Electro-pneumatic transducer

Claim 2

An electro-pneumatic transducer for modulating a pneumatic signal correlative with an applied electrical signal comprising, a rigid support structure, means defining a pneumatic orifice rigid with said support structure, leaf spring means having one end fixed to said support structure at a location laterally offset from said orifice means and a free end portion extending in cantilever fashion from said one end toward said orifice means, a movable valve member fixedly mounted on said free end portion of said leaf spring means for movement therewith in a direction axially of said orifice means to control flow through said orifice means, an electro-responsive operator including a stator assembly rigidly mounted on said support structure and an electromagnetic armature rigidly mounted on said free end portion of said leaf spring means, said stator assembly having a cOil operative when energized to electro-magnetically actuate said armature to move said valve member, said stator assembly having an elongated pole face disposed in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said orifice means and said armature having an elongated armature face disposed in a plane generally paralleling the plane of said pole face, one of said items comprising the armature and stator assembly being mounted for angular adjustment about an axis perpendicular to the pole face on the stator to vary the electromagnetic coupling between the stator assembly and armature.

Claim 3

An electro-pneumatic transducer according to claim 1 wherein said leaf spring means comprise a pair of generally parallel leaf springs spaced apart in a direction axially of said orifice means, means fixedly securing said valve member to the free ends of both leaf springs, said armature being non-rotatably mounted on said free ends of said leaf springs at a location axially aligned with said valve member and with said elongated armature face extending lengthwise of said leaf springs, said stator assembly being mounted on the support structure for said angular adjustment relative to said armature.

Claim 4

An electromagnetic transducer according to claim 1 including a coil type calibrating spring disposed perpendicular to said leaf spring means and having one end engaging said leaf spring means intermediate its ends, and adjustable abutment means on said support structure engaging the other end of said calibrating spring to adjust the pressure applied by the calibrating spring to said leaf spring means.

Claim 5

An electro-pneumatic transducer for modulating a pneumatic signal correlative with an applied electrical signal comprising, a rigid support structure, means defining a pneumatic orifice rigid with said support structure, leaf spring means having one end fixed to said support structure at a location laterally offset from said orifice means and a free end portion extending in cantilever fashion from said one end toward said orifice means, a movable valve member fixedly mounted on said free end portion of said leaf spring means for movement therewith in a direction axially of said orifice means to control flow through said orifice means, an electro-responsive operator including a stator assembly having a generally E-shaped stator core mounted on said support structure with the free ends of the legs of the core disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said orifice means, an elongated electromagnetic armature mounted on said free end portion of said leaf spring means and having an elongated armature face disposed in a plane generally paralleling said plane of the free ends of the legs of the stator core, said stator assembly having a coil around the central leg of the core and operative when energized to electromagnetically actuate said armature to move said valve member, one of said items comprising the armature and stator core being mounted for angular adjustment about an axis perpendicular to said plane of the free ends of the legs of the stator core to vary the electromagnetic coupling between the armature and the stator assembly.

Claim 6

An electro-pneumatic transducer for modulating a pneumatic signal correlative with an applied electrical signal comprising, a rigid support structure, means defining a pneumatic orifice rigid with said support structure, leaf spring means having one end fixed to said support structure at a location laterally offset from said orifice means and a free end portion extending in cantilever fashion from said one end toward said orifice means, a movable valve member fixedly mounted on said free end portion of said leaf spring means for movement therewith in a direction axially of said orifice means to control flow through said orifice means, an electro-responsive operator including a stator assembly having a generally E-shaped stator core mounted on said support structure with the free ends of the legs of the core disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said orifice means, an elongated electromagnetic armature mounted on said free end portion of said leaf spring means and having an elongated armature face disposed in a plane generally paralleling said plane of the free ends of the legs of the stator core, said stator assembly having a coil around the central leg of the core and operative when energized to electromagnetically actuate said armature to move said valve member, one of said items comprising the armature and stator core being mounted for angular adjustment about an axis perpendicular to said plane of the free ends of the legs of the stator core to vary the electromagnetic coupling between the armature and the stator assembly.

Claim 7

An electro-pneumatic transducer according to claim 4 wherein said armature is non-rotatably mounted on said leaf spring means with said elongated armature face extending lengthwise of the leaf spring means, and said stator assembly is mounted on the support structure for said angular adjustment relative to said armature.