Digital fluid flow control system

Claim 2

A fluid flow control system comprising: a cylindrical upstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a cylindrical downstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in the given direction, the downstream chamber being coaxial with and different in cross-sectional area from the upstream chamber; and a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being disposed between the upstream and downstream chambers in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction such that fluid flows radially through the valve elements transverse to the given direction so as to form two substantially 90° bends in the flow path from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber, the valve elements having orifice areas weighted so the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas are equal.

Claim 3

The fluid flow control system of claim 1, in which the upstream chamber has a larger cross-sectional area than the downstream chamber and the valve elements are directed so fluid from the upstream chamber that passes through the valve elements converges and collides in the downstream chamber to dissipate the vena contractas.

Claim 4

The fluid flow control system of claim 2, in which the valve elements each have an orifice, a plug, and means for maintaining the plug in one of two stable positions, the plug sealing the orifice in the one stable position and lying out of the fluid stream in the static fluid region in the other stable position.

Claim 5

The fluid flow control system of claim 3, additionally comprising a plurality of sources of binary electrical signals equal in number to the valve elements, and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 6

The fluid flow control system of claim 1, in which the valve elements each have an orifice, a plug, and means for maintaining the plug in one of two stable positions, the plug sealing the orifice in the one stable position and lying outside the fluid stream in the static fluid region in the other stable position.

Claim 7

The fluid flow control system of claim 1, additionally comprising a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements, and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 8

The fluid flow control system of claim 1, additionally comprising a flow directing cone located within the upstream chamber in alignment with its axis, the apex of the cone being directed away from the downstream chamber, and the base of the cone being adjacent to the valve elements so fluid flowing along the axis of the upstream chamber is directed to the valve elements.

Claim 9

A fluid system comprising: a first conduit having an axis; a second conduit having an axis in alignment with the axis of the first conduit; a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements between the first and second conduits radially arranged all the way around the axis of the second conduit at approximately equal intervals and disposed in equidistant relationship from a point on the axis of the first conduit so the pressure drop across each valve element is substantially the same, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements having orifice areas that are weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression; and a fluid under pressure flowing along the axis of the first conduit, through the valve elements to the second conduit, and along the axis of the second conduit, the valve elements being oriented so the fluid passing through them converges radially to the axis of the second conduit and collides to dissipate the vena contractas.

Claim 10

A fluid system comprising: a first conduit having an axis; a second conduit having an axis in alignment with the axis of the first conduit; a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements between the first and second conduits radially arranged all the way around the axis of the second conduit at approximately equal intervals and disposed in equidistant relationship from a point on the axis of the first conduit so the pressure drop across each valve element is substantially the same, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements having orifice areas that are weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression; and a fluid under pressure flowing along the axis of the first conduit, through the valve elements to the second conduit, and along the axis of the second conduit, the valve elements being oriented so the fluid passing through them converges radially to the axis of the second conduit and collides to dissipate the vena contractas.

Claim 11

The fluid flow control system of claim 8, in which each valve element has a flow determining orifice, a plug, and means for maintaining the plug in one of only two stable positions, the plug sealing the orifice in the one stable position and lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position.

Claim 12

A fluid system comprising: an upstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a downstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; means for interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, the interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of at least three individually actuable bistable digital valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed at a point in the downstream conduit such that fluid flowing through the valve elements from the upstream conduit to the downstream conduit collides in the downstream conduit to dissipate the vena contractas, the valve elements having orifice areas that are weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression; a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements; and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 13

A fluid system comprising: an upstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a downstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; means for interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, the interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of at least three individually actuable bistable digital valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed at a point in the downstream conduit such that fluid flowing through the valve elements from the upstream conduit to the downstream conduit collides in the downstream conduit to dissipate the vena contractas, the valve elements having orifice areas that are weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression; a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements; and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 14

The fluid system of claim 10, in which the valve elements each have a flow determining orifice lying in a plane parallel to the axis of the downstream conduit and communicating with the downstream conduit and each have a plug movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the downstream conduit to regulate fluid flow through the orifice, and means are provided for fluid flow from the upstream conduit to the valve elements in a direction parallel to the axis of the upstream conduit.

Claim 15

The fluid system of claim 10, in which the valve elements each have an orifice, a plug, and means for maintaining the plug in one of only two stable positions, the plug sealing the orifice in the one stable position and lying outside the fluid stream in the static fluid region in the other stable position.

Claim 16

The fluid system of claim 10, in which the valve elements are disposed such that the pressure drop across each valve element is the same.

Claim 17

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; and a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the orifice areas of the valve elements being weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression.

Claim 18

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; and a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the orifice areas of the valve elements being weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression.

Claim 19

The fluid flow control system of claim 14, in which the larger orifice areas are equal.

Claim 20

The fluid flow control system of claim 15, in which the orifice areas are weighted 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 32, and 32.

Claim 21

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the plurality of valve elements having effective orifice areas that follow a geometric progression of two; and an additional individually actuatable bistable digital valve element interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the additional valve element assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the additional valve element having an effective orifice area equal to the largest effective orifice area of the plurality of valve elements.

Claim 22

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the plurality of valve elements having effective orifice areas that follow a geometric progression of two; and an additional individually actuatable bistable digital valve element interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the additional valve element assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the additional valve element having an effective orifice area equal to the largest effective orifice area of the plurality of valve elements.

Claim 23

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; and a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a flow determining orifice, a plug, and means for controlling the movement of the plug so it assumes one of only two stable positions, the plug closing the orifice in the one stable position and lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position, the orifice areas of the flow determining orifices being weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression.

Claim 24

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; and a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a flow determining orifice, a plug, and means for controlling the movement of the plug so it assumes one of only two stable positions, the plug closing the orifice in the one stable position and lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position, the orifice areas of the flow determining orifices being weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas deviate from a geometric progression.

Claim 25

The fluid flow control system of claim 18, additionally comprising a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements, and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 26

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a stationary valve housing disposed in the upstream chamber, a plurality of perforations in the side of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the upstream chamber, an opening in the end of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the downstream chamber and a movable plug capable of assuming only one of two stable positions, the plug preventing flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the one stable position and enabling flow at a fractional flow rate from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the other stable position, the plug lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position, the fractional flow rate through the respective valve elements in the other stable plug position being weighted such that the smaller fractional flow rates follow a geometric progression and the larger fractional flow rates deviate from a geometric progression; and means responsive to a plurality of binary signals corresponding to the respective valve elements to place their respective plugs into one of the two stable positions depending upon the values of the respective binary signals.

Claim 27

A fluid flow control system comprising: an upstream chamber; a downstream chamber; a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a stationary valve housing disposed in the upstream chamber, a plurality of perforations in the side of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the upstream chamber, an opening in the end of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the downstream chamber and a movable plug capable of assuming only one of two stable positions, the plug preventing flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the one stable position and enabling flow at a fractional flow rate from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the other stable position, the plug lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position, the fractional flow rate through the respective valve elements in the other stable plug position being weighted such that the smaller fractional flow rates follow a geometric progression and the larger fractional flow rates deviate from a geometric progression; and means responsive to a plurality of binary signals corresponding to the respective valve elements to place their respective plugs into one of the two stable positions depending upon the values of the respective binary signals.

Claim 28

The fluid flow control system of claim 20, in which each plug is disposed within its housing.

Claim 29

The fluid flow control system of claim 20, in which the upstream and downstream chambers are adapted for fluid flow in a given direction and the valve elements are disposed in a plane transverse to the given direction such that the pressure drop across each valve element is substantially the same.

Claim 30

The fluid flow control system of claim 20, in which the valve housing of each valve element is cylindrical and the perforations are arranged in oppositely disposed pairs in the side of the housing.

Claim 31

A fluid flow control system comprising: a cylindrical upstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a cylindrical downstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in the given direction, the downstream chamber being coaxial with and different in cross-sectional area from the upstream chamber; a first plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being disposed between the upstream and downstream chambers in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction such that fluid flows radially through the valve elements transverse to the given direction so as to form two substantially 90° bends in the flow path from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber; and a second plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, the second plurality of valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the second plurality of valve elements being disposed between the upstream and downstream chambers in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction and displaced downstream a short distance from the first plurality of valve elements such that fluid flows radially through the second plurality of valve elements transverse to the given direction so as to form two substantially 90° bends in the flow path from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber.

Claim 32

A fluid flow control system comprising: a cylindrical upstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a cylindrical downstream fluid chamber adapted for fluid flow in the given direction, the downstream chamber being coaxial with and different in cross-sectional area from the upstream chamber; a first plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being disposed between the upstream and downstream chambers in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction such that fluid flows radially through the valve elements transverse to the given direction so as to form two substantially 90° bends in the flow path from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber; and a second plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, the second plurality of valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the second plurality of valve elements being disposed between the upstream and downstream chambers in a plane substantially transverse to the given direction and displaced downstream a short distance from the first plurality of valve elements such that fluid flows radially through the second plurality of valve elements transverse to the given direction so as to form two substantially 90° bends in the flow path from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber.

Claim 33

The fluid flow control system of claim 24, in which one of the plurality of valve elements has orifice areas that follow a geometric progression, and the other plurality of valve elements has orifice areas that are equal to the largest orifice area of the geometric progression.

Claim 34

The fluid flow control system of claim 24, in which the second plurality of valve elements has larger orifice areas than the first plurality of valve elements.

Claim 35

The fluid flow control system of claim 26, in which the first plurality of valve elements have orifice areas that follow a geometric progression and the second plurality of valve elements have orifice areas that are equal to the largest orifice area of the geometric progression.

Claim 36

A fluid system comprising: an upstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a downstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; means for interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, the interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed at a point in the downstream conduit such that fluid flowing through the valve elements from the upstream conduit to the downstream conduit collides in the downstream conduit to dissipate the vena contractas, each valve element comprising a fluid flow determining orifice in communication with the upstream conduit and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the upstream conduit, a plug movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the upstream conduit to regulate fluid flow through the orifice, and means for fluid flow from the valve element to the downstream conduit in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plug; a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements; and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 37

A fluid system comprising: an upstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a downstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; means for interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, the interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed at a point in the downstream conduit such that fluid flowing through the valve elements from the upstream conduit to the downstream conduit collides in the downstream conduit to dissipate the vena contractas, each valve element comprising a fluid flow determining orifice in communication with the upstream conduit and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the upstream conduit, a plug movable in a direction parallel to the axis of the upstream conduit to regulate fluid flow through the orifice, and means for fluid flow from the valve element to the downstream conduit in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plug; a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements; and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 38

A fluid system comprising: an upstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a downstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; means for interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, the interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed at a point in the downstream conduit such that fluid flowing through the valve elements from the upstream conduit to the downstream conduit collides in the dowmstream conduit to dissipate the vena contractas, each valve element comprising a flow determining orifice in communication with the upstream conduit and lying in a plane oriented at an angle to its axis, a plug movable in a direction perpendicular to the orifice to regulate fluid flow through the orifice, and means for fluid flow from the valve element to the downstream conduit in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plug; a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements; and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 39

A fluid system comprising: an upstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a downstream fluid conduit adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; means for interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, the interconnecting means consisting of a plurality of at least three individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements assuming only one of two states, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed at a point in the downstream conduit such that fluid flowing through the valve elements from the upstream conduit to the downstream conduit collides in the dowmstream conduit to dissipate the vena contractas, each valve element comprising a flow determining orifice in communication with the upstream conduit and lying in a plane oriented at an angle to its axis, a plug movable in a direction perpendicular to the orifice to regulate fluid flow through the orifice, and means for fluid flow from the valve element to the downstream conduit in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the plug; a plurality of sources of binary signals equal in number to the valve elements; and means for coupling the sources to the respective valve elements to actuate the valve elements to assume the open state when the corresponding binary signal is one value and the closed state when the corresponding binary signal is the other value.

Claim 40

A fluid flow control system comprising: a cylindrical upstream chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a cylindrical downstream chamber adapted for fluid flow in the given direction coaxial with and smaller in cross-sectional area than the upstream chamber; a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a stationary valve housing disposed in the upstream chamber, a plurality of perforations in the side of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the upstream chamber, an opening in the end of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the downstream chamber and a movable plug capable of assuming only one of two stable positions, the plug preventing flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the one stable position and enabling flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the other stable position, the plug lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position, the valve housings being cylindrical, having cylindrical axes, and being disposed so their cylindrical axes lie in a plane essentially transverse to the given direction such that fluid converges radially through the orifices, the valve housings each having a threaded connection with the wall of the downstream chamber and being disposed in the space between the upstream and downstream chambers, and the plugs each having an actuator body with a threaded connection to the wall of the upstream chamber and extending external of the upstream chamber; and means responsive to a plurality of binary signals corresponding to the respective valve elements to place their respective plugs into one of the two stable positions depending upon the values of the respective binary signals.

Claim 41

A fluid flow control system comprising: a cylindrical upstream chamber adapted for fluid flow in a given direction; a cylindrical downstream chamber adapted for fluid flow in the given direction coaxial with and smaller in cross-sectional area than the upstream chamber; a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a stationary valve housing disposed in the upstream chamber, a plurality of perforations in the side of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the upstream chamber, an opening in the end of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the downstream chamber and a movable plug capable of assuming only one of two stable positions, the plug preventing flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the one stable position and enabling flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the other stable position, the plug lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position, the valve housings being cylindrical, having cylindrical axes, and being disposed so their cylindrical axes lie in a plane essentially transverse to the given direction such that fluid converges radially through the orifices, the valve housings each having a threaded connection with the wall of the downstream chamber and being disposed in the space between the upstream and downstream chambers, and the plugs each having an actuator body with a threaded connection to the wall of the upstream chamber and extending external of the upstream chamber; and means responsive to a plurality of binary signals corresponding to the respective valve elements to place their respective plugs into one of the two stable positions depending upon the values of the respective binary signals.

Claim 42

The fluid flow control system of claim 30, in which the actuator body is integral with the housing and the plug is disposed within the housing.