US3814541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid supply apparatus
Assignee: Delta Controls Ltd
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Filing: 1971-11-24
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1991-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling fluid supplied to a delivery conduit comprising setting a fluid control valve in accordance with the fluid flow demanded by the delivery conduit to maintain the fluid pressure drop across the valve at a predetermined substantially constant level and activating a number of limited flow fluid sources, determined by the setting of the valve and sufficient to deliver the demanded flow to the delivery conduit.
Inventors
- 👤 W Dent
- 👤 Clarke A Jenner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:26
CPC Classifications
F; F04; F04B; F04B49/00; F04B49/007; F04B49/02; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2564; Y10T137/2572
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of controlling fluid supplied to a delivery conduit comprising adjusting the setting of a settable flow restrictor element in accordance with the fluid flow demanded by the delivery conduit to maintain the fluid pressure drop across said restrictor element at a predetermined substantially constant level and activating a number of limited flow fluid sources, said number being determined by said setting.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of controlling fluid supplied to a delivery conduit comprising adjusting the setting of a settable flow restrictor element in accordance with the fluid flow demanded by the delivery conduit to maintain the fluid pressure drop across said restrictor element at a predetermined substantially constant level and activating a number of limited flow fluid sources, said number being determined by said setting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid pressure upstream of said restrictor element is maintained substantially constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
96 words
Fluid supply apparatus comprising: a delivery conduit; at least two limited flow fluid supply sources connected to said delivery conduit and control means comprising a settable flow restrictor element in said delivery conduit; pressure sensing means sensitive to the fluid pressure drop across said restrictor restrictor element adjusting means responsive to the pressure sensing means to adjust the setting of said restrictor element to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop thereacross; sequentially operable switching means responsive to the setting of said restriction to activate a number of said supply sources, said number depending on said setting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
Fluid supply apparatus comprising: a delivery conduit; at least two limited flow fluid supply sources connected to said delivery conduit and control means comprising a settable flow restrictor element in said delivery conduit; pressure sensing means sensitive to the fluid pressure drop across said restrictor restrictor element adjusting means responsive to the pressure sensing means to adjust the setting of said restrictor element to maintain a substantially constant pressure drop thereacross; sequentially operable switching means responsive to the setting of said restriction to activate a number of said supply sources, said number depending on said setting.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said fluid supply sources comprise pumps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including an additional switch arranged for operation last in said sequence on over travel of said restrictor element when the demand exceeds the capacity of all of said limited flow fluid supply sources, said additional switch being operatively connected to deactivate said sources.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including further switching means for each said fluid supply source, sensitive to the fluid pressure upstream of said restrictor element and to opeRation of the first mentioned switching means and connected to activate another said fluid supply source if said upstream pressure remains below a predetermined value after operation of said first mentioned switching means to activate a said source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said restrictor element comprises a slide, means mounting said slide for sliding movement along an axis and means defining with the slide an orifice having an area defined by the position of said slide along said axis and through which the fluid flows, said adjusting means being operatively connected to said slide for setting said slide at different positions along said axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pressure sensing means comprises a differential pressure switch and wherein said adjusting means comprises a control motor operatively connected to control the setting of said restrictor element, said pressure switch acting to energize said motor when said pressure drop lies outside a predetermined range to drive said restrictor element to a new setting wherein the pressure drop lies within said range, and acting to de-energize said motor when the pressure drop lies within said range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pressure sensing means comprises a differential pressure transducer for generating an output error signal dependent on the error between said pressure drop across and a predetermined desired pressure drop, and wherein said restrictor element adjusting means comprises a control motor operatively connected to said restrictor element and to the said pressure transducer to drive the restrictor element to a setting at which said error signal is zero.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the control means is electrical and including bias means biasing said restrictor element closed and restraining means sensitive to a supply of electrical power to the control means to normally restrain the bias and to release the bias to close the restrictor element in the event of an electrical power failure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
Fluid supply apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including an additional switch arranged for operation last in said sequence on over travel of said restrictor element when the demand exceeds the capacity of all of said limited flow fluid supply sources, said additional switch being operatively connected to deactivate said sources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |