Fluid control apparatus

Claim 2

In a dental apparatus for controlling a dental workpiece, a plurality of output couplings to which dental workpieces may be selectively connected, a source of fluid under pressure for operating the workpieces connected to said couplings, a hand held assembly having a portable valve that is hand operated to selectively vary the flow of fluid therethrough, flexible fluid conduit means connecting said portable valve between said output couplings and said source of fluid to enable the unrestricted movement of said portable valve, variable valve means connected with said portable valve and between certain selected ones of said plurality of output couplings and said fluid source to variably control the flow of fluid from said source to said selected output couplings in response to the selected hand operation of said portable valve, and operable valve means between said variable valve means and at least one of said certain selected output couplings operable in response to the operation of said portable valve to control the operation of a workpiece connected with said one output coupling.

Claim 3

In a dental apparatus as in claim 1, a shut-off valve means between said source of fluid and each of said output couplings to open and close the flow of fluid therebetween.

Claim 4

In a dental apparatus as in claim 2, said portable valve including shut-off valve means to open and close the flow of fluid therethrough to certain of said output couplings.

Claim 5

In a dental apparatus as in claim 1, and shut-off valve means on said hand held assembly and in series with said portable valve to open and close the flow of fluid from between said portable valve and certain of said output couplings.

Claim 6

In a control system for an air actuated dental workpiece, a source of pressurized air, a plurality of output couplings to which dental workpieces are connected for actuation by the air, conduit means connecting said output couplings and air source in circuit to conduct air therebetween, a portable hand held control device in said circuit between said output couplings and said source, said conduit means including flexible conduit means to enable unrestricted portable movement of said control device relative to said source and said output couplings, a valve in said control device selectively hand operable to control the actuation of the dental workpieces, variable valve means connected with said hand operable valve to variably control the flow of air to certain of said output couplings to thereby control the operation of workpieces connected therewith, and valve means operable in said circuit between said variable valve means and at least one of said output couplings to open and close the flow of air to said one output coupling in response to control of air flow by said variable valve means and being between said hand operable valve to open and close the flow of air to another output coupling in response to the operation of said hand operable valve.

Claim 7

In a control system for an air actuated dental workpiece, a source of pressurized air, a plurality of output couplings to which dental workpieces are connected for actuation by the air, conduit means connecting said output couplings and air source in circuit to conduct air therebetween, a portable hand held control device in said circuit between said output couplings and said source, said conduit means including flexible conduit means to enable unrestricted portable movement of said control device relative to said source and said output couplings, a valve in said control device selectively hand operable to control the actuation of the dental workpieces, variable valve means connected with said hand operable valve to variably control the flow of air to certain of said output couplings to thereby control the operation of workpieces connected therewith, and valve means operable in said circuit between said variable valve means and at least one of said output couplings to open and close the flow of air to said one output coupling in response to control of air flow by said variable valve means and being between said hand operable valve to open and close the flow of air to another output coupling in response to the operation of said hand operable valve.

Claim 8

In a control system as in claim 5, and air actuated cylinders in said circuit and associated with certain of said plurality of output couplings and including piston means movable in response to the selective operation of said selectively hand operable valve.

Claim 9

In a control system as in claim 6, an electrically operated workpiece connected with at least one of said plurality of output couplings, electrical contact means between said workpiece and movable piston to vary the electrical operation of the workpiece in response to the movement of said piston.

Claim 10

In a control system as in claim 6, a housing fixedly mounting said output couplings and associated cylinders, and said flexible conduit means connecting said control device for portable manipulation and selective operation between said housing and air source.

Claim 11

In a control system as in claim 8, and operable on-off valve means between said control device and said output couplings to selectively open and close the flow of air therebetween.