US3859484A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cyclic pressure switch with plural diaphrams
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-10
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Granted: 1975-01-07
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Expires: 1993-09-10
Abstract
Abstract A liquid level sensing system comprises a pumping section with a housing across which there is stretched a flexible diaphragm dividing the housing into a pair of chambers one of which is in communication by a probe with a container such as a crank case containing oil above which there is a pulsating air pressure due to the operation of an engine or compressor. When the termination of the probe is immersed in the oil there are substantially no pressure undulations transmitted to the diaphragm, but when the oil level drops sufficiently to expose the probe termination the undulating air pressure above the oil is transferred to the diaphragm which thereby reciprocates so that the chamber at the side of the diaphragm opposite that of the probe draws in air through a valve and pumps it into an accumulator-actuator section which also comprises a housing containing a flexible diaphragm dividing it into two chambers. The pumping pulsations applied to the first chamber of this accumulator-actuator section push this diaphragm in increments of movement until it activates a switch which is connected with the ignition system of the engine to shut down the engine. In case the pumping actuations are not sustained and strong as when the duct termination is exposed to the air in the oil container, the diaphragm in the accumulator-actuator section does not move far enough to operate the switch because of a bleed which bleeds off pumped air if only a few pumping actuations occur or if the actuations are weak. In another embodiment the output of the pumping section is connected to an accumulator-actuator device comprising a diaphragm mounted to a rigid element enclosing a cavity between them in such a manner that the action of the pumping section draws air from the accumulator-actuator section so that its diaphragm is pulled inwardly to decrease the volume of its cavity. The diaphragm is connected to an arm which operates an engine shut-down mechanism. A bleed at the pumping section serves to prevent actuation of the accumulator-actuator section except in the presence of sustained, strong pumping pulses.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:43
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H35/00; H01H35/24; H01H35/242; G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/14; G01F23/16; G01F23/164
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
An undulating fluid pressure responsive device comprising: a reciprocable element having two sides maintained out of communication with each other; means adapted to provide fluid communication between a first of said sides and a body of fluid subject to undulating pressure which can reciprocate said reciprocable element in opposite directions, the other of said sides forming part of the wall of a fluid pulse generating chamber whose volume is changed by the reciprocation: means for developing an output pulse of fluid pressure each time the reciprocable element moves in a first of said directions; means for permitting fluid flow from a source of fluid into said pulse generating chamber each time the reciprocable element moves in a second of said directions; a fluid pulse accumulating chamber in communication with said pulse generating chamber to accumulate the generated pulses; valve means between the fluid source and the accumulating chamber preventing the return of fluid from the accumulatIng chamber to the fluid source; a fluid displaceable element forming part of the wall of the accumulating chamber and bleed passageway means providing communication between said accumulating chamber and said fluid source thereby permitting flow of fluid from said accumulating chamber at a rate sufficient to prevent a substantial displacement of said displaceable element when the fluid pulse output of said pulse generating chamber is not both strong and sustained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
An undulating fluid pressure responsive device comprising: a reciprocable element having two sides maintained out of communication with each other; means adapted to provide fluid communication between a first of said sides and a body of fluid subject to undulating pressure which can reciprocate said reciprocable element in opposite directions, the other of said sides forming part of the wall of a fluid pulse generating chamber whose volume is changed by the reciprocation: means for developing an output pulse of fluid pressure each time the reciprocable element moves in a first of said directions; means for permitting fluid flow from a source of fluid into said pulse generating chamber each time the reciprocable element moves in a second of said directions; a fluid pulse accumulating chamber in communication with said pulse generating chamber to accumulate the generated pulses; valve means between the fluid source and the accumulating chamber preventing the return of fluid from the accumulatIng chamber to the fluid source; a fluid displaceable element forming part of the wall of the accumulating chamber and bleed passageway means providing communication between said accumulating chamber and said fluid source thereby permitting flow of fluid from said accumulating chamber at a rate sufficient to prevent a substantial displacement of said displaceable element when the fluid pulse output of said pulse generating chamber is not both strong and sustained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 1 in which: the fluid displaceable element undergoes incremental displacements in a path of movement by the fluid pulses applied to it.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 2 in which a movable actuating member is connected to said fluid displaceable element such that a substantial degree of movement of said fluid displaceable element must take place before movement is imparted to said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device according to claim 1 in which the means adapted to provide fluid communication comprises a duct in communication with said first side of said reciprocable element and having a termination adapted to be placed within a container holding a body of liquid and containing a gaseous fluid above the liquid subject to pressure undulations, so that the termination may or may not be submerged in the liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 1 including means providing a pressure bias on at least one side of said reciprocable element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 1 including means providing a pressure bias against both sides of said reciprocable element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 4 in which said reciprocable element comprises a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 7 in which said fluid displaceable element comprises a second flexible diaphragm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 8 in which said means for permitting fluid flow from a source of fluid into said pulse generating chamber comprises a valve means which admits pulses of fluid to said pulse generating chamber when said first diaphragm reciprocates.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 9 in which a second valve means admits pulses of fluid from said pulse generating chamber into said pulse accumulating chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 9 in which said bleed means comprises an opening through said second diaphragm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 11 in which a poppet is placed at said opening, said poppet having a head which closes said opening when the second diaphragm moves some distance in its path of incremental movement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 11 including an element moved by said second diaphragm when its incremental movement has been sustained for a time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 4 in combination with a container comprising a crankcase containing oil and gas above the oil subject to undulating pressure and the means responding to the sustained incremental movement comprises means for terminating operation of equipment creating the undulating pressure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
206 words
A liquid level responsive device comprising: a first housing; a first flexible reciprocatable diaphragm crossing the interior of said first housing and creating a first chamber and a second chamber within the housing on opposite sides of the diaphragm; means for introducing pulsating fluid pressures into the second chamber; a first valve through which gas from a source of gas is introduced into the first chamber; a second housing; a second flexible diaphragm crossing the interior of the second housing and creating a first cavity and a second cavity on opposite sides of the second diaphragm within the second housing; a second valve between said first chamber and the first cavity through which pulses of gas pass from the first chamber to the first cavity, said second valve preventing the return of gas from the second cavity to the first chamber thereby causing the second diaphragm to move in one direction in a path of movement when the first diaphragm reciprocates; an actuator movable by substantial uni-directional movement of the second diaphragm in said path of movement; and bleed means at said first cavity for bleeding off gas therefrom, thereby preventing substantial movement of said second diaphragm when said pulsating fluid pressures are weak or unsustained.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
206 words
A liquid level responsive device comprising: a first housing; a first flexible reciprocatable diaphragm crossing the interior of said first housing and creating a first chamber and a second chamber within the housing on opposite sides of the diaphragm; means for introducing pulsating fluid pressures into the second chamber; a first valve through which gas from a source of gas is introduced into the first chamber; a second housing; a second flexible diaphragm crossing the interior of the second housing and creating a first cavity and a second cavity on opposite sides of the second diaphragm within the second housing; a second valve between said first chamber and the first cavity through which pulses of gas pass from the first chamber to the first cavity, said second valve preventing the return of gas from the second cavity to the first chamber thereby causing the second diaphragm to move in one direction in a path of movement when the first diaphragm reciprocates; an actuator movable by substantial uni-directional movement of the second diaphragm in said path of movement; and bleed means at said first cavity for bleeding off gas therefrom, thereby preventing substantial movement of said second diaphragm when said pulsating fluid pressures are weak or unsustained.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 15 in which a fluid pressure sensing duct is in communication with said means for introducing pulsating fluid pressures.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 16 including a switch having a member operated by said actuator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
223 words
An undulating fluid pressure responsive device comprising: a reciprocable element having two sides maintained out of communication with each other; means adapted to provide fluid communication between a first of said sides and a body of fluid subject to undulating pressure which can reciprocate said reciprocable element in opposite directions, the other of said sides forming part of the wall of a fluid pulse generating chamber whose volume is changed by the reciprocation; means for developing an output pulse of fluid pressure each time the reciprocable element moves in a first of said directions; means for permitting fluid flow to a delivery region from said pulse generating chamber each time the reciprocable element moves in a second of said directions; a fluid pulse accumulating chamber in communication with said pulse generating chamber to accumulate the generated pulses; valve means between the delivery region and the accumulating chamber preventing the return of fluid from the delivery region to the accumulating chamber; a fluid displaceable element forming part of the wall of the accumulating chamber and bleed passageway means providing communication between said accumulating chamber and said delivery region thereby permitting flow of fluid into said chamber at a rate sufficient to prevent a substantial displacement of said displaceable element when the pulse output of said pulse generating chamber is not both strong and sustained.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
223 words
An undulating fluid pressure responsive device comprising: a reciprocable element having two sides maintained out of communication with each other; means adapted to provide fluid communication between a first of said sides and a body of fluid subject to undulating pressure which can reciprocate said reciprocable element in opposite directions, the other of said sides forming part of the wall of a fluid pulse generating chamber whose volume is changed by the reciprocation; means for developing an output pulse of fluid pressure each time the reciprocable element moves in a first of said directions; means for permitting fluid flow to a delivery region from said pulse generating chamber each time the reciprocable element moves in a second of said directions; a fluid pulse accumulating chamber in communication with said pulse generating chamber to accumulate the generated pulses; valve means between the delivery region and the accumulating chamber preventing the return of fluid from the delivery region to the accumulating chamber; a fluid displaceable element forming part of the wall of the accumulating chamber and bleed passageway means providing communication between said accumulating chamber and said delivery region thereby permitting flow of fluid into said chamber at a rate sufficient to prevent a substantial displacement of said displaceable element when the pulse output of said pulse generating chamber is not both strong and sustained.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device according to claim 18 in which: the fluid displaceable element undergoes incremental displacements in a path of movement by the fluid pulses applied to it.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device according to claim 19 in which a movable actuating member is connected to said fluid displaceable element such that a substantial degree of movement of said fluid displaceable element must take place before movement is imparted to said member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
A device according to claim 18 in which the means adapted to provide fluid communication comprises a duct in communication with said first side of said reciprocable element and having a termination adapted to be placed within a container holding a body of liquid and containing a gaseous fluid above the liquid subject to pressure undulations, so that the termination may or may not be submerged in the liquid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 18 including means providing a pressure bias on at least one side of said reciprocable element.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device according to claim 18 including means providing a pressure bias against both sides of said reciprocable element.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 21 in which said reciprocable element comprises a flexible diaphragm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 24 in which said fluid displaceable element comprises a second flexible diaphragm.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device according to claim 25 in which said means for permitting fluid flow from a source of fluid into said pulse generating chamber comprises a valve means which admits pulses of fluid to said pulse generating chamber when said first diaphragm reciprocates.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 26 in which a second valve means admits pulses of fluid from said pulse generating chamber into said pulse accumulating chamber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 26 in which said bleed means comprises an opening through said second diaphragm.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 28 in which a poppet is placed at said opeNing, said poppet having a head which closes said opening when the second diaphragm moves some distance in its path of incremental movement.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 28 including an element moved by said second diaphragm when its incremental movement has been sustained for a time.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 21 in combination with a container comprising a crankcase containing oil and gas above the oil subject to undulating pressure and the means responding to the sustained incremental movement comprises means for terminating operation of equipment creating the undulating pressure.
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) | 1978-01-06 | 1978-07-08 | 1979-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-06 | 1982-07-08 | 1983-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-06 | 1986-07-08 | 1987-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |