Control device

Claim 2

Apparatus for the control of equipment bY reciprocating motion which comprises: sensor means operatively connected to said equipment and adapted to monitor a condition of the equipment; means for comparing the condition of said equipment as monitored by said sensor means with a desired reference, said means for comparing the condition of the equipment being operatively connected to said sensor means and adapted to provide an electrical output signal representative of a difference between the monitored condition of the equipment and said desired reference; vortex amplifier means; means for applying said electrical output signal representative of the difference between the monitored condition of the equipment and said desired reference to control the flow of said fluid to said vortex amplifier means; and valve means in fluid communication with said vortex amplifier means to receive a flow of fluid therefrom which fluid flow is translated into reciprocating motion for controlling said equipment until said difference between the monitored condition of the equipment and said desired reference reaches a preselected value.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sensor means monitors the pressure in a heater assembly.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the valve means controls the admission of a combustion supporting gas to said heater assembly.

Claim 5

An integrated assembly for providing movement for the operation of equipment which comprises: a housing defining a chamber and having a displaceable piston member dividing the chamber into a plurality of zones and a shaft connected to said piston member, said shaft providing said movement for operation of said equipment; a plurality of vortex amplifier means, one of said plurality of vortex amplifier means being in fluid communication with an associated one of said plurality of zones, each of said vortex amplifier means including a control port and a supply port; means for supplying a constant flow of fluid to said supply port of each of said plurality of vortex amplifier means; distributing means for applying an independent control stream of fluid to each control port of said plurality of vortex amplifier means in accordance with a control signal applied to said distributing means; means for applying a control signal to said distributing means in response to differential signals representative of a difference between an existing position of said displaceable piston member and a desired position thereof; a fluid reservoir; and a pump means, said pump means being in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir said distributing means and said supply ports of said vortex amplifier means.

Claim 6

An integrated assembly for providing movement for the operation of equipment which comprises: a housing defining a chamber and having a displaceable piston member dividing the chamber into a plurality of zones and a shaft connected to said piston member, said shaft providing said movement for operation of said equipment; a plurality of vortex amplifier means, one of said plurality of vortex amplifier means being in fluid communication with an associated one of said plurality of zones, each of said vortex amplifier means including a control port and a supply port; means for supplying a constant flow of fluid to said supply port of each of said plurality of vortex amplifier means; distributing means for applying an independent control stream of fluid to each control port of said plurality of vortex amplifier means in accordance with a control signal applied to said distributing means; means for applying a control signal to said distributing means in response to differential signals representative of a difference between an existing position of said displaceable piston member and a desired position thereof; a fluid reservoir; and a pump means, said pump means being in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir said distributing means and said supply ports of said vortex amplifier means.

Claim 7

The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein two zones are formed in said housing, each zone being in fluid communication with a single vortex amplifier means.

Claim 8

The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said vortex amplifier means are provided with venting port means, said venting port means being in fluid communication with said fluid reservoir.

Claim 9

The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein a change in position of the equipment is detected and a resulting signal transmitted to the distributing means.

Claim 10

The assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein movement of said piston results in a rotary movement of said shaft.