US3724485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Flow controller
Assignee: MEGAVAULT
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Filing: 1971-05-12
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Granted: 1973-04-03
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Expires: 1991-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A flow controller using a solenoid controlled valve to pass a series of high-frequency flow pulses of controlled and variable duration resulting in an average output flow rate that varies linearly with variations in pulse duration. A relief valve maintains a constant pressure differential across the solenoid valve, and an accumulator smooths the output of the controller. Also disclosed is an embodiment having a pair of solenoid valves operating out of phase with each other, and a third embodiment having a pressure-balanced flow multiplier for controlling a proportional flow of substantially greater magnitude through a secondary flow line. Conventional pulse-width modulation techniques are used to activate each control valve.
Inventors
- 👤 R Cox
- 👤 E Crowley
- 👤 D Kilmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:37
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06; G05D7/0617; G05D7/0629; G05D7/0635; G05D7/0641; G05D7/0652; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2562; Y10T137/2574; Y10T137/2579; Y10T137/2594; Y10T137/2597
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
A fluid supply system having, in combination; means for supplying fluid at a substantially constant rate; a flow controller having an inlet communicating with said source to receive fluid therefrom; and including an inlet chamber for receiving the fluid through said inlet, an outlet chamber, a connecting passage between said chambers, electromagnetic control valve means operable when activated to admit a pulse of fluid through said passage from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, aNd a return passage from said inlet chamber for receiving excess fluid therefrom; means for producing a cyclical train of high frequency electromagnetic signal pulses of selectively variable pulse duration and applying said signal pulses to said control valve means to alternately energize and de-energize the latter and thereby activate the same cyclically for a proportion of each cycle determined by the selected signal pulse duration, whereby a series of pulses of fluid of preselected duration is passed from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; means for varying the flow from said inlet chamber through said return passage in response to sustained pressure chains in one of said chambers and thereby maintaining the pressure differential across said connecting passage substantially constant to maintain a constant average flow through the connecting passage when the duration of said signal pulses is constant, and to vary said average flow in direct relation to variations in said signal pulse duration; and accumulator means for receiving a portion of the flow from said control valve means through said outlet chamber during each pulse of flow through the control valve means and discharging said portion into said outlet chamber between such pulses, thereby to smooth out the pulsing flow from said control valve means as a substantially constant flow from said outlet chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
A fluid supply system having, in combination; means for supplying fluid at a substantially constant rate; a flow controller having an inlet communicating with said source to receive fluid therefrom; and including an inlet chamber for receiving the fluid through said inlet, an outlet chamber, a connecting passage between said chambers, electromagnetic control valve means operable when activated to admit a pulse of fluid through said passage from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber, aNd a return passage from said inlet chamber for receiving excess fluid therefrom; means for producing a cyclical train of high frequency electromagnetic signal pulses of selectively variable pulse duration and applying said signal pulses to said control valve means to alternately energize and de-energize the latter and thereby activate the same cyclically for a proportion of each cycle determined by the selected signal pulse duration, whereby a series of pulses of fluid of preselected duration is passed from said inlet chamber to said outlet chamber; means for varying the flow from said inlet chamber through said return passage in response to sustained pressure chains in one of said chambers and thereby maintaining the pressure differential across said connecting passage substantially constant to maintain a constant average flow through the connecting passage when the duration of said signal pulses is constant, and to vary said average flow in direct relation to variations in said signal pulse duration; and accumulator means for receiving a portion of the flow from said control valve means through said outlet chamber during each pulse of flow through the control valve means and discharging said portion into said outlet chamber between such pulses, thereby to smooth out the pulsing flow from said control valve means as a substantially constant flow from said outlet chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 1 in which said control valve means comprise an output orifice between said connecting passage and said outlet chamber, a closure member movable rapidly back and forth, toward and away from said orifice, to alternately open and block the latter, and a solenoid having a reciprocating armature for moving said closure member toward and away from the orifice, said solenoid being alternately energized and de-energized by said pulses to pen said orifice cyclically for timed periods of said preselected duration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 1 in which said means for maintaining said pressure differential comprise a movable valve spool controlling the flow through said return passage and having one end exposed to the pressure in said inlet chamber and an opposite end exposed to the pressure in said outlet chamber, and a spring urging said spool toward said inlet chamber and in a direction to restrict the flow through said return passage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 3 further including means between said opposite end and said outlet chamber for delaying response of said spool to pressure changes in said outlet chamber and thereby avoiding any material response of said spool to momentary pressure changes resulting from pulses in the flow to the outlet chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 1 in which said accumulator means includes a movable member having one end exposed to the pressure in said inlet chamber and an opposite end exposed to the pressure of the fluid in the outlet chamber, and a spring urging said movable member toward said inlet chamber, said movable member being shifted toward said inlet chamber during charging of the accumulator and being shifted back toward the outlet chamber, against the action of said spring, to discharge fluid to said outlet chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 1 in which both said accumulator means and said means for maintaining said pressure differential comprise spools slidable in the opposite end portions of a common bore with said inlet chamber defined in the bore between said spools, springs urging said spools with preselected forces toward each other, one of said spools progressively restricting the flow through said return passage during movement toward said inlet chamber, and means for admitting fluid from said outlet chamber into the opposite ends of said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 6 in which said admitting means include a restricted flow passage leading to the end portion of the bore containing the spool for restricting the flow through said return passage, thereby to delay response of said means for maintaining said pressure differential and prevent any material response thereof to momentary pressure variations resulting from pulses in said flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 1 in which said control valve means comprise two solenoid-operated valves arranged in parallel to receive fluid from said inlet chamber through said connecting passage, and activated in timed relation with each other to deliver pulses of fluid of preselected, variable duration to said outlet chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
178 words
A fluid supply system as defined in claim 1 further including a source of a secondary fluid flow of substantially greater magnitude than the maximum flow capacity of said control valve means, a secondary flow line for delivering said secondary flow to said controller, and a flow-multiplying valve for variably throttling said secondary flow in proportion to the regulated output of said control valve means, and including a valve member movable back and forth to progressively increase and decrease said secondary flow, means for applying the pressures of the fluid in said outlet chamber and of the throttled secondary flow to opposite ends of the valve member and causing the valve member to assume a position throttling said secondary flow until the pressure thereof equals the pressure in said outlet chamber, and flow orifices having different flow areas in a preselected ratio to each other for passing the output of said control valve means and said throttled secondary flow through said flowmultiplying valve in said preselected ratio and combining said flows as the output of said supply system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
205 words
A flow controller for selectively regulating a fluid output flow and having, in combination: an inlet for receiving a flow of fluid; a control valve communicating with said inlet to receive fluid therefrom and including an output orifice, a closure member movable rapidly back and forth relative to said orifice to open and close the latter, and electromagnetic operating means for moving said closure member back and forth relative to said orifice to admit a pulsing flow of fluid through the orifice; means for producing a cyclical train of high-frequency electromagnetic pulses of selectively variable pulse duration and applying said pulses to said operating means to alternately energize and de-energize the operating means and thereby open and close said orifice cyclically for a proportion of each cycle determined by the selected pulse duration; accumulator means communicating with said orifice to be charged with fluid during each output pulse and to discharge such fluid when the orifice is closed, thereby to smooth out pulses of fluid from said controller; and means for maintaining the pressure differential across said orifice substantially constant to obtain an average flow through said orifice that is directly related to the proportion of the open time of the valve during each cycle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
205 words
A flow controller for selectively regulating a fluid output flow and having, in combination: an inlet for receiving a flow of fluid; a control valve communicating with said inlet to receive fluid therefrom and including an output orifice, a closure member movable rapidly back and forth relative to said orifice to open and close the latter, and electromagnetic operating means for moving said closure member back and forth relative to said orifice to admit a pulsing flow of fluid through the orifice; means for producing a cyclical train of high-frequency electromagnetic pulses of selectively variable pulse duration and applying said pulses to said operating means to alternately energize and de-energize the operating means and thereby open and close said orifice cyclically for a proportion of each cycle determined by the selected pulse duration; accumulator means communicating with said orifice to be charged with fluid during each output pulse and to discharge such fluid when the orifice is closed, thereby to smooth out pulses of fluid from said controller; and means for maintaining the pressure differential across said orifice substantially constant to obtain an average flow through said orifice that is directly related to the proportion of the open time of the valve during each cycle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 10 in which said pulse-producing means include means for generating an electromagnetic signal having a cyclical waveform, and a pulse generator for producing an energizing pulse during each cycle of the wave form and selectively modulating the portion of each cycle during which the pulse is produced.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 11 in which said pulse-producing means generates a triangular waveform varying equally above and below a median level, and said pulse generator is responsive to a selectively variable input signal to vary the level of said waveform at which said pulses are initiated and terminated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 10 including means for supplying fluid to said inlet at a substantially constant rate, and in which said controller has an inlet chamber communicating with said inlet and said orifice, and an outlet chamber for receiving the pulsing flow through said orifice; said means for maintainiNg the pressure differential across said orifice including a pressure-responsive relief valve having a movable valve spool with one end exposed to the pressure in said inlet chamber and an opposite end exposed to the pressure in said outlet chamber, means urging said spool toward said inlet chamber with a preselected force, and a return for bleeding fluid from said inlet chamber at a variable rate determined by the position of said valve spool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 13 further including means for delaying movement of said valve spool in response to changes in the pressure differential between said chambers and thereby preventing any material response of said valve spool to momentary pressure changes attributable to pulses in the flow through said orifice.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
130 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 10 further including at least a second control valve communicating with said inlet to receive fluid therefrom and similarly having a second output orifice in parallel with the first-mentioned orifice, a second closure member movable rapidly back and forth relative to said second orifice to open and close the latter, and second electromagnetic operating means for moving said second closure member back and forth relative to said second orifice to admit a pulsing flow of fluid through the second orifice, and in which said pulse-producing means produces a second cyclical train of pulses for energizing and deenergizing said second operating means out of phase with the first-mentioned operating means to combine the flows through the two orifices as the output of said controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 10 further including flow-multiplying means responsive to variations in the output of said control valve and operable to proportionally vary a secondary flow of fluid of substantially greater magnitude.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
105 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 16 in which said flow-multiplying means include a source for supplying said secondary flow and a secondary inlet, a movable valve member for variably throttling the flow through said secondary inlet, means for applying the throttled secondary flow to one side of said valve member in opposition to the pressure of the output of the control valve on the other side of the member, and thereby positioning the valve member to equalize said pressures, and mixing orifices having a preselected flow area ratio for admitting the two flows through said valve member at rates having said preselected ratio.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
152 words
A flow controller for selectively regulating a fluid output flow and having, in combination: an inlet for receiving fluid; control valve means for receiving fluid from said inlet and operable when activated to admit a pulse of fluid through the valve from said inlet; means for activating said control valve means cyclically and for intervals of preselected and selectively variable duration to pass a series of pulses of fluid of said preselected duration through the control valve means; accumulator means communicating with said valve means and receiving a portion of the output thereof during each pulse and then automatically discharging said portion between pulses to smooth out the output to a substantially constant flow; and means for maintaining the fluid pressure differential across said valve means substantially constant to produce an average output flow through the valve means that varies in direct relation to variations in the duration of said fluid pulses.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
152 words
A flow controller for selectively regulating a fluid output flow and having, in combination: an inlet for receiving fluid; control valve means for receiving fluid from said inlet and operable when activated to admit a pulse of fluid through the valve from said inlet; means for activating said control valve means cyclically and for intervals of preselected and selectively variable duration to pass a series of pulses of fluid of said preselected duration through the control valve means; accumulator means communicating with said valve means and receiving a portion of the output thereof during each pulse and then automatically discharging said portion between pulses to smooth out the output to a substantially constant flow; and means for maintaining the fluid pressure differential across said valve means substantially constant to produce an average output flow through the valve means that varies in direct relation to variations in the duration of said fluid pulses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 18 in which said control valve means comprise at least one electromagnetic control valve receiving fluid from said inlet and having a reciprocating valve member movable back and forth between open and closed positions, and said activating means is a control system for producing a cyclical train of high-frequency electromagnetic pulses of selectively variable pulse duration to alternately energize and deenergize the control valve and maintain the latter open during each cycle for a selected and variable time interval.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 19 in which said activating means produces a plurality of electromagnetic pulses per second.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A flow controller as defined in claim 18 further including flow multiplying means responsive to variations in the output flow rate through said control valve means and operable to deliver a proportionally varying secondary output flow of substantially greater magnitude than the flow rate through said control valve means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-02 | 1976-10-02 | 1977-04-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-02 | 1980-10-02 | 1981-04-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-02 | 1984-10-02 | 1985-04-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |