Jet coupled four-way valve

Claim 2

In a fluid pressure actuated control valve system: means defining a pair of outlet ports through which fluid may flow toward apparatus to be controlled; a valve member mounted with freedom for movements toward and away from said outlet ports and into position directly to confront said ports selectively; means defining a pair of opposed inlet nozzles through which jets of fluid may be supplied and flow toward spaced opposite portions of said valve member; and passage means formed in the valve member for delivering jet-derived fluid into one or the other of said outlet ports depending upon the position of said valve member with respect to said outlet ports.

Claim 3

A valve system in accordance with claim 1, and further including apparatus for controlling the position of said valve member with respect to said outlet ports.

Claim 4

A valve system in accordance with claim 2, and in which said apparatus for controlling the position of said valve member includes electromagnetic means.

Claim 5

A valve system in accordance with claim 3, and in which said apparatus for controlling the position of said valve member includes electromagnetic means and means responsive to fluid pressure at said outlet ports for subjecting the valve member to said pressure, whereby to exert force tending to hold said valve member in the position determined by said electromagnetic means.

Claim 6

A valve system in accordance with claim 1, and in which: said valve member comprises flapper means mounted with freedom for swinging movements of one end thereof in a plane transverse the path of fluid supplied by said opposed nozzles; said passage means includes a pair of parallel conduits each extending through said end in the direction of the path of fluid supplied by said opposed nozzles, and each selectively disposable between said opposed nozzles in position to receive fluid from both nozzles simultaneously, said passage means further including a pair of ducts each of which is in fluid flow communication with a corresponding one of said conduits and each of which leads through said end to an opening disposed to confront a corresponding one of said outlet ports.

Claim 7

A valve system in accordance with claim 5, in which said nozzles are adapted to supply fluid at supersonic velocity, and said parallel conduits each comprise Jet diffuser means.

Claim 8

A valve system in accordance with claim 6, and further including pressure relief means comprising a bleed gap of predetermined width interposed between each said nozzle and the openings of said confronting conduits.

Claim 9

A pneumatic control valve comprising: means defining a cavity; means defining a pair of confronting nozzles for supplying fluid at supersonic velocity into said cavity and along a line of centers common to said nozzles; means defining a pair of oppositely disposed outlet ports through which fluid may flow from said cavity toward apparatus to be controlled; an elongated valve flapper swingably supported toward one end and having a free end disposed between said outlet ports and swingable therebetween to overlie one or the other of said ports, said free end comprising a jet coupler having a pair of individual fluid passages extending therethrough in the direction of said line of center, said passages being provided with spaced open ends, and said passages being selectively adapted to confront said pair of nozzles in accordance with the position of said flapper within said cavity, and a pair of other passages within said coupler, each in fluid flow communication with one of said passages first mentioned and each said other passage leading through said jet coupler to a position in which it confronts a corresponding one of said outlet ports.

Claim 10

A pneumatic control valve comprising: means defining a cavity; means defining a pair of confronting nozzles for supplying fluid at supersonic velocity into said cavity and along a line of centers common to said nozzles; means defining a pair of oppositely disposed outlet ports through which fluid may flow from said cavity toward apparatus to be controlled; an elongated valve flapper swingably supported toward one end and having a free end disposed between said outlet ports and swingable therebetween to overlie one or the other of said ports, said free end comprising a jet coupler having a pair of individual fluid passages extending therethrough in the direction of said line of center, said passages being provided with spaced open ends, and said passages being selectively adapted to confront said pair of nozzles in accordance with the position of said flapper within said cavity, and a pair of other passages within said coupler, each in fluid flow communication with one of said passages first mentioned and each said other passage leading through said jet coupler to a position in which it confronts a corresponding one of said outlet ports.

Claim 11

A control valve in accordance with claim 8, and further characterized in that said nozzles are so relatively spaced from the conduits, when the latter confront the nozzles, as to establish sufficient bleed gap between the nozzles and conduits to prevent deleterious overpressure developing in any associated apparatus to be controlled.

Claim 12

A control valve in accordance with claim 9, and further including means providing exhaust portage from said cavity, the area of said portage being substantially greater than the sum of the areas of said pair of nozzles.

Claim 13

In a gas pressure actuated control valve system: means defining a pair of outlet ports through at least one of which gas may flow toward apparatus to be controlled; a valve member mounted with freedom for movements between two positions in which it controls flow through said outlet ports; inlet jet-forming nozzle means through which gas may flow toward said valve member; passage means in the valve member through which jet-derived gas flows toward one of said outlet ports when said valve member is in one of its two positions; and pressure relief means comprising a gas bleed gap interposed between said nozzle means and the passage means in said valve member, said bleed gap being of dimension to bleed off sufficient gas to prevent deleterious overpressure developing in any associated apparatus to be controlled.

Claim 14

In a gas pressure actuated control valve system: means defining a pair of outlet ports through at least one of which gas may flow toward apparatus to be controlled; a valve member mounted with freedom for movements between two positions in which it controls flow through said outlet ports; inlet jet-forming nozzle means through which gas may flow toward said valve member; passage means in the valve member through which jet-derived gas flows toward one of said outlet ports when said valve member is in one of its two positions; and pressure relief means comprising a gas bleed gap interposed between said nozzle means and the passage means in said valve member, said bleed gap being of dimension to bleed off sufficient gas to prevent deleterious overpressure developing in any associated apparatus to be controlled.

Claim 15

A valve system in accordance with claim 11, and in which gas flows in the jet at supersonic velocity, bleed-off occuring in response to movement of a shock wave in counterflow to the direction of gas flow.