Patent US3721256A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3721256A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flow control device with a bistable fluid switch
Assignee: Bendix Corp
•
Filing: 1970-09-30
•
Granted: 1973-03-20
•
Expires: 1990-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A flow control device which senses the liquid level in a tank filled thereby and automatically shuts off flow upon reaching a predetermined tank level by means of a fluidic sensing and control circuit. A bistable fluid switch is used to initiate the automatic filling operation, and also to discontinue supply flow to the control circuit after performance of its sensing and control function. The sensing and control circuit includes a monostable jet-on-jet fluid amplifier with a power jet which is switched to an alternate outlet by a sensing line disposed in the tank with floats adapted to block the sensing line upon attainment of the predetermined level, the output of the alternate outlet causing operation of a main flow control valve to discontinue further flow, as well as to operate the bistable fluid switch to discontinue supply flow to the fluid amplifier.
Inventors
- 👤 D Barnard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 21:06
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/36; B67D7/42; B67D7/44; B67D7/46; F; F16; F16K; F16K21/00; F16K21/04; F16K21/18; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/2065; Y10T137/2071; Y10T137/212; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
237 words
A flow control device for controlling filling of a cavity with fluid comprising: main passage means for directing fluid flow into said cavity; main valve means controlling flow through said main passage means; liquid level sensing means including a sensing passage means, including a passage extending within said main passage means, means for creating fluid flow in said sensing passage into said cavity through said passage extending within said main passage during filling operations, and means for restricting flow in said sensing passage means when the fluid level in said cavity reaches a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said main valve means in response to said restriction of said sensing line including a fluidic amplifier comprising a jet-on-jet device having a supply jet and a pair of outlets with said supply jet being monostable with respect to one of said outlets, and means varying flow through said fluidic amplifier including means switching said supply jet from said monostable outlet to said other outlet, and wherein said control means further includes means causing said main valve means to discontinue flow in said main passage means upon switching of said supply jet to said other outlet, said fluidic amplifier further including vent passages associated with each outlet, and wherein said control means further includes a vent passage extending so as to be directed into said cavity during filling operations, whereby vent flow is directed into said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
237 words
A flow control device for controlling filling of a cavity with fluid comprising: main passage means for directing fluid flow into said cavity; main valve means controlling flow through said main passage means; liquid level sensing means including a sensing passage means, including a passage extending within said main passage means, means for creating fluid flow in said sensing passage into said cavity through said passage extending within said main passage during filling operations, and means for restricting flow in said sensing passage means when the fluid level in said cavity reaches a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said main valve means in response to said restriction of said sensing line including a fluidic amplifier comprising a jet-on-jet device having a supply jet and a pair of outlets with said supply jet being monostable with respect to one of said outlets, and means varying flow through said fluidic amplifier including means switching said supply jet from said monostable outlet to said other outlet, and wherein said control means further includes means causing said main valve means to discontinue flow in said main passage means upon switching of said supply jet to said other outlet, said fluidic amplifier further including vent passages associated with each outlet, and wherein said control means further includes a vent passage extending so as to be directed into said cavity during filling operations, whereby vent flow is directed into said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said sensing passage and said vent passage include a pair of concentric tubes supported in said main passage, with the internal diameter of one tube and the annular clearance between the two tubes creating the sensing and vent passages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said restricting means includes a float operated valve means in said cavity and also includes means for blocking said sensing passage by said float operated valve means upon attainment of said level in said cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
227 words
A flow control device for controlling filling of a cavity with fluid comprising: main passage means for directing fluid flow into said cavity; main valve means controlling flow through said main paSsage means; liquid level sensing means including a sensing passage means, including a passage extending within said main passage means, means for creating fluid flow in said sensing passage into said cavity through said passage extending within said main passage during filling operations, and means for restricting flow in said sensing passage means when the fluid level in said cavity reaches a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said main valve means in response to said restriction of said sensing line including a fluidic amplifier comprising a jet-on-jet device having a supply jet and a pair of outlets with said supply jet being monostable with respect to one of said outlets, and means varying flow through said fluidic amplifier including means switching said supply jet from said monostable outlet to said other outlet, and wherein said control means further includes means causing said main valve means to discontinue flow in said main passage means upon switching of said supply jet to said other outlet and wherein said control means also includes fluid switch means discontinuing fluid flow to said fluidic amplifier in response to said switching of said supply jet flow to said other outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
227 words
A flow control device for controlling filling of a cavity with fluid comprising: main passage means for directing fluid flow into said cavity; main valve means controlling flow through said main paSsage means; liquid level sensing means including a sensing passage means, including a passage extending within said main passage means, means for creating fluid flow in said sensing passage into said cavity through said passage extending within said main passage during filling operations, and means for restricting flow in said sensing passage means when the fluid level in said cavity reaches a predetermined level; and control means for controlling said main valve means in response to said restriction of said sensing line including a fluidic amplifier comprising a jet-on-jet device having a supply jet and a pair of outlets with said supply jet being monostable with respect to one of said outlets, and means varying flow through said fluidic amplifier including means switching said supply jet from said monostable outlet to said other outlet, and wherein said control means further includes means causing said main valve means to discontinue flow in said main passage means upon switching of said supply jet to said other outlet and wherein said control means also includes fluid switch means discontinuing fluid flow to said fluidic amplifier in response to said switching of said supply jet flow to said other outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The device of claim 4 wherein said fluid switch means includes an element having two stable positions one of which the member will assume in the absence of moving forces above a predetermined level, and further includes an operatively associated valve means, allowing fluid flow to said fluid amplifier in one of said stable positions and preventing fluid flow to said fluid amplifier in the other of said stable operating positions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said fluid switch means further includes means moving said member to said other position by said other fluidic amplifier outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said member is a Belleville spring dished in one direction and said other position is with said Belleville spring dished in the opposite direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 7 wherein said fluid switch means includes means mounting the periphery of said Belleville spring against axial movement, and further includes means for applying an axial force to said Belleville spring in response to said flow from said other outlet of said fluidic amplifier to cause said Belleville spring to be inverted to said other position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The device of claim 8 wherein said means for applying an axial force to said Belleville spring includes a fluid pressure chamber defined in part by said Belleville spring, and also includes means for providing a fluid connection from said other outlet and said fluid pressure chamber, whereby a fluid pressure is applied to said Belleville spring in response to said switching to said other outlet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 8 further including an operating rod connected to said Belleville spring to permit manual movement of said Belleville spring to said one or the other stable positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
182 words
A fluidic circuit comprising: a fluidic element comprising a jet-on-jet fluidic amplifier having a supply inlet and a pair of outlets and means varying said flow from said supply inlet to said pair of outlets including means switching said supply flow from one to the other of said outlets; control means discontinuing said supply flow to said fluidic element in response to said switching of flow from said inlet to one of said outlets from flow to the other of said outlets, wherein said control means includes bistable fluid switch means having an operating element comprising a Belleville spring which is positioned in one or the other of a pair of oppositely dished positions in the absence of moving forces acting thereon above a predetermined value, and further includes valve means controlling fluid flow to said supply inlet in response to movement of said operating element from one of said stable positions to the other, and operating means causing said operating element to move to a stable position corResponding to discontinuance of fluid flow to said supply inlet by said valve means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
182 words
A fluidic circuit comprising: a fluidic element comprising a jet-on-jet fluidic amplifier having a supply inlet and a pair of outlets and means varying said flow from said supply inlet to said pair of outlets including means switching said supply flow from one to the other of said outlets; control means discontinuing said supply flow to said fluidic element in response to said switching of flow from said inlet to one of said outlets from flow to the other of said outlets, wherein said control means includes bistable fluid switch means having an operating element comprising a Belleville spring which is positioned in one or the other of a pair of oppositely dished positions in the absence of moving forces acting thereon above a predetermined value, and further includes valve means controlling fluid flow to said supply inlet in response to movement of said operating element from one of said stable positions to the other, and operating means causing said operating element to move to a stable position corResponding to discontinuance of fluid flow to said supply inlet by said valve means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The circuit of claim 11 wherein said operating means includes at least one fluid pressure chamber defined in part by said Belleville spring, and further includes fluid pressure control means for creating a fluid pressure differential across said Belleville spring to cause movement from one dished position to the reverse dished position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The circuit of claim 11 wherein said valve means includes an operating rod drivingly connected to said Belleville spring, and further including means varying said fluid flow through to said supply inlet in response to movement of said operating rod with said Belleville spring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The circuit of claim 11 further including a manual control element connected to said operating rod and accessible for manual movement of said operating rod, whereby said switch may be manually manipulated to each bistable position.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The circuit of claim 11 wherein said valve means further includes an operating rod connected to said Belleville spring and also includes means varying said flow in response to movement of said operating rod with said Belleville spring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The circuit of claim 11 further including a manual control element connected to said operating rod and accessible for manual movement, whereby said fluid switch is operable both manually and by said fluid pressure control means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3467122A
Cited
US3441066A
Cited
US3516455A
Cited
US3538931A
Cited
US3563259A
Cited
US3654957A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |