Fluid logic control system

Claim 2

A fluid logic gate comprising: a. a casing having a chamber therein, said chamber being enclosed except for the hereinafter recited fluid ports; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected, independently movable spools in said chamber, each spool being positioned for sliding movement in said chamber only between first and second locations, each spool always being in slidable contact with the other spool, each spool having a height substantially equal to the height of said chamber and being in side-by-side sliding contact with the other spool, each spool being completely contained within said chamber, and each spool being slidable only in response to fluid pressure in said chamber; and d. stop means fixedly positioned in said chamber contacting said spools when said spools are in said second location.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of spools comprises a pair of spools always in side-by-side slidable contact with each other.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each of said spools includes at least one passageway for providing fluid communication between predetermined ones of said ports.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 3 including a fluid input signal line connected to at least one of said ports, a fluid output signal line connected to at least one of said ports, and fluid pressure lines connected to said ports for moving said spools to their various locations in said chamber.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 4 including fluid communication means in said spools for providing fluid communication between said input and output signal lines when said spools are in a predetermined location in said chamber.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said spools are self-sealing and self-lubricating in said chamber.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said spools are movable together and separately and when moved together are movable in the same and in different directions.

Claim 9

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having an elongated chamber therein, said chamber being enclosed except for the hereinafter recited fluid ports; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between first and second locations in said chamber, said spools being always in slidable, side-by-side contact with each other and being in sealing relationship with each other and with the walls of said chamber, each spool having a height substantially equal to the height of said chamber, each spool being completely contained within said chamber, and each spool being slidable only in response to fluid pressure in said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; and e. stop means fixedly positioned in said chamber contacting said spools when said spools are in said second location.

Claim 10

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having an elongated chamber therein, said chamber being enclosed except for the hereinafter recited fluid ports; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between first and second locations in said chamber, said spools being always in slidable, side-by-side contact with each other and being in sealing relationship with each other and with the walls of said chamber, each spool having a height substantially equal to the height of said chamber, each spool being completely contained within said chamber, and each spool being slidable only in response to fluid pressure in said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; and e. stop means fixedly positioned in said chamber contacting said spools when said spools are in said second location.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said spools are resilient and are self-sealing in said chamber.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein each of said spools is movable between a first location adjacent a respective end wall of said chamber toward a second location adjacent the center of said chamber, and including stop means contacting said spools at said second locations.

Claim 13

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having a chamber therein; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between two different locations in said chamber, said spools being in sealing relationship with the walls of said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; e. wherein each of said spools is movable between a first location adjacent a respective end wall of said chamber toward a second location adjacent the center of said chamber, and including stop means contacting said spools at said second locations; f. wherein said casing includes a cover having certain of said ports arranged therein in a regular, rectangular array comprising a series of rows and a series of columns; g. wherein each of said spools is idEntical, is L-shaped, and is positioned in reverse orientation to the other spool in said chamber; h. wherein each spool has a single transverse groove in its upper surface providing communication between two adjacent ports in the same column and in adjacent rows; and i. wherein the width of an arm extension of the ''''L'''' of each spool is substantially equal to the width of said chamber and is positioned adjacent the end of said chamber.

Claim 14

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having a chamber therein; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between two different locations in said chamber, said spools being in sealing relationship with the walls of said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; e. wherein each of said spools is movable between a first location adjacent a respective end wall of said chamber toward a second location adjacent the center of said chamber, and including stop means contacting said spools at said second locations; f. wherein said casing includes a cover having certain of said ports arranged therein in a regular, rectangular array comprising a series of rows and a series of columns; g. wherein each of said spools is idEntical, is L-shaped, and is positioned in reverse orientation to the other spool in said chamber; h. wherein each spool has a single transverse groove in its upper surface providing communication between two adjacent ports in the same column and in adjacent rows; and i. wherein the width of an arm extension of the ''''L'''' of each spool is substantially equal to the width of said chamber and is positioned adjacent the end of said chamber.

Claim 15

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having an elongated chamber therein; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between two different locations in said chamber, said spools being always in slidable, side-by-side contact with each other and being in sealing relationship with each other and with the walls of said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; and wherein said plurality of ports includes: e. a first fluid pressure input port through which fluid under pressure can be introduced for moving one of said spools from its first to its second location in said chamber; f. a second fluid pressure input port through which fluids under pressure can be introduced for moving the other of said spools from its first to its second location in said chamber; g. a third fluid pressure input port through which fluid under pressure can be introduced in said chamber for simultaneously moving both of said spools from their second location to their first location; h. at least one fluid input signal port in communication with said chamber; and i. at least one fluid output signal port in communication with said chamber.

Claim 16

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having an elongated chamber therein; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between two different locations in said chamber, said spools being always in slidable, side-by-side contact with each other and being in sealing relationship with each other and with the walls of said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; and wherein said plurality of ports includes: e. a first fluid pressure input port through which fluid under pressure can be introduced for moving one of said spools from its first to its second location in said chamber; f. a second fluid pressure input port through which fluids under pressure can be introduced for moving the other of said spools from its first to its second location in said chamber; g. a third fluid pressure input port through which fluid under pressure can be introduced in said chamber for simultaneously moving both of said spools from their second location to their first location; h. at least one fluid input signal port in communication with said chamber; and i. at least one fluid output signal port in communication with said chamber.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 12 including fluid pressure conduit means connected to certain of said ports for biasing said spools to their first locations respectively.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said passageways are located so as to provide fluid communication between said input signal port and said output signal port when said spools are in a predetermined position in said chamber.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 13 including means providing fluid communication between said input and output signal ports only when both of said spools are in their second positions, whereby said gate can perform AND logic functions.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 13 including means providing fluid communication between said input and output signal ports when at least one of said spools is in its second position, whereby said gate can perform OR logic functions.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 13 including means providing fluid communication between said input and output signal ports only when neither of said spools is in its second location, whereby said gate can perform NOT logic functions.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 13 including means providing fluid communication between said input and output signal ports when at least one of said spools is in its first position, whereby said gate can perform NOR logic functions.

Claim 23

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having an elongated chamber therein; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between two different locations in said chamber, said spools being always in slidable, side-by-side contact with each other and being in sealing relationship with each other and with the walls of said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; e. a first fluid pressure input line connected to at least one of said ports for moving one of said spools from its first location to its second location in said chamber; f. a second fluid pressure input line connected to at least one of said ports for moving the other of said spools from its first to its second location in said chamber; g. a third fluid pressure input line connected to at least one of said ports for simultaneously moving both of said spools from their second location to their first location; h. a fluid input signal line connected to at least one of said ports; and i. a fluid output signal line connected to at least one of said ports.

Claim 24

A fluid logic gate for use in a fluid logic control system comprising: a. a casing having an elongated chamber therein; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber; c. a pair of separate, unconnected spools movably positioned in said chamber, each of said spools being independently movable between two different locations in said chamber, said spools being always in slidable, side-by-side contact with each other and being in sealing relationship with each other and with the walls of said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway therein in fluid communication with a first set of said ports when in a first location and with a second set of said ports when in a second location in said chamber; e. a first fluid pressure input line connected to at least one of said ports for moving one of said spools from its first location to its second location in said chamber; f. a second fluid pressure input line connected to at least one of said ports for moving the other of said spools from its first to its second location in said chamber; g. a third fluid pressure input line connected to at least one of said ports for simultaneously moving both of said spools from their second location to their first location; h. a fluid input signal line connected to at least one of said ports; and i. a fluid output signal line connected to at least one of said ports.

Claim 25

A fluid operated device for use in a fluid logic control system for performing any one of the four logic functions AND, OR, NOT, NOR, comprising: a. a casing having a chamber therein, said chamber being enclosed except for the hereinafter recited fluid ports; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber said plurality of ports including all of the ports necessary for said device to perform each one of said logic functions; c. a pair of separate, unconnected independently movable spools in said chamber, each spool being positioned for sliding movement in said chamber only between first and second locations, said spools being always in slidable contact with each other, each spool having a height substantially equal to the height of said chamber and being in side-by-side sliding contact with the other spool, each spool being completely contained within said chamber, and each spool being slidable only in response to fluid pressure in said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway for providing fluid communication between predetermined ones of said ports; e. fluid pressure lines connected to predetermined ones of said ports for performing a predetermined one of said four logic functions, and f. stop means fixedly positioned in said chamber contacting said spools when said spools are in said second location.

Claim 26

A fluid operated device for use in a fluid logic control system for performing any one of the four logic functions AND, OR, NOT, NOR, comprising: a. a casing having a chamber therein, said chamber being enclosed except for the hereinafter recited fluid ports; b. a plurality of ports in said casing in fluid communication with said chamber said plurality of ports including all of the ports necessary for said device to perform each one of said logic functions; c. a pair of separate, unconnected independently movable spools in said chamber, each spool being positioned for sliding movement in said chamber only between first and second locations, said spools being always in slidable contact with each other, each spool having a height substantially equal to the height of said chamber and being in side-by-side sliding contact with the other spool, each spool being completely contained within said chamber, and each spool being slidable only in response to fluid pressure in said chamber; d. each of said spools having at least one passageway for providing fluid communication between predetermined ones of said ports; e. fluid pressure lines connected to predetermined ones of said ports for performing a predetermined one of said four logic functions, and f. stop means fixedly positioned in said chamber contacting said spools when said spools are in said second location.