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US 4,479,515 AGranted
Fluidic control devices
AssigneeUnited Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
InventorJohn R. Tippetts
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AssigneeUnited Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
InventorJohn R. Tippetts
Estimating the term…
A fluidic flow control device includes at least three terminals with two of the terminals being connected to input nozzles opposing each other in axial alignment. An interspace is provided adjacent the point of intersection of the two streams from the nozzles and a radial diffuser is provided encircling the interspace. The third terminal communicates with the radial diffuser. The variable relationship between the flows produced at the nozzles is effective to control the flow at the third terminal. The diffuser is formed by planar faces separated by a constant width gap. The gap opens into an annular plenum to which the third terminal is connected. The entry area to the radial diffuser is sized to be substantially equal to the sum of the areas of the nozzle throats. In one embodiment, a mixer region may be provided between the diffuser and at least one of the nozzles. A fourth terminal acting as a vent may communicate with the mixer region. If desired, a second radial diffuser may be provided and one nozzle throat may be larger than the other. A partition may be provided in the diffuser.
A multi-terminal fluidic flow control device in which two of the terminals communicate respectively with nozzles opposing each other in axial alignment across an interspace characterized in that a third terminal communicates with a radial diffuser opening into and encircling the interspace to receive a substantially continuous power output flow of analog characteristics resulting from interaction of flows in the interspace, the radial diffuser having opposed annular surfaces forming a gap and between which to collect and channel the flow received therein radially to provide at the third terminal the analog output flow which is variable progressively in accordance with variation of the relationship of flows through the nozzles, and the interspace being elongated axially to form a mixer tube between one of the nozzles and the radial diffuser and a fourth terminal, acting as a vent in communication with the mixer tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.