Fluid proportioning system

Claim 2

A fluid proportioning system comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of fluid inlets each opening into a respective cylinder and adapted for connection in fluid communication with a respective fluid source, a piston in each cylinder and reciprocable therein between opposite limiting positions, a plurality of fluid outlets each opening from a respective cylinder for communication with a common vessel, valve means in each cylinder selectively positionable to communicate the associated inlet to a selected side of the associated piston and communicate the associated outlet to the other piston side, operating means interconnecting said valve means for simultaneous shifting thereof between selected positions, and actuating means for actuating said operating means only upon completion of the strokes of all of said pistons, whereby the frequency of reciprocation of all the pistons is equal, said pistons being freely reciprocable in respective cylinders independently of each other, for separate and independent piston reciprocation responsive to pressure differential between inlet and outlet fluids, and selectively positionable limit means in each cylinder for independently limiting piston movement to selected positions.

Claim 3

A fluid proportioning system comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of fluid inlets each opening into a respective cylinder and adapted for connection in fluid communication with a respective fluid source, a piston in each cylinder and reciprocable therein between opposite limiting positions, a plurality of fluid outlets each opening from a respective cylinder for communication with a common vessel, valve means in each cylinder selectively positionable to communicate the associated inlet to a selected side of the associated piston and communicate the associated outlet to the other piston side, operating means interconnecting said valve means for simultaneous shifting thereof between selected positions, and actuating means for actuating said operating means only upon completion of the strokes of all of said pistons, whereby the frequency of reciprocation of all the pistons is equal, said pistons being freely reciprocable in respective cylinders, for piston reciprocation responsive to pressure differential between inlet and outlet fluids, said valve means each comprising a rotary valve member located on one side of the associated piston having an internal passageway communicating in all positions of rotative movement with the other side of the associated piston, said passageway being rotatable with said valve member to communicate selectively with said inlet and outlet, and a port in said valve member communicating in all positions of rotative movement with said one side of the associated piston and rotative with said valve member to communicate with the outlet when said passageway communicates with the inlet and to communicate with the inlet when said passageway communicates with the outlet, said operating means comprising a shaft extending from each rotary member, and crank means positively connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation of said rotary members, said actuating means comprising a first group of series connected switches associated with respective pistons at one limiting position thereof, and a second group of series connected switches associated with respective pistons at the opposite limiting position thereof, said groups being connected in parallel with each other for alternate actuation of said valve operating means upon repeated reciprocation of said pistons.

Claim 4

A fluid proportioning system comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of fluid inlets each opening into a respective cylinder and adapted for connection in fluid communication with a respective fluid source, a piston in each cylinder and reciprocable therein between opposite limiting positions, a plurality of fluid outlets each opening from a respective cylinder for communication with a common vessel, valve means in each cylinder selectively positionable to communicate the associated inlet to a selected side of the associated piston and communicate the associated outlet to the other piston side, operating means interconnecting said valve means for simultaneous shifting thereof between selected positions, and actuating means for actuating said operating means only upon completion of the strokes of all of said pistons, whereby the frequency of reciprocation of all the pistons is equal, said pistons being freely reciprocable in respective cylinders, for piston reciprocation responsive to pressure differential between inlet and outlet fluids, said valve means each comprising a rotary valve member located on one side of the associated piston having an internal passageway communicating in all positions of rotative movement with the other side of the associated piston, said passageway being rotatable with said valve member to communicate selectively with said inlet and outlet, and a port in said valve member communicating in all positions of rotative movement with said one side of the associated piston and rotative with said valve member to communicate with the outlet when said passageway communicates with the inlet and to communicate with the inlet when said passageway communicates with the outlet, said operating means comprising a shaft extending from each rotary member, and crank means positively connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation of said rotary members, said actuating means comprising a first group of series connected switches associated with respective pistons at one limiting position thereof, and a second group of series connected switches associated with respective pistons at the opposite limiting position thereof, said groups being connected in parallel with each other for alternate actuation of said valve operating means upon repeated reciprocation of said pistons.

Claim 5

A fluid proportioning system comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of fluid inlets eacH opening into a respective cylinder and adapted for connection in fluid communication with a respective fluid source, a piston in each cylinder and reciprocable therein between opposite limiting positions, a plurality of fluid outlets each opening from a respective cylinder for communication with a common vessel, valve means in each cylinder selectively positionable to communicate the associated inlet to a selected side of the associated piston and communicate the associated outlet to the other piston side, operating means interconnecting said valve means for simultaneous shifting thereof between selected positions, and actuating means for actuating said operating means only upon completion of the strokes of all of said pistons, whereby the frequency of reciprocation of all the pistons is equal, said actuating means comprising a first group of series connected switches associated with respective pistons at one limiting position thereof, and a second group of series connected switches associated with the respective pistons at the opposite limiting position thereof, said groups being connected in parallel with each other for alternate actuation of said valve operating means upon repeated reciprocation of said pistons.

Claim 6

A fluid proportioning system comprising a plurality of cylinders, a plurality of fluid inlets eacH opening into a respective cylinder and adapted for connection in fluid communication with a respective fluid source, a piston in each cylinder and reciprocable therein between opposite limiting positions, a plurality of fluid outlets each opening from a respective cylinder for communication with a common vessel, valve means in each cylinder selectively positionable to communicate the associated inlet to a selected side of the associated piston and communicate the associated outlet to the other piston side, operating means interconnecting said valve means for simultaneous shifting thereof between selected positions, and actuating means for actuating said operating means only upon completion of the strokes of all of said pistons, whereby the frequency of reciprocation of all the pistons is equal, said actuating means comprising a first group of series connected switches associated with respective pistons at one limiting position thereof, and a second group of series connected switches associated with the respective pistons at the opposite limiting position thereof, said groups being connected in parallel with each other for alternate actuation of said valve operating means upon repeated reciprocation of said pistons.

Claim 7

A fluid proportioning system according to claim 3, said valve means each comprising a rotary valve member located on one side of the associated piston having an internal passageway communicating in all positions of rotative movement with the other side of the associated piston, said passageway being rotatable with said valve member to communicate selectively with the inlet and outlet, and a port in said valve member communicating in all positions of rotative movement with said one side of the associated piston and rotative with said valve member to communicate with the outlet when said passageway communicates with the inlet and to communicate with the inlet when said passageway communicates with the outlet.

Claim 8

A fluid proportioning system according to claim 4, said operating means comprising a shaft extending from each rotary member, and crank means positively connecting said shafts for simultaneous rotation of said rotary members.