US3924974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid ejection or control device
Assignee: RCA Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-29
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Granted: 1975-12-09
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Expires: 1994-03-29
Abstract
Abstract A tube-like chamber for ejection of fluid is formed of magnetostrictive material. In a preferred form, the chamber contains a nozzle through which fluid contained in the chamber may be ejected as the volume of the chamber is decreased through magnetostrictive action. In cross-section, the chamber is preferably formed of two arcs of respective circles. The chamber is formed of a first type of magnetostrictive material such that the arcs contract circumferentially in response to a circumferential magnetic field induced in tube in the direction of the length of the arcs. A flat member is disposed along the axis of the chamber and spans between opposite portions of the wall of the chamber. In cross-section, the flat member forms a chord of the two arcs. The flat member is formed of a second magnetostrictive material such that the chord expands in the direction of span in response to a lateral magnetic field induced in the flat member in the direction of span of the flat member. The flat member is in contact with the arcs, and thereby, an efficient closed loop magnetic field path comprising the two arcs and the chord is formed. When a circumferential magnetic field is induced in the chamber and a lateral magnetic field is induced in the flat member, the arcs contract circumferentially and the chord expands in the direction of span thereby causing the shape of the cross-section of the tube to distort. As a result of this distortion, the volume of the chamber is substantially decreased and fluid is ejected from the nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Henry Fischbeck
- 👤 Eric Mcphail Leyton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/005; B41J2/01; B41J2/015; B41J2/04; F; F04; F04B; F04B43/00; F04B43/08; F04B43/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
The Combination comprising: a first member, said first member having a cross-section having a bow-like shape; a second member spanning said first member such that, in crosssection, said second member forms a chord of said bow-like shape; said first and second members forming a tube-like chamber for fluid, said chamber including an output port for said fluid; and means for coupling a control signal to said tube-like chamber, said first member being formed of a first material such that the length of said bow-like shape contracts in response to said control signal, said second member being formed of a second material such that the length of said chord expands in response to said control signal, the length of said chord expanding relative to the length of said bow-like shape in response to said control signal so that the area between said bow-like shape and said chord is geometrically changed to thereby reduce the volume of said chamber whereby the flow of fluid through said output port is controlled.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
The Combination comprising: a first member, said first member having a cross-section having a bow-like shape; a second member spanning said first member such that, in crosssection, said second member forms a chord of said bow-like shape; said first and second members forming a tube-like chamber for fluid, said chamber including an output port for said fluid; and means for coupling a control signal to said tube-like chamber, said first member being formed of a first material such that the length of said bow-like shape contracts in response to said control signal, said second member being formed of a second material such that the length of said chord expands in response to said control signal, the length of said chord expanding relative to the length of said bow-like shape in response to said control signal so that the area between said bow-like shape and said chord is geometrically changed to thereby reduce the volume of said chamber whereby the flow of fluid through said output port is controlled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
106 words
The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said first material is a first magnetostrictive material selected so that the length of said bow-like shape contracts in response to a magnetic field directed along the length of said bow-like shape; and second material is a second magnetostrictive material selected so that the length of said chord expands in response to a magnetic field directed along the length of said chord; and means for coupling said control signal to said tube-like chamber includes means for including a magnetic field directed along the length of said bow-like shape and a magnetic field directed along the length of said chord.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for controlling fluid in a tube-like chamber comprising: a first member, said first member defining at least a part of a wall of a tube-like chamber through which the fluid flows, the first member being formed of material responsive to a signal applied thereto for altering the length of the first member as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber in order to alter the cross-sectional area of the chamber; the cross-sectional shape of the first member being bow-like as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber; and a second member disposed to span points which are spaced apart from each other on said first member and which points define the ends of a chord of the bow-like cross-section of said first member as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber, said second member being formed of material differing from that of said first member which is responsive to said signal for changing the length of said second member between the spaced points as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
181 words
A device for controlling fluid in a tube-like chamber comprising: a first member, said first member defining at least a part of a wall of a tube-like chamber through which the fluid flows, the first member being formed of material responsive to a signal applied thereto for altering the length of the first member as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber in order to alter the cross-sectional area of the chamber; the cross-sectional shape of the first member being bow-like as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber; and a second member disposed to span points which are spaced apart from each other on said first member and which points define the ends of a chord of the bow-like cross-section of said first member as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber, said second member being formed of material differing from that of said first member which is responsive to said signal for changing the length of said second member between the spaced points as observed at cross-sections along the length of the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The device of claim 3 wherein the length of one of said first and second members dimensionally contracts in response to said signal, and the length of the other of the first and second members expands in response to the signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
The combination comprising: a tube having a cross-section formed of two bow-like shapes; said tube forming a chamber for fluid, said tube having an output port for fluid at one end of said tube; a flat member located within said tube disposed along the axis of said tube and spanning said tube such that, in cross-section, said flat member forms a chord of said bow-like shapes; said tube formed of a first material so that the length of said bow-like shape contracts in response to a control signal; said flat member formed of a second material so that the length of said chord expands in response to said control signal; and means for coupling said control signal to said tube and said flat member so that the shape of the respective areas between said chord and said bow-like shape is geometrically distortEd in response to said control signal to reduce the volume within said tube whereby the flow of fluid through said output port is controlled.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
166 words
The combination comprising: a tube having a cross-section formed of two bow-like shapes; said tube forming a chamber for fluid, said tube having an output port for fluid at one end of said tube; a flat member located within said tube disposed along the axis of said tube and spanning said tube such that, in cross-section, said flat member forms a chord of said bow-like shapes; said tube formed of a first material so that the length of said bow-like shape contracts in response to a control signal; said flat member formed of a second material so that the length of said chord expands in response to said control signal; and means for coupling said control signal to said tube and said flat member so that the shape of the respective areas between said chord and said bow-like shape is geometrically distortEd in response to said control signal to reduce the volume within said tube whereby the flow of fluid through said output port is controlled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
108 words
The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said first material is a first magnetostrictive material selected so that the length of said bow-like members contracts in response to a magnetic field directed along the length of said bow-like shape; said second material is a second magnetostrictive material selected so that the length of said chord expands in response to a magnetic field directed along the length of said chord; and means for coupling said control signal to said tube and said flat member includes means for inducing magnetic fields directed along the lengths of said bow-like shapes and a magnetic field directed along the length of said chord.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said output port is a nozzle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said nozzle is located within a fluidic rectifier including a chamber, having an orifice opposite the orifice of said nozzle, and arranged to surround said nozzle with fluid to inhibit the formation of air bubbles within said nozzle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination recited in claim 7 wherein a second flat member is located within said tube, disposed along the axis of said tube transverse to said first mentioned flat member, and spanning said tube; the portion of said bow-like shaped subtended by said first mentioned flat member and said second flat member being arcuate sections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination recited in claim 9 wherein said second flat member is formed of a magnetostrictive material selected so that said second flat member expands in a direction transverse to said chord in response to said control signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination recited in claim 10 wherein said arcuate sections are arcs of circles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said bow-like shapes are arcuate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination recited in claim 12 wherein said bow-like shapes are arcs of circles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said magnetic field includes a pair of magnetic pole pieces adjacent opposite ends of said chord.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination recited in claim 13 wherein said means for inducing the magnetic fields includes a coil wound around said flat member in the direction of the axis of said tube.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination recited in claim 15 wherein said coil is formed by a printed circuit affixed to said flat member.
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) | 1978-12-08 | 1979-06-09 | 1979-12-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-08 | 1983-06-09 | 1983-12-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-08 | 1987-06-09 | 1987-12-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |