High ratio linkage mechanism

Claim 2

A linkage mechanism comprising a first element mounted for axial movement in response to differential fluid pressure applied thereto, means for rotating said first element during such axial movement thereof, a second element mounted for axial movement in a direction parallel to the movement of said first element, and feedback means between said first and second elements for rotating said second element during rotational movement of said first element, and means for moving said second element axially in response to rotational movement thereof.

Claim 3

The linkage mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a third element mounted for rotational movement, drive means interconnecting said second and third elements for rotation of said third element by axial movement of said second element, and position-indicating means directly connected to one of said elements for sensing the position of said elements.

Claim 4

A linkage mechanism comprising first and second elements, said first element being mounted for axial movement by fluid pressure actuation and said second element being mounted for rotational movement, drive means interconnecting said first and second elements for rotation, of said second element by axial movement of said first element, position-indicating means directly connected to said first element for sensing the position of said elements, and restraining means for restraining said first element against rotation, said restraining means comprising a third element mounted for axial movement by fluid pressure actuation, an axial slot in said third element, a pin fixed with respect to said first element and extending into said axial slot in said third element, and means for effecting rotation of said third element during axial movement thereof to cause a corresponding rotation of said first element.

Claim 5

A linkage mechanism comprising first and second elements, said first element being mounted for axial movement by fluid pressure actuation and said second element being mounted for rotational movement, drive means interconnecting said first and second elements for rotation, of said second element by axial movement of said first element, position-indicating means directly connected to said first element for sensing the position of said elements, and restraining means for restraining said first element against rotation, said restraining means comprising a third element mounted for axial movement by fluid pressure actuation, an axial slot in said third element, a pin fixed with respect to said first element and extending into said axial slot in said third element, and means for effecting rotation of said third element during axial movement thereof to cause a corresponding rotation of said first element.

Claim 6

The linkage mechanism of claim 3 wherein said means for rotating said third element comprises an angled slot in said third element, and a fixed pin extending into said last-mentioned angled slot.

Claim 7

The linkage mechanism of claim 3 further comprising means for restraining said second element against movement to permit resetting of the position of said position-indicating means with respect to said second element through axial and rotational movement of said first element by said third element.

Claim 8

The linkage mechanism of claim 3 wherein said first and third elements are mounted for axial movement in paRallel bores upon application of differential fluid pressure to opposite ends of the respective bores, ports communicate with the ends of the bore containing said first element for supplying fluid pressure thereto, and additional ports containing orifices communicate the ends of the bore containing said third element with the respective ends of the bore containing said first element, whereby fluid pressure supplied to the ends of the bore containing said first element is also supplied to the ends of the bore containing said third element to move said third element for rotating said first element in a direction opposing rotation of said second element by axial movement of said first element.

Claim 9

A linkage mechanism comprising first and second elements, said first element being mounted for axial movement by fluid pressure actuation and said second element being mounted for rotational movement, drive means interconnecting said first and second elements for rotation of said second element by axial movement of said first element, and position-indicating means directly connected to said first element for sensing the position of said elements, said drive means comprising a drive arm fixed with respect to said second element and having a ball on the outer end thereof which is received in an angled slot in said first element, there being two of said linkage mechanisms, said second element being common to both of said linkage mechanisms to provide a high ratio position equalizing linkage therebetween.

Claim 10

A linkage mechanism comprising first and second elements, said first element being mounted for axial movement by fluid pressure actuation and said second element being mounted for rotational movement, drive means interconnecting said first and second elements for rotation of said second element by axial movement of said first element, and position-indicating means directly connected to said first element for sensing the position of said elements, said drive means comprising a drive arm fixed with respect to said second element and having a ball on the outer end thereof which is received in an angled slot in said first element, there being two of said linkage mechanisms, said second element being common to both of said linkage mechanisms to provide a high ratio position equalizing linkage therebetween.

Claim 11

The linkage mechanism of claim 7 further comprising restraining means for restraining said first element against rotation.

Claim 12

The linkage mechanism of claim 7 wherein said position-indicating means comprises a linear variable differential transducer including an axially movable core member connected to one end of said first element for axial movement therewith.