Fluid flow control elements with area dividing inserts

Claim 2

A fluid logic amplifying control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface, said nozzle structure including means for retaining between said one end and the valve a flexible diaphragm configuration that prevents fluid from distorting the diaphragm shape to extend into the nozzle under influence of fluid pressure, a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one of said diaphragms and its contact surface thereof with one end of said control member being relatively movable with respect to each other, said first one of said diaphragms being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member to thereby move it in opposite directions as a sole function of differential fluid pressures in said two control chambers on said diaphragms, a fluid flow path through said valve of an extended larger area permitting greater fluid flow volume in a first said chamber than in the second whereby in response to a smaller flow of fluid said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control a greater flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers to effect amplification, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said control member has a larger contact area at one end than the other.

Claim 4

A combination as defined in claim 2 with the end having the larger contact area disposed to squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle.

Claim 5

A combination as defined in claim 2 with the end having the smaller contact area disposed to squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve nozzle contact surface structure is rounded at the engagement contact surface with said diaphragm.

Claim 7

A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein a first said pressure control chamber is disposed to receive said fluid flow path through said valve and pass it therethrough for control by engagement of said diaphragm with said valve.

Claim 8

A combination as defined in claim 6 including a fluid flow source passing said fluid in a direction such that said fluid flow path enters said valve.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 6 including a fluid flow source passing said fluid in a direction such that said fluid flow path enters said chamber and exits from said valve.

Claim 10

A combination as defined in claim 1 wherein the fluid pressure in said second chamber is varied within limits providing a substantially linear control of the output flow therefrom as a function of the pressure between said control member and said valve exerted through said diaphragm.

Claim 11

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, said diaphragms and the contact surfaces thereof with said control member being relatively movable, a first one of said diaphragms being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member to thereby move it in opposite directions as a function of differential fluid pressures in said two control chambers on said diaphragms, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle wherein a first said pressure control chamber is disposed to receive said fluid flow path through said valve and pass it therethrough, a fluid flow source passing said fluid in a direction such that said fluid flow path enters said chamber and exits from said valve, a feedback control path from said valve to the second said chamber to establish the pressure therein, a third pressure control chamber, a second movable control member movable therein, a third diaphragm for imparting movement to said second movable control member in response to fluid flow pressure into said third pressure control chamber, and means positioning said second control member through said valve to contact said first diaphragm and oppose movement of said first control member in a biasing sense responsive to fluid pressure in said third chamber.

Claim 12

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, said diaphragms and the contact surfaces thereof with said control member being relatively movable, a first one of said diaphragms being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member to thereby move it in opposite directions as a function of differential fluid pressures in said two control chambers on said diaphragms, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle wherein a first said pressure control chamber is disposed to receive said fluid flow path through said valve and pass it therethrough, a fluid flow source passing said fluid in a direction such that said fluid flow path enters said chamber and exits from said valve, a feedback control path from said valve to the second said chamber to establish the pressure therein, a third pressure control chamber, a second movable control member movable therein, a third diaphragm for imparting movement to said second movable control member in response to fluid flow pressure into said third pressure control chamber, and means positioning said second control member through said valve to contact said first diaphragm and oppose movement of said first control member in a biasing sense responsive to fluid pressure in said third chamber.

Claim 13

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said device being connected as a fluid flow amplifier having connected a restricted fluid flow path into said second chamber and having a larger fluid flow path through said valve, and means passing a flow of fluid through said valve and control means coupled to pass signals represented by fluid pressure variations into said second chamber of enough pressure to squeeze said control member against said diaphragm and valve thereby controlling the flow of fluid through said valve.

Claim 14

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said device being connected as a fluid flow amplifier having connected a restricted fluid flow path into said second chamber and having a larger fluid flow path through said valve, and means passing a flow of fluid through said valve and control means coupled to pass signals represented by fluid pressure variations into said second chamber of enough pressure to squeeze said control member against said diaphragm and valve thereby controlling the flow of fluid through said valve.

Claim 15

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area then that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for fLexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said device being connected as a pressure dividing circuit providing an output pressure that varies fractionally as a function of the input pressure, including an input signal source passing fluid under pressure into the first of said control chambers and out said valve, a feedback path for fluid flowing from said valve into said second chamber to establish therein a control pressure substantially that of fluid flow out said valve, an output circuit deriving an output signal flow path from fluid flowing out said valve, and wherein said control member has one end area larger than the other and disposed to contact the diaphragm deflected by fluid in said second chamber, whereby the pressure of fluid flow in said output circuit is a fraction of said input fluid flow which is a function of the relative areas of said two ends.

Claim 16

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area then that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for fLexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said device being connected as a pressure dividing circuit providing an output pressure that varies fractionally as a function of the input pressure, including an input signal source passing fluid under pressure into the first of said control chambers and out said valve, a feedback path for fluid flowing from said valve into said second chamber to establish therein a control pressure substantially that of fluid flow out said valve, an output circuit deriving an output signal flow path from fluid flowing out said valve, and wherein said control member has one end area larger than the other and disposed to contact the diaphragm deflected by fluid in said second chamber, whereby the pressure of fluid flow in said output circuit is a fraction of said input fluid flow which is a function of the relative areas of said two ends.

Claim 17

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said nozzle being connected as a thyratron type latching circuit providing a triggered output flow that is controlled after triggering only by removal of the output flow source, including a source of fluid, a flow path coupled to said source passing into said valve and out said first chamber, and a trigger signal fluid flow source coupled to said second chamber, wherein the two ends of said control member are of different area and the end with the largest area is disposed to squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle.

Claim 18

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of said control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said nozzle being connected as a thyratron type latching circuit providing a triggered output flow that is controlled after triggering only by removal of the output flow source, including a source of fluid, a flow path coupled to said source passing into said valve and out said first chamber, and a trigger signal fluid flow source coupled to said second chamber, wherein the two ends of said control member are of different area and the end with the largest area is disposed to squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle.

Claim 19

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of saId control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said device being connected as a threshold detector including a source of fluid signals, a flow path passing signals from said source through said valve, a signal source coupled to pass signals of varying pressure into said second chamber, means deriving an output signal from said flow path from said source, means including a third chamber with a second movable member therein and a third diaphragm for moving it, a biasing pressure source coupled to said third chamber for flexing the third diaphragm to tend to move said second member, said second member being disposed to extend one end through said valve to oppose the force on said first member tending to squeeze the first diaphragm against said valve and said second member having an end area engaging said third diaphragm of greater area than that end area extending through said valve.

Claim 20

A fluid logic control device for controlling a fluid flow path in response to a fluid pressure control force, comprising in combination, a movable control member having two opposing ends thereof presenting two surface contact areas, a fluid flow valve structure disposed for control by one of said ends and presenting a nozzle with contact surface structure thereabout smaller in surface contact area than that of one said end, whereby that end will overlap the nozzle contact surface; a pair of impervious flexible diaphragms disposed to contact the opposite said ends of said control member thereby to move it when flexed thereagainst, a first one being disposed between said control member and said valve structure, a pair of pressure control chambers disposed adjacent each diaphragm to receive fluid flow under pressure for flexing said diaphragms against respective ends of saId control member, a fluid flow path through said valve in a first said chamber whereby said one end of said control member may squeeze said first diaphragm against said nozzle to control flow therethrough in response to differential pressure on said diaphragms in said pressure control chambers, and a housing holding said movable control member between said diaphragms for movement in and out of contact with said nozzle, said device being connected as a threshold detector including a source of fluid signals, a flow path passing signals from said source through said valve, a signal source coupled to pass signals of varying pressure into said second chamber, means deriving an output signal from said flow path from said source, means including a third chamber with a second movable member therein and a third diaphragm for moving it, a biasing pressure source coupled to said third chamber for flexing the third diaphragm to tend to move said second member, said second member being disposed to extend one end through said valve to oppose the force on said first member tending to squeeze the first diaphragm against said valve and said second member having an end area engaging said third diaphragm of greater area than that end area extending through said valve.

Claim 21

A fluid flow control device comprising in combination, a pair of spaced thin flexible elastomeric diaphragms, means responsive to input control signals to flex the diaphragms toward each other, a movable control member having two ends positioned to intercept the respective diaphragms over a portion of the diaphragm area for movement thereby, and a fluid flow valve nozzle controlled by interaction of one of said diaphragms therewith in response to movement of said control member by the other one of said diaphragms connected as a ''''Not'''' circuit for inverting signals, wherein said means responsive to input control signals comprise a supply source of fluid under constant pressure connected in a path to flex said diaphragms toward each other, a resistor restriction connected in the path to that diaphragm controlling the nozzle, an output connection in the path between said resistor and said nozzle, said control member having its two ends so proportioned that said nozzle is closed by interacting said diaphragm thereby providing an output pressure at said output connection at the supply pressure, said combination further including a vent from said nozzle, a further control member with two ends, one end of which passes through said nozzle to engage said interacting diaphragm, a further flexible diaphragm engaging the remaining end of said further control member, and a signal source flexing said further diaphragm when fluid pressure is applied to open said nozzle and reduce fluid pressure at said output connection by venting said supply source through said resistor and vent.

Claim 22

A fluid flow control device comprising in combination, a pair of spaced thin flexible elastomeric diaphragms, means responsive to input control signals to flex the diaphragms toward each other, a movable control member having two ends positioned to intercept the respective diaphragms over a portion of the diaphragm area for movement thereby, and a fluid flow valve nozzle controlled by interaction of one of said diaphragms therewith in response to movement of said control member by the other one of said diaphragms connected as a ''''Not'''' circuit for inverting signals, wherein said means responsive to input control signals comprise a supply source of fluid under constant pressure connected in a path to flex said diaphragms toward each other, a resistor restriction connected in the path to that diaphragm controlling the nozzle, an output connection in the path between said resistor and said nozzle, said control member having its two ends so proportioned that said nozzle is closed by interacting said diaphragm thereby providing an output pressure at said output connection at the supply pressure, said combination further including a vent from said nozzle, a further control member with two ends, one end of which passes through said nozzle to engage said interacting diaphragm, a further flexible diaphragm engaging the remaining end of said further control member, and a signal source flexing said further diaphragm when fluid pressure is applied to open said nozzle and reduce fluid pressure at said output connection by venting said supply source through said resistor and vent.