Solid state regulator for natural gas

Claim 3

An apparatus for regulating fluid flow as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for distributing pressure disposed between said actuator and said elastomer, said means for distributing pressure including first and second seating surfaces, said first seating surface disposed at said second end of said at least one block and said elastomer disposed along said second seating surface.

Claim 4

An apparatus for regulating fluid flow as recited in claim 2 wherein: said means for constraining said actuator comprises a housing having two or more openings; said means for distributing pressure is disposed in said housing; said at lest one block of magnetostrictive, electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material is disposed between said housing and said first seating surface of said means for distributing pressure; said elastomer is disposed between said housing and said second seating surface of said means for distributing pressure; and said extrudable portion of said elastomer is generally aligned with at least one of said openings in said housing.

Claim 5

An apparatus for regulating fluid flow as recited in claim 1 wherein: said elastomer includes at least one excised area on the periphery thereof; and said at least one block of magnetostrictive, electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material is disposed in at least one of said excised areas.

Claim 6

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrostrictive ceramic material is PbMO 3 , M being a member selected from the group consisting of (Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 ), (SC 1/3 Ta 2/3 ), and combinations thereof.

Claim 7

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said magnetostrictive material is selected from the group consisting of TbTe 2 , Tb x Dy 1-x Fe 2 , Tb x Dy 1-x Fe 1 .9-1.98, and combinations thereof.

Claim 8

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said piezoelectric material is a member selected from the group consisting of Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 ceramics.

Claim 9

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said elastomer comprises polysiloxanes.

Claim 10

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said elastomer comprises a filled bladder structure including a rubbery membrane filled with liquid.

Claim 11

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one block is comprised of electrostrictive or piezoelectric material; and said means for applying said infinitely variable strain inducing field comprises means for applying an electric field.

Claim 12

An apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for applying an electric field comprises a plurality of metallic plate electrodes disposed in a substantially parallel, spaced relationship within each of said at least one block for applying an electric field to said at least one block.

Claim 13

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one block is comprised of magnetostrictive material; and said means of applying said infinitely variable strain inducing field comprises means for applying a magnetic field.

Claim 14

An apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said means for applying a magnetic field comprises a coil disposed around said at least one block for applying a magnetic field to said at least one block.

Claim 15

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for applying said strain inducing field is connected to cause positive displacement of said blocks such that extrusion of said elastomer restricts fluid flow.

Claim 16

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for applying said strain inducing field is connected to cause negative displacement of said blocks such that negative displacement of said blocks varies the extrusion of said elastomer and the shape of said extrudable portion.

Claim 17

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one block is generally cylindrical in shape.

Claim 18

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein: said means for constraining comprises a housing having two or more openings; said means for distributing pressure comprises a tube having a flange defining said first and second seating surfaces; and at least one of said two or more openings is generally aligned with said tube.

Claim 19

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuator is comprised of thin, generally rectangular blocks.

Claim 20

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a means for distributing pressure disposed between said second end of said actuator and said elastomer.

Claim 21

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said actuator defines at least a portion of a channel therethrough.

Claim 22

An apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein a portion of said channel and said extrudable are in substantial alignment.

Claim 23

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for distributing pressure further defines at least a portion of a channel.

Claim 24

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for distributing pressure comprises a tube having a flange attached thereto defining said first and second seating surfaces on opposite faces of said flange.

Claim 25

An apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein the central axis of said tube and said extrudable are substantially aligned.

Claim 26

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for distributing pressure comprises a manifolded yoke-washer.

Claim 27

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said means for distributing pressure comprises a disc-shaped slug having an aperture generally centrally disposed therein.

Claim 28

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 further comprising an elastomeric harness wherein said at least one block is potted to maintain alignment.

Claim 29

An apparatus as recited in claim 27 wherein said at least one block comprises three blocks generally evenly spaced in a generally cylindrical elastomeric harness.

Claim 32

An apparatus as recited in claim 29 wherein said extrudable portion is at the edge of said elastomer, positioned in the thicker portion of said elastomer, and spaced from said means for constraining, such that fluid flow therepast passes between said extrudable portion and said means for constraining.

Claim 33

An apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein: said means for constraining comprises a housing; and said extrudable portion is at the edge of said elastomer, defining with said housing a non-circular opening for fluid flow therepast.

Claim 34

An apparatus as recited in claim 31 wherein said elastomer comprises a generally circular outer diameter, and said non-circular opening is defined by a chord of said generally circular outer diameter.

Claim 35

An apparatus as recited in claim 31 wherein said means for distributing pressure comprises an upper washer having a noncircular opening generally aligned with said extrudable.

Claim 36

An apparatus as recited in claim 31 wherein said housing further includes a lower washer disposed opposite said means for distributing pressure such that said elastomer is positioned therebetween, said lower washer shaped to permit fluid flow through said non-circular opening.

Claim 37

An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said elastomer has four excised areas such that said elastomer has a cross shape with said extrudable portion disposed generally centrally in said cross shape and defining an orifice.

Claim 38

An apparatus as recited in claim 35 wherein at least one of said blocks is placed in each of said four excised areas.

Claim 39

An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for constraining compresses both said at least one block and said elastomer such that said elastomer is initially extruded to interrupt fluid flow therepast.

Claim 40

An apparatus as recited in claim 37 wherein said means for applying said strain inducing field is applied to cause negative displacement of said blocks to vary the extrusion of said elastomer to vary the shape of said extrudable portion and regulate fluid flow therepast.

Claim 41

An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for applying said infinitely variable strain inducing field is connected to cause positive displacement of said at least one block.

Claim 42

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for applying an infinitely variable strain inducing field further comprises means for controlling said means for applying an infinitely variable strain inducing field.

Claim 43

An apparatus as recited in claim 40 wherein said means for controlling comprises an oxygen concentration sensor.

Claim 44

An apparatus as recited in claim 40 wherein said means for controlling comprises: a gas concentration sensor providing sensor signals; and a microprocessor adapted to receive said sensor signals and send control signals to apply an infinitely variable strain inducing field in response to said sensor signals.

Claim 45

An apparatus as recited in claim 40 wherein said means for controlling comprises: a sensor providing sensor signals; and a microprocessor adapted to receive said sensor signals and send control signals to apply an infinitely variable strain inducing field in response to said sensor signals.

Claim 46

An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein: said apparatus further comprises means for distributing pressure, said means for distributing pressure having a first end including said first and second seating surfaces, and a second end; said means for constraining comprises: a housing having two or more openings, said housing further comprising a first bushing; a second bushing disposed on said second end of said means for distributing pressure; and a spring compressibly disposed between said first bushing and said first seating surface; said at least one block of magnetostrictive, electrostrictive or piezoelectric ceramic material disposed between said first bushing and said second bushing; said first bushing, said spring, and said means for distributing pressure all disposed between said elastomer and said second end of said actuator, whereby said elastomer is disposed along said second seating surface; and said means for applying an infinitely variable strain inducing field applies said field to said at least one block such that application of said strain inducing field to said at least one block causes displacement thereof against said second bushing, and displacement of said means for distributing pressure against said spring, varying the extrusion of said elastomer in said opening to vary the shape of said extrudable portion and regulate fluid flow therepast.

Claim 47

An apparatus as recited in claim 44 wherein said first bushing is adjustably positionable in said housing.

Claim 48

An apparatus as recited in claim 44 wherein said second bushing is adjustably positionable on said means for distributing pressure.

Claim 49

An apparatus as recited in claim 44 wherein said means for distributing pressure further comprises a channel, said extrudable portion further defines an orifice in said elastomer, and the central axis of said channel and said orifice are generally aligned.

Claim 50

An apparatus as recited in claim 44 wherein said spring is compressibly disposed such that said elastomer is extruded to substantially interrupt fluid flow therepast.

Claim 51

An apparatus as recited in claim 48 wherein said means for applying said strain inducing field is connected such that application of said strain inducing field causes positive displacement of said blocks.