Pressure inverter

Claim 2

A fluid pressure inverter having a main pressure inlet, a branch pressure inlet, and a pressure output means, comprising: first valve means comprising a housing, outlet means in the housing, pressure responsive means defining first, second, third and fourth chambers, the branch pressure inlet, the pressure output means, and the main pressure inlet communicating with the first, third, and fourth chambers respectively, the pressure responsive means arranged to open the outlet means in response to increasing pressure in the first or third chambers, and to close the outlet means in response to decreasing pressure in the first or third chambers, and venting means connected to the outlet means; supply valve means connected to the pressure output and having an inlet connected to the outlet means of the first valve means upstream of the venting means, the supply valve means comprising means responsive to increasing pressure at its inlet for effecting communication between its inlet and the pressure output means and for preventing said communication in response to increasing pressure in the pressure output means; and, exhaust valve means connected to the supply valve means and to the pressure output means and comprising an outlet and the means responsive to increasing pressure in the pressure output means for effecting communication between the pressure output means the the exhaust valve means outlet, and for preventing said communication in response to increasing pressure at said supply valve means inlet.

Claim 3

A fluid pressure inverter according to claim 1 wherein the supply valve means and the exhaust valve means each comprises: housing means; diaphragm dividing the housing means into a control chamber and flow chamber; and, partition means disposed within said flow chamber and arranged to cooperate in a sealable relation with the diaphragm means to further define the valving chamber.

Claim 4

A fluid pressure inverter according to claim 2 wherein; the control chamber and the valving chamber of the supply valve means are connected to the pressure output means; and, the flow chamber of the supply valve means is connected to the venting means.

Claim 5

A fluid pressure inverter according to claim 3 wherein; the control chamber of the exhaust valve means is connected to the flow chamber of the supply valve means and to the venting means; the flow chamber of the exhaust valve means is connected to the pressure output means; and, the valving chamber of the exhaust valve means is in communication with the atmosphere.

Claim 6

A fluid pressure inverter having a branch pressure inlet, a main pressure inlet, and a pressure outlet, comprising: first valve means connected to the branch pressure inlet, the main pressure inlet, and the pressure outlet, the first valve means including a housing, a spool member disposed in the housing, a valving chamber connectable to the main pressure inlet and arranged to be closed off by the spool member, and pressure responsive means associated with the spool member responsive to the outlet pressure and the branch pressure to urge the spool member in a first direction to close off the main pressure inlet from the valving chamber and further responsive to the main pressure to urge the spool member in a second direction to connect the main pressure inlet to the valving chamber; second valve means having an inlet connected to the valving chamber of the first valve means and an outlet connected to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter, the second valve means comprising means responsive to main pressure to transmit main pressure to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter when the main pressure exceeds the sum of the outlet and branch pressures; third valve means having an inlet connected to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter and an outlet connected to atmosphere, the third valve means comprising means responsive to main pressure to transmit outlet pressure to the atmoSphere when the sum of the outlet and branch pressures exceeds the main pressure; and, venting means connected to the valving chamber of the first valve means and the inlet of the second valve means.

Claim 7

A fluid pressure inverter having a branch pressure inlet, a main pressure inlet, and a pressure outlet, comprising: first valve means connected to the branch pressure inlet, the main pressure inlet, and the pressure outlet, the first valve means including a housing, a spool member disposed in the housing, a valving chamber connectable to the main pressure inlet and arranged to be closed off by the spool member, and pressure responsive means associated with the spool member responsive to the outlet pressure and the branch pressure to urge the spool member in a first direction to close off the main pressure inlet from the valving chamber and further responsive to the main pressure to urge the spool member in a second direction to connect the main pressure inlet to the valving chamber; second valve means having an inlet connected to the valving chamber of the first valve means and an outlet connected to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter, the second valve means comprising means responsive to main pressure to transmit main pressure to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter when the main pressure exceeds the sum of the outlet and branch pressures; third valve means having an inlet connected to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter and an outlet connected to atmosphere, the third valve means comprising means responsive to main pressure to transmit outlet pressure to the atmoSphere when the sum of the outlet and branch pressures exceeds the main pressure; and, venting means connected to the valving chamber of the first valve means and the inlet of the second valve means.

Claim 8

A fluid pressure inverter according to claim 5 wherein the second and third valve means each comprises: housing means; diaphragm means dividing the housing means into a control chamber and a flow chamber; and, partition means disposed within the flow chamber and arranged to cooperate in a sealable relation with the diaphragm means to further define a valving chamber.

Claim 9

A fluid pressure inverter according to claim 6 wherein: the control chamber of the second valve means is connected to the pressure outlet of the fluid pressure inverter; the valving chamber of the second valve means is connected to the outlet of the second valve means; and, the flow chamber of the second valve means is connected to the inlet of the second valve means.

Claim 10

A fluid pressure inverter according to claim 7 wherein: the control chamber of the third valve means is connected to the inlet of the second valve means; the flow chamber of the third valve means is connected to the inlet of the third valve means; and, the valving chamber of the third valve means is connected to the outlet of the third valve means.