US3645141A — Random-access pressure multiplexer valving arrang…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 180 words

Random-access pressure-multiplexing valving apparatus employing transducing means to provide output electric signals, comprising in combination a valve body; a common sensing chamber in the valve body for influencing the transducing means to produce output electrical signals corresponding to the pressure in the chamber; a plurality of input sample ports in the valve body adapted to receive respective pressure lines; a plurality of passageways in the body respectively connecting the ports to the common chamber; a plurality of individually and independently operable valve means each at least partly movable relative to the valve body for connecting the sample ports respectively to the common chamber by opening the associated passageway; said valve means each having at least two operating states, one for connecting its associated sample port to the common chamber and the other for disconnecting its associated sample port from the common chamber; and a plurality of valve-operating means for activating the valve means selectively and independently in any sequence to establish connection between their respective sample ports and said chamber in a sample mode when used as a pressure multiplexer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 180 words

Random-access pressure-multiplexing valving apparatus employing transducing means to provide output electric signals, comprising in combination a valve body; a common sensing chamber in the valve body for influencing the transducing means to produce output electrical signals corresponding to the pressure in the chamber; a plurality of input sample ports in the valve body adapted to receive respective pressure lines; a plurality of passageways in the body respectively connecting the ports to the common chamber; a plurality of individually and independently operable valve means each at least partly movable relative to the valve body for connecting the sample ports respectively to the common chamber by opening the associated passageway; said valve means each having at least two operating states, one for connecting its associated sample port to the common chamber and the other for disconnecting its associated sample port from the common chamber; and a plurality of valve-operating means for activating the valve means selectively and independently in any sequence to establish connection between their respective sample ports and said chamber in a sample mode when used as a pressure multiplexer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 53 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a common input port and passageway in said valve body for connection to said chamber by any and by all said valve means, means for selectively addressing the valve means in a sample mode; and means for simultaneously addressing all valve means in a purge mode.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 80 words

The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising means for selectively fixing the position of each valve means to more than a single position; means electrically coding the fixing means for positioning it to a selected position for the valve means only for one of a given number of conditions; and logical means for detecting said one condition to drive said fixing means to said position if not in said position and not to drive said fixing means if already there.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 85 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a common input port and passageway in said valve body for connection to said chamber by any of said valve means; sequential addressing means for sequentially connecting the common input port passageway to said chamber by way of said valve means; magnitude comparison means for receiving the transducer output signals for each sequential valve means connected to determine if a restriction to flow exists; and output means for noting any such restrictions or the absence of any restrictions.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising means responsive to restrictions in two sequentially addressed ports to initiate a different sequential addressing of said ports for further comparison.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means responsive to the magnitude comparison means to select a nonrestricted port; and means for interposing the nonrestricted port into the initial sequential addressing of said ports in between all successive ports addressed to preclude the detection of two sequentially addressed restricted ports, thereby insuring unique determination of the restricted port and location of the restriction relative thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for determining if the signal output level from said transducer means is above a threshold region level of said magnitude comparison means, thereby to influence the output means to indicate that the restriction is between the selected addressed valve means and its sample port.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means for determining if the signal output level from said transducer means is below a threshold region level of said magnitude comparison means, thereby to influence the output means to indicate that the restriction is between the selected addressed valve means and said chamber.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 180 words

Random-access pressure-multiplexing valving apparatus employing transducing means to provide output electric signals; comprising in combination a valve body, a common sensing chamber in the valve body for influencing the transducing means to produce output electrical signals corresponding to the pressure in the chamber; a plurality of input sample ports in the valve body adapted to receive respective pressure lines; a plurality of individually operable valve means one for each port and each at least partly movable relative to the valve body for connecting the sample ports respectively to the common chamber; each said valve means comprising a movable member and a passageway in the valve body from the chamber to its sample port via the movable member with said movable member being disposed in proximity to the closed chamber to minimize the portion of passageway between the closed chamber and the movable member; and a plurality of valve operating means for activating the valve means selectively in any sequence to establish connection between their respective sample ports and said chamber in a sample mode when used as a pressure multiplexer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 180 words

Random-access pressure-multiplexing valving apparatus employing transducing means to provide output electric signals; comprising in combination a valve body, a common sensing chamber in the valve body for influencing the transducing means to produce output electrical signals corresponding to the pressure in the chamber; a plurality of input sample ports in the valve body adapted to receive respective pressure lines; a plurality of individually operable valve means one for each port and each at least partly movable relative to the valve body for connecting the sample ports respectively to the common chamber; each said valve means comprising a movable member and a passageway in the valve body from the chamber to its sample port via the movable member with said movable member being disposed in proximity to the closed chamber to minimize the portion of passageway between the closed chamber and the movable member; and a plurality of valve operating means for activating the valve means selectively in any sequence to establish connection between their respective sample ports and said chamber in a sample mode when used as a pressure multiplexer.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a common input port and passageway in said valve body for connection to said chamber by any and by all valve means.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said valve means respectively include orifice means for connecting the common input port passageway to the chamber.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 31 words

The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising orifice means included in said movable member for communication from the common input port and passageway to the chamber and the sample port therefor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a common input port and passageway in said valve body for connection to said chamber by any and by all valve movable members and the minimized portion of their associated passageways.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said valve movable members comprise orifice means and a bore in each valve member for connecting common input port passageway to the chamber via the minimized portion of the associated passageway.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising valve-positioning stop means for the movable members for locating any and all movable members in a selected one of a plurality of positions.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said plurality of positions comprises a first position for connecting selected sample ports to the chamber and a second position for connecting the common input port passageway to the chamber.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising electrically operable means for driving the valve position stop means selectively to establish the first and second stop positions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said means individually activating the valve means comprises electrically movable means, and further comprising electrically operable means for selectively fixing the position for each movable member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 98 words

A random-addressable pressure-multiplexing valve means comprising in combination a common valve body; transducer means forming a chamber with the body; a plurality of pressure inlet passageways through the body each communicating with the chamber; means for connecting one end of each of the passageways to a plurality of pressure lines; a plurality of individually and independently actuable meats normally closing the pressure inlet passageways at respective locations adjacent to the other ends of said passageways in proximity to said chamber; and a plurality of random-addressable means for independently opening and closing selected passageways via the associated actuable means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 98 words

A random-addressable pressure-multiplexing valve means comprising in combination a common valve body; transducer means forming a chamber with the body; a plurality of pressure inlet passageways through the body each communicating with the chamber; means for connecting one end of each of the passageways to a plurality of pressure lines; a plurality of individually and independently actuable meats normally closing the pressure inlet passageways at respective locations adjacent to the other ends of said passageways in proximity to said chamber; and a plurality of random-addressable means for independently opening and closing selected passageways via the associated actuable means.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

The valve means of claim 19 further comprising stop limit means for the individually actuable means to stop tHe actuable means in selected locations.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

The valve means of claim 19 wherein the valve body comprises a second common chamber, and includes a further passageway in communication with the second common chamber.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The valve means of claim 21 further comprising stop limit means disposed in said second common chamber to receive the individually actuable means in selected positions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

The valve means of claim 22 wherein said individually actuable means comprise passageways adapted to communicate from the second common chamber internally of the valve body to the transducer chamber via the inlet passageways.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The valve means of claim 23 wherein said stop limit means is movable, and said actuable means are movable to positions determined by the stop limit means.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 130 words

A random-addressable pressure-sampling valve system, comprising in combination a valve body; transducer means forming a chamber with the body; a plurality of pressure inlet passageways through the body each communicating with the chamber; a plurality of individually actuable valve means normally closing the pressure inlet passageways; purge inlet means common to the chamber via the respective valve means; said valve means opening the passageways to the chamber in one position and introducing purge pressure from the purge inlet means to the inlet passageways and to the chamber in another position of the valve means; a plurality of actuator means independently switching the valve means between their positions; and means for randomly addressing the actuator means and for sampling the output from the transducer means for each randomly addressed actuator means.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 130 words

A random-addressable pressure-sampling valve system, comprising in combination a valve body; transducer means forming a chamber with the body; a plurality of pressure inlet passageways through the body each communicating with the chamber; a plurality of individually actuable valve means normally closing the pressure inlet passageways; purge inlet means common to the chamber via the respective valve means; said valve means opening the passageways to the chamber in one position and introducing purge pressure from the purge inlet means to the inlet passageways and to the chamber in another position of the valve means; a plurality of actuator means independently switching the valve means between their positions; and means for randomly addressing the actuator means and for sampling the output from the transducer means for each randomly addressed actuator means.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 91 words

The valve system of claim 25 wherein the means for addressing and sampling comprises a comparator circuit connected to sample the transducer output signal and to produce an output indicative of a clogged inlet passageway; registering means adapted to register the address for the individually actuable means; means for indicating the identity and condition of each individually actuable means passageway normally closing said passageways under control of the comparator and the registering means; and means for incrementing the registering means to select a different actuable means and its passageway for sampling.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-02-28	1975-08-30	1976-02-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-02-28	1979-08-30	1980-02-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-02-28	1983-08-30	1984-02-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Random-access pressure multiplexer valving arrangement and system

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