Electropneumatic positioner

Claim 2

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding; an arm attached to said magnet for providing a mechanical output from said transducer in response to an electrical input to said coil winding; and a counterweight attached to one of said arm and said magnet to provide balance about an axis extending through said at least one bearing.

Claim 3

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field, wherein said magnet has a shape defined by rounded opposing ends and linear opposing sides; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; and a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding.

Claim 4

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field, wherein said magnet has a shape defined by rounded opposing ends and linear opposing sides; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; and a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding.

Claim 5

A transducer in accordance with claim 2, wherein each bearing is connected to a respective linear side of said magnet.

Claim 6

A transducer in accordance with claim 3, wherein said winding is generally diamond-shaped for surrounding said magnet and said bearing support structure.

Claim 7

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a housing for enclosing said winding and said magnet, said housing having a divider for defining two compartments each isolated from the other, said housing including a well formed in said divider; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; and a bearing support structure, to which said at least one bearing is attached, for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding; and wherein said magnet is suspended in said well in one of said compartments by said bearing support structure, and said winding is disposed around said well in the other of said compartments.

Claim 8

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a housing for enclosing said winding and said magnet, said housing having a divider for defining two compartments each isolated from the other, said housing including a well formed in said divider; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; and a bearing support structure, to which said at least one bearing is attached, for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding; and wherein said magnet is suspended in said well in one of said compartments by said bearing support structure, and said winding is disposed around said well in the other of said compartments.

Claim 9

A transducer in accordance with claim 5 wherein each said bearing comprises a pair of flexure strips, and wherein said bearing support structure comprises a pair of support elements with each support element being connected to said magnet by a respective pair of flexure strips.

Claim 10

A transducer in accordance with claim 6 wherein said magnet has a shape defined by opposing rounded ends and opposing linear sides, wherein each bearing is connected to a respective linear side of said magnet, and wherein said coil winding is generally diamond-shaped for surrounding said magnet and said bearing support structure.

Claim 11

A transducer in accordance with claim 5, further comprising: a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet.

Claim 12

A transducer in accordance with claim 8, further comprising: a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; and a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line.

Claim 13

A transducer in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a relay for amplifying the gas pressure in said supply line.

Claim 14

A transducer in accordance with claim 9, further including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a rest position of the flapper arm to achieve a desired spacing of said flapper arm with respect tot he nozzle.

Claim 15

A transducer in accordance with claim 9, further including a supply of laminar flow air coupled to said supply line.

Claim 16

A transducer in accordance with claim 12, wherein said supply of laminar flow air comprises a restrictor and a regulator for controlling a pressure drop across the restrictor to a predetermined range of air pressures.

Claim 17

A transducer in accordance with claim 13, wherein said supply of laminar flow air maintains a laminar flow of air through said nozzle.

Claim 18

A transducer in accordance with claim 9, wherein said nozzle has an orifice for outputting a gas stream in response to gas pressure at the input to said nozzle, said nozzle having an annular frontal face tapered rearwardly from said orifice, and wherein said flapper arm has a flat surface adjacent said nozzle such that said nozzle directs said gas stream towards said flat surface for providing an at least substantially linear conversion of pressure of the gas stream to force on said flapper arm.

Claim 19

A transducer in accordance with claim 15, wherein said frontal face of said nozzle is tapered with an angle of about 45°.

Claim 20

A transducer in accordance with claim 16, wherein said flat surface of the flapper arm is a raised circular surface.

Claim 21

A transducer in accordance with claim 15, wherein said flat surface comprises a hardened material formed in a plastic flapper arm.

Claim 22

A transducer in accordance with claim 15, further comprising air supply means for maintaining a laminar flow of air through said nozzle.

Claim 23

A transducer in accordance with claim 19, wherein said air supply means provides an air pressure in the range of about 6 to about 15 psi to said nozzle.

Claim 24

A transducer in accordance with claim 5, further including an arm attached to said magnet for providing a mechanical output from said transducer in response to an electrical input to said coil winding.

Claim 25

A transducer in accordance with claim 5, wherein said housing divider is effective to isolate electrical current carrying components in one of said compartments to provide an explosion-proof enclosure.

Claim 26

A transducer in accordance with claim 22, wherein sidewalls of said well are formed of a non-magnetic material.

Claim 27

A transducer in accordance with claim 23, wherein said well is formed of a electrically conductive material to provide eddy current dampening of movements of said magnet.

Claim 28

A transducer in accordance with claim 5, further including biasing means for biasing the magnet to a rest position.

Claim 29

A transducer in accordance with claim 25, wherein said biasing means comprises means for producing a magnetic bias.

Claim 30

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompasses by said coil winding; and biasing means for producing a magnetic bias for biasing the magnet to a rest position, wherein said biasing means comprises a permanent magnet.

Claim 31

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompasses by said coil winding; and biasing means for producing a magnetic bias for biasing the magnet to a rest position, wherein said biasing means comprises a permanent magnet.

Claim 32

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding; and an adjustment screw formed of a magnetic material adjustably disposed in a position influenced by a magnetic field of the magnet.

Claim 33

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing attached to said magnet for allowing pivotal movement of the magnet about an axis, extending through said magnet, in response to said magnetic field; a bearing support structure to which said at least one bearing is attached for suspending said magnet and said at least one bearing within the space encompassed by said coil winding; and an adjustment screw formed of a magnetic material adjustably disposed in a position influenced by a magnetic field of the magnet.

Claim 34

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet, mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line; and means for balancing said magnet and said flapper arm about said axis so that said transducer is substantially insensitive to the orientation thereof.

Claim 35

A transducer comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet, mounted for pivotal movement about an axis, for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line; and means for balancing said magnet and said flapper arm about said axis so that said transducer is substantially insensitive to the orientation thereof.

Claim 36

A transducer in accordance with claim 29, wherein said means for balancing comprises a counterweight attached to one of said flapper arm and said magnet to provide balance about said axis.

Claim 37

A transducer in accordance with claim 30, wherein said counterweight comprises a non-magnetic material.

Claim 38

A transducer in accordance with claim 29, wherein said flapper arm is elongate and extends outwardly in one direction from said axis, and said magnet has attached thereto a counterbalance weight that extends outwardly in a different direction from said axis.

Claim 39

A transducer in accordance with claim 32, wherein said counterbalance weight is the same shape as said magnet.

Claim 40

A transducer, comprising: a housing for containing components of the transducer, said housing having a divider therein for defining two compartments isolated from each other, said divider having a well formed therein, said well having sidewalls and a bottom; a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a bearing for said magnet, said bearing being mounted with respect to said magnet for pivotally supporting said magnet about an axis; said coil winding being disposed about said well in one of said compartments, said magnet and said bearing being disposed in the other of said compartments; a support fixed at one end with another and extending into said well, said another end being connected to said bearing for suspending said bearing and said magnet in said well; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; and a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line.

Claim 41

A transducer, comprising: a housing for containing components of the transducer, said housing having a divider therein for defining two compartments isolated from each other, said divider having a well formed therein, said well having sidewalls and a bottom; a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a bearing for said magnet, said bearing being mounted with respect to said magnet for pivotally supporting said magnet about an axis; said coil winding being disposed about said well in one of said compartments, said magnet and said bearing being disposed in the other of said compartments; a support fixed at one end with another and extending into said well, said another end being connected to said bearing for suspending said bearing and said magnet in said well; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; and a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line.

Claim 42

A transducer in accordance with claim 34, further including a biasing structure attached to said housing for biasing said magnet to a rest position.

Claim 43

A transducer in accordance with claim 25, wherein said biasing structure comprises a permanent magnet fixed to said housing in proximity to said magnet for producing a pivotal movement.

Claim 44

A transducer in accordance with claim 35, wherein said biasing structure comprises an adjustable screw in a sidewall of said well, said screw responsive to a magnetic field to the magnet.

Claim 45

A transducer in accordance with claim 37, wherein said screw is threaded in the bottom of said well.

Claim 46

A transducer in accordance with claim 36, wherein said well is formed of a conductive, non-magnetic material to provide eddy current dampening of movements of said magnet.

Claim 47

A transducer in accordance with claim 34, wherein said flapper arm and said magnet are counterbalanced about said axis.

Claim 48

A transducer in accordance with claim 34, wherein said well is formed of a conductive, non-magnetic material to provide eddy current dampening of movements of said magnet.

Claim 49

A transducer in accordance with claim 34, further including a metallic magnetic return path for said magnet exterior of said coil winding.

Claim 50

A transducer in accordance with claim 42, wherein said magnetic return path comprises a cylindrical shield circumferentially surrounding both said magnet and said coil winding.

Claim 51

A transducer in accordance with claim 42, wherein said magnetic return path comprises a bracket to which said coil winding is mounted.

Claim 52

A transducer, comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a magnetic responsive material adjustably positioned with respect to said magnet for magnetically biasing said magnet and said flapper arm to a rest position in the absence of the magnetic field of the winding; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; and a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line.

Claim 53

A transducer, comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a magnetic responsive material adjustably positioned with respect to said magnet for magnetically biasing said magnet and said flapper arm to a rest position in the absence of the magnetic field of the winding; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; and a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line.

Claim 54

A transducer in accordance with claim 45, wherein said magnetic responsive material comprises at least one screw adjustably positioned with respect to the magnet to adjust a magnetic field influence therebetween.

Claim 55

A transducer in accordance with claim 45, wherein said magnetic responsive material comprises a permanent magnet.

Claim 56

A transducer, comprising: a housing having a divider defining two housing compartments, a well formed in said divider, said well having sidewalls and a bottom; a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding, said coil winding being positioned around the outer surface of the sidewalls of said well; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a flapper arm mounted, in a flapper arm structure having a saddle for holding said magnet, to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line; said nozzle being mounted in a nozzle structure which is fixed to said housing, said nozzle structure having a pair of depending arms, with each of said depending arms having a flexure strip bearing; and said flapper arm structure being connected to said nozzle structure through said flexure strip bearings so that said magnet is suspended for pivotal movement in said well.

Claim 57

A transducer, comprising: a housing having a divider defining two housing compartments, a well formed in said divider, said well having sidewalls and a bottom; a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding, said coil winding being positioned around the outer surface of the sidewalls of said well; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; a flapper arm mounted, in a flapper arm structure having a saddle for holding said magnet, to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper arm affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line; said nozzle being mounted in a nozzle structure which is fixed to said housing, said nozzle structure having a pair of depending arms, with each of said depending arms having a flexure strip bearing; and said flapper arm structure being connected to said nozzle structure through said flexure strip bearings so that said magnet is suspended for pivotal movement in said well.

Claim 58

A transducer in accordance with claim 48, wherein said nozzle structure and said flapper arm are formed of a plastic material.

Claim 59

A transducer in accordance with claim 48, wherein said magnet is suspended in said well for pivotal movement about an axis which extends through said flexure strip bearings.

Claim 60

A transducer in accordance with claim 48, further including at least one adjustable set screw positioned in the bottom of said well for adjusting a rest position of the magnet.

Claim 61

A transducer in accordance with claim 48, wherein said well is constructed of a non-magnetic and electrically conductive material.

Claim 62

A transducer in accordance with claim 48, wherein said well is generally diamond shaped to accommodate said magnet and said depending arms suspended therein.

Claim 63

A transducer, comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing for said magnet; a housing for containing components of the transducer, said housing having a divider therein for defining two compartments isolated from each other, said divider having a well formed therein, said well having sidewalls and a bottom, said sidewalls being formed of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material to provide eddy current dampening of movements of said magnet; said coil winding being disposed about the outer surface of the sidewalls of said well in one of said compartments, said magnet and said at least one bearing for said magnet being disposed in the other of said compartments, a magnetic return path for said magnet being positioned exterior of said coil winding; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line; said nozzle being mounted in a nozzle structure which is fixed to said housing; each said bearing being mounted with respect to said magnet for pivotally supporting said magnet about an axis extending through said magnet; a bearing support structure fixed at one end to said nozzle structure with another end extending into said well, said another end being connected to said at least one bearing for suspending said at least one bearing and said magnet in said well; said flapper arm being elongate and extending outwardly in one direction from said axis; means for balancing said magnet and said flapper arm about said axis so that said transducer is substantially insensitive to the orientation thereof; magnetic responsive material adjustably positioned with respect to said magnet for biasing said magnet and said flapper arm to a rest position; and said nozzle having an orifice for outputting a gas stream in response to gas pressure at the input to said nozzle, said nozzle having an annular frontal face tapered rearwardly from said orifice, said flapper arm having a raised flat surface adjacent said nozzle such that said nozzle directs said gas stream towards said raised flat surface for providing an at least substantially linear conversion of pressure of the gas stream to force on said flapper arm.

Claim 64

A transducer, comprising: a coil winding for generating a magnetic field responsive to an electrical input to said coil winding; a magnet for producing a pivotal movement in response to the thus generated magnetic field; at least one bearing for said magnet; a housing for containing components of the transducer, said housing having a divider therein for defining two compartments isolated from each other, said divider having a well formed therein, said well having sidewalls and a bottom, said sidewalls being formed of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material to provide eddy current dampening of movements of said magnet; said coil winding being disposed about the outer surface of the sidewalls of said well in one of said compartments, said magnet and said at least one bearing for said magnet being disposed in the other of said compartments, a magnetic return path for said magnet being positioned exterior of said coil winding; a flapper arm mounted with respect to said magnet to produce a movement of said flapper arm corresponding to the thus produced pivotal movement of said magnet; a supply line adapted to have a pressurized gas therein; a nozzle connected to said supply line, said nozzle being fixed adjacent said flapper arm so that said movement of said flapper affects the passage of said pressurized gas through said nozzle and thereby changes the gas pressure of the pressurized gas in said supply line; said nozzle being mounted in a nozzle structure which is fixed to said housing; each said bearing being mounted with respect to said magnet for pivotally supporting said magnet about an axis extending through said magnet; a bearing support structure fixed at one end to said nozzle structure with another end extending into said well, said another end being connected to said at least one bearing for suspending said at least one bearing and said magnet in said well; said flapper arm being elongate and extending outwardly in one direction from said axis; means for balancing said magnet and said flapper arm about said axis so that said transducer is substantially insensitive to the orientation thereof; magnetic responsive material adjustably positioned with respect to said magnet for biasing said magnet and said flapper arm to a rest position; and said nozzle having an orifice for outputting a gas stream in response to gas pressure at the input to said nozzle, said nozzle having an annular frontal face tapered rearwardly from said orifice, said flapper arm having a raised flat surface adjacent said nozzle such that said nozzle directs said gas stream towards said raised flat surface for providing an at least substantially linear conversion of pressure of the gas stream to force on said flapper arm.