Apparatus and method for dispensing fluid materials using position-dependent velocity feedback

A method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a nozzle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) locating a metering valve in the flow path to said nozzle, said valve and nozzle including a first member moveable relative to a second member to modulate the flow through said nozzle;
• (b) generating a position-dependent velocity signal correlated to both the velocity of said first member relative to said second member and the position of said first member relative to said second member;
• (c) generating a flow rate signal correlated to the rate of flow of said fluid.
• (d) deriving a control signal from at least said position-dependent velocity signal, and said flow rate signal;
• and
• (e) positioning said first member relative said second member in accordance with said control signal to control the flow of the fluid from the nozzle.

A method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a nozzle, comprising the steps of:

• (a) locating a metering valve in the flow path to said nozzle, said valve including a first member moveable relative to a second member to modulate the flow through said nozzle;
• (b) generating a position-dependent velocity signal correlated to both the velocity of said first member relative to said second member and the position of said first member relative to said second member;
• (c) generating a flow rate signal correlated to the rate of the flow of the fluid;
• (d) generating a driving signal;
• (e) deriving a control signal from at least said position-dependent velocity signal, said flow rate signal, and said driving signal;
• and
• (e) positioning said first member relative said second member in accordance with said control signal to control the flow of the fluid.

A method for controlling the flow of a fluid through a nozzle;

• comprising the steps of:
• (a) locating a metering valve in the flow path to said nozzle, said valve including a first member moveable relative to a second member to modulate the flow through said nozzle;
• (b) generating a position-dependent velocity signal correlated to both the velocity of said first member relative to said second member and to the position of said first member relative to said second member;
• (c) generating a flow rate signal correlated to the rate of flow of the fluid;
• (d) generating a driving signal;
• (e) comparing said driving signal to the sum of said flow rate signal and said position-dependent velocity signal to derive a control signal, and
• (f) positioning said first member relative said second member in accordance with said control signal to control the flow of the fluid.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid through a flow path, comprising:

• (a) metering valve means, said valve means including a first member moveable relative to a second member to modulate the flow;
• (b) transducer means connected to said first member of said metering valve means for generating a position-dependent velocity signal correlated to both the velocity of said first member relative to said second member and the position of said first member relative to said second member;
• (c) controller means connected to said transducer means for deriving a control signal from at least said position-dependent velocity signal, and
• (d) actuator means connected to said controller means and said metering valve means for positioning said first member relative said second member in accordance with said control signal to control the flow of the fluid.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid through a flow path:

• (a) metering valve means in the flow path, said valve means including a first member moveable relative to a second member to modulate the flow;
• (b) transducer means connected to said first member of said metering valve means for generating a position-dependent velocity signal correlated to both the velocity of said first member relative to said second member and the position of said first member relative to said second member;
• (c) flow rate sensor means operatively disposed in the flow path for generating a flow rate signal correlated to the rate of flow of the fluid;
• (d) controller means connected to said transducer means and said flow rate sensor means for deriving a control signal from at least said position-dependent velocity signal and said flow rate signal;
• and
• (e) actuator means connected to said controller means and said metering valve means for positioning said first member relative said second member in accordance with said control signal to control the flow of the fluid.

An apparatus for controlling the flow of a fluid through a flow path comprising:

• (a) metering valve means in the flow path, said valve means including a first member moveable relative to a second member to modulate the flow;
• (b) transducer means connected to said first member of said metering valve means for generating a position-dependent velocity signal correlated to both the velocity of said first member relative to said second member and the position of said first member relative to said second member;
• (c) flow rate sensor means operatively disposed in the flow path for generating a flow rate signal correlated to the rate of flow of the fluid;
• (d) controller means connected to said transducer means and said flow rate sensor means as well as to means supplying a driving signal, said driving signal being correlated to a desired flow rate, said controller means including means for deriving a control signal in accordance with the difference between said driving signal and the sum of said flow rate signal and said position-dependent velocity signal;
• (e) actuator means connected to said controller means and said metering valve means for positioning said first member relative said second member in accordance with said control signal to control the flow of the fluid.