Thermomechanical vacuum regulator using bimetallic position sensing
AssigneeThe Bendix Corporation
InventorsMichael Slavin, George T. Bata, Raymen F. Emery, George C. Ludwig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermomechanical vacuum regulator adapted for use in automatic temperature control systems includes a bimetal strip which flexes in accordance with the temperature of air stream whose temperature is to be controlled. The bimetal strip positions a whiffle tree beam which carries a vacuum valve for communicating a source of vacuum with a chamber within which vacuum is regulated, and a vent valve for communicating the chamber with a source of ambient air. The vent valve seat is located on a floating diaphragm which forms one wall of the chamber. In alternative embodiments, one of the valves is replaced by an orifice and column.
Claims14
A vacuum regulator for producing a controlled vacuum related to the deviation of an actual temperature from a selected temperature comprising:
- a source of vacuum;
- a first pressure source;
- a chamber, the vacuum within which comprises said controlled vacuum;
- first valve means for communicating said chamber with said pressure source when open;
- second valve means for communicating said chamber with said source of vacuum when open;
- a beam having at least three approximately colinear spaced apart pivots, said first valve means cooperating with said beam at a first pivot and said second valve means cooperating with said beam at a second pivot to open and close said valve means, said beam having an equilibrium condition wherein said first and second valve means are closed;
- bimetal means responsive to temperatures higher than said selected temperature and cooperating with said beam at a third pivot for urging said beam into a second condition to open one of said valve means while maintaining the other of said valve means closed, and responsive to temperatures lower than said selected temperature for urging said beam into a third condition to open the other of said valve means while maintaining said one of said valve means closed;
- and,
- a vacuum feedback diaphragm means comprising at least a portion of at least one of said first and second valve means and responsive to pressure difference thereacross for displacing said diaphragm means and cooperating through at least one of said first and second valve means with said beam to return to said equilibrium condition, one side of said diaphragm means being communicated with said chamber and the other side of said diaphragm means being communicated with a second pressure source.
Pressure regulator means for use in a control system wherein temperature of a fluid stream is regulated in response to a controlled fluid pressure comprising:
- a first pressure fluid source;
- a second pressure fluid source for providing a fluid having a pressure different than that provided by said first pressure fluid source;
- a chamber, the fluid pressure within which comprises said controlled fluid pressure,
- thermomechanical means responsive to the temperature of the fluid stream whose temperature is to be regulated for generating a force along a first line of action;
- valve means for regulating the ratio of the flow rate of fluid between one of said first and second pressure fluid sources and said chamber with respect to the flow of fluid between said chamber and the other of said first and second pressure fluid sources, whereby the fluid pressure within said chamber is regulated;
- support means;
- a beam pivotally supported by said support means at a first location thereon and cooperating with said thermomechanical means along said first line of action so as to pivot said beam about said first location in response to said force generated by said thermomechanical means along said first line of action, said first line of action intersecting said beam at a second location thereon, said beam being cooperative with said valve means along a second line of action to urge said valve means to regulate said ratio, and;
- feedback means comprising a diaphragm forming at least a portion of the walls of said chamber, the outside surface of said diaphragm being communicated with one of said first or second pressure fluid sources for additionally urging said valve means to regulate said ratio, one of said support means and said valve means being carried on said diaphragm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.