Fluidic flow control valve

Claim 2

A fluidic flow control device comprising: a body having a cylindrical chamber defined therein, a power fluid inlet passage communicating with said chamber for introducing a first fluid stream to said chamber, a control fluid inlet passage communicating tangentially with said chamber for introducing a second control fluid stream to said chamber, a discharge passage communicating with said chamber for discharging the fluid in said first and second fluid streams from the chamber, and fixed resistance means in said control fluid inlet passage upstream of said chamber for increasing the resistance of said second control fluid stream, said fixed resistance means including vortex forming means for forming a vortex in said control fluid upstream of said chamber.

Claim 3

The control device of claim 1 wherein said power fluid inlet passage extends radially into said chamber and said discharge passage extends from said chamber in a direction parallel to the axis of the chamber.

Claim 4

The control device of claim 1 wherein said fixed resistance means controls the resistance of said control fluid such that the flow rate through said discharge passage varies substantially linearly relative to variations in the pressure of said power fluid when the pressure of said control fluid is constant.

Claim 5

The control device of claim 1 wherein said fixed resistance means comprises at least one element having an inlet passage communicating tangentially with a second chamber and a control fluid discharge passage communicating with said second chamber and the first mentioned chamber.

Claim 6

The conTrol device of claim 4 including a plurality of said resistance elements arranged in series.

Claim 7

The control device of claim 4 wherein said first and second chambers are axially aligned.

Claim 8

A fluidic flow control device comprising: an elongated tubular body having a control fluid inlet adjacent one end thereof, a discharge element closing the other end of said tubular body and having a discharge passage extending therethrough, a first flat plate axially positioned in said body and having a vortex recess in one face thereof, said vortex recess communicating with said discharge passage, a second flat resistor plate axially positioned in said body between said first plate and said control fluid inlet, and having a cylindrical recess in at least one face thereof, a tangential passage in each of said plates communicating with said recesses and with said control fluid inlet to form a control fluid vortex in each of said recesses, a power fluid inlet means in said body communicating with an annular power fluid passage, and a substantially radial passage in said first plate communicating between said annular power fluid passage and said vortex recess, whereby power fluid is introduced into the vortex formed in said vortex recess.

Claim 9

A fluidic flow control device comprising: an elongated tubular body having a control fluid inlet adjacent one end thereof, a discharge element closing the other end of said tubular body and having a discharge passage extending therethrough, a first flat plate axially positioned in said body and having a vortex recess in one face thereof, said vortex recess communicating with said discharge passage, a second flat resistor plate axially positioned in said body between said first plate and said control fluid inlet, and having a cylindrical recess in at least one face thereof, a tangential passage in each of said plates communicating with said recesses and with said control fluid inlet to form a control fluid vortex in each of said recesses, a power fluid inlet means in said body communicating with an annular power fluid passage, and a substantially radial passage in said first plate communicating between said annular power fluid passage and said vortex recess, whereby power fluid is introduced into the vortex formed in said vortex recess.

Claim 10

The control device of claim 7 including third plate means between said first and second plates and having a passage communicating between the respective recesses of the plates, said passage being substantially smaller in diameter than said recesses.

Claim 11

The control device of claim 7 wherein each of said plates includes a second recess in their other faces, and said tangential passages of each plate communicate between their respective recesses.

Claim 12

A fluid flow control device comprising: a body having a cylindrical chamber defined therein, power fluid inlet means for introducing a power fluid stream to said chamber at a selectively variable pressure, control fluid means for introducing a control fluid stream at a constant pressure tangentially to said chamber, discharge means communicating with said chamber for discharging said power and control fluids from the chamber, said control fluid means including fixed resistance means for fixing the resistance of said constant pressure control fluid such that the flow rate through said discharge means varies in substantially linear relationship with said variable power fluid pressure.

Claim 13

A fluid flow control device comprising: a body having a cylindrical chamber defined therein, power fluid inlet means for introducing a power fluid stream to said chamber at a selectively variable pressure, control fluid means for introducing a control fluid stream at a constant pressure tangentially to said chamber, discharge means communicating with said chamber for discharging said power and control fluids from the chamber, said control fluid means including fixed resistance means for fixing the resistance of said constant pressure control fluid such that the flow rate through said discharge means varies in substantially linear relationship with said variable power fluid pressure.