Magnetically linked bipropellant valve

Claim 2

A flexure unit for permitting limited longitudinal movement of a first member with respect to a second member comprising: said flexure unit comprising a plurality of discs, each of said discs having a central opening, said discs to be positioned adjacent each other with alignment of said central openings, said first member being located within the confines of said central openings and fixedly secured to said discs, the outer periphery of said discs to be fixedly secured to said second member; each of said discs having an outer slot adjacent to the disc outer periphery and an inner slot adjacent to said central opening, each of said slots being substantially circular but not continuous in that a solid portion of said disc breaks the continuity of each of said slots, said slots being such that each of said discs is divided into an outer ring element movable with respect to a middle ring element and the middle ring element being movable with respect to an inner ring element, said solid portion of a said disc being non-aligned with a solid portion of an adjacent disc within said flexure unit.

Claim 3

An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: each of said discs being formed of a substantially non-magnetic material.

Claim 4

A flexure unit for permitting limited longitudinal movement of a first member with respect to a second member comprising: said flexure unit comprising a plurality of discs, each of said discs having a central opening, said discs to be positioned adjacent each other with alignment of said central openings, said first member being located within the confines of said central openings and fixedly secUred to said discs, the outer periphery of said discs to be fixedly secured to said second member; each of said discs having an outer slot adjacent to the disc outer periphery and an inner slot adjacent to said central opening, each of said slots being substantially circular but not continuous in that a solid portion of said disc breaks the continuity of each of said slots, said slots being such that each of said discs is divided into an outer ring element movable with respect to a middle ring element and the middle ring element being movable with respect to an inner ring element; spacers are included between adjacent discs to eliminate friction between discs which would hinder the degree of movement of said first member with respect to said second member.

Claim 5

A flexure unit for permitting limited longitudinal movement of a first member with respect to a second member comprising: said flexure unit comprising a plurality of discs, each of said discs having a central opening, said discs to be positioned adjacent each other with alignment of said central openings, said first member being located within the confines of said central openings and fixedly secUred to said discs, the outer periphery of said discs to be fixedly secured to said second member; each of said discs having an outer slot adjacent to the disc outer periphery and an inner slot adjacent to said central opening, each of said slots being substantially circular but not continuous in that a solid portion of said disc breaks the continuity of each of said slots, said slots being such that each of said discs is divided into an outer ring element movable with respect to a middle ring element and the middle ring element being movable with respect to an inner ring element; spacers are included between adjacent discs to eliminate friction between discs which would hinder the degree of movement of said first member with respect to said second member.

Claim 6

An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein: said solid portion of said outer slot of each disc being located substantially 180* from said solid portion of said inner slot of the same disc with respect to the center point of said central opening within the aforesaid disc.

Claim 7

An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein: the respective solid portions of said outer slot of each of said discs being angularly displaced from an adjacent disc, said angular displacement of adjacent discs being equal in degree.

Claim 8

An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein: a first disc and a second disc and a third disc are employed in said flexure unit, said angular displacement of said second disc being 120* with respect to said first disc, said angular displacement of said third disc being 120* with respect to said second disc.

Claim 9

A valve assembly for the direct proportionment of a fuel component and an oxidizer component in an engine combustion chamber, a first valve unit for controlling the flow of fuel and a second valve unit for controlling the flow of oxidizer, the improvement comprising: a common actuator for operating said first valve unit and a second valve unit, said actuator comprising an electrical magnetic field producing coil, each of said first and second valve units being arranged in magnetic series with said coil so that upon activation of said coil said first and second valve units operate substantially simultaneously, said first valve unit including a first member which directly controls the flow of fuel, said second valve unit also including a first member which directly controls the flow of oxidizer; and a flexure unit connected to each of said first members to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement of said first members relative to a second member, each of said flexure units applying a constant bias tending to maintain closure of its respective said valve unit.

Claim 10

A valve assembly for the direct proportionment of a fuel component and an oxidizer component in an engine combustion chamber, a first valve unit for controlling the flow of fuel and a second valve unit for controlling the flow of oxidizer, the improvement comprising: a common actuator for operating said first valve unit and a second valve unit, said actuator comprising an electrical magnetic field producing coil, each of said first and second valve units being arranged in magnetic series with said coil so that upon activation of said coil said first and second valve units operate substantially simultaneously, said first valve unit including a first member which directly controls the flow of fuel, said second valve unit also including a first member which directly controls the flow of oxidizer; and a flexure unit connected to each of said first members to permit a limited amount of longitudinal movement of said first members relative to a second member, each of said flexure units applying a constant bias tending to maintain closure of its respective said valve unit.

Claim 11

An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein: each of said flexure units comprising a plurality of discs, each of said discs having a central opening, said discs to be positioned adjacent each other with alignment of said central openings, said first member being located within the confines of said central openings and fixedly secured to said discs, the outer periphery of said discs to be fixedly secured to said second member; each of said discs having an outer slot adjacent to the disc outer periphery and an inner slot adjacent to said central opening, each of said slots being substantially circular but not continuous in that a solid portion of said disc breaks the continuity of each of said slots, said slots being such that each of said discs is divided into an outer ring element movable with respect to a middle ring element and the middle ring element being movable with respect to an inner ring element, said solid portion of a said disc being non-aligned with a solid portion of an adjacent disc within each of said flexure units.

Claim 12

An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein: each of said discs being formed of a substantially non-magnetic material.

Claim 13

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: spacers are included between adjacent discs To eliminate friction between discs which would hinder the degree of movement of said first member with respect to said second member.

Claim 14

An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein: said solid portion of said outer slot of each disc being located substantially 180* from said solid portion of said inner slot of the same disc with respect to the center point of said central opening within the aforesaid disc.

Claim 15

An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein: the respective solid portions of said outer slot of each of said discs being angularly displaced from an adjacent disc, said angular displacement of adjacent discs being equal in degree.

Claim 16

An apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein: a first disc and a second disc and a third disc are employed in said flexure unit, said angular displacement of said second disc being 120* with respect to said first disc, said angular displacement of said third disc being 120* with respect to said second disc.

Claim 17

A mounting assembly for connecting a poppet valve to an armature, said armature being axially movable from a first position to a second position, said mounting assembly comprising: an outer ring being secured to said armature; an inner ring being connected to said outer ring by a first flexible rib assembly, said first rib assembly permitting axial movement of said inner ring with respect to said outer ring; said poppet valve being located interiorly of said inner ring, a second flexible rib assembly supporting said poppet valve within said inner frame, said second rib assembly permitting axial movement of said poppet valve with respect to said inner ring.

Claim 18

A mounting assembly for connecting a poppet valve to an armature, said armature being axially movable from a first position to a second position, said mounting assembly comprising: an outer ring being secured to said armature; an inner ring being connected to said outer ring by a first flexible rib assembly, said first rib assembly permitting axial movement of said inner ring with respect to said outer ring; said poppet valve being located interiorly of said inner ring, a second flexible rib assembly supporting said poppet valve within said inner frame, said second rib assembly permitting axial movement of said poppet valve with respect to said inner ring.

Claim 19

An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein: said first rib assembly comprises a first pair of rib elements being located diametrically opposite each other with respect to said poppet valve, said second rib assembly comprises a second pair of rib elements being located diametrically opposite each other with respect to said poppet valve.

Claim 20

An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein: said first pair of rib elements being located within a first plane, said second pair of rib elements being located within a second plane, said first plane being angularly displaced from said second plane.

Claim 21

An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein: said angular displacement being approximately 90*.