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US3731699A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Supersonic power amplifiers

Assignee: Lanteris Space LLC
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Filing: 1971-11-15
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Granted: 1973-05-08
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Expires: 1991-11-15
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Abstract

Abstract A two-way diverter valve and amplifier, for use with high velocity, high temperature gases in which relatively weak pneumatic control signals are amplified, both as to pressure and flow rate, without the use of mechanically moved parts. A bistable fluid amplifier has its branches coupled to vortex fluid amplifiers which include secondary nozzles through which fluid feeds two conduits each of which terminates in a pneumatic actuator. An additional pair of vortex amplifiers are provided which afford pneumatic pressure relief and prevent overpressure developing in the actuators.

Inventors

  • 👤 C Hallum

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 06:43
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15C; F15C1/00; F15C1/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/206; Y10T137/2087; Y10T137/2093; Y10T137/2098

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 197 words
In a fluid amplifier: a primary nozzle for receiving fluid at relatively high pressure and for discharging the same at high velocity; means forming a pair of divergent passages arranged to receive fluid discharged by said primary nozzle; control means for developing a fluid flow to deflect the free stream issuing from said primary nozzle and thereby effect flow through the passages of said pair, selectively; each passage having a vortex fluid amplifier including a secondary nozzle through which the fluid is discharged; a pair of conduits eAch disposed to be fed by a corresponding one of said secondary nozzles and each terminating in a pneumatic actuator; and means for preventing deleterious overpressure developing in said actuators, said last means comprising a pair of vortex fluid amplifiers each disposed to be fed by a corresponding one of said secondary nozzles, each of the last recited vortex fluid amplifiers including a vortexinducing port and an exhaust port, and means for conducting fluid to the vortex-inducing port of the vortex fluid amplifier associated with the selected passage, thereby to develop a vortex and minimize flow through said exhaust port until the pressure in said actuator exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 197 words
In a fluid amplifier: a primary nozzle for receiving fluid at relatively high pressure and for discharging the same at high velocity; means forming a pair of divergent passages arranged to receive fluid discharged by said primary nozzle; control means for developing a fluid flow to deflect the free stream issuing from said primary nozzle and thereby effect flow through the passages of said pair, selectively; each passage having a vortex fluid amplifier including a secondary nozzle through which the fluid is discharged; a pair of conduits eAch disposed to be fed by a corresponding one of said secondary nozzles and each terminating in a pneumatic actuator; and means for preventing deleterious overpressure developing in said actuators, said last means comprising a pair of vortex fluid amplifiers each disposed to be fed by a corresponding one of said secondary nozzles, each of the last recited vortex fluid amplifiers including a vortexinducing port and an exhaust port, and means for conducting fluid to the vortex-inducing port of the vortex fluid amplifier associated with the selected passage, thereby to develop a vortex and minimize flow through said exhaust port until the pressure in said actuator exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 1, and further characterized in that the vortex-inducing port of each of said pair of amplifiers comprises a flow restrictor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 2, and further including means for deriving the fluid conducted to said flow restrictors from said control means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 1, and further including conduit means providing for cross-bleeding of fluid between said vortex fluid amplifiers which include a secondary nozzle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 4, and in which said conduit means includes a flow restrictor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 32 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 4, and further including restricted passage means for deriving fluid from the region of said primary nozzle and delivering said fluid to said conduit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 36 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 1, and further characterized in that each of said passages includes a portion comprising a supersonic diffuser and said primary nozzle is effective to discharge fluid at supersonic velocity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 194 words
In a fluid amplifier: a nozzle for receiving primary fluid at relatively high pressure and for discharging same at high velocity into a pair of divergent passages each of which terminates in a vortex fluid amplifier including a secondary nozzle through which the fluid is discharged; control means for developing a flow of secondary fluid and for delivering it across the path of the free stream of primary fluid issuing from said nozzle to effect flow through the passages of said pair, selectively; a pair of conduits each having one end spaced from a corresponding one of said secondary nozzles to form a leakage gap, at least one of said conduits having its other end associated with a pneumatically-actuated device; vortex fluid amplifier means having a vortex-inducing port and an exhaust port, said amplifier means being so disposed with respect to the gap of said one conduit as to receive primary fluid leaking from that gap; and means for conducting secondary fluid to the vortex-inducing port of said amplifier means to induce a vortex therein and substantially prevent such leakage of primary fluid until the pressure at the associated device exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 194 words
In a fluid amplifier: a nozzle for receiving primary fluid at relatively high pressure and for discharging same at high velocity into a pair of divergent passages each of which terminates in a vortex fluid amplifier including a secondary nozzle through which the fluid is discharged; control means for developing a flow of secondary fluid and for delivering it across the path of the free stream of primary fluid issuing from said nozzle to effect flow through the passages of said pair, selectively; a pair of conduits each having one end spaced from a corresponding one of said secondary nozzles to form a leakage gap, at least one of said conduits having its other end associated with a pneumatically-actuated device; vortex fluid amplifier means having a vortex-inducing port and an exhaust port, said amplifier means being so disposed with respect to the gap of said one conduit as to receive primary fluid leaking from that gap; and means for conducting secondary fluid to the vortex-inducing port of said amplifier means to induce a vortex therein and substantially prevent such leakage of primary fluid until the pressure at the associated device exceeds a predetermined value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 8, and further characterized in that the vortex-inducing port of said amplifier means comprises a flow restrictor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A fluid amplifier in accordance with claim 9, and further including means for deriving the secondary fluid conducted to said flow restrictor from said control means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1976-05-07 1976-11-06 1977-05-08 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-05-07 1980-11-06 1981-05-08 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-05-07 1984-11-06 1985-05-08 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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