Pneumatic annunciator system

Claim 2

A pneumatic indicator adapted to be joined to another like indicator and comprising: a body having a chamber arranged therein; pressure-responsive indicator means operatively arranged in said chamber and adapted for movement therein between first and second indicating positions in response to pressure signals respectively applied to first and second portions of said chamber; a first passage in said body and communicating with said first portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; second and third passages in said body and respectively terminating at an outer surface thereof adapted for placement adjacent to a matching outer surface of the body of a like pneumatic indicator; a fourth passage in said body intersecting said second and third passages and communicating with said second portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; and means adapted for selecting which of said second and third passages is to be in communication with said second portion of said chamber and including a spool member adapted for positioning in said fourth passage between said second and third passages in either of two alternate positions therein, seal means adapted for sealing said spool member in relation to said body for isolaTing said second and third passages from one another and dividing said spool into spaced portions, and passage means in said spool member and adapted for communicating said fourth passage with the exterior of only one of said spaced spool portions to conduct pressure signals to said second portion of said chamber from only that one of said second and third passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion.

Claim 3

A pneumatic indicator adapted to be joined to another like indicator and comprising: a body having a chamber arranged therein; pressure-responsive indicator means operatively arranged in said chamber and adapted for movement therein between first and second indicating positions in response to pressure signals respectively applied to first and second portions of said chamber; a first passage in said body and communicating with said first portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; second and third passages in said body and respectively terminating at an outer surface thereof adapted for placement adjacent to a matching outer surface of the body of a like pneumatic indicator; a fourth passage in said body intersecting said second and third passages and communicating with said second portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; and means adapted for selecting which of said second and third passages is to be in communication with said second portion of said chamber and including a spool member adapted for positioning in said fourth passage between said second and third passages in either of two alternate positions therein, seal means adapted for sealing said spool member in relation to said body for isolaTing said second and third passages from one another and dividing said spool into spaced portions, and passage means in said spool member and adapted for communicating said fourth passage with the exterior of only one of said spaced spool portions to conduct pressure signals to said second portion of said chamber from only that one of said second and third passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion.

Claim 4

A pneumatic indicator adapted to be joined to another like indicator and comprising: a body having a chamber arranged therein; pressure-responsive indicator means operatively arranged in said chamber and adapted for movement therein between first and second indicating positions in response to pressure signals respectively applied to first and second portions of said chamber; a first passage in said body and communicating with said first portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; second and third passages in said body and respectively terminating at an outer surface thereof adapted for placement adjacent to a matching outer surface of the body of a like pneumatic indicator; a fourth passage in said body intersecting said second and third passages and communicating with said second portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; and means adapted for selecting which of said second and third passages is to be in communication with said second portion of said chamber and including a spool member adapted for positioning in said fourth passage between said second and third passages in either of two alternate positions therein, seal means adapted for sealing said spool member in relation to said body for isolaTing said second and third passages from one another and dividing said spool into spaced portions, and passage means in said spool member and adapted for communicating said fourth passage with the exterior of only one of said spaced spool portions to conduct pressure signals to said second portion of said chamber from only that one of said second and third passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion.

Claim 5

The pneumatic indicator of claim 1 wherein said spool member is adapted to be reversed end for end for selecting which of its said alternate positions it will occupy when said spool member is positioned in said fourth passage.

Claim 6

The pneumatic indicator of claim 1 further including check valve means in said passage means adapted for passing pressure signals only from that one of said second and third passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion to said second portion of said chamber.

Claim 7

The pneumatic indicator of claim 1 wherein said passage means include a bore extending the length of said spool member and terminating at the opposite ends thereof, and a branch bore between said bore and said one spaced spool portion; and further including check valve means adapted for selective cooperation with either of said ends of said spool member for passing pressure signals only from that one of said second and third passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion to said second portion of said chamber; and wherein said spool member is adapted to be reversed end for end for selecting which of its said positions it will occupy when said spool member is positioned in said fourth passage.

Claim 8

The pneumatic indicator of claim 1 wherein said indicator means include a visual indicator adapted for signifying at least one of said indicating positions of said indicator means.

Claim 9

The pneumatic indicator of claim 5 wherein said visual indicator is exterior of said chamber.

Claim 10

The pneumatic indicator of claim 5 further including detent means on said body and operatively arranged for retaining said indicator means in said one indicating position upon movement thereto.

Claim 11

A pneumatic indicator adapted to be joined to another like indicator and comprising: a body having a chamber arranged therein along a selected axis of said body; pressure-responsive indicator means operatively arranged in said chamber and adapted for movement therein between first and second indicating positions in response to pressure signals respectively applied to first and second portions of said chamber; a first passage in said body and communicating with said first portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; a pair of second passages and a pair of third passages in said body respectively located on opposite sides of said chamber and equally spaced from said axis, said second and third passages respectively terminating at an outer surface of said body adapted for placement adjacent to a matching outer surface of the body of a like pneumatic indicator; a fourth passage in said body intersecting said second passages and communicating with said second portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; and means adapted for selecting which one of said second passages is to be in communication with said second portion of said chamber and including a spool member adapted for positioning in said fourth passage between said second passages in either of two alternate positions therein, seal means adapted for sealing said spool member in relation to said body for isolating said second passages from one another and dividing said spool into spaced portions, and passage means in said spool member and adapted for communicating said fourth passage with the exterior of only one of said spaced spool portions to conduct pressure signals to said second portion of said chamber from only that one of said second passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion.

Claim 12

A pneumatic indicator adapted to be joined to another like indicator and comprising: a body having a chamber arranged therein along a selected axis of said body; pressure-responsive indicator means operatively arranged in said chamber and adapted for movement therein between first and second indicating positions in response to pressure signals respectively applied to first and second portions of said chamber; a first passage in said body and communicating with said first portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; a pair of second passages and a pair of third passages in said body respectively located on opposite sides of said chamber and equally spaced from said axis, said second and third passages respectively terminating at an outer surface of said body adapted for placement adjacent to a matching outer surface of the body of a like pneumatic indicator; a fourth passage in said body intersecting said second passages and communicating with said second portion of said chamber for conducting pressure signals thereto; and means adapted for selecting which one of said second passages is to be in communication with said second portion of said chamber and including a spool member adapted for positioning in said fourth passage between said second passages in either of two alternate positions therein, seal means adapted for sealing said spool member in relation to said body for isolating said second passages from one another and dividing said spool into spaced portions, and passage means in said spool member and adapted for communicating said fourth passage with the exterior of only one of said spaced spool portions to conduct pressure signals to said second portion of said chamber from only that one of said second passages then adjacent to said one spaced spool portion.

Claim 13

The pneumatic indicator of claim 8 wherein the spacing between said pair of second pAssages is equal to the spacing between said pair of third passages so that either of said pairs will coincide with either of such pairs of passages in a like pneumatic indicator.

Claim 14

The pneumatic indicator of claim 9 wherein said second and third passages extend through said body to opposed outer surfaces thereof so that the matching outer surfaces of like pneumatic indicators can be placed adjacent to said opposed outer surfaces and the matching pairs of such passages will coincide with said second and third passages.

Claim 15

An assembly of a plurality of pneumatic indicators comprising at least a pair of indicators, each of which is adapted to be connected to a transducer and operated thereby and each of said indicators being comprised of a body having sides thereto; at least two passage means cooperative with said assembly of indicators, said passage means extending through a first body and a second body wherein integrity of communication is achieved by placing said bodies in a side by side relationship; said first indicator being operatively communicated with either one or the other of said passage means; and said second indicator being operatively communicated with either of said passage means.

Claim 16

An assembly of a plurality of pneumatic indicators comprising at least a pair of indicators, each of which is adapted to be connected to a transducer and operated thereby and each of said indicators being comprised of a body having sides thereto; at least two passage means cooperative with said assembly of indicators, said passage means extending through a first body and a second body wherein integrity of communication is achieved by placing said bodies in a side by side relationship; said first indicator being operatively communicated with either one or the other of said passage means; and said second indicator being operatively communicated with either of said passage means.

Claim 17

The assembly of pneumatic indicators of claim 11 wherein said first body is constructed and arranged with respect to said second body to permit said bodies to assume a first and a different and second side by side relationship characterized by the fact that said first and second passage means maintain integrity of communications in both side by side relationships.

Claim 18

The assembly of claim 12 wherein said first body incorporates a flag means movable between a tripped and an untripped position in response to pressure signals operatively applied thereto; internal passage means within said first body communicating either with said first or second passage means for obtaining therefrom pressure signals for operation of said flag means; and means for selectively limiting communications through said internal passage means to one of said first and second passage means.

Claim 19

The assembly of claim 11 wherein said first and second bodies each have opposing faces with openings therein communicating said first and second passage means therethrough, said opening in said first body and in said second body matching one another or juxtapositioning said bodies; and further including sealing gasket means positioned between said opposing faces.

Claim 20

The pneumatic indicator assembly of claim 11 further including movable indicator flag means forming a visual signal of the tripped and untripped positions of said indicator; pneumatic responsive means responsive to pressure signals and operably connected with said flag means for moving it to the tripped position; a first manifold pressure source means, connected with said first passage means; a connective means permitting connection of said indicator to a transducer which vents said connective means to a reduced pressure; a source of pneumatic pressure controllably supplied to said pneumatic responsive means for selectively moving said flag means to the tripped position; valve means communicating said connective means to said first passage means and to said pneumatic responsive means for applying a pressure signal tending to operate said pneumatic responsive means; said valve means, on reduction of pressure from a transducer through said connective means, reducing pressure in said first passage means, and further removing the tendency to operate said pressure responsive means, however said reduction in pressure in said first passage means occurring without regard to operation of said flag means.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 15 wherein said source of pneumatic pressure controllably supplied to said pneumatic responsive means forms a pressure pulse after the drop of pressure in said first manifold means, and said pressure pulse is supplied to said pneumatic responsive means to move said flag means to the tripped condition.

Claim 22

The invention of claim 15 wherein said valve means includes a check valve isolating said first passage means from said connective means and a transducer connected thereto and also from said pneumatic responsive means.