US4046159A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pneumatic logic circuits and their integrated circuits
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1975-10-07
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Granted: 1977-09-06
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Expires: 1995-10-07
Abstract
Abstract The pneumatic logic circuit is of generally symmetrical structure around an axis and symmetrical with respect to a median plane normal to this axis. It has a median plate provided with an axial passage and with a duct opening into this passage. On each side of the median plane is a diaphragm constituted by a flat sheet of rubber or of synthetic elastomer with, on its outer surface, a centering shoulder and with an axial cylindrical passage. It comprises axially a piston rod, passing freely through said passage of the median plate and with fluid-tightness through said passages of the diaphragm and bearing two pistons. On each side of the median plane is a bushing, bearing on the diaphragm and capping the centering shoulder thereof and allowing the piston to pass, each diaphragm being provided on its inner surface with an axial impression, comprising at the center a cylindrical chamber, whose diameter is a little greater than the diameter of said axial passage of the median plate, and a toric groove, separated from said cylindrical chamber by an annular lip with a flat profile capable of bearing against said median plate. These pistons each bear against the outer surface of the corresponding diaphragm. On each side of the median plane is an elastic diaphragm and a base applied against the corresponding bushing, and on each side a duct passes through the median plate and opens into the corresponding toric groove. The circuit is useful for numerical computers and control systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Pegourie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:28
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15C; F15C3/00; F15C3/04; F15C5/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2564; Y10T137/2567; Y10T137/5109; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86493; Y10T137/86574; Y10T137/86622; Y10T137/8663; Y10T137/87169; Y10T137/87217; Y10T137/87225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
Pneumatic logic circuit of generally symmetrical structure around an axis and symmetrical with respect to a medium plane normal to this axis, comprising a median plate provided with an axial passage and with a duct opening into this passage, comprising on each side of the median plane a diaphragm made of a flat sheet of elastomer with, on its outer surface, a centering shoulder and with an axial cylindrical passage, comprising axially a piston rod, passing freely through said passage of the median plate and with fluid-tightness through said passages of the diaphragms and bearing two pistons, and comprising on each side of the median plane a bushing, bearing on the diaphragm and capping the centering shoulder thereof and allowing the piston to pass, each diaphragm being provided on its inner surface with an axial impression, comprising at the center a cylindrical chamber, whose diameter is a little greater than the diameter of said axial passage of the median plate, and a toric groove, separated from said cylindrical chamber by an annular lip with a flat profile capable of bearing against said median plate, and pistons each bearing against the outer surface of the corresponding diaphragm, said logic circuit comprising on each side of the median plane an elastic diaphragm and a base applied against the corresponding bushing, and on each side a duct passing through the median plate and opening into the corresponding toric groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
Pneumatic logic circuit of generally symmetrical structure around an axis and symmetrical with respect to a medium plane normal to this axis, comprising a median plate provided with an axial passage and with a duct opening into this passage, comprising on each side of the median plane a diaphragm made of a flat sheet of elastomer with, on its outer surface, a centering shoulder and with an axial cylindrical passage, comprising axially a piston rod, passing freely through said passage of the median plate and with fluid-tightness through said passages of the diaphragms and bearing two pistons, and comprising on each side of the median plane a bushing, bearing on the diaphragm and capping the centering shoulder thereof and allowing the piston to pass, each diaphragm being provided on its inner surface with an axial impression, comprising at the center a cylindrical chamber, whose diameter is a little greater than the diameter of said axial passage of the median plate, and a toric groove, separated from said cylindrical chamber by an annular lip with a flat profile capable of bearing against said median plate, and pistons each bearing against the outer surface of the corresponding diaphragm, said logic circuit comprising on each side of the median plane an elastic diaphragm and a base applied against the corresponding bushing, and on each side a duct passing through the median plate and opening into the corresponding toric groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 1, comprising, symmetrically on each side of said median plate: a second piston, fixed on the rod, of greater diameter then the first piston, and provided with a groove bearing against the first piston, a second bushing, placed on the first bushing and allowing the second piston to pass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 2, wherein one of the two bases is provided, against its elastic diaphragm, with an axial cylindrical chamber, of a diameter at least equal to that of the second piston, with a duct opening into this chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 3, comprising, on the same side of the median plate as the chamber base, a frustoconic spring, housed by its small base in the groove of the second corresponding piston and housed by its large base in a groove of the first corresponding bushing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 4, adapted for use as an AND logic function having two control pressures and controlling a user device, wherein one of the control pressures is applied to the duct opening into the toric groove on the side opposite the cylindrical base chamber, the other control pressure is applied to the duct opening into the base chamber, the user device is connected to the duct opening into the axial passage of the median plate, and the duct opening into the other toric groove is connected to exhaust, the frustoconic spring having a force greater than the force exerted by the control pressure in the toric groove on the side opposite the cylindrical base chamber and less than the sum of the two forces exerted by the two control pressures respectively in this toric groove and in this cylindrical base chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 3, adapted for use as a NOT logic function, wherein a control pressure is applied to the duct opening into the base chamber, a supply pressure is applied to the duct opening into the toric groove on the base chamber side, the user device is connected to the duct opening into the axial passage of the median plate, and the duct opening into the other toric groove is connected to exhaust.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 2, wherein on each side of the median plate the corresponding base is provided, against its elastic diaphragm, with an axial cylindrical chamber, of diameter at least equal to that of the second piston, with a duct opening into the chamber, and on one side only of the median plate a frustoconic spring housed by its small base in the groove of the corresponding second piston and by its large base in a groove of the corresponding second bushing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 7, adapted for use as a flip-flop or storage logic function having two control pressures and controlling a user device, wherein the two control pressures are applied to the ducts opening into the base chambers, a supply pressure is applied to the duct opening into the toric groove on the side opposite to the frustoconic spring, the user device is connected to the duct opening into the axial passage of the median plate, and the duct opening into the other toric groove is connected to exhaust, the frustoconic spring being reversible and having, at one time, a force opposing the force developed by the supply pressure in the corresponding toric groove, greater than this force, and less than the sum of this force and the force developed by a control pressure in the spring side base chamber, and at other times a force in the same direction as the force developed by the supply pressure in the corresponding toric groove, the sum of these two forces being less than the force developed by the other control pressure in the base chamber on the side opposite the spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 7, adapted for use as a safety flip-flop or storage logic function having two control pressures and controlling a user device, wherein the two control pressures are applied to the ducts opening into the base chambers, a supply pressure is applied to the duct opening into the toric groove on the side opposite to the frustoconic spring, the user device being connected to duct opening into the axial passage of the median plate and the duct opening into the other toric groove is connected to exhaust, the frustoconic spring having, at one time a force greater than the force developed by the supplying pressure in in the corresponding toric groove and less than the sum of this force and of the force developed by a control pressure in he base chamber on the spring side, and at other times a force less than the force developed by the supply pressure in the corresponding groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
Pneumatic logic circuit according to claim 1, used in the OR logic function having two control pressures and controlling a user device, wherein each of the two control pressures is applied to one of the two ducts each opening into the toric groove of one impression, and the user device is connected to the duct opening into the axial passage of the median plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Pneumatic integrated circuit, comprising a plurality of OR circuits according to claim 10, wherein their median plates and, on each side of their median plates, their impressed diaphragms, their bushings, their elastic diaphragms, and their bases, are integrated in common.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1043846A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-09-05 | 1981-03-07 | 1981-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-09-05 | 1985-03-07 | 1985-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-09-05 | 1989-03-07 | 1989-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |