US4394871A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable pressure regulator for titanium superplastic forming apparatus
Assignee: Boeing Co
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Filing: 1980-12-31
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Granted: 1983-07-26
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Expires: 2000-12-31
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a programmable pressure regulator for a titanium superplastic forming apparatus. The regulator meters an inert gas, such as argon, into and out of a forming chamber to vary the pressure according to a preselected pressure profile. A profile generator generates high and low set point pressure signals which vary in accordance with the preselected pressure profile. A pressure transducer provides an electrical signal representative of the pressure in the forming chamber. A comparator circuit compares the electrical signal from the pressure transducer with the high and low set point signal and energizes pressure and bleed gas solenoid valves to maintain the pressure in the chamber within the pressure limits defined by the set point signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis C. Czajka
- 👤 David P. Nordstrand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:33
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D16/00; G05D16/20; G05D16/2006; G05D16/2013; G05D16/2026; G05D16/204; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/04; G05B19/07; G05B19/075; G05D16/024; G05D16/2046; G05D16/2053; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2496; Y10T137/2544; Y10T137/2559; Y10T137/2574; Y10T137/2605; Y10T137/264; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7758; Y10T137/7761; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86389
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
An apparatus for controlling gas pressure in a metal forming chamber comprising: a source of pressurized gas; first electrically responsive valve means interposed between said source of pressurized gas and said forming chamber and operable in response to an electrical signal to admit gas from said pressurized source to said forming chamber; second electrically responsive valve means coupled to said forming chamber, said second valve means being operable in response to an electrical signal to bleed gas from said forming chamber; pressure-sensing means coupled to said forming chamber, said sensing means being operable to produce a signal representative of the pressure of said gas in said chamber; a profile generator operable to produce time varying high and low set point signals representative of preselected upper and lower pressure limits of a series of linear profile segments, each segment enduring for a predetermined period of time during which said set point signal varies linearly from a first set point level to a second set point level; comparator means for comparing said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means with each of said high and low set point signals, said comparator means operating to apply an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means and said low set point signal represents a pressure in said forming chamber less than said lower pressure limit, said comparator means further operating to provide an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said upper set point signal and said signal from said pressure-sensing means represents a gas pressure in said chamber greater than said upper pressure limit.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
282 words
An apparatus for controlling gas pressure in a metal forming chamber comprising: a source of pressurized gas; first electrically responsive valve means interposed between said source of pressurized gas and said forming chamber and operable in response to an electrical signal to admit gas from said pressurized source to said forming chamber; second electrically responsive valve means coupled to said forming chamber, said second valve means being operable in response to an electrical signal to bleed gas from said forming chamber; pressure-sensing means coupled to said forming chamber, said sensing means being operable to produce a signal representative of the pressure of said gas in said chamber; a profile generator operable to produce time varying high and low set point signals representative of preselected upper and lower pressure limits of a series of linear profile segments, each segment enduring for a predetermined period of time during which said set point signal varies linearly from a first set point level to a second set point level; comparator means for comparing said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means with each of said high and low set point signals, said comparator means operating to apply an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means and said low set point signal represents a pressure in said forming chamber less than said lower pressure limit, said comparator means further operating to provide an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said upper set point signal and said signal from said pressure-sensing means represents a gas pressure in said chamber greater than said upper pressure limit.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for controlling gas pressure in a metal forming chamber comprising: a source of pressurized gas; first electrically responsive valve means interposed between said source of pressurized gas and said forming chamber and operable in response to an electrical signal to admit gas from said pressurized source to said forming chamber; second electrically responsive valve means coupled to said forming chamber for bleeding gas from said forming chamber, said second valve means being operable in response to an electrical signal to bleed gas from said forming chamber; third electrically responsive dump valve means coupled to said forming chamber for exhausting gas relatively rapidly from said forming chamber and thereby reducing the pressure of said gas in said forming chamber to ambient atmospheric pressure; pressure-sensing means coupled to said forming chamber, said sensing means being operable to produce a signal representative of the pressure of said gas in said chamber; a profile generator operable to produce time varying high and low set point signals representative of preselected upper and lower pressure limits; comparator means for comparing said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means with each of said high and low set point signals, said comparator means operating to apply an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means and said low set point signal represents a pressure in said forming chamber less than said lower pressure limit, said comparator means further operating to provide an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said upper set point signal and said signal from said pressure-sensing means represents a gas pressure in said chamber greater than said upper pressure limit.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
289 words
An apparatus for controlling gas pressure in a metal forming chamber comprising: a source of pressurized gas; first electrically responsive valve means interposed between said source of pressurized gas and said forming chamber and operable in response to an electrical signal to admit gas from said pressurized source to said forming chamber; second electrically responsive valve means coupled to said forming chamber for bleeding gas from said forming chamber, said second valve means being operable in response to an electrical signal to bleed gas from said forming chamber; third electrically responsive dump valve means coupled to said forming chamber for exhausting gas relatively rapidly from said forming chamber and thereby reducing the pressure of said gas in said forming chamber to ambient atmospheric pressure; pressure-sensing means coupled to said forming chamber, said sensing means being operable to produce a signal representative of the pressure of said gas in said chamber; a profile generator operable to produce time varying high and low set point signals representative of preselected upper and lower pressure limits; comparator means for comparing said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means with each of said high and low set point signals, said comparator means operating to apply an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said electrical signal from said pressure-sensing means and said low set point signal represents a pressure in said forming chamber less than said lower pressure limit, said comparator means further operating to provide an electrical signal to said first electrically responsive valve means in the event the difference between said upper set point signal and said signal from said pressure-sensing means represents a gas pressure in said chamber greater than said upper pressure limit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising flow restrictor means coupled to each of said first and second electrically responsive valve means for regulating flow of said pressurized gas into said chamber and flow of gas from said chamber to the atmosphere, respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said flow restrictor means comprise inertial flow restrictors coupled in fluid communication in series with said valve means for limiting the mass flow rate of said gas through said valve means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising a timing means coupled to the output of said comparator means, said timing means operating to energize an alarm indicative of a failure condition in the event the difference between said electrical signal from said pressure sensing means and said high and low set point signals represents a pressure in said forming chamber outside said preselected upper and lower pressure limits for more than a predetermined period of time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising means for providing manually selectable high and low set point signals representative of preselected upper and lower pressure limits, and means for applying said signals to said comparator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 or 2 further comprising: means for enabling manual control of said first and second electrically responsive valve means under program control by said comparator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3726307A
Cited
US4120631A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-25 | 1987-01-24 | 1987-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-25 | 1991-01-24 | 1991-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-25 | 1995-01-24 | 1995-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |