Control unit and method of making the same

Claim 2

In a control means having a plurality of pneumatically operated valve constructions for controlling the fluid flow from a first fluid source in relation to the condition of a second fluid source that is adapted to be interconnected to said pneumatically operated valve constructions, each valve construction having a flexible diaphragm means interconnected to a valve member by an actuator stem, the improvement comprising a self-contained housing structure carrying said valve constructions therein in substantially a circular array thereof and having a centrally arranged inlet substantially concentric to said circular array and being adapted to be interconnected to said first fluid source, said housing structure comprising two outboard housing sections and an intermediate housing section secured together in stacked relation, each said diaphragm means being held between said intermediate housing section and one of said outboard housing sections, each said valve member being disposed in the other of said outboard housing sections, said intermediate housing section having a chamber therein interconnected to said inlet and leading to certain of said valve constructions, said other housing section having a plurality of valve seats respectively controlled by said valve members and having a plurality of outlets respectively associated with said valve seats, at least one of said valve constructions having its said actuator stem passing through its respective valve seat whereby said valve seat of said one valve construction is intermediate said valve member thereof and said diaphragm means thereof, said valve member of said one valve construction being movable on its respective actuator stem.

Claim 3

A control means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator stem of said one valve construction has a shoulder, and a spring carried by said actuator stem of said one valve construction and bearing against said valve member thereof in a direction tending to hold said valve member against said shoulder.

Claim 4

A control means as set forth in claim 2 wherein said spring bears against said valve member in a direction that tends to close said valve seat of said one valve construction.

Claim 5

A control means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one valve construction has a second valve seat in said other housing section adapted to be opened and closed by said valve member thereof.

Claim 6

A control means as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one valve construction has said valve seat thereof exposed to said chamber on the side of said valve seat opposite the side thereof that is controlled by said valve member thereof whereby said spring performs a relief valve function for said chamber.

Claim 7

In a method of making a control means having a plurality of pneumatically operated valve constructions for controlling the fluid flow from a first fluid source in relation to the condition of a second fluid source that is adapted to be interconnected to said pneumatically operated valve constructions, each valve construction having a flexible diaphragm means interconnected to a valve member by an actuator stem, the improvement comprising the steps of forming a self-contained housing structure that carries said valve constructions therein in substantially a circular array thereof, forming said housing structure to have a centrally arranged inlet substantially concentric to said circular array and be adapted to be interconnected to said first fluid source, forming said housing structure to comprise two outboard housing sections and an intermediate housing section secured together in stacked relation, secureing each said diaphragm means between said intermediate housing section and one of said outboard housing sections, disposing each said valve member in the other of said outboard housing sections, forming said intermediate housing section with a chamber therein interconnected to said inlet and leading to certain of said valve constructions, forming said other housing section with a plurality of valve seats respectively controlled by said valve members and with a plurality of outlets respectively associated with said valve seats, forming at least one of said valve constructions to have its said actuator stem passing through its respective valve seat whereby said valve seat of said one valve construction is intermediate said valve member thereof and said diaphragm means thereof, and forming said valve member of said one valve construction to be movable on its respective actuator stem.

Claim 8

In a method of making a control means having a plurality of pneumatically operated valve constructions for controlling the fluid flow from a first fluid source in relation to the condition of a second fluid source that is adapted to be interconnected to said pneumatically operated valve constructions, each valve construction having a flexible diaphragm means interconnected to a valve member by an actuator stem, the improvement comprising the steps of forming a self-contained housing structure that carries said valve constructions therein in substantially a circular array thereof, forming said housing structure to have a centrally arranged inlet substantially concentric to said circular array and be adapted to be interconnected to said first fluid source, forming said housing structure to comprise two outboard housing sections and an intermediate housing section secured together in stacked relation, secureing each said diaphragm means between said intermediate housing section and one of said outboard housing sections, disposing each said valve member in the other of said outboard housing sections, forming said intermediate housing section with a chamber therein interconnected to said inlet and leading to certain of said valve constructions, forming said other housing section with a plurality of valve seats respectively controlled by said valve members and with a plurality of outlets respectively associated with said valve seats, forming at least one of said valve constructions to have its said actuator stem passing through its respective valve seat whereby said valve seat of said one valve construction is intermediate said valve member thereof and said diaphragm means thereof, and forming said valve member of said one valve construction to be movable on its respective actuator stem.

Claim 9

A method of making a control means as set forth in claim 6 and including the steps of forming said actuator stem of said one valve construction with a shoulder, and disposing a spring to be carried by said actuator stem of said one valve construction and bear against said valve member thereof in a direction tending to hold said valve member against said shoulder.

Claim 10

A method of making a control means as set forth in claim 7 wherein said step of disposing said spring causes said spring to bear against said valve member in a direction that tends to close said valve seat of said one valve construction.

Claim 11

A method of making a control means as set forth in claim 8 and including the step of forming said one valve construction with a second valve seat in said other housing section adapted to be opened and closed by said valve member thereof.

Claim 12

A method of making a control means as set forth in claim 8 and including the step of forming said one valve construction to have said valve seat thereof exposed to said chamber on the side of said valve seat opposite the side thereof that is controlled by said valve member thereof whereby said spring performs a relief valve function for said chamber.