Fluid flow controller

Claim 2

Monostable fluid control apparatus for selective flow switchiNg of a pressurized fluid source, comprising an enclosed first chamber having a first radial extent and first and second enclosed axial ends, an exit port at said first axial end of said first chamber and formed of an annular wall extending axially into said first chamber and of a lesser second radial extent than said first radial extent, a control pressure port in fluid communication with said first chamber via said second axial end of said chamber, a single differential pressure-responsive elastomeric diaphram member having a third radial extent at least as co-extensive as the radial extent of said first chamber and axially restrained therein adjacent to the axial extent of said interiorly extending annular wall by means of an annular groove within said first chamber as to sealingly divide said first chamber into a control chamber which includes said control pressure port, and a valve manifold which includes said exit port, a first face of said diaphram member adapted to sealingly seat upon a mouth of said annular wall, a pressurized fluid inlet port in fluid communication with said first face of said diaphram member, said communicating inlet port, said outlet port, and said differential pressure-responsive diaphram member cooperating in the manner of a fluid control valve, a shut-off mode thereof being induced in response to a fluid control pressure applied to said control pressure port; said monostable fluid control apparatus being formed of seven stacked axial sections of substantially like radial extent, adjacent sections thereof sealingly bonded together, a first and seventh section thereof forming a respective first and second pierced terminal section, said pierced first and second terminal sections comprising a respective pressurized fluid inlet port and outlet port, said second pierced terminal section including an axially extending annular wall having a mouth in communication with said outlet port, a second and sixth section interiorly axially adjacent to said first and seventh sections respectively and being relatively thin wall annular rings as to form first and second intermediate chambers respectively, said first chamber being completed and enclosed by a third section interiorly axially adjacent to said second section, said second chamber being enclosed by the body of said stacked axial sections in cooperation with said diaphram member a fourth and said fifth section axially adjacent to said third and sixth sections respectively and mutually adjacent and formed as thick annular rings having an inside radial extent larger than the outside radial extent of said annular wall, a mutually adjacent end of the ring interiors of said fourth and fifth sections being chamfered to form an annular groove for restraining said diaphram member, said fourth section enclosing said control chamber and said fifth section enclosing said valve manifold, said fourth axial section including a radial passageway extending into said control chamber and comprising said control pressure port.

Claim 3

Monostable fluid control apparatus for selective flow switching of a pressurized fluid source, comprising an enclosed first chamber having a first radial extent and first and second enclosed axial ends, an exit port at said first axial end of said first chamber and formed of an annular wall extending axially into said first chamber and of a lesser second radial extent than said first radial extent, a control pressure port in fluid communication with said first chamber via said second axial end of said chamber, a single differential pressure-responsive elastomeric diaphram member having a third radial extent at least as co-extensive as the radial extent of said first chamber and axially restrained therein adjacent to the axial extent of said interiorly extending annular wall by means of an annular groove within said first chamber as to sealingly divide said first chamber into a control chamber which includes said coNtrol pressure port, and a valve manifold which includes said exit port, a first face of said diaphram member adapted to sealingly seat upon a mouth of said annular wall, a pressurized fluid inlet port in fluid communication with said first face of said diaphram member, said communicating inlet port, said outlet port, and said differential pressure-responsive diaphram member cooperating in the manner of a fluid control valve, a shut-off mode thereof being induced in response to a fluid control pressure applied to said control pressure port; said monostable fluid control apparatus being formed of seven stacked axial sections of substantially like radial extent, adjacent sections thereof sealingly bonded together, a first and seventh section thereof forming a respective first and second pierced terminal section, said pierced first and second terminal sections comprising a respective pressurized fluid inlet port and outlet port, said second pierced terminal section including an axially extending annular wall having a mouth in communication with said outlet port, a second and sixth section interiorly axially adjacent to said first and seventh sections respectively and being relatively thin wall annular rings as to form first and second intermediate chambers respectively, said first chamber being completed and enclosed by a third section interiorly axially adjacent to said second section, said second chamber being enclosed by the body of said stacked axial sections in cooperation with said diaphram member a fourth and said fifth section axially adjacent to said third and sixth sections respectively and mutually adjacent and formed as thick annular rings having an inside radial extent larger than the outside radiant extent of said annular wall, a mutually adjacent end of the ring interiors of said fourth and fifth sections being chamfered to form an annular groove for restraining said diaphram member, said fourth section enclosing said control chamber and said fifth section enclosing said valve manifold, said fourth axial section including a radial passageway extending into said control chamber and comprising said control pressure port, said third, fourth and fifth sections including orifices in mutual registry as to provide communication between said intermediate chambers.

Claim 4

Monostable fluid control apparatus for selective flow switching of a pressurized fluid source, comprising an enclosed first chamber having a first radial extent and first and second enclosed axial ends, an exit port at said first axial end of said first chamber and formed of an annular wall extending axially into said first chamber and of a lesser second radial extent than said first radial extent, a control pressure port in fluid communication with said first chamber via said second axial end of said chamber, a single differential pressure-responsive elastomeric diaphram member having a third radial extent at least as co-extensive as the radial extent of said first chamber and axially restrained therein adjacent to the axial extent of said interiorly extending annular wall by means of an annular groove within said first chamber as to sealingly divide said first chamber into a control chamber which includes said coNtrol pressure port, and a valve manifold which includes said exit port, a first face of said diaphram member adapted to sealingly seat upon a mouth of said annular wall, a pressurized fluid inlet port in fluid communication with said first face of said diaphram member, said communicating inlet port, said outlet port, and said differential pressure-responsive diaphram member cooperating in the manner of a fluid control valve, a shut-off mode thereof being induced in response to a fluid control pressure applied to said control pressure port; said monostable fluid control apparatus being formed of seven stacked axial sections of substantially like radial extent, adjacent sections thereof sealingly bonded together, a first and seventh section thereof forming a respective first and second pierced terminal section, said pierced first and second terminal sections comprising a respective pressurized fluid inlet port and outlet port, said second pierced terminal section including an axially extending annular wall having a mouth in communication with said outlet port, a second and sixth section interiorly axially adjacent to said first and seventh sections respectively and being relatively thin wall annular rings as to form first and second intermediate chambers respectively, said first chamber being completed and enclosed by a third section interiorly axially adjacent to said second section, said second chamber being enclosed by the body of said stacked axial sections in cooperation with said diaphram member a fourth and said fifth section axially adjacent to said third and sixth sections respectively and mutually adjacent and formed as thick annular rings having an inside radial extent larger than the outside radiant extent of said annular wall, a mutually adjacent end of the ring interiors of said fourth and fifth sections being chamfered to form an annular groove for restraining said diaphram member, said fourth section enclosing said control chamber and said fifth section enclosing said valve manifold, said fourth axial section including a radial passageway extending into said control chamber and comprising said control pressure port, said third, fourth and fifth sections including orifices in mutual registry as to provide communication between said intermediate chambers.