Digital flow control system

Claim 1

A fluid flow control system having digital flow characteristics comprising: an inlet port for admitting fluid flow to the system; regulating means connected to said inlet port for assuring a predetermined pressure in said fluid flow to sustain downstream venturi action; four manifold branches each connected to said regulating means providing fluid flow paths therefrom; four clear-aperture, cavitation venturis one of which is mounted in each manifold branch to receive the fluid flow therein and having throat areas which are in the ratio of 1:2:2:5 to provide incremental decimally related fluid flow from said inlet port; four bistable, electrically-actuated control valves one of which is mounted in each of said manifold branches for selectively controlling the fluid flow therein; an electrical switch having five wafers and eleven positons; an electrical energy source connected to inputs of each of said five wafers; circuit means connecting said four bistable, electrically actuated control valves to four of the five wafers of said electrical switch such that each position of said switch sequentially steps said total flow rate from zero to full flow in ten percent steps; means connected to the fifth wafer of said electrical switch for obtaining an electrical output indicative of the selected switch position corresponding to the selected percentage of full flow rate; and an exit port connected to said four manifold branches for collecting the gas flow outputs therefrom into a single fluid flow stream for feed to a fluid utilization means.