Electropneumatic relay valve device using radiation-sensitive means

Claim 2

A control apparatus including a variably charged control chamber supplied with different degrees of fluid under pressure from a control valve to effect different control functions, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a source of light, b. a flexible fiber-optic tube means for conducting the beam of said source of light to desired locations, c. a pair of light-responsive sensor means individually located to be in alignment with said fiber-optic tube means either singly or together to receive the light rays therefrom, d. movable guide means for receiving said fiber-optic tube means and positioning same to be selectively in alignment with either one or both of said light-responsive sensor means responsively to the degree of fluid under pressure in the control chamber, and e. circuit means selectively energized responsively to supply of light rays to said sensor means singly or together for producing selected control signals to effect desired control functions.

Claim 3

Control apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light-responsive sensor means are aligned in a valve body and wherein said guide means is slidably mounted within said valve body positionable therein responsive to the degree of fluid under pressure in the control chamber on one end of said valve body to selectively position the said fiber-optic tube to register with the said one or both sensor means.

Claim 4

Control apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further including a lapping chamber within said valve body at the opposite end thereof subject to be charged to various degrees of fluid under pressure to reposition said slidably mounted guide means to selectively position said fiber optic tube to register with only one or neither of said sensor means.

Claim 5

A control apparatus including a pneumatically operated master controller device having a fluid-pressure-responsive control chamber and a fluid-pressure-responsive lapping chamber variably charged for effecting different control functions, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a source of light, b. a flexible fiber-optic tube means for conducting the beam of said source of light to a desired location, c. a first and second light-responsive sensor means individually located to be in alignment to receive the beam of said source of light sequentially at said first sensor means only, then said first and said second sensor means together and in reverse sequence as desired to effect a control function, d. movable guide means for receiving said fiber-optic tubE means and positioning same in a manner to position the light beam emitted therefrom to register selectively with said first or said first and second sensor means responsively to the degree of fluid pressure in the control chamber and in reverse sequence in response to the degree of fluid pressure in the lapping chamber as compared with the fluid pressure in the control chamber, and e. circuit means selectively energized responsive to supply of said light beam to said first sensor means to effect a first control function and responsive to supply of said light beam to said first and said second sensor means to effect a second control function and responsive to supply of said light beam to said first and second sensor means in reverse sequence to effect a third control function.

Claim 6

A control apparatus including a pneumatically operated master controller device having a fluid-pressure-responsive control chamber and a fluid-pressure-responsive lapping chamber variably charged for effecting different control functions, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a source of light, b. a flexible fiber-optic tube means for conducting the beam of said source of light to a desired location, c. a first and second light-responsive sensor means individually located to be in alignment to receive the beam of said source of light sequentially at said first sensor means only, then said first and said second sensor means together and in reverse sequence as desired to effect a control function, d. movable guide means for receiving said fiber-optic tubE means and positioning same in a manner to position the light beam emitted therefrom to register selectively with said first or said first and second sensor means responsively to the degree of fluid pressure in the control chamber and in reverse sequence in response to the degree of fluid pressure in the lapping chamber as compared with the fluid pressure in the control chamber, and e. circuit means selectively energized responsive to supply of said light beam to said first sensor means to effect a first control function and responsive to supply of said light beam to said first and said second sensor means to effect a second control function and responsive to supply of said light beam to said first and second sensor means in reverse sequence to effect a third control function.

Claim 7

A control apparatus including a manually operated cam lever movable to different positions to effect different control functions for a control means, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a source of light, b. a flexible fiber-optic tube means for conducting the beam of said source of light to desired locations, c. a pair of light-responsive sensor means individually located to be in alignment with said beam of said source of light either singly or together to receive the light rays therefrom according to the positioning of said cam lever, d. diaphragm piston means having a lapping chamber on one side thereof, e. movable guide means for receiving said fiber-optic tube means and positioning same to be selectively in alignment with either one of both of said light-responsive sensor means in accordance with the supply of fluid under pressure to said lapping chamber, and f. circuit means selectively energized responsively to supply of light rays to said sensor means singly or in pairs for producing selected control signals to effect desired control functions to supply fluid under pressure to said lapping chamber and the control means.

Claim 8

A control apparatus including a manually operated cam lever movable to different positions to effect different control functions for a control means, wherein the improvement comprises: a. a source of light, b. a flexible fiber-optic tube means for conducting the beam of said source of light to desired locations, c. a pair of light-responsive sensor means individually located to be in alignment with said beam of said source of light either singly or together to receive the light rays therefrom according to the positioning of said cam lever, d. diaphragm piston means having a lapping chamber on one side thereof, e. movable guide means for receiving said fiber-optic tube means and positioning same to be selectively in alignment with either one of both of said light-responsive sensor means in accordance with the supply of fluid under pressure to said lapping chamber, and f. circuit means selectively energized responsively to supply of light rays to said sensor means singly or in pairs for producing selected control signals to effect desired control functions to supply fluid under pressure to said lapping chamber and the control means.