# US 2014/0190346 A1 · Economizer Device For Linear Pneumatic Actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190346 A1 - Document ID: US20140190346A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/219,338 - Filed: 2014-03-19 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-19 - Inventors: Enzo Landi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190346A1 ## CPC - F15B 15/02: Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member - F15B 15/149: {Fluid interconnections, e.g. fluid connectors, passages} - F15B 2211/50554: the pressure control means controlling a pressure downstream of the pressure control means, e.g. pressure reducing valve - F15B 2211/5153: being connected to an output member and a directional control valve - F15B 2211/5154: being connected to multiple ports of an output member - F15B 2211/528: actuated by fluid pressure - F15B 2211/6336: representing a state of the output member, e.g. position, speed or acceleration - F15B 2211/88: Control measures for saving energy - F15B 2211/8855: Compressible fluids, e.g. specific to pneumatics - F15B 2211/89: Control specific for achieving vacuum or "negative pressure" - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An economizer device associable with a linear pneumatic actuator includes a body having openings and a Venturi vacuum generator slidably housed in a first conduit. The device operates between a first operating configuration, where a first opening is supplied with air at an operating pressure and the vacuum generator moves in the first conduit to permit primary flow of air and to reduce outlet pressure thereof from a second opening so as to supply the chamber of the actuator with air at a reduced pressure lower than the operating pressure, and a second operating configuration, where the first opening is connected to the environment at atmospheric pressure and a third opening is supplied with pressurized air with which it supplies the vacuum generator, which creates a vacuum in the second opening in such a manner as to suck air from and create a vacuum in the chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An economizer device associable with a linear pneumatic actuator having a casing and a piston slidable inside the casing and defining two chambers in the latter, said device comprising a body provided with a first opening selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air or to an environment at atmospheric pressure, a second opening connectable to a chamber of the linear pneumatic actuator and a third opening selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air, said openings being connected together by a first conduit, the device comprising a Venturi vacuum generator slidably housed and movable in said first conduit, said device being arranged for operating between a first operating configuration, in which said first opening is supplied with air at an operating pressure and said Venturi vacuum generator is movable in said first conduit to permit a primary flow of air and to reduce an outlet pressure thereof from the second opening so as to supply the chamber with air at a reduced pressure lower than said operating pressure, and a second operating configuration, in which said first opening is connected to the environment at atmospheric pressure, said third opening is supplied with pressurized air with which it supplies said Venturi vacuum generator that creates a vacuum in said opening in such a manner as to suck air from and create a vacuum in the chamber of the linear pneumatic actuator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator comprising a further body slidably inserted in said first conduit and provided with a longitudinal variable section conduit suitable for connecting said first opening to said third opening and a transverse side passage suitable for connecting a smaller section portion of the longitudinal variable section conduit to said opening, in the second operating configuration the passage of pressurized air through said longitudinal variable section conduit determining at the smaller section portion a pressure drop by Venturi effect such as to cause air to be sucked through said side passage from the second opening and from the chamber of the linear pneumatic actuator connected thereto. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator comprising a further body inserted into said first conduit and comprising a first portion shaped in such a manner as to form with a side wall of said first conduit a gap for the passage of the air from said first opening to said opening in said first operating configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Device according to claim 3, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator in said second operating configuration is arranged in a closed position such as to close said gap and preventing the passage of pressurized air between said second opening and said first opening. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator comprises a first seal element fixed to an end of a first portion of said further body facing said first opening and arranged for abutting on the side wall of said first conduit in such a manner as to separate said gap hermetically from said first opening in said closed position and a second seal element fixed to a second portion of said further body for abutting on the side wall of said first conduit in such a manner as to separate said gap hermetically from said third opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) Device according to claim 4, comprising an elastic member acting on said Venturi vacuum generator to maintain the latter in said closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Device according to claim 1, wherein said body comprises a front chamber interposed between the first opening and the first conduit, a rear chamber interposed between the third opening and the first conduit and a second conduit that connects the front chamber to the rear chamber to permit in the first operating configuration a secondary flow of pressurized air directed from the first opening to the rear chamber, the pressurized air in said front chamber and the pressurized air in said rear chamber exerting respective opposite thrusts on said Venturi vacuum generator such as to move the latter inside and along said first conduit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) Device according to claim 7, comprising an on-off member for enabling, in the first operating configuration, the passage of the secondary flow of air through said second conduit directed from said first opening to said third opening and prevent, in the second operating configuration, a flow of air through said second conduit directed from said third opening to said first opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Device according to claim 8, wherein said on-off member comprises an annular lip seal fixed to an end of said Venturi vacuum generator at said rear chamber. ### Claim 10 Movement apparatus comprising a linear pneumatic actuator provided with a casing and with a piston that is slidable inside said casing and defines a first chamber and a second chamber inside the latter, said apparatus comprising an economizer device according to any preceding claim, associated with said second chamber, wherein a first opening of said device is selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air or to an environment at atmospheric pressure, a second opening of said device is connected to said second chamber, a third opening of said device is connectable to a source of pressurized air, said first chamber being selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air or to an environment at atmospheric pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a valve switching device connected to said first opening, to said third opening and to said first chamber, said valve switching device being selectively activatable at least between: a first switching position for connecting the first opening to an environment at atmospheric pressure and sending pressurized air to the first chamber to move the piston and in the third opening to enable air to be extracted from the second chamber through the device arranged in a second operating configuration in such a manner that to a force generated on said piston by the pressurized air in the first chamber a further force is added that is generated by the vacuum made in the second chamber; and a second switching position for connecting the first chamber to an environment at atmospheric pressure and sending pressurized air to said first opening of the device arranged in a first operating configuration such as to reduce an air supply pressure in said second chamber and thus air consumption in movement of the piston. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus according to claim 11, comprising an on-off valve arrangement interposed between said third opening and said valve switching device and activatable via a sensor by said piston to allow or prevent the passage of pressurized air in said third opening on the basis of a linear position of said piston along said casing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) Apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a respective device associated with said first chamber, wherein a respective first opening of said device is selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air or to an environment at atmospheric pressure, a respective second opening of said device is connected to said first chamber, a respective third opening of said device is connected to the respective third opening of the device associated with the second chamber. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Apparatus according to claim 13, comprising a valve switching device that is connected to the first openings of said devices and is selectively activatable for sending pressurized air into one of said chambers through a respective device arranged in a first operating configuration and to enable air to be extracted from the remaining chamber through a respective device arranged in a second operating configuration so as to enable said piston to be moved, in particular in such a manner that to a force generated on said piston by the pressurized air in a chamber a further force is added that is generated by the vacuum made in the remaining chamber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the device arranged in the second operating configuration has the respective first opening connected to an environment at atmospheric pressure by the valve switching device and receives incoming pressurized air from the respective third opening supplied by pressurized air exiting the respective third opening of the other device that is arranged in the first operating configuration. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said device is removably connected to said casing, in particular said second opening being connected to said second chamber by a pneumatic connecting arrangement. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said device is integrated into said casing. ### Claim 18 Method for driving a linear pneumatic actuator comprising a casing and a piston that is slidable inside said casing and defining two chambers in the latter, said driving comprising supplying with pressurized air one of said chambers and sucking air from and creating a vacuum in the remaining chamber in such a manner that to a force generated on said piston by the pressurized air in a chamber a further force is added generated by the vacuum created in the remaining chamber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Method according to claim 18, wherein said sucking is achieved by a Venturi vacuum generator supplied with a secondary flow of said pressurized air. ### Claim 20 Movement apparatus comprising a linear pneumatic actuator provided with a casing and with a piston that is slidable inside said casing and defines a first chamber and a second chamber inside the latter, and an economizer device associated with said second chamber and provided with a body having a first opening selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air or to an environment at atmospheric pressure, a second opening connectable to said second chamber and connected to said first opening by a first conduit, a third opening selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air and connected to said first opening and to said opening by a Venturi vacuum generator, said device being arranged for operating between a first operating configuration, in which said first opening is supplied with pressurized air to permit a primary flow of air through said first conduit to supply said second chamber, and a second operating configuration, in which said first opening is connected to the environment at atmospheric pressure, said third opening is supplied with pressurized air with which it supplies said Venturi vacuum generator, which creates a vacuum in the second opening in such a manner as to suck air from, and create a vacuum, said second chamber. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the Venturi vacuum generator comprises a further body provided with a longitudinal variable section conduit suitable for connecting the first opening to the third opening and a transverse side passage that is suitable for connecting a smaller section portion of the longitudinal variable section conduit to the second opening, the passage of pressurized air through said longitudinal variable section conduit determining at the smaller section portion a pressure drop by Venturi effect that is such as to cause air to be sucked through the side passage from the second opening and from the chamber of the linear pneumatic actuator connected thereto. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a valve switching device connected to said first opening and to said third opening of said device and to said first chamber of said linear pneumatic actuator, said valve switching device being selectively activatable at least between: a first switching position for connecting the first opening to an environment at atmospheric pressure and sending pressurized air to the first chamber to move the piston and to the third opening to enable air to be extracted from the second chamber through the device, arranged in a second operating configuration, in such a manner that to a force generated on said piston by the pressurized air in the first chamber a further force is added that is generated by the vacuum made in the second chamber; and a second switching position for connecting the first chamber to an environment at atmospheric pressure and sending pressurized air to said first opening of said device, arranged in a first operating configuration. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) Apparatus according to claim 22, comprising an on-off valve arrangement interposed between said third opening and said valve switching device and activatable via a sensor by said piston to permit or prevent the passage of pressurized air to said third opening on the basis of at least one linear position of said piston along said casing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a respective device associated with said first chamber, wherein a respective first opening of said device is selectively connectable to a source of pressurized air or to an environment at atmospheric pressure, a respective second opening of said device is connected to said first chamber, a respective third opening of said device is connected to the respective third opening of the device associated with the second chamber. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) Apparatus according to claim 24, comprising a valve switching device connected to the first openings of said devices and selectively activatable for sending pressurized air to one of said chambers through a respective device arranged in a first operating configuration and to enable air to be extracted from the remaining chamber through a respective device arranged in a second operating configuration such as to enable said piston to be moved, in particular in such a manner that to a force generated on said piston by the pressurized air in a chamber a further force is added that is generated by the vacuum made in the remaining chamber. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) Apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the device arranged in the second operating configuration has the respective first opening connected to an environment at atmospheric pressure by the valve switching device and receives incoming pressurized air from the respective third opening supplied by pressurized air exiting the respective third opening of the other device that is arranged in the first operating configuration. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said device comprises a valve arrangement inserted into said first conduit and arranged for permitting said primary flow of pressurized air in the first operating configuration and for preventing the passage of air through said first conduit in the second operating configuration. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said body comprises a second conduit that connects said first opening to said third opening to permit a secondary flow of pressurized air from said first opening exiting said third opening, in said first operating configuration. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said third opening is connected to said first opening, by a third conduit into which said Venturi vacuum generator is inserted, and to said second opening, by a fourth conduit leading into said Venturi vacuum generator. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) Apparatus according to claim 29, comprising a seal element inserted into said third conduit respectively to permit an air flow through said second conduit directed form said first opening to said third opening, in said first operating configuration, and to prevent a flow of air through said second conduit directed from said third opening to said first opening, in said second operating configuration. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) Apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator is inserted into said third conduit. ### Claim 32 (depends on 20) Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator is slidably housed and is movable in the first conduit in such a manner that in said first operating configuration, in which the first opening is supplied at an operating pressure, said Venturi vacuum generator is movable in the first conduit to permit the passage into the latter of the primary air flow and to reduce an outlet pressure of said primary air flow from the second opening so as to supply said second chamber with air at a reduced pressure lower than said operating pressure. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the Venturi vacuum generator includes a further body slidably inserted into in said first conduit and comprising a first portion shaped in such a manner as to form with a side wall of said first conduit a gap for the passage of the air from said first opening to said second opening in said first operating configuration. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) Apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator in said second operating configuration is arranged in a closed position such as to close said gap and preventing the passage of pressurized air between said second opening and said first opening. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said Venturi vacuum generator comprises a first seal element fixed to an end of a first portion of said further body facing said first opening for abutting on the side wall of said first conduit in such a manner as to separate said gap hermetically from said first opening in said closed position and a second seal element fixed to a second portion of said further body for abutting on the side wall of said first conduit in such a manner as to separate said gap hermetically from said third opening. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) Apparatus according to claim 34, comprising an elastic member acting on said Venturi vacuum generator to maintain the latter in said closed position. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) Apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said body comprises a front chamber interposed between the first opening and the first conduit, a rear chamber interposed between the third opening and the first conduit and a second conduit that connects the front chamber to the rear chamber to permit in the first operating configuration a secondary flow of pressurized air directed from the first opening to the rear chamber, the pressurized air in said front chamber and the pressurized air in said rear chamber exerting respective opposite longitudinal thrusts on said Venturi vacuum generator that are such as to move the latter along said first conduit. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) Apparatus according to claim 37, comprising an on-off member to permit, in the first operating configuration, the passage of the secondary flow of air through said second conduit directed from said first opening to said third opening, and prevent, in the second operating configuration, an air flow through said second conduit directed from said third opening to said first opening. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) Apparatus according to claim 38, wherein said on-off member comprises an annular lip seal fixed to an end of said Venturi vacuum generator at said rear chamber.