Computer controlled adapter unit for fluid system control

Claim 1

An adaptor unit enabling computerized operation of and data acquisition from a system, said system requiring a fluid input and being operable to supply data in electrical form at an output, said unit comprising: (1) a housing having at least three fluid input/output ports for connection to external fluid input/output lines, and an electrical signal input for connection to an external line providing an electrical signal input; (2) valve means adapted to be connected with a supply of fluid for supplying the fluid between one and a selected one of the other ports; (3) micro-computer means for program storage and control of the valve means; (4) valve actuating means connected to said valve means and said micro-computer means and being operable to position said valve means to bring said one and said selected one of said other ports into fluid communication in response to a signal from said micro-computer means; (5) sensor means connected to said micro-computer means and adapted to identify directly the position attained by the valve means and to communicate said position to said micro-computer means, and (6) means connecting the electrical signal input with the output of said system and with said micro-computer means for communicating data from said output of said system to said micro-computer means.