivers of the last stage analog amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The fluidic reset integrator circuit set forth in claim 4 and further comprising means connected to a second of the pair of receivers of said digital amplifier for sensing each cycle of the repetitive sawtooth output pressure waveform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
218 words
A fluidic circuit comprising at least one proportional-type fluid amplifier comprising a power fluid inlet, a pair of opposed control fluid inlets, and a pair of spaced fluid receivers, a first pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers to the control fluid inlets in negative feedback relationship, and a first pair of fluid flow restrictors connected in said first pair of passages for converting the proportional amplifier into a fluidic proportional operational amplifier, a second pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers to the control fluid inlets in positive feedback relationship, and a pair of fluid flow restrictor-reactor networks connected in said second pair of passages for converting the operational amplifier into a fluidic proportional integrator whereby an output pressure at the receivers of the amplifier varies as the time integral of an input pressure signal supplied from an external source to the control fluid inlets, and means for momentarily reducing the gain of the fluidic integrator to zero upon the proportional amplifier attaining a predetermined output pressure in the linear region of the input-output pressure characteristics of the amplifier operation to thereby momentarily reduce the output pressure to zero whereupon the gain of the fluidic integrator returns to its original value and the integration resumes, the output pressure waveform being a repetitive sawtooth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
218 words
A fluidic circuit comprising at least one proportional-type fluid amplifier comprising a power fluid inlet, a pair of opposed control fluid inlets, and a pair of spaced fluid receivers, a first pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers to the control fluid inlets in negative feedback relationship, and a first pair of fluid flow restrictors connected in said first pair of passages for converting the proportional amplifier into a fluidic proportional operational amplifier, a second pair of fluid flow passages connecting the fluid receivers to the control fluid inlets in positive feedback relationship, and a pair of fluid flow restrictor-reactor networks connected in said second pair of passages for converting the operational amplifier into a fluidic proportional integrator whereby an output pressure at the receivers of the amplifier varies as the time integral of an input pressure signal supplied from an external source to the control fluid inlets, and means for momentarily reducing the gain of the fluidic integrator to zero upon the proportional amplifier attaining a predetermined output pressure in the linear region of the input-output pressure characteristics of the amplifier operation to thereby momentarily reduce the output pressure to zero whereupon the gain of the fluidic integrator returns to its original value and the integration resumes, the output pressure waveform being a repetitive sawtooth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The fluidic circuit set forth in claim 6 wherein said gain-reducing means comprises a means for alternately supplying and momentarily removing a pressurized fluid supply to the power fluid inlet of at least one of said at least one proportional fluid amplifier, the gain of the integrator being momentarily reduced to zero upon the momentary removal of the power fluid supply.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The fluidic circuit set forth in claim 7 wherein said alternately supplying and momentarily removing pressurized fluid supply means comprises a digital-type fluid amplifier.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
139 words
The fluidic circuit set forth in claim 8 wherein said digital fluid amplifier comprises a power fluid inlet constantly supplied from a source of relatively constant pressurized fluid, a pair of opposed control fluid inlets, a first of said control fluid inlets connected to a first of the pair of receivers of said proportional fluid amplifier, a second of said control fluid inlets connected to a source of constant pressure for providing a bias Pressure determining the switching point of the output of said digital amplifier, a pair of fluid receivers, a first of the pair of receivers connected to an input end of the power fluid inlet of the proportional amplifier for supplying the power fluid thereto in the condition wherein the bias pressure exceeds the output pressure at the first of the receivers of said proportional amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The fluidic circuit set forth in claim 9 and further comprising means for sensing each cycle of the repetitive sawtooth output pressure waveform, the frequency of the sawtooth waveform being directly proportional to the pressure magnitude of the input signal supplied to the control fluid inlets of said proportional amplifier whereby the fluidic circuit is operative as a fluidic pressure-to-frequency converter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
The fluidic circuit set forth in claim 9 and further comprising means for counting the total number of cycles of the repetitive sawtooth output pressure waveform generated over a particular time interval wherein the total number of cycles are directly proportional to the integral of the input signal supplied to the control fluid inlets of said proportional amplifier over the corresponding time interval and the fluidic circuit is operative as a fluidic proportional integrator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The fluidic circuit set forth in claim 9 wherein the input signal supplied to the control fluid inlets of said proportional amplifier is of constant pressure magnitude, the frequency of the sawtooth waveform being constant and directly proportional to the pressure magnitude of the input signal whereby the fluidic circuit is operative as a fluidic relaxation oscillator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3366327A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |