Abstract A valve unit or rectilinear positioning device having a plurality of operating positions and arranged such as to hold the operating position last encountered upon inactivation of the valve or positioning device moving and control means comprising a body including a bore, a slide positioner or slide valve reciprocable in the bore between the two operating positions, at least two elastic ring seals spaced along the bore, and partially recessed into the periphery thereof, said seals having an unexpanded ring diameter substantially equal to or slightly less than the ring diameter of complemental detents or recesses on the slide positioner into which the seals are selectively seated, means for applying fluid pressure to the ring seals and to the ends of the slide positioner or slide valve, and means for locking and unlocking the elastic ring seals to the slide positioner simultaneously with moving it to the next operating position and holding it in that position upon inactivation of the moving means.
A rectilinear positioning device comprising: a. a body including a bore; b. a slide positioner reciprocable in said bore between two operating positions; c. at least two elastic ring seals spaced along said bore and partially recessed into the periphery thereof, said seals having an unexpanded ring diameter substantially equal to or slightly less than the ring diameter of complemental detents or recesses on the slide positioner into which the seals are selectively seated; d. first means for applying fluid pressure to said ring seals to contract and expand them in their respective recesses, and for applying fluid pressure to the ends of said slide positioner; and, e. second means for causing said first means to selectively expand at least one of said seals into its recess and contract at least one of said ring seals into engagement with said slide positioner while simultaneously urging said positioner to the other operating position where said contracted ring seal will seat in a complemental detent on said positioner to immobilize said positioner such that, upon inactivation of said first or said second means, said slide positioner is restrained from movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A rectilinear positioning device comprising: a. a body including a bore; b. a slide positioner reciprocable in said bore between two operating positions; c. at least two elastic ring seals spaced along said bore and partially recessed into the periphery thereof, said seals having an unexpanded ring diameter substantially equal to or slightly less than the ring diameter of complemental detents or recesses on the slide positioner into which the seals are selectively seated; d. first means for applying fluid pressure to said ring seals to contract and expand them in their respective recesses, and for applying fluid pressure to the ends of said slide positioner; and, e. second means for causing said first means to selectively expand at least one of said seals into its recess and contract at least one of said ring seals into engagement with said slide positioner while simultaneously urging said positioner to the other operating position where said contracted ring seal will seat in a complemental detent on said positioner to immobilize said positioner such that, upon inactivation of said first or said second means, said slide positioner is restrained from movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said ring seals are located near the ends of said slide positioner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said recesses and said detents comprise round-bottom grooves of slightly greater radius than the radius of said ring seals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said recesses comprise stepped grooves.