Fluid valve having a pressure responsive internal membrane

Claim 2

A fluid valve comprising: a valve body having first and second plates secured together in opposed relationship to form a chamber therebetween; a pressure supplied inlet opening formed in said first plate and extending therethrough for channeling fluid from a fluid source into said chamber; a pressure supplied exit opening forming in said first plate and extending therethrough whereby fluid from said pressure supply may enter said valve chamber through said inlet opening and may exit through said exit opening; a pressure signal input opening formed within said second plate and extending therethrough; and an imperviable, freely deformable membrane means having geniune membrane characterists interposed between said first and second plates for positively amplifying input pressure signals received through said pressure signal input opening, said positive amplification being accomplished by restricting, but not completely blocking, fluid flow between said inlet an outlet openings in response to increases in pressure of the pressure signal applied to one side of said imperviable membrane means such that a pressure differential exists between said inlet and outlet openings with the higher pressure being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal applied to said one side of said membrane means.

Claim 3

A fluid valve comprising: a valve body having first and second plates secured together in opposing relationship, at least one of said plates being recessed in order to form an open main internal valve chamber within said valve; a pressure out chamber formed within said first plates and open to said main internal valve chamber; a supply pressure operative to direct a fluid flow into said pressure out chamber; fluid flow restricting means connected between said supply pressure and said pressure out chamber for restricting the flow from said supply to said pressure out chamber; an exiting opening formed in said first plate and extending therethrough such that the fluid flow entering said pressure out chamber may exit through said exit opening; a pressure input signal opening formed in said second plate and extending therethrough for transmitting a pressure signal into said main internal valve chamber; and a thin, imperviable, freelY deflectable membrane means having geniune membrane characteristics interposed between said first and second plates so as to separate said pressure input signal from said supply fluid flow for positively amplifying input pressure signals received through said pressure signal input opening, said positive amplification being accomplished by restricting; but not completely blocking, supply fluid flow between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening in response to increases in pressure of the pressure signal applied to one side of said imperviable membrane means such that a pressure differential exists between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening with the higher pressure being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal applied to said one side of said membrane means.

Claim 4

A fluid valve comprising: a valve body having first and second plates secured together in opposing relationship, at least one of said plates being recessed in order to form an open main internal valve chamber within said valve; a pressure out chamber formed within said first plates and open to said main internal valve chamber; a supply pressure operative to direct a fluid flow into said pressure out chamber; fluid flow restricting means connected between said supply pressure and said pressure out chamber for restricting the flow from said supply to said pressure out chamber; an exiting opening formed in said first plate and extending therethrough such that the fluid flow entering said pressure out chamber may exit through said exit opening; a pressure input signal opening formed in said second plate and extending therethrough for transmitting a pressure signal into said main internal valve chamber; and a thin, imperviable, freelY deflectable membrane means having geniune membrane characteristics interposed between said first and second plates so as to separate said pressure input signal from said supply fluid flow for positively amplifying input pressure signals received through said pressure signal input opening, said positive amplification being accomplished by restricting; but not completely blocking, supply fluid flow between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening in response to increases in pressure of the pressure signal applied to one side of said imperviable membrane means such that a pressure differential exists between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening with the higher pressure being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal applied to said one side of said membrane means.

Claim 5

The fluid valve of claim 2 including a slightly elevated generally circular inner seat formed about an inner face of said first plate adjacent said pressure out chamber, said inner seat being disposed on one side of said membrane means and cooperable therewith to restrict the fluid flow between said pressure out chamber and said exiting open.

Claim 6

The fluid valve of claim 3 wherein said membrane means is a polyester type film.

Claim 7

A fluid valve for amplifying an input pressure signal comprising: a. A valve body comprising a pair of plates secured together in opposed relationship, each of said plates having an inner face with at least one inner face, being recessed to form a main internal valve chamber therein; b. A pressure out chamber formed within one of said plates and open to said main internal valve chamber; c. Fluid flow restricting means associated with said pressure out chamber for restricting fluid flow from a pressure supply to said pressure out chamber; d. A generally circular seat formed about the inner face of said one plate adjacent said pressure out chamber such that fluid flowing through said pressure out chamber into said main internal valve chamber must move thereover, said circular seat being slightly elevated with respect to the adjacent surrounding inner face of said one plate; e. A fluid exiting opening formed within said one plate and extending from the inner face therethrough whereby the fluid moving from said pressure out chamber into said main internal valve chamber may exit through said exiting open; f. A pressure signal input opening formed within the other plate and extending therethrough for transmitting a pressure signal to the main internal valve chamber; and g. A thin, imperviable, relatively free deflecting membrane means having genuine membrane characteristics supported about the outer portions thereof between said plates and extending across said main internal valve chamber for positively amplying input pressure signals received through said pressure signal input opening, said positive amplification being accomplished by restricting, but not completely blocking, fluid flow between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening in response to increases in pressure of the pressure signal applied to one side of said imperviable membrane means such that a pressure differential exists between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening with the higher pressure being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal applied to said one side of said membrane means.

Claim 8

A fluid valve for amplifying an input pressure signal comprising: a. A valve body comprising a pair of plates secured together in opposed relationship, each of said plates having an inner face with at least one inner face, being recessed to form a main internal valve chamber therein; b. A pressure out chamber formed within one of said plates and open to said main internal valve chamber; c. Fluid flow restricting means associated with said pressure out chamber for restricting fluid flow from a pressure supply to said pressure out chamber; d. A generally circular seat formed about the inner face of said one plate adjacent said pressure out chamber such that fluid flowing through said pressure out chamber into said main internal valve chamber must move thereover, said circular seat being slightly elevated with respect to the adjacent surrounding inner face of said one plate; e. A fluid exiting opening formed within said one plate and extending from the inner face therethrough whereby the fluid moving from said pressure out chamber into said main internal valve chamber may exit through said exiting open; f. A pressure signal input opening formed within the other plate and extending therethrough for transmitting a pressure signal to the main internal valve chamber; and g. A thin, imperviable, relatively free deflecting membrane means having genuine membrane characteristics supported about the outer portions thereof between said plates and extending across said main internal valve chamber for positively amplying input pressure signals received through said pressure signal input opening, said positive amplification being accomplished by restricting, but not completely blocking, fluid flow between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening in response to increases in pressure of the pressure signal applied to one side of said imperviable membrane means such that a pressure differential exists between said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening with the higher pressure being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal applied to said one side of said membrane means.

Claim 9

The fluid valve of claim 5 including a generally flat circular area formed on the inner face of said one plate outwardly of said circular seat.

Claim 10

The fluid valve of claim 5 wherein said pressure out chamber and said pressure signal input opening are disposed in coaxial relationship and centrally located within said valve, and wherein said fluid exiting opening is radially spaced from said pressure out chamber and said pressure signal input opening whereby giving rise to a concave-convex shaped membrane means when balanced by opposing forces.

Claim 11

The fluid valve of claim 7 wherein said membrane meanS comprises a polyester film having a thickness less than two mills.

Claim 12

A fluid valve comprising: a valve body structure having a main internal chamber formed therein; means for transmitting a pressure signal into said main internal valve chamber; means for directing fluid from a pressure supply into said valve, through said internal chamber and back out said valve; and a thin, imperviable membrane means extending across said main internal chamber for positively amplifying pressure signals transmitted into said main internal chamber, said membrane means being supported about the outer portions thereof by said valve structure so as to separate the fluid associated with said pressure signal from the fluid associated with said pressure supply, said membrane means being substantially nonelastic and unable to withstand a bending moment and movably responsive to said pressure signal for restricting the flow of fluid from said pressure supply through said valve, consequently giving rise to a pressure differential across the restrictive areas of the valve wherein the higher pressure of the pressure differential being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal transmitted into the internal valve chamber.

Claim 13

A fluid valve comprising: a valve body structure having a main internal chamber formed therein; means for transmitting a pressure signal into said main internal valve chamber; means for directing fluid from a pressure supply into said valve, through said internal chamber and back out said valve; and a thin, imperviable membrane means extending across said main internal chamber for positively amplifying pressure signals transmitted into said main internal chamber, said membrane means being supported about the outer portions thereof by said valve structure so as to separate the fluid associated with said pressure signal from the fluid associated with said pressure supply, said membrane means being substantially nonelastic and unable to withstand a bending moment and movably responsive to said pressure signal for restricting the flow of fluid from said pressure supply through said valve, consequently giving rise to a pressure differential across the restrictive areas of the valve wherein the higher pressure of the pressure differential being a positive amplification of the particular pressure signal transmitted into the internal valve chamber.

Claim 14

The fluid valve of claim 9 wherein said means for directing the fluid from a pressure supply into said valve includes a pressure out chamber extending through said valve and open to said internal chamber thereof, and wherein said pressure out chamber has associated therewith flow restricting means for restricing the fluid flow from said pressure supply thereto.

Claim 15

The fluid valve of claim 10 including a generally circular inner seat formed within said main internal valve chamber adjacent said pressure out chamber and disposed generally below said membrane for cooperating therewith to restrict the flow of fluid from said pressure out chamber into said main internal valve chamber.

Claim 16

The fluid valve of claim 10 wherein said means for transmitting fluid from a pressure supply back out said valve includes a fluid exiting opening formed within said valve and spaced from said pressure out chamber; and wherein said means for transmitting a pressure signal into said main internal valve chamber includes a pressure signal opening formed within said valve on the side of the membrane opposite said pressure out chamber and said exiting opening whereby the membrane reaches a balanced state due to the opposed forces of the pressure signal and the pressure of the fluid moving from the pressure out chamber through the internal main valve chamber which gives rise to a convexconcave membrane shape when a balanced state is reached.

Claim 17

The fluid value of claim 9 wherein said membrane is disposed in a relaxed wave configuration within said internal chamber with the surface area thereof being greater than the planar area across the same internal chamber.

Claim 18

The fluid value of claim 9 wherein said membrane is a polyester film.