Patent US4254689A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4254689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluidic repeater
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-08-07
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Granted: 1981-03-10
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Expires: 1998-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A fluidic repeater comprising: transmitter means, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter means and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line.
Inventors
- 👤 Willie B. Leonard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:50
CPC Classifications
F; F15; F15B; F15B9/00; F15B9/02; F15B9/08; F15B13/00; F15B13/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
564 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: transmitter means, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter means and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter means including a variable flow obstructor means connected in the afore-mentioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor means and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor means and said responder, said transmitter means further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor means for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being a space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston, opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of said operating means, and feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restrictor in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to one of said responder pistons to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of said one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of time said piston's displacement persists, said transmitter means in a certain one of said positions of said obstructor means causing the pressure at said other end of the pressure signal transmitting line communicating with said space to produce a force to balance the force of said opposition means when said first stage piston is in a neutral position causing no movement of the second stage piston, said transmitter means in other positions of said obstructor means causing the pressure at said other end of the pressure signal transmitting line communicating with said space to produce a force of said opposition means when said first stage piston is in said neutral position, therby to cause said first stage piston to move away from said neutral position, said feedback means restoring the pressure in said space to that which produces a force to balance the force of said opposition means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
564 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: transmitter means, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter means and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter means including a variable flow obstructor means connected in the afore-mentioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor means and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor means and said responder, said transmitter means further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor means for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being a space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston, opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of said operating means, and feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restrictor in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to one of said responder pistons to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of said one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of time said piston's displacement persists, said transmitter means in a certain one of said positions of said obstructor means causing the pressure at said other end of the pressure signal transmitting line communicating with said space to produce a force to balance the force of said opposition means when said first stage piston is in a neutral position causing no movement of the second stage piston, said transmitter means in other positions of said obstructor means causing the pressure at said other end of the pressure signal transmitting line communicating with said space to produce a force of said opposition means when said first stage piston is in said neutral position, therby to cause said first stage piston to move away from said neutral position, said feedback means restoring the pressure in said space to that which produces a force to balance the force of said opposition means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
295 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: a transmitter, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter including a variable flow obstructor connected in the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor and said responder, said transmitter further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being a space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
295 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: a transmitter, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter including a variable flow obstructor connected in the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor and said responder, said transmitter further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being a space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
167 words
opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of the transmitter operating means, and feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restrictor in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to one of said responder pistons to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of said one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of time said one piston's displacement persists, said feedback means variable restrictor comprising a variable cross section groove formed between said one piston which actuates said restrictor and the cylinder in which the last said piston moves and communicating at one end with said space and at the other end with said reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
167 words
opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of the transmitter operating means, and feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restrictor in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to one of said responder pistons to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of said one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of time said one piston's displacement persists, said feedback means variable restrictor comprising a variable cross section groove formed between said one piston which actuates said restrictor and the cylinder in which the last said piston moves and communicating at one end with said space and at the other end with said reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
Fluidic repeater according to claim 2: there being a space between the other end of the responder first stage cylinder and the end of the piston adjacent thereto, the last said space being connected to said source of pressure fluid, said other end of the responder first stage cylinder and said end of the piston adjacent thereto having a smaller cross sectional area than said one end of the first stage cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
Fluidic repeater according to claim 2: said opposition means comprising a source of constant pressure fluid of a lower pressure than the first said source of pressure fluid.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
496 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: a transmitter, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter including a variable flow obstructor connected in the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor and said responder, said transmitter further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston, opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of the transmitter operating means, and feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restriction in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to said responder to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of said one piston's displacement persists, said feedback means being connected directly to the second stage responder piston, and second feedback means including a second flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at a lower pressure than said space without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, and a second variable flow restrictor in said second flow passage actuated by and directly connected to said first stage piston, the portions of said first and second flow passages including said first and second said flow restrictors being in parallel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
496 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: a transmitter, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter including a variable flow obstructor connected in the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor and said responder, said transmitter further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston, opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of the transmitter operating means, and feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restriction in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to said responder to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of said one piston's displacement persists, said feedback means being connected directly to the second stage responder piston, and second feedback means including a second flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at a lower pressure than said space without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, and a second variable flow restrictor in said second flow passage actuated by and directly connected to said first stage piston, the portions of said first and second flow passages including said first and second said flow restrictors being in parallel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
62 words
Fluidic repeater according to claim 5: each of said feedback means variable restrictors comprising a variable cross section groove formed between the cylinder and the piston therein actuating the respective feedback means and communicating at one end with said space in the first stage cylinder and at the other end with the said reservoir to which the respective feedback means is connected.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
442 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: a transmitter, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter including a variable flow obstructor connected in the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor and said responder, said transmitter further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being a space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston, opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of the transmitter operating means, feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restriction in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to said responder to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of time said one piston's displacement persist and stop means preventing movement of the first stage piston toward said one end of the cylinder sufficient to block the connection of said space thereat to said line and said reservoir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
442 words
Fluidic repeater comprising: a transmitter, a responder, a single line for transmitting pressure signals between said transmitter and responder, and means including a source of pressure fluid for causing a pressure fluid to flow through said line, said transmitter including a variable flow obstructor connected in the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line between one end thereof and said responder to create a variable pressure difference upstream and downstream of the obstructor and thereby vary the pressure in the portion of said line between said obstructor and said responder, said transmitter further including operator means connected to the flow obstructor for changing the position of the obstructor between a first position partly blocking said fluid flow and a second position blocking said fluid flow to a lesser extent and a continuous range of intermediate positions of differing degrees of blocking said fluid flow between the blocking in said first and second positions and maintaining the obstructor in any desired one of said first, second and all intermediate positions, said responder including a first stage and a second stage, each stage including a cylinder having a piston movable axially therein, and valve means actuated by the first stage piston controlling fluid supply from a source of pressure fluid to opposite sides of said second stage piston to cause movement of the second stage piston in response to movement of the first stage piston, there being a space at one end of the responder first stage cylinder between said one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston therein, the aforementioned pressure signal transmitting line connecting at its other end to the responder first stage cylinder to communicate with said space between one end of the cylinder and the adjacent end of the piston, opposition means at the other end of the first stage piston creating an opposing force thereon independent of the position of the transmitter operating means, feedback means including a flow passage connecting the same said space to a reservoir of fluid at lower pressure than said line without passing through said pressure signal transmitting line, a variable flow restriction in said flow passage, and means connecting said variable flow restrictor to said responder to cause displacement of said flow restrictor in an amount dependent upon the amount of displacement of one of said responder pistons and independent of the rate of said one piston's displacement and of the length of time said one piston's displacement persist and stop means preventing movement of the first stage piston toward said one end of the cylinder sufficient to block the connection of said space thereat to said line and said reservoir.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-09 | 1984-09-08 | 1985-03-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-09 | 1988-09-08 | 1989-03-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-09 | 1992-09-08 | 1993-03-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |