Fluid flow control system employing a plurality of digital valve elements

An automatic fluid control system comprising:

• an upstream conduit;
• a downstream conduit;
• a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream conduit and the downstream conduit, each valve element responsive to a binary signal assuming only one of two states corresponding to the values of the binary signal, that is, open or closed, the valve elements being directed toward a point in the downstream conduit so the fluid flowing through the valve elements converges in the downstream conduit to dissipate the vena contracta;
• means for generating a signal representative of the dynamic fluid conditions of the system;
• means for producing a plurality of binary signals equal to the number of valve elements, the binary signals representing the valve states required to make the dynamic fluid conditions satisfy a predetermined criterion;
• means for coupling to the binary signal producing means the signal representative of the dynamic fluid conditions;
• and
• means for coupling the binary signals to the respective valve elements to place them in the states corresponding to the values of the binary signals.

A fluid flow control system comprising:

• an upstream chamber;
• a downstream chamber;
• a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream chamber and the downstream chamber, each valve element having a stationary valve housing disposed in the upstream chamber, a plurality of perforations in the side of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the upstream chamber, an opening in the end of the housing to connect the interior of the housing with the downstream chamber and a movable plug capable of assuming only one of two stable positions, the plug preventing flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the one stable position and enabling flow from the upstream to the downstream chamber through the perforations and the end opening in the other stable position, the plug lying outside the fluid stream in the other stable position;
• means for generating a signal representative of the dynamic fluid conditions of the system;
• means responsive to the signal representative of the dynamic fluid conditions for producing a plurality of binary signals equal to the number of valve elements, the binary signals representing the valve states required to make the dynamic fluid conditions satisfy a predetermined criterion;
• and
• means for coupling the binary signals to the respective valve elements to place their plugs in the positions corresponding to the values of the binary signals.

A fluid flow control system comprising:

• an upstream chamber;
• a downstream chamber;
• a plurality of individually actuatable bistable digital valve elements interconnecting the upstream and downstream chambers, the valve elements assuming only one of two states, open or closed, the orifice areas of the valve elements being weighted such that the smaller orifice areas follow a geometric progression and the larger orifice areas are equal to each other;
• means for generating a signal representative of the dynamic fluid conditions of the system;
• means responsive to the signal representative of the dynamic fluid conditions for producing a plurality of binary signals equal to the number of valve elements, the binary signals representing the valve states required to make the dynamic fluid conditions satisfy a predetermined criterion;
• and
• means for coupling the binary signals to the respective valve elements to place their plugs in the positions corresponding to the values of the binary signals.