Electrically operated valves or distributors for controlling fluid under pressure

Claim 2

A pressurized fluid control assembly, which comprises: a. a first passage for communicating with a source of pressurized fluid; b. a second passage for communicating with a fluid actuated device; c. a vent passage; d. distribution means for proportionally communicating said first and vent passages alternatively with said second passage; and e. means comprising an electrodynamic motor having a movable winding and operative to effect movement of said distribution means to proportionally communicate said passages proportionally responsive to a pulsed current control signal which is applied to said winding.

Claim 3

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a bore communicating with said first and second and vent passages, said distribution means being axially disposed in said bore.

Claim 4

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 2 further comprising: a. first means for exerting a first axial force on said distribution means controlled by the pressure at said second passage; and b. said electro-dynamic motor being operative to exert a second axial force on sAid distribution means responsive to said control signal.

Claim 5

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 3 wherein said first means comprises: a. a chamber in communication with said second passage; and b. a thrust member of smaller section than said distribution means, one end of said member being received in said chamber and another end of said member bearing against and being movable with said distribution means.

Claim 6

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 4 wherein said another end of said member bears against said distribution member.

Claim 7

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first means and said motor exert said first and second axial forces on said distribution means in the same direction, and said pressurized fluid control assembly further comprises second means for exerting a third axial force on said distribution means opposed to said first and second axial forces.

Claim 8

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 6 wherein said second means comprises a spring.

Claim 9

A pressurized fluid control assembly according to claim 7 wherein said spring exerting said third axial force is operative to normally overcome said first means exerting said first axial force under all operating pressures present at said second passage, and said motor exerting said second axial force is operative to overcome said spring exerting said third axial force when said control signal applied to said winding attains a predetermined value.

Claim 10

A pressurized fluid control system, which comprises: a. a fluid control assembly operative to proportion fluid pressure in response to a pulsed current control signal; and b. means operative to generate said pulsed current control signal from and proportional to a first control signal, which comprises: i. first means operative to generate a sawtooth signal; and ii. second means operative to receive said sawtooth signal and said first control signal and provide said pulsed current control signal.

Claim 11

A pressurized fluid control system, which comprises: a. a fluid control assembly operative to proportion fluid pressure in response to a pulsed current control signal; and b. means operative to generate said pulsed current control signal from and proportional to a first control signal, which comprises: i. first means operative to generate a sawtooth signal; and ii. second means operative to receive said sawtooth signal and said first control signal and provide said pulsed current control signal.

Claim 12

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 9 wherein said pulsed current control signal comprises pulses of substantially constant magnitude and interpulse periods having a magnitude of substantially zero value.

Claim 13

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 10 wherein said pulsed current control signal comprises pulses of fixed frequency and varying width.

Claim 14

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 10 wherein said pulsed current control signal comprises pulses of fixed width and varying frequency.

Claim 15

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 9 wherein said second means is operative to receive said sawtooth signal and said first control signal and provide an output signal having a first value when the instantaneous value of said sawtooth signal exceeds that of said first control signal, and having a second value when the instantaneous value of said first control signal exceeds that of said sawtooth signal, and wherein said means operative to generate said pulsed current control signal further comprises third means connected to said second means and operative to receive said second means output signal and provide said pulsed current control signal.

Claim 16

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 13 and wherein said third means includes bistable circuit means.

Claim 17

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 14 wherein said bistable circuit means comprises a flip-flop circuit.

Claim 18

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 9 wherein said fluid control assembly comprises: a. a first passage for communicating with a source of pressurized fluid; b. a second passage for communicating with a fluid actuated device; c. a vent passage; d. distribution means for proportionally communicating said first and vent passages alternatively with said second passage; and e. means comprising an electro-dynamic motor having a movable Winding and operative to effect movement of said distribution means to proportionally communicate said passages responsive to said pulsed current control signal which is applied to said winding.

Claim 19

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 16 further comprising a bore communicating with said first, second and vent passages, said distribution means being axially disposed in said bore.

Claim 20

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 17 further comprising: a. first means for exerting a first axial force on said distribution means controlled by the pressure at said second passage; and b. said electro-dynamic motor being operative to exert a second axial force on said distribution means responsive to said pulsed current control signal.

Claim 21

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 18 wherein said first means and said motor exert said first and second axial forces on said distribution means in the same direction, and said pressurized fluid control assembly further comprises second means for exerting a third axial force on said distribution means opposed to said first and second axial forces.

Claim 22

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 19 wherein said second means comprises a spring.

Claim 23

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 20 wherein said spring exerting said third axial force is operative to normally overcome said first means exerting said first axial force under all operating pressures present at said second passage, and said motor exerting said second axial force is operative to overcome said spring exerting said third axial force when said first control signal applied to said winding attains a predetermined value.

Claim 24

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 18 wherein said first means comprises: a. a chamber in communication with said second passage; and b. a thrust member of smaller section than said distribution means, one end of said member being received in said chamber and another end of said member bearing against and being movable with said distribution means.

Claim 25

A pressurized fluid control system according to claim 22 wherein said another end of said member bears against said distribution member.

Claim 26

A pressurized fluid control system, which comprises: a. a fluid control assembly operative to proportion fluid pressure in response to a pulsed current control signal having a substantially constant pulse magnitude and an interpulse magnitude of substantially zero value; and b. means operative to generate said pulsed current control signal from and proportional to a first control signal, which comprises: i. first means operative to generate a sawtooth signal; and ii. second means operative to receive said sawtooth signal and said first control signal and provide an output signal having a first value when the instantaneous value of said sawtooth signal exceeds that of said first control signal, and having a second value when the instantaneous value of said first control signal exceeds that of said sawtooth signal; and iii. third means connected to said second means and operative to receive said second means output signal and provide said pulsed current control signal.

Claim 27

A pressurized fluid control system, which comprises: a. a fluid control assembly operative to proportion fluid pressure in response to a pulsed current control signal having a substantially constant pulse magnitude and an interpulse magnitude of substantially zero value; and b. means operative to generate said pulsed current control signal from and proportional to a first control signal, which comprises: i. first means operative to generate a sawtooth signal; and ii. second means operative to receive said sawtooth signal and said first control signal and provide an output signal having a first value when the instantaneous value of said sawtooth signal exceeds that of said first control signal, and having a second value when the instantaneous value of said first control signal exceeds that of said sawtooth signal; and iii. third means connected to said second means and operative to receive said second means output signal and provide said pulsed current control signal.